LearningVault

The LearningVault™ Distance Learning System was developed by SkyVault™ Secure Digital Distribution, Inc. to provide educational content to people around the world. LearningVault™ will employ existing broadcast networks to gradually and automatically distribute educational and other content to persons equipped with wireless terminals. Educational content, which may include audio or video programs, will be transmitted using subcarriers or sidebands of conventional FM or TV broadcasts to gradually convey content to receivers which automatically store the received content until the recipient is ready to learn.

Educational content will be acquired from content providers such as schools, colleges or universities. This content will be conveyed to a central Operations Center. Digital files containing the recorded content are then dispatched to the Operations Center of a regional or national chain of broadcast stations. The digital file may need to be compressed, and is then broadcast automatically to wireless receivers. If local stations are not available in some remote locations, content may be delivered using satellites.

Any suitable terminal may be employed to receive the automatic content broadcasts, but three devices will probably serve as the most likely receivers: a portable radio, a television, or a personal computer. The radio terminal would be optimized for FM broadcast content such as audio, while the television or PC would best exploit the richer video media content of a TV signal. These terminals will require no phone, cable, Internet or any other kind of wired connection.

The portable radio receiver will comprise an FM antenna, SkyVault’s RainBarrel™ Receiver Chip, and a storage device such as a flash memory. The audio content will be played back through lightweight headphones. This type of receiver is the least expensive, and would be ideal for audio language lessons. Using a single FM subcarrier, this system could receive up to 100 MB per day, and could be scaled up with additional subcarriers.

A conventional television may also be used as a LearningVault™ terminal. When connected to a SkyVault™ Set Top Box (STB), any television is able to display stored LearningVault™ content which is recharged daily with RainBarrel™ broadcasts.

A personal computer may also be utilized as a LearningVault™ terminal. A simple card that includes the SkyVault™ RainBarrel™ Receiver Chip may be added to the computer. The RainBarrel™ Receiver Chip may also be configured as an external device that can be connected to a computer using a PCMCIA or USB coupler.

Using a single TV Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI), the PC and TV systems could receive up to 2.5GB per day, and could be scaled up with additional VBIs.

The SkyVault™ technology is protected by a substantial portfolio of US and International intellectual property.