Patents Assigned to Blackboard Inc.
-
Patent number: 8265968Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, courses and other educational experiences may include material that is aligned with various goals and objectives of different units of the institution. A curriculum mapping feature is provided that identifies a bi-directional alignment between goals and courses such that curriculum gaps may be determined as well.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: David Yaskin, Greg Ritter
-
Publication number: 20120191598Abstract: A system for disbursing funds is described. The system includes a memory for storing cardholder information and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a cardholder identification, to receive a unique identifier from an instrument used for purchasing at least one of goods and services, to associate the unique identifier with the cardholder information based on the received cardholder identification, and to send the unique identifier and the cardholder information to a server. Methods and machine-readable storage media are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Pedro Jose Marzo, Daniel Scott Gretz, Jeffrey Todd Staples, David Bruce Marr
-
Publication number: 20120124111Abstract: In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for storing data is provided. The system includes a processor that receives an application request to update a file on a server storage device, and generates, based on the request, a command to update the file on a server storage device. The system also includes a communications module that provides, to the server storage device, the command to update the file on the server storage device. The request is formatted for a file storage protocol of a client storage device, and the command is formatted for a file storage protocol of the server storage device. The command to update the file on the server storage device is not specific to the application generating the application request. Methods and computer-readable mediums are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Michael Mast, Barry Lind, Tomas Ruzicka
-
Publication number: 20120054674Abstract: A graphical user interface system is provided. The system includes a display and a processor, coupled to the display, configured to display a window, in an initial position. Upon receiving a window docking input by a user indicating a request to dock the window at a predefined docking point, the processor is configured to dock the window at the predefined docking point. The docking of the window at the predefined docking point includes hiding a portion of the window. Upon receiving a window docking input by a user indicating a request to simultaneously dock each of a plurality of windows at a predefined docking point, the processor is configured to dock each of the plurality of windows at a corresponding position on the predefined docking point, including hiding a portion of each of the plurality of windows. Methods and computer-readable mediums are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Kayvon Beykpour, Ben Cunningham, Joseph Bernstein, Zexiao Yu
-
Publication number: 20120054667Abstract: In certain embodiments, a graphical user interface system is provided. The system includes a display and a processor, coupled to the display, configured to display a plurality of windows. The processor is configured to simultaneously receive from a user a plurality of window action inputs, each window action input associated with a corresponding window, indicating requests to conduct actions with the corresponding windows. Each window action input is separately provided by the user. Each window includes a frame portion and a content portion including an object having at least one predetermined function and capable of receiving an input configured to active the predetermined function. When the processor receives a window adjustment input for the object from a user indicating a request to adjust the window, the window is configured to be adjusted. The window adjustment input is different than the input. Methods and computer-readable mediums are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Kayvon Beykpour, Ben Cunningham, Joseph Bernstein, Zexiao Yu
-
Publication number: 20110082913Abstract: A system for generalizing the format of instructional content for mobile delivery is disclosed. The system includes a processor configured to identify institutional content in a client-specific data file, and further configured to store, in a memory, the identified institutional content as generalized institutional content. The system also includes a communications module configured to receive, from a mobile device, a request for the generalized institutional content. The processor is configured to provide, to the mobile device in response to the request, the generalized institutional content in a format configured for display on the mobile device. Methods and machine-readable mediums are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Kayvon BEYKPOUR, Aaron WASSERMAN, Ben CUNNINGHAM, Pablo JABLONSKI, Joseph BERNSTEIN, Nils ROCINE
-
Publication number: 20110082808Abstract: A system for integrating user-specific institutional content for mobile delivery is disclosed. The system includes a communications module configured to receive, from a mobile device, a request for target institutional content based on source institutional content and an identification of a user. The system also includes a processor configured to obtain, from a memory, the target institutional content based on the source institutional content and the identification of the user, and further configured to provide, to the mobile device in response to the request, the generalized institutional content in a format configured for display on the mobile device. Methods and machine-readable mediums are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Kayvon BEYKPOUR, Aaron WASSERMAN, Ben CUNNINGHAM, Pablo JABLONSKI, Joseph BERNSTEIN, Nils ROCINE
-
Publication number: 20110070573Abstract: An instructional content and standards alignment processing system is disclosed. The system includes a computer-readable memory configured to store information indicative of instructional content, a first educational standard, and a second educational standard, and configured to store at least one alignment between the instructional content and the first educational standard and at least one mapping between the first educational standard and the second educational standard. The system also includes a processor configured to automatically generate at least one alignment between the instructional content and the second educational standard based on the mapping between the first educational standard and the second educational standard. The computer-readable memory is configured to store the alignment between the instructional content and the second educational standard after the alignment is confirmed by a user. Methods and machine-readable mediums are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Bret Carlton DENNIS, JoAnna Hunt, Claude Vervoort, Joel Lindsey, Deborah Everhart
-
Publication number: 20110067028Abstract: A device for processing electronic transactions is disclosed. The device includes a processor configured to receive, from a client processing device, a request for information to complete an electronic transaction by a user at an access device affiliated with an educational institution. The processor is further configured to transmit, to the client processing device, a response to the request, the response configured to be transmitted by the client processing device to the access device. The request for information is triggered at the access device by an identification carrier. The response to the request includes at least one of a permission or denial whether to provide, to the user, access to an educational space or item, access to electronic educational information, or determining at least one of the price and availability of an educational item to the user. A client-side device is also disclosed. Methods and machine-readable mediums are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Dennis COZART, Lorcan McGuinness
-
Patent number: 7908602Abstract: A system, method and medium for providing and/or installing extensions to enhance functionality of a computer system. User roles may be provided or associated with extensible components in determining user access to the enhanced functionality.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Alcorn, Scott N. Perian, John S. Fontaine, Daniel F. Rinzel, Jr., Dorothy R. Brown, Christopher Etesse, David Yaskin
-
Publication number: 20100263018Abstract: A system for processing electronic transactions according to policies is disclosed. The system includes a user module configured to store computer-readable information related to a user, and a policy module configured to store a plurality of policies for electronic transactions. Each policy for an electronic transaction includes a permission to access a physical space or item by a user. The system also includes a processor configured to receive a request to complete an electronic transaction by the user, and configured to dynamically apply, upon receipt of the request by the processor, the plurality of policies to the user based on the request to complete the electronic transaction. Methods and machine-readable mediums are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: BLACKBOARD INC.Inventors: Dennis Cozart, Lorcan McGuinness, Michael Peterson
-
Patent number: 7788207Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integrating educational software. In one implementation, a first server receives an identifier of a second server that provides at least one source educational course. A second server receives metadata for the at least one source educational course and stores the metadata.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Alcorn, Deborah A. Everhart
-
Patent number: 7558853Abstract: A system and methods for implementing education online by providing institutions with the means for allowing the creation of courses to be taken by students online, the courses including assignments, announcements, course materials, chat and whiteboard facilities, and the like, all of which are available to the students over a network such as the Internet. Various levels of functionality are provided through a three-tiered licensing program that suits the needs of the institution offering the program. In addition, an open platform system is provided such that anyone with access to the Internet can create, manage, and offer a course to anyone else with access to the Internet without the need for an affiliation with an institution, thus enabling the virtual classroom to extend worldwide.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Blackboard, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Alcorn, Daniel E. Cane, Michael L. Chasen, Timothy R. Chi, Stephen R. Gilfus, Scott Perian, Matthew L. Pittinsky
-
Patent number: 7493396Abstract: A system and methods for implementing education online by providing institutions with the means for allowing the creation of courses to be taken by students online, the courses including assignments, announcements, course materials, chat and whiteboard facilities, and the like, all of which are available to the students over a network such as the Internet. Various levels of functionality are provided through a three-tiered licensing program that suits the needs of the institution offering the program. In addition, an open platform system is provided such that anyone with access to the Internet can create, manage, and offer a course to anyone else with access to the Internet without the need for an affiliation with an institution, thus enabling the virtual classroom to extend worldwide.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Blackboard, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Alcorn, Daniel E. Cane, Michael L. Chasen, Timothy R. Chi, Stephen R. Gilfus, Scott Perian, Matthew L. Pittinsky
-
Publication number: 20060026213Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing a community of users access to content items. The content items relate to a plurality of courses, with each user being associated with one or more of the courses. A method of managing and controlling access to the content items can include the steps of (a) receiving from one or more of the users proposed content items for inclusion in a content repository; (b) selecting content items from the proposed content items for inclusion in the content repository; (c) specifying which of the users are eligible to access which of the content items in the content repository; and (d) providing access to content items in the repository over a network to users specified to have access to given content items.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Applicant: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: David Yaskin, Heather Natour, Zahra Safavian, Tom Joyce, William Langford, Daniel Cane, Timothy Chi, Stephanie Cupp, Anita Bhorjee, Jessica Finnefrock, Deborah Everhart
-
Patent number: 6988138Abstract: A system and methods for implementing education online by providing institutions with the means for allowing the creation of courses to be taken by students online, the courses including assignments, announcements, course materials, chat and whiteboard facilities, and the like, all of which are available to the students over a network such as the Internet. Various levels of functionality are provided through a three-tiered licensing program that suits the needs of the institution offering the program. In addition, an open platform system is provided such that anyone with access to the Internet can create, manage, and offer a course to anyone else with access to the Internet without the need for an affiliation with an institution, thus enabling the virtual classroom to extend worldwide.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Alcorn, Daniel E. Cane, Michael L. Chasen, Timothy R. Chi, Stephen R. Gilfus, Scott Perian, Matthew L. Pittinsky
-
Publication number: 20050086296Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing data files to a community of users. The data files relate to a plurality of courses. Each user is associated with one or more of the courses. The system includes client devices operated by the users and a server system in communication with the client devices over a network. The server system provides to the client devices access to data files relating to courses with which the users are associated. The server system also includes a content system for storing content items from users. The content items in the content system are selectable by users for inclusion in one or more of the plurality of data files.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Applicant: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: Timothy Chi, Daniel Cane, Lara Oerter, Jessica Finnefrock, Deborah Everhart, Michael Chasen
-
Publication number: 20040167822Abstract: A transaction system conducts online transactions between a community of users associated with an organization and off-site vendors. Each user has an account for use in on-site transactions and other activities. The transaction system displays online items offered for sale by off-site vendors. The system can receive an order from a user for an item offered by an off-site vendor. The system determines if sufficient funds exist in the account of the user for the order and, if so, charges the account of the user for the order and transmits the order to the off-site vendor for order fulfillment. The system then pays the off-site vendor for the order.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Chasen, Timothy R. Chi, Christopher E. Etesse, William H. Langford, Jianjun Xu
-
Publication number: 20040030781Abstract: A system, method and medium for determining and displaying one or more locales on a web browser. The method can include the steps of providing in the web browser a plurality of display regions, associating a locale with a plurality of web pages, selecting by a user a user-specified locale, associating the locale with one or more particular display regions, and determining whether the locale is mandatory. If the locale is mandatory, content associated with the user-specified locale can be translated to content associated with the locale. Finally, content is displayed in the one or more particular frames in accordance with the locale.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Applicant: Blackboard Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Etesse, Jennifer R. West, Michael L. Chasen