Abstract:
An online learning management system for monitoring and maintaining the operational integrity of online teaching groups consisting of users distributed across a network is disclosed. The system comprises a management interface coupled to a teaching group and a teaching module configured to identify user operational problems within the group and to remove a user when an operational problem is identified. The system further comprises a managing module that inserts the user into a managing area when the user is removed from the teaching group, facilitates diagnosis and correction of the operational problem, and returns the user to the group when the operational problem has been corrected. The system further comprises a personalized operation interface that disables the user&#39;s connection to the group in response to the removal of the user from the group, and restores the user&#39;s connection when the operational problem has been corrected.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation and claims the priority benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 12/837,555, filed on Jul. 16, 2010, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 098125108, filed on Jul. 24, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including all references and appendices cited therein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to methods and systems for facilitating diagnosis and correction of operational problems, and more particularly, it relates to facilitating the diagnosis and correction of operational problems that arise in online teaching groups consisting of users distributed across a network. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    People usually read books and other information to learn different languages, and the most effective way is to attend language courses in schools. The teachers teach the courses and communicate with the learners to improve their language abilities. However, the time of these language courses is usually fixed, so it is very inconvenient for learners to arrange and allocate time daily or weekly for these courses, as most people nowadays have a busy time schedule. As a result, many interested learners eventually abandon their plans to learn a new language. 
         [0004]    With the advancement of technology, the transmission speed over the internet has increased throughout the years. Therefore, people are beginning to learn new languages via the internet because it is more convenient. No matter where the learners are, they may download the video clips recorded by the teachers via the internet. To achieve maximum learning results, learners may also directly communicate with each other by video software. With this learning method, the learning process is no longer restricted by the place and the time of the language courses. However, learning by watching video clips is very similar to learning by reading books. Furthermore, the function of the video software is limited. As a result, the abovementioned learning method is not as effective as communicating with the teacher in the actual courses. 
         [0005]    Moreover, due to the lack of the management functions of traditional learning systems, internet learners may only contact the system administrator via telephone or email when problems occur. The administrator may try to determine the problems from the descriptions provided by the learners, but the solutions to the problems may not be found in real-time. Therefore, it is important to develop a system which is able to provide user convenience and allow effective learning. At the same time, the system must be efficient and manageable for the system administrators. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide an on-line interactive learning and managing system for users to learn interactively via the internet and such a system that administrators can manage easily. To achieve the above objective, an on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention comprises a server which enables a plurality of users to log in via the internet, and allocates the logged in users to create at least one teaching group. The server comprises a processor and a memory electrically coupled with the processor. The memory comprises a software program which is executed by the processor. The software program comprises a teaching module and a managing module. The teaching module is used to form each operation interface corresponding to each teaching group. The operation interface loads each set of personal settings corresponding to each user of the teaching group to form each personalized operation interface for interactive learning by each user. 
         [0007]    The managing module forms a managing interface for management of the plurality of users by an administrator. The managing module may receive any message sent from any personalized operation interface and display the message on the managing interface. The teaching module may receive any message sent from the managing interface and display the message on the at least one personalized operation interface. The administrator and each user may thus communicate with each other. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention enables the users to log in, and forms each personalized operation interface corresponding to each user for interactive learning. The administrator may monitor and manage each user via the managing interface. Each user and the administrator are able to communicate with each other via the personalized operation interface and the managing interface. It is more convenient for teaching and managing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the invention. In the drawings, similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a composition structure of a software program of the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing an established connection status of the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a personalized operation interface of the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5( a )  and  FIG. 5( b )  are schematic diagrams showing a managing interface of the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing a monitoring interface of the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of an on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  of the present invention comprises a server  10 . A plurality of users may log in the server  10  via the internet with each user&#39;s computer  20 , and then may utilize the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  of the present invention to proceed with interactive learning. The server  10  comprises a processor  11  and a memory  12  electrically coupled with the processor  11 . The memory  12  comprises a software program  12   a,  which is executed by the processor  11  and activates the learning and managing functions. 
         [0017]    In this embodiment, the software program  12   a  is coded in flash language. Each user needs only to use the computer  20  to log into the server  10  of the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  via the internet. The related operational interfaces may be formed and displayed via the computer  20 . Therefore, each user does not have to install corresponding software in the computer  20 . However, the present invention is not restricted to this method. 
         [0018]    Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a composition structure of a software program  12   a  of the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing an established connection status of the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1 . Each user&#39;s information is stored in the respective user&#39;s computer  20 . When a user “a” logs into the on-line interactive learning managing system  1 , the software program  12   a  will retrieve the user&#39;s information from the user&#39;s computer  20 , and allocates the user “a” to join a predetermined teaching group “A” after comparing the user&#39;s information with course category data. The course category data is pre-loaded into the memory  12 . All users may be allocated to form at least one teaching group “A” according to the number of users “a”, different language levels of the users, and different identities of the users. 
         [0019]    Each teaching group “A” is composed of a plurality of users “a”, and each teaching group “A” comprises one teacher “a1” and at least one learner “a2”. The related technique of categorizing the users according to each user&#39;s information is disclosed in Taiwan patent No. 1249112. Therefore, it will not be further described. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the software program  12   a  comprises a teaching module  121  and a managing module  122 . The teaching module  121  forms an operation interface  200  corresponding to each teaching group “A”, and each teaching group “A” may proceed with interactive learning. The user&#39;s information of each user “a” comprises personal settings. When  10  the operation interface  200  is formed, the operation interface  200  will load the personal settings of each user “a” and forms each personalized operation interface  200   a  displayed on each user&#39;s computer  20 . Each user may communicate and learn with other users of the same teaching group “A” via the personalized interface  200   a.  Furthermore, according to the different personal settings that are loaded, e.g. the personal settings of a teacher or a learner, the teaching module  121  may categorize each personalized operation interface  200   a  into a teacher&#39;s operational interface or a learner&#39;s operational interface. The different operational interfaces for teachers and learners have respective interface operation authorization  20  levels. 
         [0021]    The managing module  122  forms a managing interface  300 , which allows administrator “b” to manage the plurality of users “a” and to control the teaching and learning situation of each teaching group “A” by an administrator “b”. When something needs to be communicated between the administrator “b” and any user “a”, the administrator “b” and the user “a” may communicate with each other via the managing interface  300  and the personalized operation interface  200   a.  The user “a” may send messages via the personalized operation interface  200   a,  and the managing module  122  may receive messages for display on the managing interface  300  for notifying the administrator “b”. The administrator “b” may also send messages via the managing interface  300 , and the teaching module  121  may receive the messages for display on the personalized operation interface  200   a  of any designated single or multiple users “a”. 
         [0022]    The personal settings include interface function settings, data input authorization settings, or user information settings. The interface function settings are related to the settings of the personalized operation interface  200   a  displayed on the user&#39;s computer. The interface function settings comprise interface language settings, time settings, video settings, or sound settings. 
         [0023]    The data input authorization settings are related to the input operation authorization settings of the personal operation interface  200   a  for the user “a”. The input operating authorization settings comprise a character input authorization, a sound input authorization, or an interaction input authorization. The user information settings include the display name, hobbies, and other related settings of the user “a”. 
         [0024]    When the user “a” logs into the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1 , the personal settings of the user “a” are also loaded. The language displayed on the personalized operation interface  200   a  may be changed according to different interface language settings. For example, the interface language may be displayed in, but is not limited to, simplified Chinese characters, traditional Chinese characters, or English letters. The time settings determine the time information being displayed on the personalized operation interface  200   a.  According to the different time settings, a local time of the user or/and a local time of the server may be displayed separately or simultaneously. It is convenient for the user to check the correct timing of the course from wherever the user logs in. 
         [0025]    The video settings determine whether to display the video images on the personalized operation interface  200   a.  The sound settings determine the volume of the sound from an output device (e.g. amplifiers), or an input device (e.g. microphones). The personalized operation interface  200   a  may be customized according to the interface function settings so that each user “a” may learn interactively via an interface with which he or she is most familiar. 
         [0026]    The interface function settings may be changed through the personal operation interface  200   a,  and the software program  12   a  may automatically save the changed interface function settings as the personal settings. The new personal settings will be loaded, and the personal operation interface  200   a  will be updated on the next occasions when the user “a” logs into the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1 . 
         [0027]    The character input authorization of the data input authorization settings determines whether the user “a” is able to input characters in the personalized operation interface  200   a.  The sound input authorization determines whether the user “a” is able to transmit a sound signal through the microphone to other users “a” of the same teaching group A. The interaction input authorization determines whether the user “a” is able to use teaching display data (such as teaching materials) for operating interactively via the personalized operation interface  200   a.  The personal settings corresponding to different identities of the users are different, so the data input authorization of the personalized operation interface  200   a  for each user “a” is different. For example, when the user “a” is a teacher “a1”, the default of all of the data input authorization of the user “a” may be activated for teaching. When the user “a” is a learner “a2”, he/she need only to listen, talk, and input characters to communicate with teacher “a 1” and other learners “a2”. The learner “a2” does not need to utilize the interaction input authorization, which is only required by the teacher “a1”, and the default of the interaction input authorization should be closed for learner “a2”. The default of the data input authorization in the above description may be adjusted according to different system requirements. However the present invention is not restricted to this method. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, when the user “a” logs in, a nickname defined by the user “a” may be displayed on the personalized operation interface  200   a  according to the user information settings. Each user “a” may address one another with said nickname. The nickname of the user “a” is distinct from the account name of the user “a”. 
         [0029]    Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a personalized operation interface  200   a  of the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , each personalized operation interface  200   a  formed by the teaching module  121  comprises a status display area  210 , a real-time communication area  220 , an interactive display area  230 , a video display area  240 , and an interface function settings area  250 . 
         [0030]    The status display area  210  displays each user&#39;s status information, and the status information comprises a user connection status, a user identity status, or an input authorization status. The user connection status determines whether the user&#39;s internet connection is stable. The user identity status is used for confirming the user&#39;s identity. The input authorization status determines the data input authorization of the user. Accordingly, the status information of each user of the same teaching group may be displayed in the status display area  210 . However, the present invention is not only limited to these types of information. 
         [0031]    The real-time communication area  220  displays the text messages typed by the users of the same teaching group, which allows two or more users to communicate with each other. The text messages typed by each user in the real-time communication area  220  may be sent via a function option  222  to specific users, such as the teacher or a specific learner, or to all users of the same teaching group, and the messages may be sent in a private or public manner. The user may also communicate with the administrator directly through text messages. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4  of the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1 , the software program  12   a  further comprises a conversation storage module  123 , which is used to save all message conversations that each user has entered as text in the real-time communication area  220  of the personalized operation interface  200   a.  As a result, the text messages of the conversations can be searched in the future if needed. 
         [0032]    The interactive display area  230  provides functions similar to a digital white-board. The teaching module  121  may load teaching display data and display the data on the interactive display area  230  of the personalized operation interface  200   a.  Usually, the teaching display data is provided by the teacher with the interaction input authorization. The teaching display data may be selected and operated (such as inputting characters, footnoting, or drawing lines on the teaching display data) by a function bar  231  of the interactive display area  230 . The learner whose interaction input authorization is active may also use the related function of the interactive display area  230 . The teaching display data may comprise documents (such as documents generated in word-processing software or digital slideshow files), web data, or multimedia files (such as video or audio files). Furthermore, the teaching display data corresponding to each teaching group may be pre-loaded by the system onto the interactive display area  230  of each personalized operation interface  200   a,  and each learner may preview the teaching display data. 
         [0033]    The video display area  240  displays the video images captured from the teacher&#39;s side, such as using a webcam to capture the teacher&#39;s real-time image to simulate the situation of face-to-face teaching and learning. The video display area  240  comprises a video function bar  241 , which allows users to activate or disable the video images, activate or disable the audio input/output, and adjust the volume of the audio input/output. For example, if the user activates the video image while the network is congested, the image transmission may be delayed. In such a case, the user may choose to disable the video images in order to allow the personalized operation interface  200   a  to operate more swiftly. 
         [0034]    The interface function settings area  250  provides options and display of some interface functions, and the functions comprise a time display  251 , an interface function option  252 , and a communication assistance function option  253 . The time display  251  is set in accordance with the personal settings, and the corresponding time is displayed. The user may check the actual time of the course, no matter where the user may be. The interface function option  252  may be used for adjusting the related functions of the personalized interface  200   a,  and it comprises the options of the interface language settings or the time settings. The user may scroll down the option list to choose the options for the adjustments. The software program  12   a  further comprises an interface language module  124 , and the interface language module  124  stores multiple interface languages. The language displayed on the personalized operation interface  200   a  may be changed via the interface function settings area  250  of the personalized operation interface  200   a.  For example, the predefined language setting in the personalized operation interface  200   a  is traditional Chinese. When a user&#39;s first language is English, the language on the personalized operation interface  200   a  may be changed to English by the interface function settings area  250 . The change of the interface language settings is stored in the user&#39;s personal settings, and the personalized operation interface  200   a  will retain its English interface if the language setting remains unchanged. 
         [0035]    The communication assistance function option  253  allows the learners to respond to the teacher regarding the problems in learning, or allows the learners or the teacher to respond to the administrator regarding the problems in using the interface, and reminds the administrator to respond to the problems. Using the communication with the administrator as an example, any learner or teacher may choose the most appropriate option via the communication assistance function option  253  when a problem arises (such as delays in communication, or the audio of the counterpart cannot be heard), or directly type text messages to notify the administrator regarding the problems. A notifying message may be sent to the managing module  122  according to the messages typed or the option chosen by any learner or teacher via the personalized operation interface  200   a.  Then, the managing module  122  may display a prompting message corresponding to the notifying message on the managing interface  300  to remind the administrator to solve the problem. 
         [0036]    To ensure the convenience of teaching and to prevent some users from trying to disturb the course, more management authorization may be provided to the teacher of each teaching group in the online-interactive learning managing system  1  of the present invention. Therefore, a function for altering the data input authorization settings of any learner&#39;s operation interface via the teacher&#39;s operation interface is added in the design of the present invention. The teacher may evaluate the situation of the course and change any learner&#39;s data input authorization settings via the teacher&#39;s operation interface. For example, when a learner wants to share a document or a video during the course, the teacher may activate the learner&#39;s interaction input authorization such that the learners may provide and display related files in the interactive display area  230 . If a learner attempts to disrupt the course by constantly sending inappropriate, vulgar, or irrelevant messages in the real-time communication area  220 , the teacher may disable that learner&#39;s character input authorization to stop the disruption. 
         [0037]    The software program  12   a  further comprises an advertisement module  125  that stores multiple advertisement data. When the personalized operation interface  200   a  is formed, the software program  12   a  combines at least one advertisement data with the corresponding personalized operation interface  200   a  via the advertisement module  125 . The user may see the advertisement data when using the personalized operation interface  200   a.  The advertisement module  125  chooses the suitable advertisement data to combine with each personalized operation interface  200   a  according to special events or the user&#39;s personal settings, e.g. the teaching group for 5 data on hobbies in the personal information settings, such as “movies” or “electronic products”. Accordingly, the advertisement module  125  may choose a corresponding movie trailer or an advertisement for electronic products, and combine it with the user&#39;s personalized operation interface  200   a,  so that the users will receive additional information during the course. 
         [0038]    The software program  12   a  further comprises a video recording module  126 , which is used for recording the teaching process of each teaching group via the operating interface  200  to form recording files. When the teaching module  121  forms an operation interface  200  for any respective teaching group, the video recording module  126  is activated and records the teaching process of the teaching group, as well as recording the operations and video data of the operation interface  200 . Therefore, the learners who could not attend the course or want to review the class may view the recording files of the course after the course has ended. Furthermore, when the users log into the server to view the recording files, the advertisement module  125  may also choose a suitable advertisement data according to each user&#39;s personal information settings and insert the advertisement data into the recording files. 
         [0039]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5( a )  and  FIG. 5( b ) .  FIG. 5( a )  and  FIG. 5( b )  are schematic diagrams showing a managing interface  300  of the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5( a ) , a managing interface  300  may be formed when an administrator&#39;s account is logged into the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1 , and the administrator may monitor the situation of each teaching group or each user by the managing interface  300 . The administrator may communicate with each user to help them to solve problems in operating the interface by the managing interface  300 . The managing interface  30  comprises a teaching group managing area  310 , a test group managing area  320 , a real-time communication area  330 , and a message display area  340 . The teaching group managing area  310  displays status information of all the current users of each teaching group for managing by the administrator. The status information comprises a connection status of each user and a sound input/output status. 
         [0040]    The administrator may use a mouse or other input device to choose any teaching group or any user on the managing interface  300  and enter a command to monitor the current course situation of the teaching group or the user. When the administrator determines that a user disturbs the course, he may input a command via the managing interface  300  and remove the user from the teaching group. At the same time, the personalized operation interface  200   a  of the user may be closed. Conversely, the administrator may also restore a removed user back into the teaching group and activate the user&#39;s personalized operation interface  200   a  in order to continue with the course. 
         [0041]    The test group managing area  320  is used to test the user&#39;s usage status. Please refer to  FIG. 5( a )  and  FIG. 5( b ) . The test group managing area  320  may preset at least one test group (demo01 and demo02 as shown in the figure). When a user ccc within the teaching group encounters an operation problem (such as unclear audio or an unstable connection), the administrator may remove the user ccc from its corresponding teaching group AOO 1 of the teaching group managing area  310  and then place the user ccc into the test group demo01 of the test group managing area  320  according to the operation of the managing interface  300  with the aid of a mouse or other input method. At this point, the system may disable the personalized operation interface  200   a  of the user ccc so that the administrator may proceed with related status testing for the user ccc to solve the problem. When the problem is solved, the administrator will input another command to move the user ccc from the test group demo0 1 of the test group managing area  320  back into the teaching group A001 of the teaching group managing area  310 . Then the personalized operation interface  200   a  of the user ccc may be enabled for continuing with the course. 
         [0042]    The real-time communication area  330  displays the messages typed by each administrator so that the administrators are able to communicate with one another. The multiple administrators are required to manage a portion of the teaching groups when there are many learners logging into the course at the same time. Therefore, the real-time communication area  330  provides a way for the administrators to communicate with one another and support one another in times of need. The messages typed by any administrator in the real-time communication area  330  may also be sent to any specific user, and text messages sent from any personalized operation interface  200   a  may be displayed via the real-time communication area  330 . Therefore, the user may privately communicate with the administrator. 
         [0043]    The message display area  340  is used to display prompting messages. As shown in  FIG. 5( a ) , when a user has a system operational problem or other unsolvable problems, the user may send a notification message via the communication assistance function option  253  of the personalized operation interface  200   a.  The notification message may be transmitted over the internet and then received by the managing module  122 . The managing module  122  may display a prompting message corresponding to the notification message via the message display area  340  of the managing interface  300 . The administrator will know which user has the problem or what the problem is according to the prompting message. The administrator may directly contact the user via the managing interface  300 , or move the user into the test group for testing and analyze the problem by the abovementioned function. The prompting message displayed on the message display area  340  may display the user information of the user who sent the message, and display the descriptions or drawings of the problem (as indicated by the star sign in the figure), such that the administrator may understand the problem immediately. As a result, the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  of the present invention is able to solve the user&#39;s problem without disturbing the course. 
         [0044]    When a system announcement (or an alert) needs to be broadcast to all the logged-in users, the administrator may send an announcement data via the managing interface  300 . The announcement data may be received and processed by the teaching module  121  for display via each personalized operation interface  200   a  to notify all users. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the software program  12   a  further comprises a monitoring module  127 , which creates a monitoring interface  400  to help the administrator with controlling the status of the server  10  and the connection status of each user. The administrator may monitor and adjust the related settings of the system via the monitoring interface  400 , e.g. on-line bandwidth settings, video size adjustments, a number of activated classes, or a number of users currently on-line. The monitoring module  127  further comprises a connection status storage module  128 , which monitors the connection status of each user and stores each user&#39;s connection status data as a connection status record respectively for searching. The connection status data comprises a user connection address, a time record of log-inllog-out, an internet flow bandwidth, or abnormal data. 
         [0046]    When the connection status of a user&#39;s computer is unstable or the user&#39;s computer may not connect to the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  of the present invention, the administrator may retrieve the connection status data of a single user or multiple users of the teaching group from the monitoring module  127  via the monitoring interface  400 , or retrieve the connection status data of a single user from the monitoring module  127  via the managing interface  300 . Accordingly, the problem may be identified as one that takes place at the user&#39;s side or one that takes place at the server&#39;s side by the connection status data to help to solve the problem. 
         [0047]    Refer to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the diagram of the monitoring interface  400  of the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the monitoring interface  400  comprises an on-line group display area  410 , and a connection status display area  420 . The on-line group display area  410  lists all existing groups currently within the system, including each teaching group or each testing group. The connection status display area  420  displays all connection status data of each user of the at least one group chosen by the on-line group display area  410  in real-time. In this embodiment, the connection status data comprises a user account, a connection address, a time of log-in, and an internet flow bandwidth, but the present invention is not restricted to these items. 
         [0048]    The monitoring interface  400  further comprises a connection record search area  430 . The administrator may input search conditions (such as date, user name, or teaching group) via the connection record search area  430  to search all of the connection status data records of users stored in the connection status storage module  128 . Then, the connection status history data records corresponding to the input search conditions may be found and displayed via the monitoring interface  400 . Accordingly, the administrator may analyze and obtain all the related information easily. 
         [0049]    The design of the on-line interactive learning and managing system  1  of the present invention allows users to directly log into the server  10  to learn interactively via each corresponding personalized operation interface  200   a.  The administrators logged into the server  10  may control and monitor every user via the managing interface  300  and the monitoring interface  400 . When a user has a problem, the user and the administrator may communicate with each other via the personalized operation interface  200   a  and the managing interface  300 . When a connection problem between any user&#39;s computer and the server  10  occurs, the administrator may efficiently analyze and identify the problem by the monitoring interface  400 . 
         [0050]    Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is also of vital importance to acknowledge that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.