JP2002156894A - Remote education method and remote education system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Problem] To provide a distance learning method and system that can provide the same education as when gathered in a classroom, even when the instructor and the student are in remote places distant from each other. I do. A computer for an instructor and a computer for a student,
3 is connected via the Internet 4. The oral explanation of the lecturer is transferred from the microphone 22 and output to the speaker 31.
The image of the teacher's face from the camera 23 is transferred and displayed on the display 32. The instructor transfers the handwritten input to the tablet 21 and displays it on the display 32.
The image of the face of each student from the camera 33 is transferred and displayed on the display 24. The oral question of the student from the microphone 34 is transferred and output to the speaker 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method in which an instructor and each student are connected to each other even if the instructor is in a cram school and a plurality of students in a place other than the cram school (for example, a general home). The present invention relates to a distance education method and a distance education system used for enabling a class similar to a class conducted in a group.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a study cram school, a lecturer and a plurality of students gather in the same space in the cram school to give a lesson. That is, if the instructor and the plurality of students are at different points, the lesson itself cannot be established, and the student with physical or transportation disability cannot take the lesson.

[0003] On the other hand, in the field of distance learning, the same teaching materials are prepared in advance on the instructor side and on each student side, and the state of writing on a blackboard for explanation by the instructor and supplementary explanation is recorded on a video tape or the like, At a later date, this is sent to each student so that each student can play back the video tape or the like.

[0004] In addition, it has been considered to use a video conference system in order to enable classes in remote locations in real time. That is, in the same manner as described above, the instructor's explanation and the situation of writing on the blackboard for supplementary explanation are taken by a television camera and transmitted to a remote television receiver, and the image of the television receiver is sent to each student in a remote place. The lesson is advanced while watching.

[0005]

However, in the case of using the above-mentioned conventional videotape or the one using a video conference system, in particular, the instructor's board written on a blackboard is difficult to read and is in the same space (for example, a learning school). Classroom), there is a problem that the degree of understanding is lower than in a class conducted in a group. In other words, since the video provided to the student side shows the instructor and the state of the instructor writing on the blackboard on one screen, it is difficult to read accurately unless only the part of the board is zoomed in. On the other hand, if you zoom in on the blackboard part, you will not be able to see the teacher's expression. In addition, the lesson itself tends to be in one direction from the instructor to each student.As a result, even if questions arise on the student side, they lose the opportunity to ask questions etc. on the spot, and the students Questions and consultations must be done at a later date. As described above, if the instructor and the student are located in remote places, the efficiency of education will inevitably decrease.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object the case where a lecturer and a student who receives education from the lecturer are located in remote places separated from each other. Another object of the present invention is to provide a distance education method and a distance education system capable of providing the same education as when a lecturer and a student are gathered in a classroom.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distance learning method, comprising: a lecturer input means, a lecturer display means, and a lecturer computer connected to a lecturer microphone; One or more student computers to which the student display means and the student speakers are connected are connected to each other via a communication network. In this state,
In the instructor computer, audio information about the instructor's explanation acquired by the instructor's microphone and one of the characters and graphics input by the instructor's input means.
While the board information for supplementary explanation by the instructor composed of more than one kind is taken in parallel with each other, the voice information and the board information are transferred to the student computers as transfer information. At the same time as receiving the transfer, the student computer outputs the audio information of the transfer information to the student speaker, and simultaneously outputs the cardboard information to the student display means for display. (Claim 1).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, on each student's side, an instructor's verbal sound is played in real time from the student's speaker, while board information for supplementing the instructor's explanation is displayed on each student's display means. And all students will share the same board information. For this reason, it becomes possible for each student to receive education (classes) by looking at the board writing itself while listening to the lecturer's explanation from the ear along with the teaching materials provided at hand, and in a remote place away from the lecturer Even if you are in the classroom, you can receive education as if you were taking classes.

In the first invention, an instructor's camera is further connected to the instructor's computer, and the instructor's computer captures the instructor's image information captured by the instructor's camera, and converts the image information into audio. The transfer information is transferred to each student computer together with the information and the board information, and in each student computer, the image information of the transfer information is output and displayed on a partial area of the student display means. (Claim 2). In this case, the image of the instructor's face is displayed in a partial area of the student display means, and the board information is displayed in another area. Therefore, it is possible for each student to not only hear the voice explained by the instructor but also to see the expression of the instructor at that time, thereby enabling a clearer understanding of the instructor's explanation. Become. The transfer and display of the instructor's video may be continuous or intermittent.

[0010] The instructor may also make the image of each student visible. In this case, while the instructor display means is connected to the instructor computer, a student camera is connected to each student computer, and the image information of the student imaged by the student camera in each student computer. Is transferred to the instructor computer, while the instructor computer displays video information of each student, which is transfer information from each of the student computers, in a partial area of the instructor display means. What is necessary is (claim 3). In this way, the instructor can infer the degree of understanding of each student by looking at the facial expression of each student, while giving the instructor the instructor based on whether or not he or she is concentrating on the class. It is also possible to call attention through a microphone for use. This makes it possible to further improve the quality and efficiency of education. Note that the instructor display means may be configured to divide a part of the area and display the images of the faces of all the students individually and simultaneously.

Further, a student microphone is connected to each student computer, and an instructor speaker is connected to the instructor computer. In each student computer, voice information about a statement from a student is made by the student microphone. When the voice information is acquired, the voice information is transferred to the instructor computer as transfer information, and the transferred voice information may be output to the instructor speaker in the instructor computer. ). In this way, voice communication between the instructor and each student can be performed in both directions. For this reason, when a question or question arises on each student's side, each student asks a verbal question, and the instructor listens to it through the instructor speaker, and each student listens to the answer through the student speaker. It becomes possible.

On the other hand, by adopting the following specific items as the input means for the instructor for inputting the board information, the educational effect can be further enhanced. That is, a stylus pen and a tablet, which are input by the instructor by handwriting, are used as input means for the instructor, and image information handwritten by the stylus pen on the tablet may be transferred to each student computer as board information. Item 5). In this case, the instructor does not have the inconvenience of, for example, inputting a document using input means such as a keyboard, and the stylus pen can freely input not only characters but also figures and the like by handwriting. For this reason, the instructor can freely enter the board information for supplementary explanation in the same manner as when writing on a blackboard using chalk, and this board information is used by each student independently. It is possible to further improve the educational efficiency in combination with the display on the display means for use. Here, the `` tablet '' may be any of an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetostrictive type or a pressure-sensitive type as a method of detecting an input by a stylus pen, and in addition to a board type of a size to be installed on a table, A board type with legs (for example, a so-called electronic whiteboard) such as A0 paper size or A1 paper size specified in JIS may be adopted. Further, a liquid crystal tablet in which both a liquid crystal display and a tablet are integrated and which can perform both input and display output with a stylus pen may be used.

In the case of using the above-mentioned stylus pen and tablet, the instructor computer compares the image information previously input to the tablet with the image information input this time to obtain information on a portion which has changed. It is preferable to transfer only (claim 6). By doing so, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of data to be transferred when transferring the entire image information to each student computer as one piece of image information over the entire input area of the tablet. It is possible to cause the display on each student display unit to be displayed with almost no delay in inputting the board information. For this reason, in addition to the sharing of the board information by the instructor among the students, it is also possible to realize the immediacy of the sharing, and to make the progress of the education (class) smoother and further improve the educational efficiency. Improvement is achieved.

As a method of embodying this, the input area of the tablet is divided into a large number of unit areas in advance, and it is sequentially determined whether or not there has been a change from the last time to the present time for each unit area for all input areas. The changed information may be sequentially transferred only for the unit area that has changed for each determination (claim 7). In this case,
Only the information of the unit area that has been changed from the previous time is transferred by this input, and the unit area that has not been changed remains in the transferred state when it was changed previously. As a result, while the transfer information is greatly reduced and the transfer speed is thereby increased, the board information newly input by the instructor is reliably transferred and displayed on each student display means.

Further, the repetition judgment for each unit area is executed in the set scanning direction, and the set scanning direction is switched and set according to the subject (claim 8), so that the display for each student display means is displayed. Immediateness can be further improved. That is, for example, in a Japanese language class, input of board information is vertical writing from top to bottom, and in an English class, input of board information is horizontal writing from left to right. By changing the scanning direction of the input area of the tablet in accordance with the writing order peculiar to the subject, the newly input and changed board area information of the unit area is more quickly transferred and displayed.

A second invention relating to a distance learning system for implementing the above distance learning method is a lecturer computer to which a lecturer input means, a lecturer display means and a lecturer microphone are connected, and a student display means. And one or more student computers to which student speakers are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network, and the instructor computer and each student computer are configured as follows. . That is, as an instructor computer, instructor-side audio processing means for dynamically converting an audio signal output from the instructor microphone into digital data and transferring the digitally converted audio signal to each of the student computers, A board information processing means for sequentially transferring board information composed of at least one of characters and graphics output from the instructor input means to the student computers. On the other hand, as each of the student computers, student-side audio output means for restoring the received digitally converted audio signal and outputting the digital signal to the student speaker, and outputting the received cardboard information to the student display means And a cardboard output means for displaying on the screen (claim 9).

According to the second aspect, the voice spoken by the instructor is captured by the instructor microphone, dynamically converted by the instructor-side voice processing means, and transferred to each student computer. Then, each student computer performs restoration processing by the student-side audio output means and outputs the data to each student speaker almost in real time. On the other hand, the board information inputted by the instructor for the supplementary explanation is transferred to each student computer by the board information processing means and displayed independently on each student display means. As described above, the distance education method according to claim 1 is reliably performed, and the operation by the method is reliably obtained.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the following specific items may be added to implement the distance learning method according to the second aspect. That is, an instructor camera for imaging the instructor is connected to the instructor computer, and the instructor computer is provided with instructor-side image processing means for transferring a video signal output from the instructor camera to each student computer. In addition, a student-side image output means for displaying an image of the instructor on a partial area of the student display means based on the image signal received by each student computer may be provided (claim 10). In this case, for example, a CCD camera may be used as the instructor camera, and the instructor-side image processing means may use data obtained through a known process such as a binarization process based on a signal output from the CCD camera. May be transferred to each student computer. At this time, a moving image of the instructor's face may be continuously transferred and displayed on the student display means, or a still image of the instructor's face may be transferred intermittently (for example, every few seconds) to sequentially You may make it display on a student display means each time.

In order to implement the distance learning method according to the third aspect, the following specific items may be further added. That is, while each student computer is connected to a student camera for imaging a student, each student computer includes student-side video processing means for transferring a video signal output from the student camera to the instructor computer, The instructor computer may be provided with an instructor-side image output means for displaying an image of each student on the instructor display means based on the received image signal. In this case, the configurations of the student camera and the student-side image processing unit are the same as the above-described instructor camera and the instructor-side image processing unit. As the instructor-side video output means, the area set as the video display target of the instructor display means may be divided to display the image of the face of each student.

Further, in order to implement the distance education method according to the fourth aspect, the following specific items may be further added. That is, a student microphone is connected to each student computer, an instructor speaker is connected to the instructor computer, and the student computer dynamically converts an audio signal output from the student microphone into digital data. And a student-side voice processing means for transferring the voice signal after the digital conversion to the instructor computer,
The instructor computer may be provided with an instructor-side audio output means for restoring the received digitally converted audio signal and outputting it to the instructor speaker.

On the other hand, when the stylus pen and the tablet in the distance education method according to the fifth to eighth aspects are used as the input means for the instructor, the image information input to the tablet as the cardboard information processing means is transmitted to each of the tablets. What is necessary is just to make it transfer to a student computer as cardboard information (claim 13), and further, as a specific structure, it may be as follows.

That is, in order to implement the distance education method according to the sixth aspect, the board information processing means compares the image information inputted previously with the tablet and the image information inputted this time with respect to each part for each tablet. An image determination unit that determines whether there is a change, and a transfer processing unit that transfers only information on a portion determined to have a change by the image determination unit may be provided (claim 14).

[0023] As a specific specification for implementing the distance learning method according to claim 7, which realizes the comparison for each part, the input area of the tablet is divided into a large number of unit areas in the board information processing means. And a storage unit for storing and updating the image information of each unit area divided by the division setting unit. The image determination unit temporarily stores the unit area as a determination target part in the storage unit. By comparing the previous image information with the current image information, the presence / absence of a change is configured to be repeatedly determined sequentially for all input regions for each of the unit regions, and it is determined that a change has been made by the image determination unit as a transfer processing unit. The image information after the change only for the unit area may be sequentially transferred for each determination (claim 15).

At this time, in order to realize the remote education method according to claim 8, the image information after the change based on the repetition determination is displayed on each student display means at a higher speed.
The board information processing means may be provided with a scanning direction setting unit for setting a scanning direction for repeating the determination for each unit area by the image determining unit and switching and setting the set scanning direction according to the subject. Item 16).

[0025]

As described above, according to the distance education method of the first invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8, on each student's side, the instructor verbally verifies the voice. It is possible to listen in real time from the student speaker, and also, while listening to this explanation, it is possible to see the instructor's cardboard information displayed on each student display means. In other words, the instructor can listen to the oral explanation by the instructor while sharing the same board information as the one input to supplement the explanation among all the students. For this reason, even if each student is in a remote place away from the lecturer, it is possible to receive the same education as if they were gathering in the classroom and taking the class.

In particular, according to the second aspect, the image of the instructor's face is displayed in a partial area of the student display means, and the board writing information is displayed in the other area. Not only can hear the voice explained by the ear, but also the expression of the instructor at that time. For this reason, it is possible to give each student a sense of unity that he / she is receiving one-on-one education with the instructor, and to allow the instructor to understand the explanation of the instructor more clearly.

According to the third aspect, the instructor can estimate the degree of understanding of each student by looking at the facial expression of each student. Based on the inference, the student can be alerted through the instructor microphone. This allows
The quality and efficiency of education can be improved.

Further, according to the fourth aspect, the voice exchange between the lecturer and each student can be performed bidirectionally. For this reason, when a question or question arises on each student's side, each student asks a verbal question, and the instructor listens to it through the instructor speaker, and each student listens to the answer through the student speaker. Therefore, even if the instructor and each student are away from each other, it is possible to perform education in a state closer to education in the classroom.

On the other hand, according to the fifth aspect, by using the tablet and the stylus pen as the input means for the instructor, the board information for supplementary explanation by the instructor is written in the same manner as in the case of using the chalk on an ordinary blackboard. It is possible to freely input by using handwritten characters and figures, and together with the fact that the board information is displayed independently on each student's display means by itself, the educational efficiency can be further improved. Become.

According to the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the fifth aspect, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of transfer data of the board information, and to provide the display means for each student with little delay in inputting the board information by the instructor. It can be displayed. For this reason, in addition to sharing the board information between the students by the instructor, it is also possible to realize the immediacy of the sharing, and it is possible to make the progress of the lesson smoother and further improve the educational efficiency.

According to the seventh aspect, the effect of the sixth aspect can be specifically and reliably obtained. According to the eighth aspect, the display for each student according to the subject to be educated. Immediateness of display to the means can be further improved.

Further, according to the distance learning system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the distance learning method according to the first aspect of the present invention can be reliably implemented. Thus, the effect of the present invention can be reliably obtained.

That is, according to the ninth aspect, the distance learning method according to the first aspect, the tenth aspect, the distance learning method according to the second aspect, and the eleventh aspect, the distance learning aspect according to the third aspect. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distance learning method according to the fourth aspect, a thirteenth aspect of the distance learning method according to the fifth aspect, and a fourteenth aspect of the distance learning method according to the sixth aspect. According to claim 15, the distance learning method according to claim 7 can be reliably implemented, and according to claim 16, the distance education method according to claim 8 can be reliably implemented, and the effect of each distance learning method can be reliably ensured. Obtainable.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a distance education system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a computer for an instructor installed in a learning cram school, and reference numerals 3a to 3d denote computers for students installed in general homes away from the learning cram school. 3d are communicably connected to each other via an Internet network 4 as a communication network.

The instructor's computer 2 comprises a personal computer (personal computer) 2a on which an OS and various programs are installed in advance to realize predetermined functions, and a server 2b for controlling transmission and reception via the Internet network 4. The personal computer 2a has a tablet 21 and a stylus pen 21a associated therewith, an instructor microphone 22, an instructor camera 23 including a CCD, and an instructor display means as instructor input means. A display 24, an instructor speaker 25, a printer 26 as an output unit, a scanner 27 used as needed for capturing an image, and a fax modem 28 are connected to each other.

As the tablet 21, it is preferable to use a board type of a slightly large size with legs (for example, a so-called electronic whiteboard or digital whiteboard). You may. Both types of tablets 21
The instructor points to the input area using the stylus pen 21a and performs handwriting input, whereby the handwritten input character or figure can be detected as image information.

It should be noted that the personal computer 2a and the like constituting the instructor computer 2 may be provided with a plurality of sets so that each instructor can use the personal computer 2a individually. It may be shared.

The server 2b is a juku student (student) of a study cram school.
The transfer information is transferred only to the specific student computers 3a to 3d based on the identification information assigned at the time of receiving the registration in advance.
The transfer information from a to 3d is accepted.

Each of the student computers 3a to 3d is composed of a personal computer which has an OS and various programs installed in advance and realizes predetermined functions, similarly to the above.
The devices connected to the student computers 3a to 3d are divided into several types according to the circumstances of each student. That is, the student computers 3a and 3b include a student speaker 31 and a display 3 as a student display unit.
2, a student camera 33 composed of a CCD, a student microphone 34, and a student printer 35 as output means.
And the scanner 36 are connected to each other. Also,
The microphones 3 are provided in the student computers 3c and 3d.
4. Except for the printer 35 and the scanner 36, the student speaker 31, the display 32, and the camera 33 are connected respectively. In each home where such student computers 3c and 3d are installed, a fax (facsimile) 37 capable of transmitting and receiving to and from the instructor-side fax modem 28 using the ordinary telephone network 5 is installed.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the instructor computer 2 and each student computer 3 (hereinafter, 3a to 3d) will be described.
Will be referred to as "3" when collectively referred to as "). The instructor's computer 2 is a cardboard information processing means 6
And instructor-side audio processing means 7 and instructor-side video processing means 8
And instructor-side video output means 9 and instructor-side audio output means 10
And each is provided. In addition, each student computer 3 includes a board writing unit 11, a student-side audio output unit 12,
Student-side video output means 13 and student-side video processing means 14
And student-side voice processing means 15. The above means 6 to 15 function by executing a program installed in advance on the instructor computer 2 or the student computer 3. 2, reference numeral 30 denotes a student speaker 31, a display 32, and a camera 33.
And the connected devices such as the microphone 34.

The instructor-side audio processing means 7 causes the oral explanation of the instructor to be output as an audio signal by the microphone 22, and dynamically converts the output audio signal into digital data while simultaneously converting the output audio signal into digital data via the Internet network 4. The data is transferred to the student computer 3. Each student computer 3 outputs the digital data to the speaker 31 while restoring the digital data into an audio signal by the student-side audio output unit 12.

The instructor-side image processing means 8 includes a camera 23
Receiving the video signal output of the lecturer, especially the face of the instructor,
The video signal is subjected to predetermined processing and transferred to each student computer 3 via the Internet network 4. Then, in each student computer 3, the student-side video output means 13 causes the display to be output to a partial area of the display 32. In this case, for example, a relatively small display area at the upper right corner of the display screen may be set on the display screen of the display 32, and an image of the instructor's face may be displayed in the display area set for image display.

On the other hand, the student-side image processing means 14 receives an output of a video signal of a student, particularly a face imaged by the camera 33, performs predetermined processing on the video signal, and outputs the processed video signal to the instructor via the Internet network 4. The data is transferred to the computer 2. The instructor computer 2 causes the instructor-side video output means 9 to display and output on the display 24. In this case, the display area of the display 24 may be provided with partial areas corresponding to the number of students, and the images of the faces of the students may be displayed on the plurality of partial areas.

Further, the student side voice processing means 15 causes the microphone 34 to output the student's verbal questions and replies as voice signals, and dynamically converts the output voice signals into digital data while simultaneously converting them into digital data. Is transferred to the instructor computer 2 via the PC. And
The instructor computer 2 outputs the digital data to the speaker 25 while restoring the digital data into an audio signal by the instructor audio output means 10.

The cardboard information processing means 6 includes the tablet 2
1, image information handwritten by an instructor using a stylus pen 21a is fetched as board writing information, and this is transferred to each student computer 3 as a part of transfer information. Specifically, the board information processing means 6 converts the input area of the tablet 21 into a predetermined number of unit areas (blocks).
Division setting unit 61 for setting division into
A storage unit 62 that stores and updates image information for each block divided by the above, a scanning direction setting unit 63 that switches and sets a scanning direction in which the determination is repeated for an image determination unit 64 described below according to the subject, By comparing the previous image information temporarily stored in the storage unit 62 with the current image information according to the scanning direction set by the scanning direction setting unit 63, the presence or absence of a change is repeatedly determined for all the input regions for each unit region in order. Image determining unit 64 and the image determining unit 6
The image information after the change is applied only to the blocks determined to be changed by the computer 4 for each student computer 3 for each determination.
And a transfer processing unit 65 for sequentially transferring the data.

The division setting section 61 divides the input area 21b of the tablet 21 into a large number of blocks as shown in FIG. 3 and specifies each block. In the example of FIG. 3, the division setting section 61 has 512 × 384 dots. Input area 21b of 6
4 (horizontal) x 48 (vertical) 3072 blocks 211,
., And each block 211 is specified by assigning a block number for identification. The block number is assigned as a coordinate value or simply a serial number or 2
It may be performed according to various notations such as a hexadecimal number and a hexadecimal number.

The scanning direction setting section 63 switches and sets the scanning direction for a large number of blocks 211, 211,... In the input area 21b according to the subject. When the instructor teaches, for example, an English lesson, handwriting input in the input area 21 is also performed from the upper left end to the right end side as shown in FIG. 4 and is sequentially input to the lower end. The scanning direction is advanced rightward from the leftmost block 211 (block number “00”) of the first row in the uppermost row to the rightmost block 211 (block number “07”) as indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. Then, similarly, from the leftmost block 211 (block number “08”) in the lower second row to the rightmost block 211 (block number “0F”), the rightward movement is performed, and thereafter, this is moved to the bottom row (block number “28”). "
To "2F"), the scanning direction is switched and set for horizontal writing. In FIG. 5, the number of divisions of the block 211 is shown in FIG.
It shows few things differently. When the instructor gives a lesson in Japanese, for example, the input area 21
6 is input from the upper right side to the lower side as shown in FIG. 6 and is sequentially input to the left end side. Therefore, the scanning direction is changed to the right end as shown by a solid arrow in FIG. Starting from the top block 211 (block number “07”) in the column, the bottom block 211
(Block number “2F”), and then the uppermost block 211 (block number “0”) in the row on the left
6 ”) to the lowest block 211 (block number“ 2 ”).
E)), and thereafter, the scanning direction is switched and set for vertical writing so that this is repeated until the end point of the leftmost column (block numbers “00” to “28”).

The switching setting by the scanning direction setting unit 63 is automatically performed according to the position (for example, the upper right position or the upper left position) where the instructor first points to the input area 21b with the stylus pen 21a. Alternatively, the switching may be performed by the instructor pointing a command button set in a part of the input area 21b.

The storage section 62 and the image determination section 64 will be described below using an example of handwriting input. It is assumed that the instructor hand-writes, for example, a triangular figure S as shown in FIG. 8 with the stylus pen 21a from a state where no input has been made to the input area 21b of the tablet 21. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the input area 21b is composed of 64 blocks (21 × 21) of 8 (horizontal) × 8 (vertical) as shown in FIG.
If it is set to be divided into 1,.
Since all blocks 211, 211,... Are in a non-input state at the time before the input of the graphic S (at the time of previous input), information indicating that there is no pointing by the stylus pen 21a for all blocks 211, 211,. In the example of FIG. 9, “0” in binary notation is output, and the output information is temporarily stored in the storage unit (for example, buffer) 62 as information for each block 211.

When the stylus pen 21a points along the figure S and the figure S is inputted by handwriting, the pointed block 2 is input.
Information indicating the presence of pointing for 11, 211,... (“1” in the above binary notation) is output. The output at the time of this input and the output information at the time of the previous input temporarily stored in the storage unit 62 are stored in the image determination unit 63.
., And only the blocks 211, 211,... That have changed from “0” to “1” are output to the transfer processing unit 65. The transfer processing unit 65 transfers the information as a transfer signal to each student computer 3 via the Internet network 4.

Each student computer 3 receiving this transfer
In the display, the display area corresponding to the entire input area of the tablet 21 is set on the display 32 by the board output means 11 and the same board information as that input by handwriting in the input area 21b of the tablet 21 is set in the set display area. Is displayed.

Hereinafter, the processing by the board information processing means 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 mainly focusing on the processing by the image determining unit 64. First, the scanning direction set by the scanning direction setting unit 63 Is set (step S1). That is, the starting block number is set first. Then, output information about all input areas 21b (all blocks 211, 211,...) Is received from the electronic whiteboard as the tablet 21 (step S2).

Next, for the block 211 specified by the currently set block number, the previous storage information temporarily stored in the storage unit 62 is compared with the current output information (step S3). Whether or not the image determination unit 6
3 (step S4). Does not match,
That is, if the content has changed (for example, if the status has changed from “0” to “1”), the changed content is stored in the block 211.
Is updated and stored in the storage unit 62 (step S5), and the block number specifying the block 211 and the changed information are transferred (transmitted) to each student computer 3 by the transfer processing unit 65 (step S6). ). Conversely, if the previously stored information matches the current output information,
The block number for the next determination is set based on the set scanning direction without transferring the block 211 assuming that there is no new input (step S7).
If the set block number has not reached the end point of the input area 21b ("NO" in step S8), the process returns to step S2 and returns from step S2 to step S2.
The processing up to 8 is repeated for each block 211 in the set scanning direction.

Then, processing such as the present determination (step S
If steps 2 to S7) are completed up to the end block 211 (“YES” in step S8), step S8 is performed.
1, and thereafter, all the blocks 211, 211,.
(Steps S1 to S5)
S8) is repeated.

As described above, on each student's side, the display 3
In 2, the image of the lecturer's face and the whiteboard information are displayed almost in real time, and at the same time, the lecturer's oral explanation can be heard from the speaker 31. On the other hand, on the instructor's side, an image of the faces of all the students is displayed on the display 24, and a verbal question or the like from one of the students is output from the speaker 25. In addition to being able to answer questions verbally and immediately.

On the other hand, when performing a test for testing the degree of understanding of each student, the test question paper is sent to the student computers 3a and 3b to which the printer 35 and the scanner 36 are connected by the instructor scanner 27. The image information is taken into the instructor computer 2 and transferred to the student computers 3a and 3b. Then, each of the student computers 3a and 3b outputs the transfer information to the printer 35 for printing. The student answers the printed examination sheet as image information through the scanner 36 on the student side, and the image information is taken into each student computer 3a, 3b.
This is transferred from the student computers 3a, 3b to the instructor computer 2 in the opposite manner to the above. If the transfer information is printed by the instructor computer 2 by the printer 26, the instructor can score. The instructor can convert the graded test question paper into image information through the scanner 27 and transfer it to the student computers 3a and 3b in the same manner as described above, so that the student can return it to each student.

On the other hand, for each student, such as the student computers 3c and 3d, to which the printer 35 and the scanner 36 are not connected, the image information of the test question sheet taken in by the scanner 27 on the instructor side is sent to the FAX modem 28 by the FAX modem 28. Student House F
FAX transmission is made to AX37. And each student is FAX37
After the answer is written in the test question sheet received in step (1), the answer is sent to the instructor computer 2 by fax. After giving the score to the instructor, the instructor may fax the scored test question sheet to the FAX 37 at each student's house in the same manner as described above.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but includes various other embodiments. That is, for example, a desk-mounted tablet is further connected to each student computer 3, and information such as a question handwritten by a student using a stylus pen is input to this tablet in the same manner as the processing by the board information processing unit 6. The process may be transferred to the instructor computer 2 and displayed on the instructor display 24 by the processing, so that the student may ask the instructor for a question.

The student may input a question or the like using input means such as a mouse without using the tablet. That is, the instructor display 24
A shared electronic whiteboard screen is displayed on the display 32 for each student, and information input by the student on the electronic whiteboard screen by handwriting with a mouse or the like or text input by input means such as a keyboard is input to all computers 2 and 3. The instructor computer 2 and each student computer 3 may be provided with an electronic whiteboard function (whiteboard processing means) that can be shared by the computer.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, four are used as the student computers 3, 3a to 3d, but at least one, and if there are many, it may be several tens or several hundreds.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a distance education system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the remote education system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of dividing an input area of a tablet.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example in which an English board letter is input to a tablet.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning direction for an input area in the case of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a Japanese language board is input to a tablet.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning direction for an input area in the case of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a triangular figure is input to the tablet.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing information in each block in the case of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process by a board information processing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Computer for instructor 3 Computer for student 3a-3d Computer for student 4 Internet network (communication network) 6 Board information processing means 7 Instructor-side audio output means 8 Instructor-side image processing means 9 Instructor-side image output means 10 Instructor-side audio output means DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Board writing means 12 Student side audio output means 13 Student side video output means 14 Student side video processing means 15 Student side audio processing means 21 Tablet (instructor input means) 21a Stylus pen (instructor input means) 21b Tablet input area 22 Instructor Microphone 23 Instructor Camera 24 Display (Instructor Display Means) 25 Instructor Speaker 31 Student Speaker 32 Display (Student Display Means) 33 Student Camera 34 Student Microphone 61 Division Setting Unit 62 Storage Unit 63 Scanning Direction Setting section 64 Image judgment 65 transfer processing unit 211 blocks (unit area)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C028 BA01 BA03 BA05 BB04 BB05 BB06 BB08 BC01 BC05 BD02 BD03 CA12 CA13 CB13 DA07 5C064 AA06 AB03 AB04 AB06 AC04 AC05 AC06 AC12 AC16 AC20 AD08

Claims (16)

[Claims] An instructor computer to which instructor input means and an instructor microphone are connected and one or more student computers to which student display means and student speakers are connected are connected to each other via a communication network. In the computer for an instructor, voice information about the explanation of the instructor acquired by the microphone for the instructor, and one of characters and graphics input by the input means for the instructor.
While simultaneously taking in the board information for supplementary explanation by the instructor composed of more than one kind, and transferring the audio information and the board information as transfer information to each of the student computers, A remote education method, wherein the audio information of the transfer information is output to the student speaker, and at the same time, the board information is output and displayed on the student display means. 2. The distance education method according to claim 1, wherein an instructor's camera is connected to the instructor's computer, and the instructor's computer captures video information of the instructor captured by the instructor's camera. The video information is transferred as transfer information together with the audio information and the board information to each student computer. On the other hand, each student computer outputs the video information of the transfer information to a partial area of the student display means. Distance education method to be displayed. 3. The distance education method according to claim 1, wherein the instructor display means is connected to the instructor computer.
A student camera is connected to each student computer, and in each student computer, the image information of the student imaged by the student camera is transferred as transfer information to the instructor computer. A distance education method, wherein video information of each student, which is transfer information from each student computer, is displayed on at least a partial area of the instructor display means. 4. The distance learning method according to claim 1, wherein a student microphone is connected to each student computer.
A speaker for the teacher is connected to the computer for the teacher, and when the voice information about the utterance from the student is acquired by the microphone for the student in the computer for each student, the voice information is transferred to the computer for the teacher as the transfer information. On the other hand, a distance learning method in which the transferred voice information is output to the speaker speaker in the teacher computer. 5. The distance education method according to claim 1, wherein the instructor uses a stylus pen and a tablet for handwriting input by the instructor as input means for the instructor, and handwriting is performed on the tablet with the stylus pen. A distance learning method in which input image information is transmitted to each student computer as board information. 6. The distance education method according to claim 5, wherein, in the instructor computer, a portion which has changed by comparing the image information inputted last time to the tablet with the image information inputted this time. Distance education method to transfer only the information of 7. The distance education method according to claim 6, wherein the input area of the tablet is divided into a plurality of unit areas in advance,
A distance learning method in which the determination as to whether or not there has been a change from the last time to the present time for each unit area for all input areas is sequentially repeated, and the changed information is sequentially transferred only for the unit area that has changed for each determination. . 8. The remote education method according to claim 7, wherein the repetition determination for each unit area is performed in a set scanning direction, and the set scanning direction is switched and set according to a subject. . 9. An instructor computer to which instructor input means, instructor display means, and instructor microphone are connected, and one or more student computers to which student display means and student speakers are connected. Connected to each other via a network, the instructor computer dynamically converts an audio signal output from the instructor microphone into digital data, and converts the digitally converted audio signal to each of the student computers. The instructor-side voice processing means for transferring to the student computer, and the board information processing means for sequentially transferring the board information including at least one of characters and graphics output from the instructor input means to the student computers. Each of the student computers restores the received digitally converted audio signal and outputs the audio signal to the student speaker. If, distance education system characterized in that the blackboard information received and a blackboard output means for displaying and outputting to the display means for the student. 10. The distance education system according to claim 9, wherein a computer for the lecturer is connected to the computer for the lecturer, and the computer for the lecturer is a video signal output from the camera for the lecturer. Instructor-side image processing means for transferring the instructor image to each student computer, wherein each student computer displays an instructor image in a partial area of the student display means based on the received image signal. A distance learning system that has 11. The distance learning system according to claim 9, wherein a student camera for imaging a student is connected to each student computer, and each student computer is connected to the student camera. And a student-side image processing means for transferring a video signal output from the instructor to the instructor computer. The instructor computer displays an image of each student on at least a partial area of the instructor display means based on the received video signal. A distance education system that includes an instructor-side video output unit. 12. The distance education system according to claim 9, wherein a student microphone is connected to each student computer.
An instructor speaker is connected to the instructor computer, and the student computer dynamically converts an audio signal output from the student microphone into digital data and converts the digitally converted audio signal to the instructor computer. A distance education system comprising: student-side voice processing means for transferring; and the instructor computer comprising instructor-side audio output means for restoring the received digital-converted audio signal and outputting the digital signal to the instructor speaker. 13. The distance education system according to claim 9, wherein the instructor input means comprises a stylus pen and a tablet, and the board information processing means comprises an image input to the tablet. A distance learning system configured to transfer information as cardboard information to each student computer. 14. The remote education system according to claim 13, wherein the board information processing means compares the image information previously input to the tablet with the image information input this time for each part, thereby making a change. An image determination unit that determines whether or not there is, and a transfer processing unit that transfers only information about a portion determined to have changed by the image determination unit,
Distance education system. 15. The distance education system according to claim 14, wherein the board information processing means divides the input area of the tablet into a number of unit areas and sets each unit divided by the division setting section. A storage unit for storing and updating the image information of the area, wherein the image determination unit determines whether there is a change by comparing the previous image information temporarily stored in the storage unit with the current image information using the unit area as a determination target part. And the transfer processing unit sequentially transfers the changed image information only for the unit areas determined to have changed by the image determination unit for each of the determinations. A distance education system that is configured to: 16. The remote education system according to claim 15, wherein the board writing information processing means sets a scanning direction for repeating the judgment for each unit area by the image judging section, and sets the set scanning direction according to the subject. A remote education system including a scanning direction setting unit for switching and setting.