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.

1 . A microphone apparatus for use with a user computer, the microphone apparatus comprising: 
 a microphone transducer that converts speech input to an electrical signal and provides the electrical signal to the user computer over a channel;    a code generator that provides a code output to the user computer over the channel.    
     
     
         2 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the code generator includes a modem transmitter.  
     
     
         3 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a wireless channel.  
     
     
         4 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a wired channel.  
     
     
         5 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the wired channel comprises a USB compliant channel.  
     
     
         6 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the code generator provides the code output in response to user activation of a switch.  
     
     
         7 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the microphone apparatus includes the switch.  
     
     
         8 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the user computer permits the user to interact with a computer language learning facility, wherein the user interaction comprises language learning responses submitted to the computer language learning facility through the microphone apparatus, and wherein the user computer authenticates the user if user authentication information is obtained by the computer language learning facility during the permitted user interaction and if a proper identification code is received from the code generator of the microphone apparatus, such that the user computer permits continued interaction only if the user is authenticated.  
     
     
         9 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the language learning responses and received code are transmitted over the channel, which comprises a wireless channel.  
     
     
         10 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the language learning responses and received code are transmitted over the channel, which comprises a wired channel.  
     
     
         11 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the wired channel comprises a USB compliant channel.  
     
     
         12 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the user computer verifies that the user is an authorized speaker by analyzing user speaker verification information that is obtained from the user during the language learning user interaction through the microphone apparatus.  
     
     
         13 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the user computer provides the user with limited access to a predetermined number of language learning data modules of language instruction.  
     
     
         14 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the user computer receives a user request for access to additional language learning data modules of the language instruction, wherein the user request includes a payment authorization for the additional modules and wherein the use computer permits the requesting user to have access to the paid-for additional modules of the language instruction program.  
     
     
         15 . A microphone apparatus for use with a user computer, the microphone apparatus comprising: 
 a microphone transducer that converts speech input to an electrical signal and provides the electrical signal to the user computer over a channel;    code means for providing a code output to the user computer over the channel.    
     
     
         16 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the code means produces an identification code and wherein the user computer permits the user to interact with a computer language learning facility comprising language learning responses submitted to the computer language learning facility through the microphone apparatus, such that the user computer permits continued interaction only if the user is authenticated, and such that the user computer authenticates the user if user authentication information is obtained by the computer language learning facility during the permitted user interaction and if the identification code is received from the code means and is a proper identification code.  
     
     
         17 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the language learning responses and received code are transmitted over the channel, which comprises a wireless channel.  
     
     
         18 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the language learning responses and received code are transmitted over the channel, which comprises a wired channel.  
     
     
         19 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the wired channel comprises a USB compliant channel.  
     
     
         20 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the user computer verifies that the user is an authorized speaker by analyzing user speaker verification information that is obtained from the user during the language learning user interaction through the microphone apparatus.  
     
     
         21 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the user computer provides the user with limited access to a predetermined number of language learning data modules of language instruction.  
     
     
         22 . The microphone apparatus as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the user computer receives a user request for access to additional language learning data modules of the language instruction, wherein the user request includes a payment authorization for the additional modules and wherein the use computer permits the requesting user to have access to the paid-for additional modules of the language instruction program.