US 6,154,631 A · Learning system with synchronized control of hardware and switching network

Abstract

A learning system is provided which includes a plurality of student units for use by students, a teacher unit for use by a teacher, and a plurality of master storage devices that store information reproduced by the student units. The learning system includes a computer for use also by the teacher that operates to control each of the student units. The teacher computer operates to control the switching device to couple a selected student computer(s) with the teacher computer so that the teacher computer provides the function of controlling in various manners the operation and function of the selected student computer(s). The teacher computer may provide its own display to the display of the selected student computers. The teacher computer can control the switching device to blank the monitors of selected student computers. The teacher computer also may be used to control a selected student computer by means of its own keyboard and mouse wherein the specific selections made by the teacher operate the selected student computer as if those selections were performed on the selected student computer's own keyboard and mouse.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student units, each of said student units adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students and including a computer and a respective display for displaying information to the respective student;
and
a teacher unit having a display and a computer utilizing a graphic user interface, said teacher computer being operable to control a switching device to couple a selected one of said student computers with said teacher computer so that said teacher computer can control a function of said selected student computer via said switching device, said switching device also being operable to couple various combinations of the teacher and student computers independent of control of said teacher computer.

A learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student means, each of said student means being adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students;
switching means for switching between at least a selected one of said student means;
and
control means having a display and a graphical user interface for controlling each of said student means and said switching means, said control means being operable to control said switching means to couple a selected one of said student means with said control means so that said control means can control a function of said selected student means via said switching means, said switching means also being operable to couple various combinations of the teacher and student means independent of control of said teacher means.

1 more element

A method of controlling a learning system having a plurality of student units including student computers for use by students and a teacher unit having a teacher computer with a display and a graphic user input, comprising the steps of:

displaying information by respective displays of said plurality of student computers to a plurality of students;
switching by a switching device signals between at least a selected one of said student computers and said computer of said teacher unit;
controlling by said teacher computer the switching device to couple a selected one of said student computers with said teacher computer so that said teacher computer can control a function of said selected student computer via said switching device;
and
controlling coupling of various combinations of the teacher and student computers independent of control of said teacher computer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Learning system with synchronized control of hardware and switching network

Life of this patent

Learning system with synchronized control of hardware and switching network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51