US 7,493,396 B2
Internet-based education support system and methods
Robert L. Alcorn, Arlington, Va. (US); Daniel E. Cane, Washington, D.C. (US); Michael L. Chasen, Washington, D.C. (US); Timothy R. Chi, Fairfax, Va. (US); Stephen R. Gilfus, Woodbridge, Va. (US); Scott Perian, Washington, D.C. (US); and Matthew L. Pittinsky, Washington, D.C. (US)
Assigned to Blackboard, Inc., Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/251,110.
Application 11/251110 is a continuation of application No. 09/608208, filed on Jun. 30, 2000, granted, now 6,988,138.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/187890, filed on Mar. 08, 2000.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/141864, filed on Jul. 01, 1999.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/141283, filed on Jun. 30, 1999.
Prior Publication US 2006/0168233 A1, Jul. 27, 2006
Int. Cl. G06F 15/173 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 709—225  [709/203; 709/217; 709/204; 343/350; 343/204] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for providing access to courses having course files in an on-line course-based instruction system, comprising the steps of:
storing a plurality of roles, with different roles providing a user with associated respective levels of access to courses in the system;
for each course for which the user is to have a level of access, associating the user with one of the plurality of roles, with concurrent different roles for different courses in the system being able to be associated with the user; and
in response to a single login by the user, providing access to the user to at least two courses for which the user is to have a level of access in accordance with the respective roles associated with the user for the two courses;
wherein the step of providing access in response to the single login by the user includes presenting, with a login manager, the user with a list of courses, wherein the list includes a set of respective hyperlinks for each of the courses for which the user is to have a level of access and further wherein at least one of the sets of respective hyperlinks varies according to the associated respective role, wherein each of the respective hyperlinks points to an associated course web page.