Interactive, cross-referenced knowledge system

In a knowledge system development platform for use by a developer in an organization who is to construct a knowledge base of information content that is accessible by end users in the organization for selectively accessing the information, the platform including a digital computer for performing digital data processing functions including executing logical operations in a processing unit, a computer operating system program for carrying out the digital processing functions of the computer, means for storing a plurality of computer application programs each including a set of coded instructions defining logical operations to be performed in the processing unit, means for storing a data base, and interface means including a display device for the developer to interact with the computer and programs, the improvement wherein

• the means for storing a data base contains relational data base tables each having a plurality of rows for receiving and storing data entered by the developer, said data tables including,
• an outline table for storing data defining a subject outline consisting of a plurality of nodes each corresponding to one position in a hierarchy of topics and subtopics wherein the topics are related to the subtopics as parent and child, and the topics are related to other topics, as siblings,
• information tables for storing data that specify information units, each information unit defining a self-contained field of information content about the subject;
• and
• linkage tables that associate each of the nodes of the outline table with at least two information units in the information table;
• the means for storing the computer applications programs contains,
• a graphics definitions program interacting with the operating system program,
• an application logic program interacting with the database,
• a database management system program interacting with the logic program, and
• a language interpreter program interacting with the data base management system program, the logic program, and the graphics definition program;
• and
• the stored computer applications programs, the means for storing a data base and said interface means, operate together as a developer module for the developer to enter said data into the data base tables without changing the coded instructions in the stored applications programs.

An interactive learning system for an end user to acquire knowledge about a particular subject, comprising:

• a general purpose digital computer and associated operating system adapted to execute and be controlled by a plurality of related stored programs accessible to the computer, including
• a relational data base management program,
• a user interface program, and
• a learning application program;
• an end user terminal having input means for the end user to control the interface program and output means including a presentation device for the interface program to communicate with the end user by stimulating the end user's sensory perceptions;
• a relational data base containing said knowledge in the form of digitally stored data selectively retrieved by the end user through said related stored programs for communication of the knowledge to the end user at said terminal, said data including,
• data that specify nodes of a hierarchical outline of preestablished topics and subtopics relevant to said subject;
• data that specify a list of a plurality of categories of information concerning said subject, each category containing a plurality of preestablished information units, each information unit defining a self-contained field of information content about the subject that is retrieved by and presented to the user, and
• data that specify a preestablished association of each node of the outline with an information unit in each of at least two categories;
• wherein the terminal, stored programs, and data base define a navigation module including,
• first means, for the end user to be presented with said hierarchical outline of topic and subtopic nodes,
• second means, for the end user to be presented with said list of categories,
• third means, for the end user to select one of said nodes and one of said categories,
• fourth means, responsive to the third means, for presenting to the end user a firs information unit that is associated with said selected category and said selected node as preestablished by said data in the data base, and
• fifth means, for the end user to select, while presented with said first information unit, a second information unit that is also associated with said first node, and to be presented with the selected second information unit.

A method for an end user to use an interactive learning system to acquire knowledge about a particular subject, the system including a general purpose digital computer and associated operating system adapted to execute and be controlled by a plurality of related stored programs accessible to the computer, the programs including a relational data base management program, a user interface program, and a learning application program;

• an end user terminal having input means for the end user to control the interface program and output means including a presentation device for the interface program to communicate with the end user;
• a relational data base containing said knowledge in the form of digitally stored data selectively retrieved by the end user through said related stored programs for presentation of the knowledge to the end user at said terminal, said data including data that specify nodes of a hierarchical outline of preestablished topic and subtopic names relevant to said subject, data that specify a list of a plurality of categories of information concerning said subject, each category containing a plurality of preestablished information units, each information unit defining a self-contained field of information content about the subject that is retrievable by and presentable to the user, and data that specify a preestablished association of each node of the outline with an information unit in each of at least two categories;
• wherein the method comprises the end user operating the user terminal by:
• retrieving and being presented, a list in outline form, of the name at each node;
• selecting for a given name, a first category of information, and being presented a first information unit;
• and
• while being presented with said first information unit from the first category, selecting at least a second category associated with said name, and being presented at least a second information unit;
• wherein the step of selecting the first category includes the step of electing a category in which the first information units are presented as a pattern of prompts and possible responses including a preferred response, and the step of selecting a second category includes selecting and being presented with another information unit which contains information that assists the user in selecting the preferred response to the prompt.

A computer system including an interactive knowledge support system for making available to each of a plurality of computer system end users in an organization, a shared digital database of content information concerning a plurality of subjects for which the computer system is used by the organization, wherein the computer system comprises:

• computer hardware operationally under the control of a plurality of stored programs including an operating system program for carrying out digital processing functions of the system and a plurality of applications programs interacting with user interface means for selectively accessing and presenting information in the data base to the end users, including a relational data base management program, a user interface program, and a knowledge association program to provide run time logic;
• said interface means including an end user terminal having input means for the end user to control the interface program and output means including a presentation device for the interface program to communicate with the end user by stimulating the end user's sensory perceptions;
• a relational data base containing said knowledge in the form of digitally stored data selectively retrieved by the end user through said related stored programs for communication of the knowledge to the end user at said terminal, said data including,
• data that specify nodes of a hierarchical outline of preestablished topics and subtopics relevant to said subject;
• data that specify a list of a plurality of categories of information concerning said subject, each category containing a plurality of preestablished information units, each information unit defining a self-contained field of information content about the subject that is retrieved by and presented to the user, and
• data that specify a preestablished association of each node of the outline with an information unit in each of at least two categories;
• wherein the terminal, stored programs, and data base define a navigation module including,
• first means, for the end user to access data which specifies one of the nodes of the hierarchical outline of topic and subtopic nodes,
• second means, for the end user to be presented with said list of categories,
• third means, for the end user to select one of said categories,
• fourth means, responsive to the third means, for presenting to the end user a first information unit that is associated with said selected category and said accessed node as preestablished by said data in the data base, and
• fifth means, for the end user to select, while presented with said first information unit, a second information unit that is also associated with said accessed node, and to be presented with the second information unit.

A method for an end user to use an interactive learning system to acquire knowledge about a particular subject, the system including a general purpose digital computer and associated operating system adapted to execute and be controlled by a plurality of related stored programs accessible to the computer, the programs including a relational data base management program, a user interface program, and a learning application program;

• an end user terminal having input means for the end user to control the interface program and output means including a presentation device for the interface program to communicate with the end user;
• a relational data base containing said knowledge in the form of digitally stored data selectively retrieved by the end user through said related stored programs for presentation of the knowledge to the end user at said terminal, said data including data that specify nodes of a hierarchical outline of preestablished topic and subtopic names relevant to said subject, data that specify a list of a plurality of categories of information concerning said subject, each category containing a plurality of preestablished information units, each information unit defining a self-contained field of information content about the subject that is retrievable by and presentable to the user, and data that specify a preestablished association of each node of the outline with an information unit in each of at least two categories;
• wherein the method comprises the end user operating the user terminal by:
• retrieving and being presented, a list in outline form, of the name at each node;
• selecting for a given name, a first category of information, and being presented a first information unit;
• and
• while being presented with said first information unit from the first category, selecting at least a second category associated with said name, and being presented at least a second information unit;
• wherein the steps of selecting a first category and selecting at least a second category, includes selecting second and third categories, the information unit in said second category being associated uniquely with said name, and the information unit associated with said third category being associated with every name.