IL155326A - Learning system - Google Patents

Abstract

Learning system, which comprises: (a) a server (1), comprising a general hardware and software, such as are present in a programmed computer; a number of data storage segments; and one or more general implementing processes applicable to a plurality of data storage segments for using the information stored therein; (b) a number of subjects (21), each of which consists essentially of data stored in the server database and of implementation software required for accessing and processing said database, each database relating to a given matter, which subjects are the sections stored in the server; (c) individual communication means (3) for placing each student in two-way communication with said server. 2778 י" ב בתשרי התשס" ה - September 27, 2004 פירוט זה נבחן בהתאם לתקנה 35 לתקנות הפטנטים, תשכ" ח-1968 This specification was examined in accordance with regulation 35 of the Patent Regulations, 5728-1968.

Description

155326/3 LEARNING SYSTEM Learning System Field of the Invention This invention relates to a learning system which is pedagogically and psychologically efficient and permits students to manage the way and timing of their educational progress, comprising the degree of knowledge from which he starts and the degree of knowledge that he wishes to attain. The system of the invention does not require the presence or the collaboration of a teacher in real time, although such a presence is possible in this invention, nor does it comprise or require equipment other than a personal communication means, typically a telephone, of the student, server systems that are readily available, and conventional connection means.

Background of the Invention The use of telephones, and in particular, cellular telephones is becoming increasingly widespread, and increasingly encompasses all types of communication. The present art tends to provide cellular telephones with structural elements and functions that are conventionally typical of computers and thus to blur the distinction between phones and computers.

Educational material that can be acquired by telephones is now available, being, for instance, stored in memories available to the public. However, the usefulness of such material is limited, since it is not flexible and cannot be adapted to the cultural level and to the requirements of different users. It has a relationship to a learning process similar to that of a lecture delivered to a public.

While it would be very advantageous to carry out an educational system by means of long distance communication, it should be considered that certain requirements and limitations should be observed in this regard. Firstly, any such system should be flexible, viz. should give to its students the possibility of adapting it to their cultural level and their needs. Secondly, it should not require special equipment, and should be such that it can be carried out with existing telephones and other existing hardware. Thirdly, it should be easy to select and easy to implement. Fourthly, it should not involve high expenses. Fifthly, it should permit the student (by which term is meant anyone who implements the education system, even occasionally and for whatever purpose) to record, for future use, any matter emerging in the implementation of the system. Finally, it should be pleasant and entertaining insofar as possible.

It is therefore a purpose of this invention to provide such an educational system.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an educational system that involves the use of existing personal telephones and of servers which substantially exist and are available to the public, although intended for other uses and may require some modifications, mainly software ones, in order to fit the purposes of this invention.

It is a further object to permit those who avail themselves of such educational system to obtain and store records of their learning activities and useful material that may have surfaced as a consequence of using the system.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention The system of the invention comprises a) A server - "server" means herein a combination of hardware and software, comprising all the programs and the database required for carrying out a given process and all the hardware required for implementing the hardware, regardless of whether it is concentrated in a single computer or divided among a plurality of computers and regardless of the location of the computer or computers and including all memory means and all the transmission mean, if required, regardless of their nature. The "servers" that are part of the system of the invention comprises three main components: I) general hardware and software, such as are present in a programmed computer; II) a number of data storage segments, and III) specific implementation software applicable to a plurality of data storage segments for using the information stored therein. Servers of this kind already exist and are used, for instance, for playing games, but the name "server", as used herein, is not intended to limit the function, purposes and subjects that are comprised in this invention, and that do not relate to games, but to learning processes. However, the invention applies to servers that may be created in the future and which may or may not be used for playing games in addition to implementing the invention. Further, the term "server" applies to any combination of the aforesaid three components, whether they are concentrated in a single unit, such as a large, computer, and/or in a single location, or they are divided or consist of parts that are divided among several, structurally or functionally connected, units and/or several locations. b) It is further stressed that the term "server" relates to any a machine equipped with suitable software capable of operating on a variety of communication system and applies, among other things, to: • A telephone network server which is an internal or external component of a fix line telephone network • A server that is part of a cellular phone network • An Internet server of any kind • A local private network server (like in a LAN or WAN configuration) • A private telephone network server (as in the case of a private office telephone system) • A server that operates an IVR system • A server that operates a cable TV system • A server that operates the broadcasting of a radio system • A server that can mediate between users that are using different Individual communication means operating on different systems (e.g. cellular and fix line systems), as defined and described below, and is capable of putting the user in communication and allow the users to interact between them and the server and between the users themselves.

• A server as described above that allows participation of users that use different kinds of Individual communication means based on different systems, platforms and technologies and that is capable of taking into consideration the limitation posed by some Individual communication means in the course of the learning process and that is still able to deliver material in a format that is, at least, partially useable by all or most of the users. In other words, said server is capable of bridging among participants using different technologies by employing a methodology the takes into account the diversity of the technologies used by different participants.

A number of "subjects", each of which consists essentially of a database and of inner software which is a subset of the implementation software required for accessing and processing said database, each database relating to a given matter, examples of which will be given, which "subjects" are the types of data stored in data storage segments in the server. The term "subject" should be construed herein (unless otherwise specified) as meaning the aforesaid combination of database and inner software. A plurality of subjects, that have some common features and are such that the same general implementing process is applicable to all of them, will be considered as belonging to the same "category". The implementation of subjects not belonging to the same category may require different processes, although all such processes will have a common main portion and differ from one another mainly by relatively minor additions or modifications, each of which is specific to a subject category. In each or some of the subjects, may be comprised different zones and means may be provided for selectively addressing each zone, these zones comprising, for many, but not necessarily for all, subjects, at least two zones, designated herein as "levels" and "skills", the levels defining different degrees of knowledge pursued by a student as a function of the student's present degree of knowledge, and the skills defining different situations or uses for which knowledge is pursued by a learner. Language zones may also be defined by the language of the student in embodiments of the invention. In the description of embodiments, it will be assumed that English is the student language or a language with which the student is familiar and which he intends to use English, but this is done for the sake of example and does not constitute a limitation, although it will be a common case. c) Individual communication means for placing the student in two-way communication with the server. Said means comprise telephones, particularly but not exclusively cellular telephones, and telephones in combination with computers, taking into account that in modern technology that combination tends to become structural, by which is meant that modern telephones, particularly cellular ones, are so structured that they can carry out at least some of the functions of a computer.

In this application and claims, the term "telephone" or "phone" should be construed as any kind of Individual communication means that, together with the server described above belong to the system of the invention. The aforesaid devices and any similar devices that may comprise structural and/or functional additions and improvements, presently foreseen or not.

The term "Phone" this invention, more specifically, includes, as non-restrictive examples, the following items: * Cellular and any kind of mobile phone.

* Regular fix line phones with or without messaging features (e.g. SMS).

* Internet phones, that is any PC computer that is equipped with modem, microphone, speakers, internet access and suitable software that enable the phone to have internet telephony, voice over IP communications and messaging features such as SMS (Short Message Service), MMS(Multimedia messaging), instant messaging and so forth.

* Any device capable of communicating using TCP/IP protocols and HTML, XML, CHTML and HDML, WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) and related ones like.

* Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) such as Palm Pilots, Wireless Terminals and such that used alone or in conjunction of another device such, for example a cellular phone, are capable of having voice conversation including internet telephony, voice over IP communications and messaging features such as SMS, MMS, EMS, instant messaging and so forth * TV sets that function as terminals in a cable TV system and that allows the user, employing remote control procedures, to interact with the TV cable system * Local networks terminals, that is, any terminal e.g. phone or pc that are part of a system run locally like a LAN (Local Area Network) or an private office telephone system where the system server is controlled by a private organization and not by the service provider.

* Any Java enabled device.

* Any device capable of short-range radio transmissions like, for instance, Bluetooth transmissions.

* Any device among the mentioned one capable of at least one-way transmission among the ones described (e.g. a TV set capable of only receiving but not of transmitting voice).

* Any device that can interact with an IVR (Interactive Voice Response * One or more of the above mentioned devices, coupled or used in conjunction of another of the above mentioned devices.

* One or more of the above mentioned devices, coupled or used in conjunction with computers or communication devices d) The communication between the student and the server may be direct or indirect, such as, e.g., the communication through a telephone exchange between a telephone and an Internet server. As we saw, the term "telephone" or "phone", as used herein, means any device capable of delivering and receiving acoustic messages, in particular capable of permitting a voice conversation, either over fixed communication lines, or radiation, or a combination of them, cellular systems, IP or other protocols. Bearing this fact in mind, selection means are provided in the server to take into account the functional possibilities of the learner's individual communication means. For instance, said communication means may include or not include the possibility of receiving and displaying images. Said selection means may involve the formation of separate zones or only the transmission of code words or the selection from among a number of alternatives.

The server may advantageously be capable of generating and transmitting sounds and voice files, such as can be received and sounded by the individual communication means. This capability is particularly important with respect to some subjects. For instance, learners of a foreign language are naturally interested in learning the correct pronunciation of words, both for better understanding of what is said to them and for being better understood; and some learners may wish to improve the pronunciation of their own native or acquired language. Thus, specific subject zones may be mainly acoustic.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the student registers at least part of the subject matter and/or the results of said learning activities. In another embodiment, he may form his own personalized subjects and/or zones, optionally including said results, and memorize them in a memory accessible to him at will. Thus, the user creates a sort of private database that contains a list of his acquired knowledge. Such a memory may be included in an Individual communication mean like, e.g., a telephone; or, if the Individual communication mean is too limited to register said subjects and/or zones, it may be included in other memory means available to the learner, e.g. in a PC or in the memory section reserved for the student's phone address in a telephone exchange data storage segment.

Non-limitative examples of subjects, to which this invention is directed, are: languages, alive or dead; commercial exchanges; everyday life; travel; history, both general and of specific fields; biology; psychology; specific subjects of chemistry and physics; chess; music, etc.

The process of the invention comprises: I) Registering in a server, as hereinbefore defined, a number of learning subjects, one or more of which preferably comprise each a number of zones, more preferably including a level zone and a skill zone; II) Providing in said server selection means for selectively accessing any one of said subjects and anyone of said zones, if there are such zones; III) Accessing through a telephone, as hereinbefore defined, said selection means and selecting through said selection means a desired subject and a desired zone, if there are such zones; TV) Carrying out the learning activities programmed in said subject and in said zone, if there are such zones; V) Preferably, registering at least part of the subject matter and/or the results of said learning activities; and VT) Optionally, forming subjects and/or zones, that may include said results, and memorizing them in a memory accessible at will to the learner.

Typically, for connecting with the server, the student dials a number or simply selects an option available on the phone menu that grants the student access to the server. A specific protocol of communication is not required for doing this. Known protocols may be used, e.g., TCP/IP, WAP or any Internet Wireless protocol. In the case of a regular fix line phone connection, the student selects the desired subject and/or subject zone by navigating the menu of a phone server program in an IVR operating style or by directly dialing a number associated with a specific subject.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a block diagram, schematically illustrating the structure and operation of a system according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment. For the sake of illustration, examples will be given with reference of language studies but this done in a non-restrictive way and it must be stressed that a variety of subjects can be taught using the same system.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Since a typical embodiment of the invention comprises the learning of a language, an example of such will now be given. In the following example a language - say, Italian - is being taught to English speakers on an English-based system.

The "student", initiating the lesson, dials a number or simply selects an option available on the phone menu that grants him access to a server. Then, the student selects the desired subject and/or subject zone, generally through a succession of steps: 1) selection of a category, 2) selection of a subject within the category, 3) selection of a zone within the subject, if it is divided into zones. Categories, subjects and zones may be browsed through a number of them using a simple nesting logic. In this example, the student carries out successively the following selections: 1) the category, which is "languages"; 2) the subject, which is "Italian"; 3) the zone, which is typically a "level" or a "skill". If the student selects the "level" option, the lesson will be based on the material appropriate for the level chosen. If he selects the "skill" option, the available situations will be displayed, indicating the level of difficulty entailed, so that the student may choose according to his present level and his specific need.

The content of the categories, the subjects and/or the zones is stored in the database of an Instructional Phone Server (IPS), as part of the "Instructional Phone Server Database" (or more briefly, "IPS Database" or "IPS DB"). For each in level zone of the IPS DB, is stored data that includes words/sentences/phrases sharing a similar degree of difficulty as defined according to pedagogical criteria. For each in skill zone of the IPS DB, is stored data related to a specific situation, e.g., "making a phone call in Italian", "buying a coffee in Italian", "days of the week", "numbers", etc. If the student selects a skill rather than a level, the IPS DB will inform the user of the level to which each element that belongs to the skill (or as hereafter defined, each "instructional unit") pertains.

The IPS DB stores data in a variety of formats. The same "instructional unit" may have relevant data stored in multiple formats. The term "instructional unit" refers to a standalone chunk of information that is dealt with separately in the course of the instructional process. For instance, a single word, if dealt with separately, represents an instructional unit. The same word appearing in the context of a sentence may not be an instructional unit, but the sentence itself may constitute the instructional unit. For example, if the Italian word "casa" (house) is taught individually, as part of a vocabulary list, it may be an instructional unit. If the word "house" appears in the context of the sentence, "This is my house", it is no longer an instructional unit, but rather the sentence itself, "This is my house", becomes the instructional unit.

Now, the instructional unit "casa" may be represented and stored in a number of formats, primarily, but not exclusively, as follows: a) Text format (ASCII or related ones) - the word "casa" may be displayed on the phone display. b) Sound format (WAV, MP3 or related ones) - the word "casa" may be heard through a phone loudspeaker or a hand-free kit. c) Graphic format (Gif, Jpeg or related ones) - the picture of a house in representation of "casa" may be displayed on the phone display. d) Movie format (MMS or related ones) - a movie or an animation that shows a house is displayed on the phone display. e) Message format (SMS, e-mail, e-mail attachment, instant messaging or related etc.) - the information is relayed to the user as part of a storable message. f) Any combination of the above-mentioned formats.

The learning process may and often will involve a single student, and in the present example will develop as follows, after the student has selected, within the "language" category and the "Italian" subject, and among the zones, either a "level" or a "skill".

The IPS retrieves from its database a set number of suitable questions according to a predetermined logic. For example, the retrieved questions may be chosen randomly among a larger number of questions belonging to the same level, and they may be chosen also by applying additional criteria such as a specific grammar problem revealed by analyzing the student's history, as recorded in the IPS DB, as being problematic for the student.

Let us assume that the questions are displayed in text format. The following example illustrates one of the many possible ways in which a question can be formulated: The word "casa" in Italian means: 1. food 2. home 3. money 4. cake The student has to select the answer he/she deems to be correct by using any means available on his/her specific handset and system, including: input by using the keypad, scrolling, selecting, pointing and clicking using built-in or add-on pointing or navigation devices, or voice recognition.

For every question a certain amount of time is allowed to select the answer; if it elapses with no response from the student, the IPS proceeds with appropriate action, such as moving on to the next question and updating the student's score.

At the end of the learning session - when questions and/or the time allocated for the session have ended, or another criterion (for example, a set number of "credits" are utilized) is met - the IPS acts as follows: 1. Informs the student that the session is over. 2. Informs the student of the final score. 3. Advises the student as to what would be the preferable action, such as to repeat the session at the same level or to proceed to a different one, more suited to the student. 4. Records in the IPS DB information regarding the student's performance in the session. 5. Processes said information, reaches a conclusion, and undertakes appropriate actions such as adding or removing the student from a shortlist of best students eligible for a prize.

The learning process may also be carried out with the concurrent participation of two (or more) students, on condition that both of them operate through the same server. In this case the first student, who initiates the match ("the challenger"), challenges the second student, who may be considered to be "the opponent", to a match. Once the opponent accepts the challenge, the match begins. The server mediates between the challenger and the opponent and runs the match.

Now the student-challenger and the student-opponent are presented in turn a number of questions. A set of simple rules determines the length of time that is allowed for answering each question, the score assigned to each question, the difficulty of the question, the handling of unanswered questions, and so forth. The questions are retrieved from the subject database and are directed to the handset displays of both students, or at least to one of the handsets, typically in a text format.

At the end of the match, the server proclaims the winner and gives both students the option to play another match, or quit.

The data concerning the students and their performances is stored in the IPS database and processed according to the outcome of the match. For instance, the ranking of the two students is updated in the overall list of those who have selected the subject concerning which the match has taken place, and they may also be included in a shortlist of best students entitled to a prize or some benefit.

The system components and stages shown in the drawing (Fig. 1) will now be explained.

Instructional Phone Server (IPS) (1) This server is capable of operating on a variety of communication systems, like cellular, fix line phone, internet etc.. It consists of a machine (10), that can be any suitable computer out of the many existing ones, and does not have to be a dedicated machine, as long as it is sophisticated and powerful enough to run the necessary software, process and store the needed data. The IPS runs some General Software (GSW) (11) that provides the general functioning environment of the IPS, including the Operating System that, again may be one of many, such as, for instance, Unix, Linux, Windows etc. With the support of the GSW (11), some software, peculiar to the fulfillment of the invention, is run. This software is the Implementation software (12) or, in brief, ISW. The ISW (12) is a bundle of applications that create, run and manage the instructional matter that is, the subjects (20). Among other things, the ISW is responsible for: (a) the instructional process, namely delivering the lesson and/or giving the students and, optionally the instructors, access to the instructional matter; (b) Running all kinds of operation on the IPS Data Base (IPS DB)(13); (c) Allowing the interaction between all parties involved in the learning process and, especially, the IPS (1) and the students and, optionally, instructor, using Individual Communication Means (I CM) (3).

The IPS Data Base (IPS DB) (13) comprises the following elements: Administration (14) - This section of the (IPS DB) (13) contains personal data of the students and optionally of instructors, such as personal details, payments related to the attendance of leaning sessions, personal preferences and so forth.

Results (15) - This section contains the student history, viz., when did the student access the learning system, for how long, his scores, if any, obtained in the course of the learning process, and the personalized Instructional Units (IU) (25) library. The Instructional Units library is a segment of the IPS DB (13) that is allocated to the student in order to record, store and manage Instructional Units (IU) (25) to be used at any time, and not necessarily during a learning session run by the IPS (1), with or without an instructor or another student. In other words, the IU (25) library can be consulted asynchronously and not synchronously with a learning session run by the IPS (1).

The Categories (2) contain the data used in the learning process. The Categories require the ISW (12) in order to create a learning activity, since the ISW provides the process through which the data contained in the Categories is presented to the students, as well as the rules that govern the interaction between the student and the server in the course of the learning process.

Each Category within the Categories (2) consists of a number of Subjects (21) having a common nature. For instance the Category "Languages" comprises Subjects like "Italian", "English", "Hebrew", "Spanish" etc.

Each Subject has at least two Zones (22). The Zones represent different types of accessing data contained in the Subject. For instance, the Zone "Levels" (23) allows the student to access data according to the proficiency level to which a chunk of data, that is, an Instructional Unit (25) belongs. The Zone "Skills" (24) allows the student to access data according to the language function, that is, the situation, to which an Instructional Unit (25) belongs.

An Instructional Unit (IU) (25) is a standalone chunk of information. In the example of language instruction it can be a single word or a sentence, depending on the context.

The IU has a number of Instructional Units Dimensions (IUD) (26) such as, for example, (a) IU Formats (IUF) (27), that are the different data formats used to represent an IU. Examples of IUF (27) are text (200), sound (201), graphic (202), movie (203) and message (204). The same IU may be present in the IPS DB (13) with many formats; (b) IU Variables (IUV) (28) are data attached to an IU. Examples of IUV are skill (24), level (23), score (205) which represents the weight of an IU in a learning activity and the time (206) allowed to the student for dealing with a given IU in the course of a learning activity.

Individual Communication Means (I CM) (3) may be any kind of "phone", as defined in this application. Examples of ICM, schematically shown in the drawing, are a cellular phone (30), a fix line phone (31), a PC (32), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) (33) and a cable TV (34). The ICM can communicate with the IPS (1) and between themselves. Depending on every specific system, the ICM (3) may be optionally equipped with an Instructional Units Manager (IUM) (35). The IUM is an internal software that enables the user to communicate with the IPS or any other source of IU (for instance a PC capable of communicating with the ICM) record, store, view, run, play edit and manage IU in the ICM itself rather than in a segment of IPS DB (13) allocated to the student. The IUM (35), in addition to managing the IU, also allows the student to practice them by running some procedures that create a standalone learning environment that also provides the student with feedback, e.g. a self-test. The advantage of the IUM (35) is that the student can perform learning activities offline, that is, without being in communication (online) with the IPS (1). This may result in improved speed and save the cost of online learning. For the sake of clarity it is stressed the terms "online" and "offline" are to be construed in the widest for of any communication and it is not restricted to any specific communication, such as, for instance, Internet connection.

Another embodiment will now be described. In its description, the numbers are as used to identify the several items in Figure 1.

The student, using a cellular phone as an individual communication means (3), enters in communication with the Instructional Phone Server (1), and selects a skill (24) in the zones (22). For the sake of example, let us suppose that the subject (21) is the English language and that the subject is: "making a simple office phone call". The skill is mastered when the student is capable of understanding and carrying out a short telephone conversation. In the conversation are involved two parties: the caller and the receptionist. The student is required to be able, eventually, to act as both parties.

The skill consists of the following conversation comprising seven sentences: 1. R(eceptionist): Smith & Clark Law office. Good morning, may I help you? 2. C(aller): I would like to speak with Mr. Clark. 3. R: I am sorry but Mr. Clark is in court now. Who is calling please? 4. C: This is Mr. Hoffman. What time will Mr. Clark be back in the office? 5. R: I don't know. Would you like to leave a message? 6. C: No thanks. I'll call him tomorrow. Goodbye. 7. R: Thank you. Have a nice day.

The student accesses the subjects (21), the zone (22) and selects the skill (24). The learning activity, run by the Implementation Software (12), drawing data from the Instructional Phone Server DataBase (13) begins and includes the following steps: On the student's phone display, appears an activity menu. Hereafter is the description of the menu and its activities: Listen The student hears the conversation. The voice is played by the phone, sentence by sentence. In this and in all the following options, the student can move to the next or the previous sentence or repeat the same sentence using predetermined phone keypad buttons.

Read The student reads the text of the conversation. The conversation appears on the phone display sentence by sentence and the student can move to the next or the previous sentence using predetermined phone keypad buttons.

Listen & Read A combination of the two previous options.

Listen & Watch Each sentence is heard and is accompanied by movie frames or by a picture illustrating the content of the conversation (e.g. Mr. Clark on his way to court).

Listen, Watch & Read A combination of the previous options.

Listen & Read Each sentence is heard and is accompanied by the text that is being heard.

Watch & Speak The students views the movie or the pictures and speaks the related text Listen & Speak In a more advanced option, the conversation is heard and is paused, from time to time, at predetermined points. At this points, the student is required to speak the next word in the conversation. This option assumes that the system is equipped with voice recognition features. If the system recognizes the word spoken by the student as being correct, the conversation resumes and pauses on the next input point. If the student speaks the word incorrectly, he is prompted to speak again the missing word.

The listen & Speak option may require some previous voice sampling of the student's voice. The voice recognition engine, and the samples may be present and stored in the Instructional Phone Server (1) in the Individual Communication Means (3) or distributed among the two, according to the specific configuration being used.

Each menu item may also have an "Alternate" option that is helpful in order to practice the roles of the parties involved in the conversation, one at the time. For instance, the "Alternate" option applied to the "Listen & Watch" item would allow the student to watch the movie while hearing only the voice of the receptionist and to speak text of the caller, and vice versa.

A Save IU (Instructional Unit (25)) option allows the student to save the current IU (25) including their specific formats. For instance, selecting the Save IU option while carrying out the Read activity would result in saving the text of the conversation, for instance, in SMS format (204). The Save IU option, while carrying out the Listen, Watch & Read activity would result in storing the conversation in a format that includes movie (203) + sound (201) and graphic (202), the latter instead of SMS (204) since, this time, the text would be displayed as captions in the movie.

The Instructional Units (25) are saved either in the Results (15) section of the IPS DataBase (13) or, directly, in specific data storage means present in the individual communication means (3), depending on the specific hardware and system being used. The saved IU are then run, viewed, played, edited and managed using the Implementation software (12) or/and the Instructional Unit Manager (35) depending on the system configuration, the data storage location and on whether the learning activity is carried out online or offline, that is, whether the activity requires the involvement of the IPS (1) or is self-contained in the ICM (3).

While embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be implemented with many variations, modifications and adaptations, without departing from its spirit or exceeding the scope of the claims. In particular, it may be implemented in the learning of widely different subjects and for widely relate to items in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

As Individual Communication Means (3), in this case, a TV set operating on a cable system, is in communication (39) with an Instructional Phone Server (1). The Implementation SW (12) runs an activity by which the students learn about different mathematical functions. The questions are retrieved from the IPS DataBase (13). The TV set screen (34) is split in five areas. The text field (37) and four graphic fields (38). The students are required to recognize which one, among the four displayed graphs, represents a polynomial function. The student uses the TV set remote control (36) to select the appropriate answer (in this case option (B)). The selection may be carried out in a variety of ways, e.g., by selecting a number or a predetermined button on the remote control or by using any other features of the remote control. Optionally, any pointing device that can communicate with the TV set may be used. The student receives appropriate feedback to his selection according to predetermined rules.

While embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be implemented with many variations, modifications and adaptations, without departing from its spirit or exceeding the scope of the claims. In particular, it may be implemented in the learning of widely different subjects and for widely different purposes.

Claims (25)

1. Learning system, which comprises: a) a server, comprising a general hardware and software, such as are present in a programmed computer; a number of data storage segments; and one or more general implementing processes applicable to a plurality of data storage segments for using the information stored therein; b) a number of subjects, each of which consists essentially of data stored in the server database and of implementation software required for accessing and processing said database, each database relating to a given matter, which subjects are the sections stored in the server. c) individual communication means for placing each student in two-way communication with said server.

2. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the individual communication means are chosen from among: * Cellular phones and any kind of mobile phone. * Regular fix line phones with or without messaging features (e.g. SMS). * Internet phones, that is any PC computer that is equipped with modem, microphone, speakers, internet access and suitable software that enable the phone to have internet telephony, voice over IP communications and messaging features such as SMS (Short Message Service), MMS(Multimedia messaging), instant messaging and so forth. * Any device capable of communicating using TCP IP protocols and HTML, XML, CHTML and HDML, WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) and related ones like. * Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) such as Palm Pilots, Wireless Terminals and such that used alone or in conjunction of another device such, for example a cellular phone, are capable of having voice conversation including internet telephony, voice over IP communications and messaging features such as SMS, MMS, EMS, instant messaging and so forth * TV sets that function as terminals in a cable TV system and that allows the user, .employing remote control procedures, to interact with the TV cable system * Local networks terminals, that is, any terminal e.g. phone or pc that are part of a system run locally like a LAN (Local Area Network) or an private office telephone system where the system server is controlled by a private organization and not by the service provider. * Any Java enabled device. * Any device capable of short-range radio transmissions like, for instance, Bluetooth transmissions. * Any device among the mentioned one capable of at least one-way transmission among the ones described (e.g. a TV set capable of only receiving but not of transmitting voice). * Any device that can interact with an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) * One or more of the above mentioned devices, coupled or used in conjunction of another of the above mentioned devices. * One or more of the above mentioned devices, coupled or used in conjunction with computers or communication devices.

3. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the telephones are cellular telephones.

4. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the general implementing processes comprise processes each of which is adapted to implement a category of subjects.

5. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the processes comprise a plurality of processes adapted to implement a category of subjects having a common main portion.

6. Learning system according to claim 2, wherein the communication between the telephone and the server is direct.

7. Learning system according to claim 2, wherein the communication between the telephone and the server is indirect.

8. Learning system according to claim 7, wherein the communication between the telephone and the server is a communication through a telephone exchange.

9. Learning system according to claim 1 wherein the server is any machine equipped with suitable software, capable of operating on a variety of communication system

10. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the server is a server capable of bridging among participants using different technologies by employing a methodology the takes into account the diversity of the technologies used by different participants

11. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the server is chosen from among: A telephone network server which is an internal or external component of a fix line telephone network; A server that is part of a cellular phone network; An Internet server; A local private network server; A private telephone network server; A server that operates an IVR system; A server that operates a cable TV system; A server that operates the broadcasting of a radio system; A server that can mediate between users that are using different individual communication means operating on different systems and is capable of putting the user in communication and allow the users to interact between them and the server and between the users themselves. A server that allows participation of end users that use different kinds of individual communication means based on different systems, platforms and technologies and that is capable of taking into consideration the limitation posed by some individual communication means in the course of the learning process and that is still able to deliver material in a format that is, at least, partially useable by all or most of the users.

12. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein in a number of subjects are comprised different zones and means are provided for selectively addressing each zone.

13. Learning system according to claim 12, wherein the zones comprise level zones and skill zones, the levels defining different degrees of knowledge pursued by a student as a function of the degree of knowledge already acquired, and the skills defining different situations or uses for which knowledge is pursued by a learner.

14. Learning system according to claim 12, wherein the zones comprise language zones.

15. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the server is capable of generating and transmitting sounds, text and images.

16. Learning system according to claim 1, wherein the subjects are directed to arguments chosen from among languages, alive or dead; commercial exchanges; everyday life; travel; history, both general and of specific fields; biology; psychology; specific subjects of chemistry and physics; chess; and music.

17. Learning process, which comprises: I) Registering in a server a number of subjects; II) Providing in said server selection means for selectively accessing any one of said subjects; III) Accessing through individual communication means and, in particular but not exclusively, a telephone, said selection means and selecting through said selection means a desired subject; and IV) Carrying out the learning activities programmed in said subject.

18. Learning process according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the subjects comprises a number of zones, the desired zones are selected and accessed and the learning activities programmed in the accessed zones are carried out.

19. Learning process according to claim 17 or 18, further comprising registering at least part of the instructional units that pertain to the subject matter and/or the results of the learning activities.

20. Learning process according to claim 18, further comprising forming subjects and/or zones that include the results of the learning activities and memorizing them in a memory accessible to the student.

21. Learning process according to claim 19, where the results of the learning activities are memorized in a memory accessible to the student in an external server.

22. Learning process according to claim 19, where the results of the learning activities are memorized in a memory present in the individual communication means used by the student.

23. Learning process according to claim 19, where the results of the learning activities are managed and edited, viewed, played and run using an instructional units dedicated manager software.

24. Learning process according to claim 17, where a single student takes part in the learning process.

25. Learning process according to claim 17 where a number of students take part simultaneously in the learning process, interact among themselves, interact among themselves and/or the server and interact among themselves and/or a tutor. #189856 FOR THE APPLICANT Dr. ritzhak Hess & PirtntB