Microphone apparatus for interactive learning system

Abstract

A microphone apparatus includes a code generator that produces a code output and communicates with a user computer over a channel via which the microphone apparatus provides an electrical signal to the user computer. The microphone apparatus is used by the user such that the user provides authentication information comprising a user code that is generated by the code generator of the microphone apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No. 10 / 023,923 filed Dec. 18, 2001 to Z. Shpiro, et al. which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 256,558 entitled “Access Control for Interactive Learning System” by Z. Shpiro et al., filed Dec. 18, 2000. Priority of the filing dates of these applications is hereby claimed, and the disclosures of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates generally to access control for computer network resources and, more particularly, to controlling access to a network location that provides interactive learning processing. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] As commerce becomes more global, the need for understanding second languages and being able to communicate in them is growing. The Foreign Language / Second Language training i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention provides a technique to control access to computer network resources at a computer facility by permitting a user to interact with the computer facility through a computer node of a network, wherein the user interaction comprises language learning responses submitted to the computer facility through the computer node, and by performing a user authentication process to determine if the permitted user interaction is authorized and determining whether the permitted user interaction should be continued, if the user is determined not to be authorized, wherein the user authentication process is performed with user authentication information that is obtained by the computer facility during the permitted user interaction and also with user authentication information extracted from the user's language learning responses. In this way, user authentication occurs without intruding into the utilization of the computer facility.

[0013] The user authentication can occur as a result of speaker recognition processes that utilize speech information collected from the user who currently has access to the computer facility. The access control is especially suited to language training systems that collect speech information from users as part of their normal operation. In this way, the invention permits publishers of materials to incorporate both printed and Internet materials at a computer facility with confidence that the computer facility will be usable only by authorized persons.

Problems solved by technology

Several attempts have been made to apply various Foreign Language / Second Language training processes to the Internet world, but most of them are simple conversions of printed, audio, and video material into a computer client-server application; i.e. the Internet applications are typically not offering new features beyond the current features offered by conventional media.

The publishing industry involved with Foreign Language / Second Language training is vulnerable to lost revenue due to forgeries, lending, photocopying, and second-hand purchases of their printed training materials.

A forgery occurs when someone makes an unauthorized copy of the original training materials, such as by illicit photocopying.

Lending losses occur because copies of original materials are loaned to third parties, who then need not purchase the source materials.

Similarly, unauthorized photocopying of original materials results in reduced demand for the materials.

Second-hand purchases deprive publishers of revenue because the second-hand seller receives the revenue from such sales.

All of these uses of original materials are either unauthorized or currently beyond the control of the publishers, and all reduce the publisher's revenue.

Because on-line access is so easily obtained, the easy access also means that the opportunity for unauthorized usage of the applications and materials in the new medium is greater.

In such systems, access is denied until a speaker recognition process is completed.

The phenomena of photocopying, second-hand purchase, lending, and forgery is a significant problem for the publishing industry.

The publishing industry suffers significant losses of potential income due to the significant rise in second-hand sales of previously used materials, and due to purchases of books and the lending and photocopying of books, primarily in the educational sector.

Many of these laws might benefit the consumer, but will be highly detrimental to the publisher, because they will result in a decrease of purchases of original materials from the publisher.

In addition, the forgery phenomenon prevalent in the designer clothing industry has infiltrated the publishing industry as well, resulting in serious profit losses to the publisher.

As noted above, however, the opportunity for fraudulent use of such learning sites is great.

This is undesirable for at least two reasons: first, the performance that is viewed by the service provider is not the performance of the actual student to whom it is attributed; and secondly, at least two persons are utilizing the learning site, although only one is providing payment or being charged, resulting in revenue loss for the Web site provider.

Images