Study aid apparatus and method of using study aid apparatus

15 Pages·2013·1.3 MB·English

US006793129B2
(12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.: US 6,793,129 B2
Wood et al. (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 21, 2004
(54) STUDY AID APPARATUS AND METHOD OF 4,411,628 A 10/1983 Laughon et al.
USING STUDY AID APPARATUS 4,611,996 A 9/1986 Stoner
4,654,818 A 3/1987 Wetterau, Jr.
(75) Inventors: Michael C. Wood, Orinda, CA (US); 4,820,167 A 4/1989 Nobles et al.
Kelly Chapman, Foster City, CA (US); 5,035,625 A 7/1991 Munson et al.
5,184,830 A 2/1993 Okada et al.
Christa McClintock, San Francisco,
5,379,213 A 1/1995 Derks
CA (US); Ann F. Earp, San Francisco,
5,407,357 A 4/1995 Cutler
CA (US); Andrew B. Hartzell,
5,586,889 A 12/1996 Goodman
Emeryville, CA (US); Matthew P. 5,632,624 A 5/1997 Cameron et al.
Fishbach, Piedmont, CA (US) 5,813,861 A 9/1998 Wood
5,847,698 A 12/1998 Reavey et al.
(73) Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., 5,904,485 A 5/1999 Siefert
Emeryville, CA (US) 5,944,533 A 8/1999 Wood
5,961,333 A 10/1999 Harrison et al.
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 5,997,304 A 12/1999 Wood
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 6,142,784 A 11/2000 Wood
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 6,210,272 B1 * 4/2001 Brown ........... ..
6,356,287 B1 * 3/2002 Ruberry et al. ........... .. 345/864
(21) Appl. N0.: 10/218,688 OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(22) Filed: Aug. 12, 2002 Nintendo original Game Boy image (http://
WWW.studio42.com/). *
(65) Prior Publication Data
(List continued on next page.)
US 2003/0077558 A1 Apr. 24, 2003
Primary Examiner—Karl D. Frech
Related US. Application Data
Assistant Examiner—Daniel A. Hess
(60) Provisional application No. 60/347,783, ?led on Jan. 9,
2002, and provisional application No. 60/313,104, ?led on (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—ToWnsend and Townsend
Aug. 17, 2001. and CreW LLP
(51) Int. Cl.7 .......................... .. G06F 17/00; G09B 7/00 (57) ABSTRACT
(52) U.S. Cl. ...................... .. 235/375; 434/322; 434/323
A method of using a study aid apparatus is disclosed. The
(58) Field Of Search ........................ .. 235/375; 434/322,
method includes receiving supplemental information asso
434/308, 309, 336, 317, 307, 335
ciated With a printed textbook. After receiving the supple
(56) References Cited mental information, it can be loaded into a portable, study
aid apparatus. The study aid apparatus is then used to help
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS learn about subject matter in the textbook.
4,303,398 A 12/1981 Yoseloff
4,383,307 A 5/1983 Gibson, III 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
US 6,793,129 B2
Page 2
OTHER PUBLICATIONS Web page: “GarneBoy Color Educational Garnes;” Abacci
GameBoy Gar; at URL=http://abacci.corn/garneboy/gen
“An Overview of Sesame Street: Elrno’s 123S” Internet re.aspX?GenreID=1; printed Apr. 2, 2004; 1 page.
product revieW. http://rottentornatoes.corn/g/
SesarneStreetElrnosl23s—701752/overvieW.php.* Web page: “Sesame Street: Elrno’s 123s for Game Boy
“Packy And Marlon—Health Hero (US)” Internet product Color,” Abacci GameBoy Gar, at URL=http://abacci.corn/
garneboy/garne.aspX?garneID=1369&genreID=1; printed
revieW. http://WWW.screenrnania.retrogarnes.corn/snes/01/
Apr. 2, 2004; 5 pages.
snesi0048.htrnl. *
Web page: “Berlitz Spanish for Game Boy Color:”Abacci Web page: at URL=http://ntraulanen.?/cornputers/other/irn
GameBoy Gar; at URL=http://WWW.abacci.corn/garneboy/ ages/snesieuroipadjpg; 1 page.
garne.aspX?garneID=13268&genreID=1, printed Mar. 17,
2004: 2 pages. * cited by eXarniner
U.S. Patent Sep. 21, 2004 Sheet 1 0f 6 US 6,793,129 B2
FIG. 1(a) FIG. 1(b)

U.S. Patent
Sep. 21, 2004 Sheet 4 0f 6 US 6,793,129 B2
IOZN REGISTER ON WEB SITE
I
CREATE CONTENT PACKAGE
I
SEND CONTENT PACKAGE TO
‘IDEN
USER SITE
I
LOAD CONTENT PACKAGE IN
STUDY AI D APPARATUS
I
USE UPDATED STUDY AID
110m APPARATUS WITH PRINTED
TEXTBOOK
FIG. 4
U.S. Patent Sep. 21, 2004 Sheet 5 0f 6 US 6,793,129 B2
Chapter 4
Questions 1-5 are each worth 7 points -
Questions 6-13 are each worth 8 points Tota‘ Poms :00
Y 3
Part AMatch the statements with the words. m" We
__ 1. Charge on an atom that has lost electrons. a. lightning
______ 2. Electric charge built up in one place. b. negative 200
_ 3. An example of static discharge. 0. positive
_ 4. Charge on an atom that has gained electrons. d. like
_ 5. Static electric charges that repel on another. e. static electricity
Part 8 Select the letter oflhe comet answer in the blank.
6. Current electricity is the flow of____through a material.
a. electrons c. static
b. protons d. neutrons
7. Materials through which electrons flow easily are
a. insulators c. switches
b. conductors d. nonmetals
8. Continuous conducting paths over which electrons move are called
a. fuses c. switches
b. breakers d. circuits
9. In what kind at circuit does current flow through more than one pathway?
a. magnetic c. series
b. open d. parallel
10. A____is a safety device in which melting a metal strip breaks a circuit.
a. switch 0. kilowatt-hour
b. fuse d. circuit breaker
it. What unit is used to measure power?
a. watt c. volt
b. newton d. kilowatt-hour
12. How much would it cost to use a 100-watt light bulb for 30 hours. if electricity costs 15 cents
for each kilowatt-hour?
a. $20.00 c. $0.45
b. $0.20 d. $0.50
13. What causes the coil in an electric motor to turn?
a. the motion of the shaft attached to the coil
b. heat produced by electrons ?owing through electrical wires
c. a force produced by the interaction of two magnetic ?elds
d. static electricity built up in the coil
FIG. 5
U.S. Patent
Sep. 21, 2004 $116666 6 6f 6 US 6,793,129 B2
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one or mm subjad: below. then ch00» grade Info! and publisher to
view availabb textbooks.
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US 6,793,129 B2
1 2
STUDY AID APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
USING STUDY AID APPARATUS
Embodiments of the invention relate to study aid
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED apparatuses, methods of using the study aid apparatuses and
APPLICATIONS systems using the study aid apparatuses.
This US. non-provisional application claims the bene?t One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method
of the ?ling dates of US. provisional patent application Nos. of using a study aid apparatus, the method comprising: a)
60/313,104, ?led Aug. 17, 2001, and 60/347,783, ?led Jan. receiving supplemental information associated With a
9, 2002. These provisional applications and any US. patents printed textbook; b) loading the supplemental information
or patent applications mentioned beloW are herein incorpo
into a portable, study aid apparatus; and c) using the
rated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 10
portable, study aid apparatus to help learn about subject
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION matter in the textbook.
Public school systems have operated in substantially the Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a
same manner for many years. A student, particularly from portable, study aid apparatus for use in a system including
middle school on, uses at least one printed textbook for each 15 the portable, study aid apparatus and a printed textbook, the
major subject that the student is studying. portable, study aid apparatus comprising: a) a housing; b) a
Among the various proposals to improve the education processor in the housing; c) an audio device for providing
process, some have proposed replacing printed textbooks supplemental information associated With the printed text
With electronic textbooks. Among the stated advantages of book to the user in audio form, Wherein the audio device is
doing so, using electronic textbooks in place of printed 20 coupled to the processor; d) a memory for storing the
textbooks reduces the costs associated With printing and supplemental information and being coupled to the proces
alloWs for rapid updating of the textbooks. While these sor; and e) an input device coupled to the processor.
advantages are desirable, printed textbooks are still Widely
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a
used in schools despite the ever increasing use of electronics method for providing supplemental information for a printed
in peoples’ daily lives. Unlike electronic textbooks, printed
25 textbook to a user, the method comprising: a) receiving
textbooks are often easier to read than electronic textbooks, supplemental information for a plurality of printed text
because printed pages have less glare than display screens.
books; b) storing the supplemental information for the
Printed pages also have better resolution and contrast than
plurality of textbooks in a database; and c) sending the
display screens. Also, a student can more easily tab the pages
supplemental information to a user via the Internet, Wherein
in the textbook than the screens in an electronic textbook. A
30 the supplemental information is to be loaded into a portable,
printed textbook can consequently be easier to revieW than
study aid apparatus that is to be used With the printed
an electronic textbook. For these and other reasons, printed
textbook.
textbooks are likely to remain in schools for some time to
Systems including the above-described methods and
come.
study aid apparatuses are also disclosed.
HoWever, using printed textbooks alone has a number of 35
disadvantages. For instance, many of the printed questions at These and other embodiments of the invention are
described in further detail beloW With reference to the
the end of a speci?c chapter in a textbook may not truly test
foregoing draWings and detailed description.
a person’s comprehension of the subject matter in the
chapter. A student can have a desire or tendency to “peek”
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
at the questions and possibly the ansWers at the end of a 40
chapter in a textbook before they have actually fully read the FIG. 1(a) shoWs a front vieW of a study aid apparatus
chapter. Although such questions are meant to be “fresh” according to an embodiment of the invention.
questions that are presented to the student after the student FIG. 1(b) shoWs a side vieW of a study aid apparatus
is done reading a particular chapter, the questions may not according to an embodiment of the invention.
in fact be fresh questions to the user. Consequently, after the 45 FIG. 2 shoWs a block diagram of some components of a
user reads the chapter and ansWers the questions, the results study aid apparatus according to an embodiment of the
obtained may not be an accurate indication of the student’s invention.
true understanding the subject matter in the chapter. Also,
FIG. 3 shoWs a block diagram of a system according to an
While the printed questions test a student’s understanding of
embodiment of the invention.
the subject matter in a chapter in a textbook, the questions 50
may quickly become untimely. Questions and subject matter FIG. 4 shoWs a How chart illustrating a method according
in a science book, for example, can be readily outdated due to an embodiment of the invention.
to changing current events. Moreover, printed textbooks also FIG. 5 shoWs exemplary display that could be displayed
have only a limited number of questions at the end of each to a user When using a study aid apparatus according to an
chapter. Once a user attempts the questions at the end of a 55 embodiment of the invention.
chapter in a printed textbook, there are no more questions FIG. 6 shoWs an exemplary Web page.
available for a user to try. The user’s ability to prepare for
an upcoming exam can be limited by the number of available DETAILED DESCRIPTION
questions in the printed textbook. Lastly, it is dif?cult for a One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method
user to record his performance using paper alone. When 60 of using a portable, study aid apparatus. The method
using only a printed textbook, a user Would essentially have includes receiving supplemental information associated With
to manually record the number of questions that Were a printed textbook (such as an academic textbook).
successfully ansWered after doing each self-test. This is Preferably, the supplemental information is received by a
cumbersome and the user is unlikely to do this. user from a server computer that is accessible through the
It Would be desirable to retain the use of printed 65 Internet. The supplemental information supplements subject
textbooks, While using electronics technology to address the matter that is in a printed textbook that is used in a school
de?ciencies of printed textbooks. such as a middle school, high school, college, or university.
US 6,793,129 B2
3 4
For example, the supplemental information may comprise English), music, etc. In embodiments of the invention, a
multiple choice questions that pertain to chapter-speci?c single study aid apparatus can be used to provide supple
subject matter in a textbook that the user is using. mental information relating to many chapters in many
After receiving the supplemental information, it is loaded different types of textbooks to the user. For example, in some
embodiments, one study aid apparatus could contain supple
into a portable, study aid apparatus. In some embodiments,
mental questions for different chapters in six textbooks for
the supplemental information may be transferred to a trans
six different courses being taken by the user.
ferable information storage medium such as a data cartridge.
Embodiments of the invention advantageously retain the
The data cartridge can be inserted into the portable study aid
bene?ts of printed textbooks While addressing many of the
apparatus to load the supplemental information into the
de?ciencies of printed textbooks. For example, because
study aid apparatus.
pages of questions can be electronically stored in the study
Auser then uses the portable, study aid apparatus to help
aid apparatus, a user does not have the ability to “peek” at
learn about subject matter in the textbook. When using the
the questions before reading a chapter in a textbook.
portable, study aid apparatus, the supplemental information
Accordingly, When the user is presented With the questions,
can be presented to the user in audio and/or visual form. In
they are fresh and test the user’s true understanding of the
some embodiments, a speech synthesiZer Within the study
subject matter in the textbook. Also, in embodiments of the
aid apparatus can ask the user a question that is simulta
invention, the study aid apparatus can be readily updated
neously displayed on a screen in the study aid apparatus. The
With questions that are timely and also interesting to the user.
dialog for the question may be pre-recorded dialog. The
For example, algebra problems that include fact patterns
question and other questions can be used to test the user’s
pertaining to current, local sports teams or sports ?gures
understanding of the subject matter in a textbook. The user
could be presented to the user. In another example, the study
can use the supplemental information to help prepare for a
aid apparatus can present audio segments of current events
future exam, or simply learn about subject matter in a
to the user to supplement textbooks for social studies
textbook.
courses. Furthermore, in embodiments of the invention, sets
In embodiments of the invention, the user of the portable, 25 of questions can be doWnloaded from one or more server
study aid apparatus is typically a student such as a middle computers via the Internet. The user can have access to
school student (e.g., about ages 10—13, or about grades 6 to literally hundreds or thousands of questions for a textbook,
8). The user could also be a high-school student, college instead of just a feW questions. Consequently, the user’s
student, graduate student, or even a student that is younger ability to prepare for an upcoming exam is not limited by the
than a typical middle school student. number of available questions. Lastly, in embodiments of
The supplemental information may be any suitable infor the invention, after reading a chapter in a textbook, the study
mation that supplements a conventional printed textbook. aid apparatus can automatically record the user’s score after
Conventional printed textbooks include those that are pro presenting the user With a pop quiZ (e.g., Where the user is
duced by such Well-knoWn textbook publishers such as quiZZed to see hoW many randomiZed questions they can
Houghton Mif?in, McGraW-Hill, Harcourt and Prentice 35 correctly ansWer in a predetermined amount of time) or a
Hall. Examples of supplemental information include ques chapter challenge (e.g., Where after selecting a subject such
tions about the subject matter in a speci?c chapter in a as math, science, or social studies and a speci?c textbook
textbook, audio segments that may supplement subject mat chapter, the user is asked a series of questions that can be
ter in a textbook, or visual segments that may supplement ansWered in, for example, a multiple choice format). After
printed subject matter in a textbook. For example, images, taking the pop quiZ or chapter challenge, the study aid
40
video segments, or audio segments can be used to supple apparatus may display the user’s score. If the user is not
ment subject matter in a textbook. In a typical illustration, an satis?ed With the score, the user can then re-revieW the
audio segment of a famous speech by a famous politician chapter and take another pop quiZ or chapter challenge.
can be presented to the user by the study aid apparatus to Scores can be recorded over time and the user can track any
supplement text material about the politician in a printed progress being made. Because the scores can be recorded
45
textbook. HoWever, preferably, the supplemental informa electronically in embodiments of the invention, the user
tion comprises chapter-speci?c questions (or other test need not take the time to manually tabulate scores to
material) analogous to those found at the end of chapters in determine if progress is being made. Also, the pop quiZ
conventional printed textbooks. Examples of questions feature of the study aid apparatus alloWs a user to simulate
include multiple choice questions, ?ll-in-the-blank actual test conditions for a test that the user may take in the
questions, true-false questions, and matching questions. In future.
embodiments of the invention, a set of such chapter-speci?c Embodiments of the invention provide fun and engaging
questions (e.g., 10 or more) can be presented to the user in Ways to teach subjects to the user and helps the user prepare
the form of a pop quiZ or chapter revieW. In other for tests. There is a need among students in particular, for an
embodiments, the supplemental information may include 55 apparatus that can help them learn What they are studying
supplementary chapter outlines for the textbooks. Each and hoW it is being taught. By providing chapter speci?c
outline can cover key topics, de?nitions, concepts, and content based on a printed textbook used in the classroom,
events discussed in a textbook. These supplementary out the study aid apparatus can help the user learn What they
lines (or other supplemental information) can be printed need to knoW to perform Well on tests and quiZZes.
along With doWnloaded chapter questions With an appropri
FIG. 1 shoWs a frontal vieW of a study aid apparatus 20
ate computer and printer. according to an embodiment of the invention. The study aid
The printed textbooks and the supplemental information apparatus 20 is a hand-held apparatus that is portable and is
may teach the user any suitable subject. Suitable subjects preferably ergonomically shaped. Exemplary dimensions
include science (life, earth, and physical science), math can be 4“><6“><1“. Because the study aid apparatus 20 is
(computational skills, early algebra, geometry), social stud 65 portable, it can be used by the user at any suitable location.
ies (US. and World history, geography, anthropology), For example, the study aid apparatus 20 can be used While
vocabulary, foreign languages, grammar, language arts (e.g., the user is on a bus, Waiting for a bus, at school (e.g., in the