Adaptive content delivery system and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to delivering adaptive content to a user via a user output device, typically a computer. In general, user information associated with a particular user is retrieved and activity selection and topic selection information are received. A set of one or more questions is retrieved based upon the selected topic and the user information. The retrieved question set is presented to the user in the context of interacting with the selected activity. Progression through the selected activity results from successfully answering the questions. In some instances, questions may be evaluated for bias with respect to particular user group(s). Further, certain embodiments may support assignment of particular topics, questions and/or activities to particular users or user groups. Facilities may also be supported for aiding users in developing and/or expanding the available questions, topics and/or activities.

1 . A method of providing adaptive content to a user via a user computer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) retrieving user information associated with the user;    b) receiving activity selection information indicating a selected activity, wherein the selected activity is selected from a specified set of available activities;    c) receiving topic selection information indicating a selected topic, wherein the selected topic is selected from a specified set of available topics;    d) retrieving a set of questions and answers based upon the selected topic and the retrieved user information;    e) providing the user with an opportunity to interact with the selected activity via the user computer wherein progression through the selected activity is based upon the user successfully answering selected questions from the set of retrieved questions and answers.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving user information comprises the steps of: 
 i) providing the user with an interface by which the user information may be entered; and    ii) in response to a trigger by the user indicating the entry of the user information through the provided interface, receiving the user information from the provided interface.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving user information comprises the steps of: 
 i) receiving identification information from the user; and    ii) requesting the user information from a data store based upon the received identification information.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , and further comprising the step of 
 iii) providing the user with an interface by which the identification information may be entered and wherein the step of receiving identification information comprises receiving the identification information from the provided interface in response to a trigger by the user indicating the entry of the identification information through the provided interface.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of receiving information from a request originating from the user computer.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information comprises the steps of: 
 i) providing the user with an interface by which the activity selection information may be entered; and    ii) in response to a trigger by the user indicating the entry of the activity selection information through the provided interface, receiving the activity selection information from the provided interface.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of providing the user with an interface comprises retrieving a select subset of the specified set of available activities for inclusion in the provided interface.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of retrieving the select subset is based upon the retrieved user information.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of retrieving the select subset is also based upon the selected topic.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of retrieving the select subset is based upon the selected topic.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information is based upon the retrieved user information.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information comprises the step of parsing the retrieved user information for information indicating the selected activity.  
   
   
       13 . The method for  claim 12 , wherein the step of parsing the retrieved user information for the activity selection information is based upon the selected topic.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information is also based upon the selected topic.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information is based upon the selected topic.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving topic selection information comprises the steps of: 
 i) providing the user with an interface by which the topic selection information may be entered; and    ii) in response to a trigger by the user indicating the entry of the topic selection information through the provided interface; receiving the topic selection information from the provided interface.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the user with an interface comprises retrieving a select subset of the specified set of available topics for inclusion in the provided interface.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of retrieving the select subset is based upon the retrieved user information.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of retrieving the select subset is also based upon the selected activity.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of retrieving the select subset comprises the step of parsing the retrieved user information for information indicating topic membership in the select subset.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of retrieving the select subset is based upon the selected activity.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving topic selection information is based upon the retrieved user information.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of receiving topic selection information is also based upon the selected activity.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of receiving topic selection information based upon the retrieved user information comprises the step of parsing the retrieved user information for information indicating the selected topic.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving topic selection information is based upon the selected activity.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of storing performance metrics associated with the user's progression through the selected activity.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , and further comprising the step of presenting the stored performance metrics associated with the user's progression through the selected activity.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of presenting performance metrics associated with the user's progression through the selected activity.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of presenting performance metrics associated with the user's progression through the selected activity comprises presenting the performance metrics to a second user.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the steps of: 
 f) providing an interface to a teacher user via a computer by which the teacher user may associate user specific topics selected from the specified set of available topics with a student user;    g) in response to a trigger by the teacher user indicating the entry of user specific topics through the provided interface, receiving the user specific topics from the provided interface; and    h) storing the user specific topics in user information associated with the student user.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving a set of questions and answers is further based upon the selected activity.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specified set of available activities comprises a plurality of available activities.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of f) determining a user language indicator from the retrieved user information.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of retrieving a set of questions and answers is based upon the determined user language indicator.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information is based upon the determined user language indicator.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of receiving topic selection information is based upon the determined language indicator.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of: 
 f) determining a user nationality indicator from the retrieved user information.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of retrieving a set of questions and answers is based upon the determined user nationality indicator.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information is based upon the determined user nationality indicator.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of receiving topic selection information is based upon the determined user nationality indicator.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising the step of f) determining characteristics of the user computer.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of receiving activity selection information is based upon the determined user computer characteristics.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the step of providing the user with an opportunity to interact with the selected activity comprises the steps of: 
 i) selecting for transmission appropriate data associated with the selected activity based upon the determined user computer characteristic; and    ii) transmitting data associated with the selected activity to the user computer via a communication channel.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the user with an opportunity to interact with the selected activity comprises the step of transmitting data associated with the selected activity to the user computer via a communication channel.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the step of providing the user with an opportunity to interact with the selected activity further comprises the steps of determining parameter associated with the communication channel used to communicate with the user computer and selecting for transmission appropriate data associated with the selected activity based upon the determined parameters.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the communication channel is selected from the group consisting of computer work, direct serial or parallel connection, dial-up connection, wireless connection and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the communication channel is the Internet.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retrieved user information comprises a difficulty level indicator selected from the group consisting of an age, grade, a level of prior performance on questions previously presented and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each available activity in the specified set is of a type selected from the group consisting of games and interactive stories.  
   
   
       50 - 86 . (canceled)