Study aid apparatus and method of using study aid apparatus

Abstract

A method of using a study aid apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving supplemental information associated with a printed textbook. After receiving the supplemental information, it can be loaded into a portable, study aid apparatus. The study aid apparatus is then used to help learn about subject matter in the textbook.

1 . A method of using a study aid apparatus, the method comprising: 
 a) receiving supplemental information associated with a printed textbook;    b) loading the supplemental information into a portable, study aid apparatus; and    c) using the portable, study aid apparatus to help learn about subject matter in the textbook.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the supplemental information includes multiple choice questions.  
     
     
         3 .- 4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable, study aid apparatus includes 
 a) a housing,  
 b) a processor in the housing,  
 c) an audio device for providing the supplemental information to the user, wherein the audio device is coupled to the processor,  
 d) a display device for displaying the supplemental information to the user, wherein the display device is coupled to the processor,  
 e) a memory for storing the supplemental information and being coupled to the processor, and  
 f) a keyboard coupled to the processor.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises: 
 viewing a question and listening to the question substantially simultaneously.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a) receiving the supplemental information includes downloading the supplemental information from a server computer to a client computer.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a) receiving the supplemental information includes downloading the supplemental information from a server computer to a client computer, and wherein the method further comprises: 
 transferring the supplemental information from the client computer to a linker device;  
 transferring the supplemental information from the linker device onto a transferable information storage medium; and  
 inserting the transferable information storage medium into the portable, study aid apparatus.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the printed textbook is a math textbook, a science textbook, a language arts textbook, a social studies textbook, or a foreign language textbook.  
     
     
         10 . A portable, study aid apparatus for use in a system including the portable, study aid apparatus and a printed textbook, the portable, study aid apparatus comprising: 
 a) a housing;    b) a processor in the housing;    c) an audio device for providing supplemental information associated with the printed textbook to the user in audio form, wherein the audio device is coupled to the processor;    d) a memory for storing the supplemental information and being coupled to the processor; and    e) an input device coupled to the processor.    
     
     
         11 . The portable, study aid apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 f) a display device coupled to the processor, and a speech synthesizer coupled to the processor.  
 
     
     
         12 . The portable, study aid apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the input device comprises a keyboard, and wherein the supplemental information is downloaded from a server computer via the Internet.  
     
     
         13 . The portable, study aid apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 f) a display device coupled to the processor, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display device.  
 
     
     
         14 . The portable, study aid apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the audio device comprises a speaker.  
     
     
         15 . The portable, study aid apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a transferable information storage medium and a slot for the transferable information storage medium.  
     
     
         16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . The portable, study aid apparatus of any of  claim 10  wherein the supplemental information comprises chapter-specific questions for the printed textbook.  
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising: 
 the study aid apparatus of  claim 10;  and    a transferable information storage medium including supplemental information for the textbook.    
     
     
         19 .- 21 . (canceled).  
     
     
         22 . A method for providing supplemental information for a printed textbook to a user, the method comprising: 
 a) receiving supplemental information for a plurality of printed textbooks;    b) storing the supplemental information for the plurality of textbooks in a database; and    c) sending the supplemental information to a user via the Internet, wherein the supplemental information is to be loaded into a portable, study aid apparatus that is to be used with the printed textbook.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein sending the supplemental information associated with one or more of the textbooks in the plurality of textbooks to a user includes 
 sending the supplemental information associated with the one or more textbooks in the plurality of textbooks from a server computer to a client computer via the Internet.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the supplemental information includes chapter-specific questions.