# US 9,437,115 B2 · Method and system for distance education based on asynchronous interaction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,115 B2 - Document ID: US9437115B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/234,989 - Filed: 2012-06-22 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-26 - Assignees: Tata Consultancy Services Limited - Applicants: Hiranmay Ghosh; Gautam Shroff; Arpan Pal; Ranjan Dasgupta; Tavleen Oberoi; Sujal Subhash Wattamwar; Kingshuk Chakravarhy - Inventors: Hiranmay Ghosh; Gautam Shroff; Arpan Pal; Ranjan Dasgupta; Tavleen Oberoi; Sujal Subhash Wattamwar; Kingshuk Chakravarhy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437115B2 ## CPC - G09B 5/12: different stations being capable of presenting different information simultaneously (G09B5/14 takes precedence) - H04L 65/401: wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference - H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) - H04L 65/612: for unicast - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The invention facilitates asynchronous interaction between a geographically separated facilitator and at least one user. The said invention provides asynchronous interaction between rural classrooms (teacher-student community) and expert teachers to increase the outreach of the expert teachers much beyond that is permitted with the teachings of the prior art. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for enabling asynchronous interaction between a first station and a second station, the method comprising: receiving, at the second station, a multimedia-based message via a first network having a first bandwidth, the second station being geographically separated from the first station, wherein the multimedia-based message comprises embedded metadata, wherein the metadata comprises a media time point during a duration of the display of the multimedia-based message for at least one rhetoric question hierarchy (RQH); obtaining, based on the embedded metadata, via a second network having a second bandwidth, at least one RQH associated with the multimedia-based message from a content repository, wherein the first bandwidth is larger than the second bandwidth; displaying the multimedia-based message and the information request at the media time point included in the metadata; receiving a first response to a first question in the at least one RQH; and evaluating the first response. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of: displaying a second question based on the evaluation of the first response and the metadata; and displaying a plurality of subsequent questions, wherein the plurality of subsequent questions are based on the metadata and the evaluation of the second information response with respect to the preceding information request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a user query; transmitting the query to the content repository via the second network; and retrieving a response to the query from the content repository via the second network, the response being provided by a third station. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the query and the response comprise at least one of: a text, an audio, or an audio-visual format. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one RQH is an embedded rhetoric question having at least one of: a text, an audio, or an audio-visual format. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is a satellite based Direct-To-Home network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second network is the Internet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second station is connected to the first network via a set top box. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second station is connected to the second network via a multimedia communication device, the multimedia communication device being a Home Infotainment Platform box connected to at least a set top box. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second station is connected to the second network via a multimedia communication device, the multimedia communication device providing a regional language support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia-based message is transmitted from the first station to the second station via a broadcasting station. ### Claim 12 A method for enabling asynchronous interaction between an authoring station and at least one remote student station associated with a plurality of students, the method comprising: receiving, at the at least one remote student station, a lecture via a first network having a first bandwidth, wherein the lecture comprises embedded metadata, wherein the metadata comprises a media time point during a duration of the display of the multimedia-based message for at least one question; obtaining, based on the embedded metadata, via a second network having a second bandwidth, at least one question associated with the lecture from a content repository, wherein the first bandwidth is larger than the second bandwidth; displaying the lecture and the at least one question at the media time point included in the metadata; receiving, a first response with respect to the at least one question; evaluating the first response; and displaying a second response based on the evaluation of the first response. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising at least one of: obtaining a student request; transmitting the student request to the content repository via the second network; and retrieving a tutor response with respect to the student request from the content repository via the second network, the tutor response being provided by a tutor station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: the lecture, the metadata, and the at least one question are generated by the authoring station; the lecture is transmitted from the authoring station to the student station via a broadcasting station; and the metadata and the at least one question are transmitted from the authoring station to the content repository. ### Claim 15 A system for enabling asynchronous interaction between an authoring station and at least one remote student station associated with a plurality of students, the system comprising: a student station configured to: receive a lecture via a first network having a first bandwidth, wherein the lecture comprises embedded metadata, wherein the metadata comprises a media time point during a duration of the display of the multimedia-based message for at least one question; obtain, based on the embedded metadata, via a second network having a second bandwidth, at least one question associated with the lecture from a content repository, wherein the first bandwidth is larger than the second bandwidth; display the lecture and the at least one question at the media time point included in the metadata; receive a first response with respect to the at least one question; evaluate the first response, and display a second response based on the evaluation of the first response. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the student station includes at least one of: a Home Infotainment Platform box that is connected to at least one of a set top box, a television set, or a remote control device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the student station further includes a voice capturing device and a video capturing device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the remote control device is configured to enable answering of the question. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the student station is further configured to: obtain a student request; transmit the student request to the content repository via the second network; and retrieve a tutor response with respect to the student request from the content repository via the second network, the tutor response being provided by a tutor station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the student request comprises an audio format. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising: an authoring station configured to generate the lecture, the metadata, and the at least one question; and wherein the lecture is transmitted from the authoring station to a broadcasting station, the metadata and the at least one question is transmitted from the authoring station to the content repository, the broadcasting station is configured to broadcast the lecture via the first network, the first network is a satellite based Direct-To-Home network, and the content repository is configured to store the metadata and the at least one question.