KR20010016239A - Remote education system and method using messenger, Application Service Provider functions and document transfomation technique - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system and a method for remote educating using messenger, ASP and document converting technique are provided to enable a learner to use a remote education system using a web browser only without additional application installing process by inserting a file converter in remote education system, and converting the existing document to the HTML document. CONSTITUTION: A computer communicating network(70) is a computer network capable of connecting interactive using TCP/IP. In addition, the computer communicating network(70) may be a local area network(LAN) connected by a coaxial cable or an optic fiber, or a wide area network(WAN) as a total service digital network(ISDN), a broadband total information communication network(B-ISDN). A computer system(80) comprises general desktop personal computer, a dummy terminal and thin client. A messaging engine(30) provides a function for informing new lecture update in real time and a program for dialogue to a learner and a lecturer in real time through a network as the internet. An ASP engine(40) constitutes a server side scripting environment capable of being used in creation of a web server application. A lecture database(50) stores a dynamic image, voice, a base document, homework data, reply data for a question etc.. A lecture database(60) stores a dynamic image, voice, a base document, reply data for homework, and question data.

Description

Remote education system and method using messenger, Application Service Provider functions and document transfomation technique}

The present invention relates to a distance education system using a computer communication network. More specifically, the present invention relates to a remote education system using a messenger function for notifying the arrival of a message to a user, an application service provider (ASP) function, and a document conversion technology.

Due to the rapid development of computer technology and the development of communication technology, many industries can transfer information through computer communication networks such as the Internet without restriction of time and space between information provider and information receiver or user. It is widely used in the field. In particular, the world wide web technology is a technology that allows information users to easily find the necessary information by connecting information on the Internet through a method called hypermedia. The information provided by the server is reconstructed by a browser (eg, Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Explorer) installed on the client (ie, information consumer) side. Thus, the World Wide Web operates in the form of a fully distributed client / server model, and can provide information in various forms such as graphics, audio, and video using the client's multimedia environment. Therefore, if the computer communication network using the world wide web technology is used in the education industry, it will be possible to provide various types of educational services to information users or learners remotely.

A conventional distance education system using a computer communication network such as the Internet is shown, for example, in Patent Registration No. 191329, "Method and Apparatus for Distance Education on the Internet," published June 15, 1999. However, in the conventional remote education system through the Internet communication network, educators and learners must install and store a program necessary for learning in their computer system and execute the program directly. In addition, there is a disadvantage that a document file which is not compatible with a specific educational program cannot be used as it is for learning. In addition, even if a new lecture is updated, there is a hassle that a learner needs to execute the program to check for it.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the problems of the prior art, and to provide a distance learning service for educators and learners without installing a separate program.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a distance education service that can utilize an existing document by converting a document that is not compatible with the distance education program.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a distance learning service that enables a learner to access the updated learning contents in real time by actively notifying the learner when a new lecture is updated.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a distance learning system according to the present invention.

2 is a flow diagram illustrating the overall process of a distance learning method in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a message notification function of a messaging engine and a process of executing a learner program.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a lecture writing process of an instructor.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a learner's real-time lecture learning process.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a learner's non-real-time lecture learning process.

7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating a course file transfer process and a course file reception process, respectively.

8 is a screen configuration diagram showing an example of an ASP service according to the applet method.

9 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating an example of an ASP service according to a desktop sharing method.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a document conversion process performed in a document conversion module.

11 is an exemplary flowchart of an HTML document conversion process.

12 is a flowchart of a document conversion function.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ASP engine according to the present invention.

14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ASP engine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Major Symbols in Drawing>

10: distance education system

20: document conversion module

30: messaging engine

40: ASP engine

50: Lecture Database

60: learner database

70: network

80: learner computer system

The remote education system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a remote education system that is connected by a plurality of learners and computer communication networks and provides education services in real time or non-real time to the learners, a real time notification function to the plurality of learners A messaging engine that provides real-time conversational functionality, a document conversion module that converts existing documents and files into lecture documents, an ASP engine that receives HTTP requests from the plurality of learners, and allows script code to be interpreted and executed on a server computer; Includes lecture database and learner database.

The distance learning method according to the present invention is a distance education method for providing a learning service to a plurality of learners connected by a computer communication network in real time or non-real time, comprising: driving a document conversion engine to create a lecture file, and lecture the created lecture file Storing in a database, transmitting the created lecture file to the plurality of learners, transmitting a message informing the plurality of learners in real time that the lecture file has been transmitted, and requesting a lecture start from the learner who received the message. Accepting an HTTP request; driving an ASP engine that accepts an HTTP request from the plurality of learners to cause script code to be interpreted and executed on a server computer; lectures to the plurality of learners in real time or in non-real time upon request Including steps to proceed do.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a distance learning system according to the present invention. The distance learning system 10 includes a document conversion module 20, a messaging engine 30, an ASP engine 40, a lecture database 50, and a learner database 60. The distance learning system 20 is connected to a computer system of a plurality of users 80A, 80B, 80C, ..., 80N by, for example, a computer communication network 70 such as the Internet.

The computer communication network 70 may be a computer network that may be interconnected using TCP / IP, and may be a local area network (LAN) connected by coaxial cable, optical fiber, integrated service digital network (ISDN), broadband integrated information network (B). It can be a wide area network (WAN) such as ISDN.

The user's computer system 80 includes a dummy terminal, thin client system, as well as a general desktop personal computer (PC).

The document conversion module 20 of the distance learning system 10 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

The messaging engine 30 provides a function for notifying learners of new lecture updates in real time through a network such as the Internet, and a program or service for allowing learners and instructors to communicate in real time. This overcomes the limitations of e-mail: the other party cannot verify that the message was received and cannot receive it immediately after sending it. The messaging engine 30 may use programs such as iChat Pager, ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), and People Link. E-mail can only be sent through a mail server that has its own domain name registered when sending and receiving mail. Therefore, at least two mail servers must be passed between the receiver and the sender. It is directly connected to one main server. Since one server is shared by both parties, it is possible to immediately check whether transmission and reception are possible, and the transmission speed is that fast.

ASP engine 40 configures a server side scripting environment that can be used to create a web server application. Server scripting means that script code is interpreted and executed by a script engine on a web server computer providing a web service. Typically, web pages have script code that controls the standard HTML controls or ActiveX controls that are included in the web page. This client-side script code is interpreted and executed by a script engine installed on the user's computer. This is called client-side scripting. However, the ASP engine 40 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 13, receives the HTTP requests from the plurality of users 80 so that the script code can be interpreted and executed on the server computer 40 to interpret the script code. It provides a foundation for properly distributing tasks and execution between clients and servers. The ASP engine 40 supports Virtual Basic script or Javascript and also runs on the server, so it is independent of the client's operating system and web browser.

14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ASP engine 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ASP engine 40 is composed of, for example, the Windows NT servers 42 and 46 and the Windows terminal server 44. The ASP engine 40 includes a management layer 41, an application layer 45, and a database layer (a structure separated from each other). 51). The ASP engine 40 having such a structure can host a window-based application composed of three separate functionally grouped layers. Three layers logically group core application functionality. The management layer 41 may include an application specific management interface. The application layer 45 may include various applications provided by the operating system platform and the ASP engine as hosting services. The database layer 51 provides data for the hosted application. The SQL server 53 can be used to implement multiple databases. By separating the database layer 51, it is possible to manage client security issues, data utilization, and the like independently of application service provision. The Windows NT server 42 includes, for example, an Internet Information Server 43 (IIS), and the Windows Terminal Server 44 includes an Internet Information Server 47 and a Site Server 49. Applications based on Windows Terminal Server 44 can gain time-to-market because the Windows platform can select applications based on the needs currently being used, and allows operating systems to easily deploy applications for other platforms. An environment that can be developed is guaranteed.

Lecture database 50 stores video, voice, background document, writing information, homework data, question and answer data, and learner database 60 is video, voice, background document, writing information, homework answer data, question data, etc. Save it.

2 shows the overall flow of the distance learning method according to the present invention.

In step 90, the ASP engine is driven. In step 91, the instructor writes a lecture, which may then go through a document conversion engine (step 93) to convert the existing document. The created lecture is stored as a lecture file in the lecture database 50 in step 92. The created lecture file is transmitted to the user (step 94), and a message is sent to the learner that the lecture file has been transmitted (step 95). The learner who receives the message executes the learner program and receives a learner request requesting to start a lecture (step 96). If the learner's request is received, the lecture is started in real time (step 97).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a message notification function of a messaging engine and a process of executing a learner program.

The messenger program is executed in the learner computer system 80 (step 101). The messenger monitors whether a new message, such as a lecture file, has arrived from the distance learning system 10 (step 102).

When a new message arrives (step 103), it is determined in step 104 whether the message arrived indicates that a new lesson has been updated, and if it is a notification message about a new lesson update, the flow proceeds to step 105 where the learner opens a new lesson. Ask if you want to see. In step 105, if the learner chooses to open a new lecture, the list of new lectures is downloaded (step 106) and then the distance learning program for the learner is driven (step 107). On the other hand, in step 105, if the learner does not choose to open a new lecture file, the process returns to step 102.

When the distance learning program for the learner is started, the list of lectures appears in the lecture list window of the distance learning program, in which the new lecture and the previous lecture are distinguished (step 108). If the learner clicks the desired lecture among the lectures shown in the list (step 109), the learner asks whether the learner will download the lecture in step 110. If the learner chooses to download, they download the selected course file (step 113) and then start learning the lesson (step 112); if they do not choose to download, they begin streaming (step 111) to begin learning the lesson (step 111). Step 112).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that the message arrived at step 103 is not a new lecture file, the process proceeds to step 114 and determines whether the message indicates that the instructor requested a conversation with the learner. If the learner selects a conversation response to the conversation request message in step 115, the process proceeds to step 116 where the learner program is executed. When the learner program is executed, the remote video chat module provided to the ASP is operated to perform the remote video chat (step 117). On the other hand, if the learner does not respond to the conversation in step 115, the process proceeds to step 102.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a lecture writing process of an instructor.

In step 120, when the instructor starts to write a lecture, a blank desktop copyboard is displayed on the monitor of the user's computer. The instructor selects Open Document from the menu of the copyboard and reads the prepared document (steps 123 and 124). In this case, the read document is converted into an HTML file and then displayed on the copyboard through a document converter such as a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) converter (see FIGS. 10, 11 and 12).

In step 126, the distance learning system asks the learner whether to lecture in a real-time manner or in a non-real-time manner. If the learner selects the real-time lecture, the learner saves the document on the server and confirms whether to proceed with the lecture. (Step 127). If the learner chooses to save the document to the server, in step 129, the document is saved to the server. If the learner does not choose to save the document to the server, the learner asks whether to proceed with peer-to-peer (P2P). (Step 128). P2P is a service that enables file sharing and file transfer between PCs without the need for a server system. When the above operation is completed, the learner's messenger informs that the real-time lecture has arrived (step 130).

In operation 126, if the learner does not select a real-time lecture, it is determined whether to select a non-real-time lecture or an offline lecture (step 132). If the learner selects a non-real-time lecture, in step 133, the lecturer creates a lecture by writing / voice / video. The course creation progress can be recorded, and after the recording is completed, the course file is compressed through a file compression process (step 134) (see FIG. 7). The compressed lecture file is stored in the server (step 135), and the learner's messenger informs that the non-real-time lecture has been newly updated (step 137).

5 is a flowchart illustrating a learner's real-time lecture learning process. If the learner is notified of the arrival of the real-time lecture in step 130 of FIG. 4, the messenger displays and displays a dialog box informing the arrival of the real-time lecture in step 152 of FIG. 5. If the learner chooses to open the course in step 153, the user is asked in step 154 whether the lecture is in real time or in P2P format, and if it is in P2P format, the lecture document is downloaded to the user's local or computer system (step 155) and the downloaded document is downloaded. After loading and opening (step 156), the lecture proceeds in synchronization with the instructor system (step 157). Synchronized real-time lectures can be conducted in various ways, such as writing, voice, and video using the electronic blackboard.

During or after the real-time lecture, the learner can exchange questions and answers with the instructor (steps 158 and 159), and after the lecture, the instructor can give the learner homework (step 16). The learner does the homework and then delivers the result to the instructor (step 161). All of this learning process can be stored on the local system (steps 162, 164, 165) for later review.

On the other hand, if the real-time lecture selected by the learner in step 154 is not in the P2P format, and the syllabus document is stored in the server (step 168), the document is downloaded to the local system (step 169) and synchronized with the instructor system to proceed with the lecture. In response to the document being placed on the server, the lecture may be performed in a streaming form (step 170).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a learner's non-real-time lecture learning process.

If the non-real-time lecture is updated in the server in step 136 of FIG. 4, the messenger displays a dialog box indicating that the non-real-time lecture has been updated, as shown in FIG. 6 (step 172). If the learner chooses to open the non-real-time lecture that arrives (step 173), the course file is downloaded to the local system (step 175), and if the lecture is not selected, the messenger icon changes to show that a new lesson has arrived ( Step 174).

The lecture file downloaded in step 175 is decompressed in step 176. The decompressed lecture document is loaded into the copyboard in step 177 and displayed on the learner's screen.

In step 178, the lecture recorded by the instructor is executed based on the lecture document loaded on the copyboard. Lectures are conducted in a variety of ways, including writing, voice, and video. The learner can ask the instructor questions as indicated in step 179 during or after the lecture. The learner may ask the instructor a question by writing a question to the instructor and sending it in a mail or uploading it to a bulletin board of the server (step 180). If the lecture file includes homework (step 181), the learner may write the homework and send it to the instructor by e-mail or upload it to the bulletin board of the server (step 182). The course learned above can be stored in the local system (steps 183 and 185).

7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating a process of transmitting and receiving a lecture file.

In FIG. 7A, various types of documents or files, such as a background document 201, a voice file 203, a writing file 205, and a moving picture file 207, are combined into one document in step 209 to form one multimedia document 211. To). Explaining the document combining and conversion process, first, create one empty file, arrange the number of documents to be combined and the length of each document as headers, and place each document in the body in order. It also converts the combined documents into one compressed file of minimum size using a compression algorithm.

The converted document 211 is converted into a compressed document 214 that can be compressed in step 213 and provided to the learner with high transmission efficiency, and is sent to the learner in step 210. The conversion up to the compressed document file is performed by the file compression block 200.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the local system that receives the compressed lecture file 214 in step 240 performs the file unblocking block 230. First, in step 233, the file 214 is decompressed and restored to the multimedia document 215. A document in which several documents or files are combined is restored to the original document or file, for example, the base document 201, the audio file 203, the writing file 205, and the moving image file 207 by the uncombining process of step 237. . The unpacking process 237 is performed by a process opposite to the document combining process 209 described with reference to FIG. 7A.

Application Service Provider (ASP) Function

An ASP functions to host an application program or application, just as an Internet service provider (ISP) hosts a website.

8 is a screen showing an example of an ASP service according to the applet method. This service is a method of ASP service by inserting a Java applet or ActiveX module into a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) document.

9 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating an example of an ASP service according to a desktop sharing method. This service is a method in which a learner system connects to a server system (ASP engine 40 of FIG. 1) to remotely execute a learner program and then learns. As in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the application runs in a web browser. do.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a document conversion process performed in the document conversion module.

The document conversion module (eg, the document conversion module 20 of FIG. 1) is a general document 252 such as a Microsoft Access document, a Microsoft Word document, a Microsoft PowerPoint document, a Hangul (HWP) document, a Hunminjeongeum document, or the like. The general document file and the image file 250 are converted by the document converter 254 and converted into the HTML file 256 and the image file 258. The function of the document converter 254 will be described later.

11 is an exemplary flowchart of an HTML document conversion process.

Convert each page to an image file in a multipage general document (260) (262), create an HTML document with the basic HTML format, and then link to the image files you have already created in this document. By implementing the HTML tag (264), the conversion process of the general document into the HTML document is completed.

12 is a flowchart of a document conversion function.

First, in step 270, document information is read. After detecting the number of pages of the read document (step 272), an image file is generated for each page (step 273) to generate an empty HTML document having a basic frame (step 274). In step 278, a link to the image file is generated in the HTML document and finally converted into the HTML document.

As described above, the distance learning system and method according to the present invention using the messenger function, the ASP function, and the document converting technology inform the learner that the messenger program is actively updated, thereby enabling the learner to learn the updated lecture in real time. And eliminates the need for an instructor to process existing documents using a separate application and convert them into documents that can be used for distance education. It has the function of converting the standard document into HTML format, which makes it easy to write lectures by handling the conversion process, and the instructor and learner can use the web browser only to install the distance learning system without the need for a separate application installation process. Available By doing so, users can benefit from renting and using the software at a convenient and low cost.

Claims (13)

A remote education system connected to a plurality of learners by a computer communication network and providing education services to the learners in real time or non-real time, A messaging engine providing a plurality of learners with a real time notification function and a real time conversation function; A document conversion module that converts existing documents and files into lecture documents, An ASP engine that accepts HTTP requests from the plurality of learners to cause script code to be interpreted and executed on a server computer; Distance learning system including lecture database and learner database. The remote learning system of claim 1, wherein the ASP engine includes a management layer, an application layer, and a database layer that are separated from each other but functionally connected to each other. The remote education system of claim 1, wherein the ASP engine provides an ASP service according to an applet method. The remote education system of claim 1, wherein the ASP engine provides an ASP service according to a desktop sharing method. The document conversion module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the document conversion module comprises means for converting a page into an image file in an existing document, means for creating a basic HTML document in an HTML format, and the converted image in the basic HTML document. And a means for linking the file. 3. The remote learning system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of learners consists of a client computer system, the client computer system comprising a desktop personal computer, a dummy terminal, and a thin client system. A remote education method for providing educational services in real time or non-real time to a plurality of learners connected by a computer network, Driving the document conversion engine to create a lecture file, Saving the created lecture file in the lecture database, Transmitting the created lecture file to the plurality of learners, Transmitting, in real time, a message informing the plurality of learners that a lecture file has been transmitted; Receiving an HTTP request requesting to start a lecture from a learner who received the message, Receiving an HTTP request from the plurality of learners to drive an ASP engine to interpret and execute script code on a server computer; Proceeding to the plurality of learners in real time or in real time as required Distance education method comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein when the learner selects a real-time lecture, Saving the document to the server to confirm the lecture, Confirming whether or not to proceed with the P2P method, If you selected a live lesson, save the document to the server and notify the learner about the arrival of the live lesson, And when the lecture is selected in the P2P manner, further comprising loading the lecture document into a learner computer system. The method of claim 8, wherein the lecture comprises a writing method proceeding, a speech method proceeding, a video method proceeding. In the case of claim 8, when the learner selects a non-real-time lecture rather than a real-time lecture, Notifying learners that the non-real-time course has been updated, And sending the non-real-time lecture at the request of the learner. The lecture file writing step of claim 7, Converting pages from existing documents into image files, Creating a basic HTML document in HTML format, Linking the converted image file to the basic HTML document. The method of claim 7, wherein the lecture progress is performed according to an ASP service based on an applet method. The method of claim 7, wherein the lecture progress is performed according to an ASP service based on a desktop sharing method.