(19) United States
`c12) Reissued Patent
`Foster
`
`I IIIII
`
`11111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`USOORE39059E
`
`US RE39,059 E
`(10) Patent Number:
`(45) Date of Reissued Patent:
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`(54) COMPUTER PROGRAMMABLE REMOTE
`CONTROL
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: William J. Foster, Newport Beach, CA
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc., Cypress,
`CA (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/403,454
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 31, 2003
`
`Related U.S. Patent Documents
`
`6,211,870
`Apr. 3, 2001
`09/111,547
`Jul. 7, 1998
`
`Reissue of:
`(64) Patent No.:
`Issued:
`Appl. No.:
`Filed:
`U.S. Applications:
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/051,848, filed on Jul. 7,
`1997.
`Int. Cl.
`G09G 5100
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 715/744; 715/827; 715/840;
`7151716
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 345/700,
`345/716-722, 744-747, 762-765, 771, 810,
`345/835-839,840-841,970, 169, 172; 348/734,
`348/563, 569; 725/37-38, 59-61; 715/700,
`715/771, 716-722, 744-747, 762-765, 835-839,
`715/810,827,970,840-841,169,172
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,680,729 A * 7/1987 Steinhart .................... 345/173
`4,746,919 A * 5/1988 Reitmeier .............. 340/825.56
`4,856,081 A * 8/1989 Smith ...................... 455/151.4
`4,959,810 A * 9/1990 Darbee eta!. .............. 398/112
`5,212,553 A * 5/1993 Maruoka ..................... 725/68
`5,327,160 A * 7/1994 Asher ......................... 345/156
`5,335,276 A * 8/1994 Thompson et al .......... 380/266
`
`5,367,316 A * 1111994 Ikezaki ....................... 345/158
`5,410,326 A * 4/1995 Goldstein ................... 348/734
`5,450,079 A * 9/1995 Dunaway ..................... 341/23
`5,465,401 A * 11/1995 Thompson .................. 455/558
`5,517,257 A * 5/1996 Dunn eta!. ................. 348/734
`5,537,463 A * 7/1996 Escobosa et al ....... 379/102.01
`5,675,390 A * 10/1997 Schindler et al ............ 715/717
`5,689,663 A * 1111997 Williams .................... 715/721
`5,721,850 A * 2/1998 Farry eta!. ................. 345/700
`5,774,063 A * 6/1998 Berry et a!.
`........... 340/825.69
`5,886,697 A * 3/1999 Naughton et a!.
`.......... 345/473
`5,889,506 A * 3/1999 Lopresti eta!. ............. 345/158
`5,909,183 A * 6/1999 Borgstahl eta!. ...... 340/825.22
`6,313,851 B1 * 11/2001 Matthews eta!. .......... 345/718
`6,597,374 B1 * 7/2003 Baker et al ................. 345/717
`6,690,290 B1 * 2/2004 Young et a!.
`.......... 340/825.69
`6,690,392 B1 * 2/2004 Wugoski
`.................... 345/744
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"Take Control of Your Home," Home Theater Buyer's
`Guide, Spring 1997, pp. 40-48.*
`"Home Vision™ Interactive Intelligent Home Control,"
`Home Automation Systems Catalogue, p. 27, dated at least
`Feb., 1998.*
`"In Control," Stereo Review, Aug. 1997, pp. 56-61.*
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Sy D. Luu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gary R. Jarosik
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`
`A portable hand-held remote control unit device is disclosed
`which may be utilized for selecting designated functions in
`a plurality of remotely controllable multimedia processing
`units. Multiple user selectable screen objects may be created
`from a general purpose computer and transferred to the
`remote control unit. The screen objects include screen layout
`and descriptions of soft keys to be displayed on a graphic
`display of the remote control unit, as well as commands
`associated with the screen object, the soft keys and pro(cid:173)
`grammable keys on the remote control unit. The user may
`select any of the loaded screen objects for controlling
`various multimedia processing units, for performing com(cid:173)
`plex functions of commands to various multimedia process(cid:173)
`ing units.
`
`30 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`310
`
`111
`
`- TV-I
`--TV-l_Power
`TV-l_HIJte
`TV-1_1
`TV-1_2
`lV-1_3
`ttH_-4
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`TV-1_7
`TV·I_B
`TV-1_9
`TV-I ch(cid:173)
`iV·l=O
`TV-I ch•
`TV·l=display
`TV-l_enter
`TV-I_voi(cid:173)
`TV-\_vol•
`
`715
`
`lbb
`
`121
`lib
`
`120
`
`722
`
`723
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000001
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US RE39,059 E
`
`310
`
`"""
`1_ 1--file
`
`[di t View
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`( 426
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US RE39,059 E
`
`I~ I
`rile
`
`COHBI/HOTE Creator
`[di t View Tools Connect
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`docking station and press the 11 power 11 or 11on/off 11 key
`
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000005
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US RE39,059 E
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 4, 2006
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
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`US RE39,059 E
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000011
`
`

`

`US RE39,059 E
`
`1
`COMPUTER PROGRAMMABLE REMOTE
`CONTROL
`
`Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appears in the
`original patent but forms no part of this reissue specifi(cid:173)
`cation; matter printed in italics indicates the additions
`made by reissue.
`
`RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of application
`Ser. No. 60/051,848 filed Jul. 7, 1997, now expired, entitled
`"Computer Programmable Remote Control System," which
`is incorporated herein by reference.
`
`NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE
`DRESS
`
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`contains material which is subject to copyright protection.
`This patent document may show and/or describe matter
`which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The
`copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the
`facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as
`it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or
`records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress
`rights whatsoever.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`2
`and complexity of remote control units typically found in a
`home have reached a level where the convenience provided
`by the remote control units is often overcome by the
`difficulty in locating and operating them.
`Thus, several problems have arisen. First, there is the
`problem of how to allow the user to control a huge number
`of features from a remote control unit. Second, there is the
`problem of how to avoid overwhelming the user with
`controls on a remote control unit which the user will never
`10 use. Third, there is the problem of users having to deal with
`multiple remote control units with overlapping operability.
`Fourth, there is the problem of the considerable amount of
`space which an aggregation of remote control units often
`occupy.
`One solution which has found some acceptance in the
`market is the universal remote control unit. A universal
`remote control unit consolidates multiple remote control
`units and, it is hoped, improves their usability. Typical
`universal remote control units can learn the commands of
`20 other Remote control units, either through pre-programmed
`lists of consumer electronics devices or by teaching the
`universal remote control unit each command which the user
`might wish to have available on the universal Remote
`control unit. One of the problems with universal remote
`25 control units has been that their generic keypads are often
`cumbersome and not particularly intuitive in layout or
`labeling. Furthermore, the designers of these devices must
`compromise between having separate buttons for each pos(cid:173)
`sible command and small button sizes.
`With the advent of home theater systems, the complexity
`of controls has advanced to an even greater plateau. Now,
`the remote must not only control the TV, the VCR, the cable
`box and the stereo, it must be able to control the surround
`35 sound quality, turn on multiple devices at the same time, and
`issue a series of commands to multiple devices to accom(cid:173)
`plish a single task. Naturally, the consumer electronics
`industry has developed products to serve this new need in
`the marketplace. These more advanced universal remote
`40 control units are exemplified by the Home Producer 8 from
`Universal Electronics, Inc. (Tustin, Calif.), the RC 2000
`from Marantz (Roselle, Ill.), the RR990 from Rote! (North
`Reading, Mass.), and the RC-R0905 from Kenwood.
`There has also been an increasing desire to integrate
`45 consumer electronics with security systems and to provide
`some control from a remote control unit of the home
`environment. For example, it is desirable that, when a user
`wishes to watch a cable program, not only is the TV set
`powered on and set to receive the video input, the A/V
`receiver is powered on and set to play the cable program at
`a reasonable loudness, the cable decoder is powered on and
`set to a favorite channel, but also the room's lighting is
`dimmed, the air conditioner is set to a comfortable level and
`the home security system is armed against perimeter viola-
`55 tions. Some products (not necessarily Remote control units)
`are available which can be programmed to do these kinds of
`things. These products include the HAS-1350 Home Vision
`Intelligent Home Controller available from Home Automa(cid:173)
`tion Systems, Inc. (Irvine, Calif.), the ISR TronArch Intel-
`60 ligent Home Automation System, the BrightTouch from
`Crestron, the TheaterLink from Vantage, and the Landmark
`System from PHAST, the IntelliControl from Niles, and the
`700T from Lexicon.
`One of the common problems with universal remote
`control units, and a problem which is especially severe with
`the most flexible and programmable remote control units, is
`programming. A universal remote control unit simply cannot
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to remote control 30
`devices for electronics products.
`2. Description of Related Art
`The modem home may have a wide array of consumer
`electronics devices. These may include nearly any type of
`audio or video entertainment product, such as televisions,
`video cassette recorders, audio cassette recorders, audio/
`video receivers and preamps, cable boxes, laser disc players
`and camcorders.
`Consumer electronics devices typically utilize hand-held
`remote control units to permit a user to rapidly and effi(cid:173)
`ciently control selected functions from a distance. Early
`mechanical/ultrasonic remote control units were fairly lim(cid:173)
`ited and generally permitted only one or two functions to be
`controlled. For example, television remote control units
`utilizing mechanical/ultrasonic technology generally per(cid:173)
`mitted a user to turn the power on to the television and to
`cycle through each channel in a preselected rotation. For
`some time, remote control units have been available which
`transmit control signals by way of infrared or radio fre- 50
`quency transmitters. These wireless remote control units
`have freed the user to move about a room or even about their
`home and to control the device from wherever it is most
`convenient to the user.
`Consumer electronics devices and systems have become
`very complex and loaded with functionality. Particularly,
`with the expanding use of microprocessor-based devices and
`the ability to interconnect audio systems, video systems,
`security system, home automation systems and personal
`computers, the possible ways to interconnect and operate
`device has grown significantly. Remote control units have
`correspondingly become highly complex. A number of
`manufacturers sell remote control units which include as
`many as one hundred small buttons or keys, resulting in a
`severe decrease in the usability of these devices. This is 65
`remarkable, considering the huge number of consumers who
`cannot set the time on their VCR. Furthermore, the number
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000012
`
`

`

`US RE39,059 E
`
`3
`be factory-programmed with every possible configuration.
`The user is left with poor choices--do without some
`functions, spend many hours programming and reprogram(cid:173)
`ming their programmable remote control unit, suffer through
`a remote control unit which is not programmed in a memo(cid:173)
`rable manner, or paying a professional to program the
`remote control unit. Despite the availability of program(cid:173)
`mable remote control units, the best remote control unit for
`a multimedia processing unit is usually the one which is
`provided with a multimedia processing unit. It is very 10
`difficult to overcome this one-to-one correspondence of
`remote control units and multimedia processing units. These
`problems have resulted in the marketplace largely rejecting
`the more advanced universal remote control units.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`4
`FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a docked program(cid:173)
`mable remote control unit in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 9 is a screen shot of a screen object layout screen of
`a remote control development program having commands
`for multiple multimedia processing units in accordance with
`the invention.
`FIG. 10 is a screen shot of a custom screen object creation
`screen of a remote control development program in accor(cid:173)
`dance with the invention.
`FIG. 11 is a screen shot of another custom screen object
`creation screen of a remote control development program in
`accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method of programming a
`15 programmable remote control unit in accordance with the
`invention.
`These and additional embodiments of the invention may
`now be better understood by turning to the following
`detailed description wherein an illustrated embodiment is
`20 described.
`
`The previously described problems are solved in a remote
`control unit which has the ability to control nearly any
`device controllable from a remote, yet is easily programmed.
`These benefits are obtained from a remote control unit which
`is programmable from a PC using an advanced, object(cid:173)
`oriented user interface. The remote control unit's program(cid:173)
`ming is easily modified from the PC. The user may quickly
`and easily build a full range of capabilities into the remote
`control unit, including the issuance of multiple commands 25
`with a single key press. Furthermore, because the remote
`control unit has a large memory, the user may focus on
`functionality, rather than the efficiency or compactness of
`the programs.
`The present invention, together with additional features 30
`and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference
`to the following description taken in connection with the
`accompanying illustrative drawings.
`
`Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment
`and examples shown should be considered as exemplars,
`rather than limitations on the apparatus and methods of the
`present invention.
`The Components of the System
`Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram
`of a general purpose computer 100, a programmable remote
`control unit 200, a docking station 130 and a multimedia
`processing unit 300. By "multimedia processing unit" it is
`meant a device which provides some functionality which an
`35 end user can recognize and appreciate. Most TVs, VCRs,
`stereo receivers, CD players, laser disk players and cable
`decoders are self-contained multimedia processing units.
`Many security systems and home automation systems are
`dispersed multimedia processing units. By "remote control
`40 unit" it is meant a hand-held, portable device which can be
`used by a user to issue commands to a multimedia process(cid:173)
`ing unit which the multimedia processing unit will recognize
`and result in a predetermined change of performance by the
`multimedia processing unit. By "programmed remote con-
`45 trol unit" it is meant a remote control unit which has a fixed
`set of commands which it can issue and which commands
`are permanently assigned to specific keys on the remote
`control unit. Most multimedia processing units are provided
`with a programmed remote control unit which is pro-
`50 grammed with all of the commands the multimedia process(cid:173)
`ing unit's engineers believed desirable. By "programmable
`remote control unit" it is meant a remote control unit which
`can be programmed with the commands needed to control an
`multimedia processing unit. By "command" it is meant a
`message which can be recognized by a multimedia process(cid:173)
`ing unit as an instruction to change a particular setting of the
`multimedia processing unit.
`The multimedia processing unit 300 includes a receiver
`310 through which the multimedia processing unit may
`60 receive commands.
`The general purpose computer 100 includes a processor
`155 which preferably from Intel Corporation (San Jose,
`Calif.) and runs a Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.)
`Windows operating system. In conjunction with the proces(cid:173)
`sor 155, the general purpose computer 100 has a short term
`memory 150 (preferably RAM) and a long term memory
`180 (preferably a hard disk) as known in the art. The general
`
`55
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000013
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Further objects of this invention, together with additional
`features contributing thereto and advantages accruing
`therefrom, will be apparent from the following description
`of a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is
`shown in the accompanying drawings with like reference
`numerals indicating corresponding parts throughout and
`which is to be read in conjunction with the following
`drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a PC, a programmable
`remote control in accordance with the invention and multi(cid:173)
`media processing units.
`FIG. 2A is a frontal plan view of a prior art programmed
`remote control unit.
`FIG. 2B is a frontal plan view of a programmable remote
`control unit in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a selection screen of a remote
`control development program in accordance with the inven(cid:173)
`tion.
`FIG. 4 is a screen shot of name entry screen of a remote
`control development program in accordance with the inven(cid:173)
`tion.
`FIG. 5 is a screen shot of a command learning screen of
`a remote control development program in accordance with
`the invention.
`FIG. 6 is a screen shot of another command learning
`screen of a remote control development program in accor(cid:173)
`dance with the invention.
`FIG. 7 is a screen shot of a screen object layout screen of 65
`a remote control development program in accordance with
`the invention.
`
`

`

`US RE39,059 E
`
`25
`
`5
`purpose computer 100 further includes a graphics display
`105, a user input device preferably comprising a keyboard
`120a and mouse 120b, an IO interface 115, a power supply
`125 and a bus 110 as known in the art. From the user's
`perspective, the docking station 130 once connected to the
`general purpose computer 100 is a component of the general
`purpose computer 100.
`The programmable remote control unit 200 includes a
`processor 260 and preferably runs Microsoft Corporation's
`(Redmond, Wash.) Windows CE operating system. In con(cid:173)
`junction with the processor 260, the programmable remote
`control unit 200 has a short term memory 270 and a long
`term memory 250 as known in the art. The processor 260 is
`preferably a microprocessor, but may be an ASIC, logic
`processor or other type of processor which can operate in
`accordance with a program. The long term memory 250 is
`preferably comprised of EEPROM, but may also be a
`magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, and MO disk
`drive, NVRAM, SRAM, chemical storage device or other
`type of rewritable, non-volatile memory. The short term 20
`memory 270 is preferably a RAM. The programmable
`remote control unit 200 further includes a bus 210, an I/0
`processor 230, a power management unit 280 and a battery
`285, all as known in the art.
`For interfacing with a user, the programmable remote
`control unit 200 further includes a panel 220. The panel 220
`comprises various user input devices 222, 223, 224 and a
`graphic display 221. The graphic display 221 may be an
`LCD panel, an LED panel, a holographic projection, a
`cathode ray tube or other compact display device which can 30
`display graphics. The user input devices preferably include
`fixed keys 224, programmable keys 223 and a touch screen
`overlay 222.
`The programmable keys 223 and fixed keys 224 may be
`comprised of buttons-mechanical, electromechanical or
`solid state. As shown in FIG. 2B, there are preferably four
`programmable keys 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d disposed in a
`cross-like shape. Though programmable, the programmable
`keys 223 preferably are programmed with consistent
`functions, namely, that key 223a is for increasing speaker
`volume, key 223b is for changing channels in an upward
`direction, key 223c is for decreasing speaker volume, and
`key 223d is for changing channels in a downward direction.
`As explained further below, programs for controlling mul-
`timedia processing units preferably include these assign(cid:173)
`ments.
`The fixed keys 224 have functions which cannot be
`changed. The fixed keys 224 preferably include a key 224a
`for toggling a back light on the display 221, keys 224b, 224c
`for scrolling to the next and previous screen, and a power
`key 224d.
`The touch screen overlay 222, in conjunction with the
`graphic display 221, allows the programmable remote con(cid:173)
`trol unit 200 to be programmed with soft keys.
`For interfacing with the multimedia processing unit 300
`and the general purpose computer 100, the programmable
`remote control unit 200 includes a communications trans(cid:173)
`ceiver 235. The communications transceiver 235 may be
`electro mechanical, but is preferably wireless and conforms
`to the IrDA specification and consumer IR standards, and
`also includes an infrared transceiver and an RF transceiver
`which permit the programmable remote control unit 200 to
`control a wide range of multimedia processing units.
`Alternatively, the functions of communicating with the
`general purpose computer 100 and the multimedia precess(cid:173)
`ing unit may be embodied as separate units.
`
`6
`The docking station 130 preferably comprises a cup-like
`unit into which the programmable remote control unit 200
`may be inserted and which has a shape adapted to receive
`and firmly hold the programmable remote control unit 200.
`FIG. 8 shows the programmable remote control unit 200
`inserted into the docking station 130. When the program(cid:173)
`mable remote control unit 200 is inserted into the docking
`station 130, the programmable remote control unit's com(cid:173)
`munications transceiver 235 is in registration with a corre-
`10 sponding communications transceiver 135 in the docking
`station 130. The docking station 130 is coupleable to the I/0
`interface 115 of the general purpose computer 100, prefer(cid:173)
`ably in conformance with an interface standard which is
`common, bidirectional and inexpensive, such as serial or
`15 USB.
`As an alternative to the docking station 350, the commu(cid:173)
`nications transceiver 235 of the programmable remote con(cid:173)
`trol unit 200 may include a USB port or similar means which
`can be connected directly to a USB port in the general
`purpose computer 100.
`The communications transceiver 135 of the docking sta(cid:173)
`tion preferably includes an infrared receiver and an RF
`receiver which permit the docking station 130 to recognize
`the commands which are recognized by a wide range of
`multimedia processing units.
`The Method of the Invention
`Methods of the invention includes a learning phase, a
`development phase, a transfer phase and a use phase. The
`description of these phases is accompanied by an example of
`how the commands issued from a prior art programmed
`remote control unit 200A shown in FIG. 2A maybe pro(cid:173)
`grammed and used by the programmable remote control unit
`200 of FIG. 2B.
`The exemplary programmed remote control unit 200A is
`of a common variety for controlling a television, which is
`the multimedia processing unit of the example. Similar
`programmed remote control units are provided with other
`multimedia processing units, such as cable boxes. The
`programmed remote control unit 200A includes a number of
`keys, each resulting in a designated command as shown in
`Table I below. Typical TVs generate an appropriate display
`when a key is pressed and the TV recognizes the command.
`Other multimedia processing units also have similar
`capabilities, though this is not described further herein.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`TABLE I
`
`Label
`
`Reference
`
`Command
`
`mute
`power
`enter
`
`220A
`230A
`275A
`
`2
`
`4
`
`7
`
`9
`0
`ch-
`
`201A
`202A
`203A
`204A
`205A
`206A
`207A
`208A
`209A
`210A
`260A
`
`ch+
`
`265A
`
`toggle tbe TV's speaker on and off
`toggle power to tbe TV on and off
`after one or more nwnbers keys has been
`pressed, cause the TV to recognize the
`corresponding entered number
`enter the nwnber 1
`enter the nwnber 2
`enter the nwnber 3
`enter the nwnber 4
`enter the nwnber 5
`enter the nwnber 6
`enter the nwnber 7
`enter the nwnber 8
`enter the nwnber 9
`enter the nwnber 0
`change tbe displayed TV station to tbe
`station next lower in a predefined order
`change tbe displayed TV station to tbe
`station next higher in the predefined
`order
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000014
`
`

`

`US RE39,059 E
`
`7
`
`TABLE !-continued
`
`Label
`
`Reference
`
`Command
`
`display 250A
`
`val-
`
`270A
`
`val+
`
`275A
`
`toggle an information display of such
`things as currently ttmed station, volwne,
`and the time
`decrease the speaker volume by a
`predetermined amount
`increase the speaker volume by a
`predetermined amount
`
`25
`
`8
`programmable remote control unit of the invention. The
`preconfigured screen objects may also be obtained in the
`aftermarket from third parties, such as the vendors of
`multimedia processing units.
`In the learning phase, the commands for the multimedia
`processing unit 300 are obtained by the remote control
`development software and used to prepare a screen object
`corresponding to the programmed remote control unit 200A
`of the multimedia processing unit 300. It should be
`10 appreciated, however, that the remote control development
`software can be used to learn commands from multipurpose,
`universal and programmable remote control units as well as
`single-purpose programmed remote control units as shown
`in the example.
`In step 1210, the user starts the remote control develop(cid:173)
`ment software and activates the wizard for learning the
`commands for a multimedia processing unit. A screen 300
`such as that shown in FIG. 3 is preferably displayed on the
`display 105 of the general purpose computer 100. This
`screen 300 displays the beginning point of the learning
`wizard. The screen 300, as well as the other screens
`described herein, conform to the Windows95 (or later) user
`interface which is well known in the art. A menu bar 310
`shows several commands wh