Computer-controlled testing process and device for administering an examination

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising;

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, the information storage medium storing the test to be administered to the user, the test including a plurality of test items stored in a selected order in a test file on the information storage medium, each test item including one of the test questions and at least two answer-options associated with the test questions;
• B. a display for displaying information to the user including the test items from the information storage medium;
• C. input means to enable the user to input information to the testing device and to input the answers of the user to the test questions to the information storage medium;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display, and the input means, said control means including:
• (i) means for effecting a display of a test item on the display;
• (ii) means for determining whether the user has selected one of the answer-options to the test question of the displayed test item as the user's answer to the test question of the displayed test item;
• (iii) means for enabling a response code corresponding to the selected answer-option to the test question of the displayed test item to be stored in a response file on said information storage medium;
• (iv) means for generating a random sequence for displaying the test items different from the selected order in which said test items are stored in the test file on the information storage medium including:
• a. means for reading a starting base number from the response file on the information storage medium;
• and
• b. means for generating a reproducible randomized sequence of numbers based on said starting base number, said test items being displayed according to the generated randomized sequence of numbers;
• and
• (v) means for retrieving each test item from said information storage medium for display on the display in the random sequence;
• and
• E. an internal power source for supplying power for the testing device.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising;

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, the information storage medium storing the test to be administered to the user, the test including a plurality of test items stored in a selected order in a test file on the information storage medium, each test item including one of the test questions and at least two answer-options associated with the test question;
• B. a display for displaying information to the user including the test items from the information storage medium;
• C. input means to enable the user to input information to the testing device and to input the answers of the user to the test questions to the information storage medium;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display, and the input means, said control means including:
• (i) means for effecting a display of a test item on the display;
• (ii) means for determining whether the user has selected one of the answer-options to the test question of the displayed test item as the user's answer to the test question of the displayed test item;
• (iii) means for enabling a response code corresponding to the selected answer-option to the test question of the displayed test item to be stored in a response file on said information storage medium;
• (iv) means for generating a random sequence for displaying the test items different from the selected order in which said test items are stored in the test file on the information storage medium;
• and
• (v) means for retrieving each test item from said information storage medium for display on the display in the random sequence;
• (vi) means for determining if the test becomes inadvertently terminated during administration of the test;
• (vii) means for determining the test item in the random sequence which has last answered when the test became inadvertently terminated;
• and
• (viii) means for effecting a display of the test item in the random sequence following the test item answered last if the test was inadvertently terminated;
• and
• E. an internal power source for supplying power for the testing device.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising:

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, said information storage medium being removable from said device;
• B. a display for displaying output information including the test questions from the information storage medium to the user and for displaying user entry pads at predetermined locations on the display for use in permitting the user to input predetermined information, the user entry pads including:
• (i) information entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of response information to the information storage medium, said predetermined items of response information including user-selectable answers to a displayed test question, each information entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of response information;
• and
• (ii) function entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of control information to the testing device for selectively controlling the output information displayed to the user, each function entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of control information;
• C. a touch screen on the display to enable the user to select an item of predetermined control information for input to the testing device and to select an item of predetermined response information for input to the information storage medium by touching the screen at any selected corresponding user entry pad while such user entry pad is displayed on the display;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display and the touch screen;
• E. a port for connection with said information storage medium, the information storage medium being insertable into and removable from the port;
• and
• F. an internal power source for supplying power for the device, the internal power source including a battery and a power supply circuit connected with the battery for providing a source of predetermined voltage potential for the device, the power source including a switch connected between the power supply circuit and the battery to switchably connect and disconnect the battery from the power supply circuit, wherein said switch is actuated to connect the battery with the power supply circuit by the insertion of the information storage medium into the port and the switch is actuated to disconnect the battery from the power supply circuit by the removal of the information storage medium from the port.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising;

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions;
• B. a display for displaying output information including the test questions from the information storage medium to the user and for displaying user entry pads at predetermined locations on the display for use in permitting the user to input predetermined information, the user entry pads including:
• (i) information entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of response information to the information storage medium, said predetermined items of response information including user-selectable answers to a displayed test question, each information entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of response information;
• and
• (ii) function entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of control information to the testing device for selectively controlling the output information displayed to the user, each function entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of control information;
• C. a touch screen on the display to enable the user to select an item of predetermined control information for input to the testing device and to select an item of predetermined response information for input to the information storage medium by touching the screen at any selected corresponding user entry pad while such user entry pad is displayed on the display;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display and the touch screen;
• and
• E. an internal power source for supplying power for the device including a rechargeable battery and a battery charging circuit connected with the rechargeable battery, the battery charging circuit having external contacts for connection with a source of charging potential, said battery charging circuit having a charge control circuit connected between said rechargeable battery and said external contacts to permit dual level charging of the rechargeable battery such that the charge control circuit permits full charging of the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is at a low level of charge and a trickle charge to the rechargeable battery when the battery has become fully charged.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising;

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, the test including a plurality of test items stored in a selected order in a test file on the information storage medium, each test item including one of the test questions and at least two answer-options associated with the test question;
• B. a display for displaying output information including the test questions from the information storage medium to the user, said display only displaying one page at a time of any test item having more than one page, and for displaying user entry pads at predetermined locations on the display for use in permitting the user to input predetermined information, the user entry pads including:
• (i) information entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of response information to the information storage medium, said predetermined items of response information including user-selectable answers to a displayed test question, each information entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of response information, the information entry pads including answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• and
• (ii) function entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of control information to the testing device for selectively controlling the output information displayed to the user, each function entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of control information;
• C. a touch screen on the display to enable the user to select an item of predetermined control information for input to the testing device and to select an item of predetermined response information for input to the information storage medium by touching the screen at any selected corresponding user entry pad while such user entry pad is displayed on the display;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display and the touch screen including:
• (i) means for effecting a display of a test item on the display including the test question and the associated answer-options, and the answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• (ii) means for determining whether one of the answer entry pads was touched on the touch screen;
• (iii) means for enabling a response code corresponding to the answer entry pad which has been touched to be stored in a response file in said information storage medium;
• (iv) means for effecting a display of a next-page function entry pad on the display for permitting the user to request a display of a next page of the test item relative to the page of the test item on the display;
• (v) means for determining whether the next-page function entry pad was touched on the touch screen;
• and
• (vi) means for effecting a display of the next page of the test item on the display when the next-page function entry pad is touched so that the user can selectively proceed from one page of a test item to the next page of the test item on the display;
• and
• E. an internal power source for supplying power for the device.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising;

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, the test including a plurality of test items stored in a selected order in a test file on the information storage medium, each test item including one of the test questions and at least two answer-options associated with the test question;
• B. a display for displaying output information including the test questions from the information storage medium to the user, said display only displaying one page at a time of any test item having more than one page, and for displaying user entry pads at predetermined locations on the display for use in permitting the user to input predetermined information, the user entry pads including:
• (i) information entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of response information to the information storage medium, said predetermined items of response information including user-selectable answers to a displayed test question, each information entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of response information, the information entry pads including answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• and
• (ii) function entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of control information to the testing device for selectively controlling the output information displayed to the user, each function entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of control information;
• C. a touch screen on the display to enable the user to select an item of predetermined control information for input to the testing device and to select an item of predetermined response information for input to the information storage medium by touching the screen at any selected corresponding user entry pad while such user entry pad is displayed on the display;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display and the touch screen including:
• (i) means for effecting a display of a test item on the display including the test question and the associated answer-options, and the answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• (ii) means for determining whether one of the answer entry pads was touched on the touch screen;
• (iii) means for enabling a response code corresponding to the answer entry pad which has been touched to be stored in a response file in said information storage medium;
• (iv) means for effecting a display of a previous-page function entry pad on the display for permitting the user to request a display of a previous page of the test item relative to the page of the test item on the display;
• (v) means for determining whether the previous-page function entry pad was touched on the touch screen;
• (vi) means for effecting a display of the previous page of the test item on the display when the previous-page function entry pad is touched so that the user can selectively return to the previous page of the test item on the display;
• and
• E. an internal power source for supplying power for the device.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising:

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, the test including a plurality of test items stored in a selected order in a test file on the information storage medium, each test item including one of the test questions and at least two answer-options associated with the test question;
• B. a display for displaying output information including the test questions from the information storage medium to the user and for displaying user entry pads at predetermined locations on the display for use in permitting the user to input predetermined information, the user entry pads including:
• (i) information entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of response information to the information storage medium, said predetermined items of response information including user-selectable answers to a displayed test question, each information entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of response information, the information entry pads including answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• and
• (ii) function entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of control information to the testing device for selectively controlling the output information displayed to the user, each function entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of control information;
• C. a touch screen on the display to enable the user to select an item of predetermined control information for input to the testing device and to select an item of predetermined response information for input to the information storage medium by touching the screen at any selected corresponding user entry pad while such user entry pad is displayed on the display;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display and the touch screen including:
• (i) means for effecting a display of a test item on the display including the test question and the associated answer-options, and the answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• (ii) means for determining whether one of the answer entry pads was touched on the touch screen;
• (iii) means for enabling a response code corresponding to the answer entry pad which has been touched to be stored in a response file in said information storage medium;
• (iv) means for generating a random sequence for displaying test items different from the selected order in which said test items are stored in the test file on the information storage medium including:
• a. means for reading a starting base number from the response file on the information storage medium;
• and
• b. means for generating a reproducible randomized sequence of numbers based on said starting base number, said test items being displayed according to the generated randomized sequence of numbers;
• and
• (v) means for retrieving each test item from said information storage medium for display on the display in the random sequence;
• and
• E. an internal power source for supplying power for the device.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising;

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, the test including a plurality of test items stored in a selected order in a test file on the information storage medium, each test item including one of the test questions and at least two answer-options associated with the test question;
• B. a display for displaying output information including the test questions from the information storage medium to the user and for displaying user entry pads at predetermined locations on the display for use in permitting the user to input predetermined information, the user entry pads including:
• (i) information entry pads for use ni permitting the user to input predetermined items of response information to the information storage medium, said predetermined items of response information including user-selectable answers to a displayed test question, each information entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of response information, the information entry pads including answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• and
• (ii) function entry pads for use in permitting the user to input predetermined items of control information to the testing device for selectively controlling the output information displayed to the user, each function entry pad corresponding to respective predetermined items of control information;
• C. a touch screen on the display to enable the user to select an item of predetermined control information for input to the testing device and to select an item of predetermined response information for input to the information storage medium by touching the screen at any selected corresponding user entry pad while such user entry pad is displayed on the display;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display and the touch screen including:
• (i) means for generating a random sequence for displaying test items different from the selected order in which said test items are stored in the test file on the information storage medium;
• (ii) means for retrieving each test item from said information storage medium for display on the display in the random sequence;
• (iii) means for effecting a display of a test item on the display including the test question and the associated answer-options, and the answer entry pads corresponding to the answer-options;
• (iv) means for determining whether one of the answer entry pads was touched on the touch screen;
• (v) means for enabling a response code corresponding to the answer entry pad which has been touched to be stored in a response file in said information storage medium;
• (vi) means for determining if the test becomes inadvertently terminated during administration of the test;
• (vii) means for determining the test item in the random sequence which was last answered when the test became inadvertently terminated;
• and
• (viii) means for effecting a display of the test item in the random sequence following the item answered last if the test was inadvertently terminated;
• and
• E. an internal power source for supplying power for the device.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising:

• a. an external port;
• B. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions, said information storage medium being insertable into and removable from the external port;
• C. a display for displaying information to the user including the test questions form the information storage medium;
• D. input means to enable the user to input information to the testing device and to input the answers of the user to the test questions to the information storage medium;
• E. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display, and the input means;
• and
• F. power supply means for supplying power for the testing device, the power supply means including power source means for providing a source of voltage potential to the device and a switch for operably connecting and disconnecting the power source means to respectively turn the device on and off, the switch being operably connected wit the external port so that insertion of the information storage medium into the external port actuates the switch to turn the device on and removal of the information storage medium from the external port actuates the switch to turn the device off.

A computer-controlled portable testing device for administering a test to a user and for processing and displaying information comprising:

• A. an information storage medium for storing information including test questions and answers of the user to the test questions;
• B. a display for displaying information to the user including the test questions from the information storage medium;
• C. input means to enable the user to input information to the testing device and to input the answers of the user to the test questions to the information storage medium;
• D. control means for controlling the administration of the test to the user and for controlling transfer of information between the information storage medium, the display, and the input means, the control means including:
• (i) timer means for providing a predetermined time period for the user to take the test and for terminating the test at the end of the predetermined time period;
• and
• (ii) warning means for providing a warning signal to the user at a selected time from the end of the predetermined time period to warn the user that the test will terminate upon expiration of the selected time wherein the warning signal is displayed momentarily on said display at the selected time as a first warning to the user and wherein said warning means provides a second warning signal for display on said display at a second selected time form the end of the predetermined time period as a second warning to the user, the second warning signal being continuously displayed on the display until the test terminates.