METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE

• US 20100030857A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Patrick Newby, Christine Marie Hayet, Robert Hurling, Shail Patel
• Original Assignee: Brian Patrick Newby, Christine Marie Hayet, Robert Hurling, Shail Patel
• Inventors: Hurling, Robert, Patel, Shail, Newby, Brian Patrick, Hayet, Christine Marie
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assisting a user to formulate, apply and adhere to a changed behaviour program. The user'"'"'s commitment is established by presenting a number of potential barriers to implementing a desired behavioural change; asking a user to select one or more potential barriers; presenting a selected number of possible solutions to the barriers, receiving user input selecting at least one solution; and prompting the user to enter a commitment to one or more actions intended to assist the behavioural change. Maintenance of an exercise regime is assisted by displaying a selection of options for activities to be included in the exercise regime; allowing a user to select activities; displaying a schedule of planned exercise activities; and sending an electronic alert message to the user in advance of the scheduled activity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for assisting behavioural change in an individual, comprising:

means for receiving user input indicating one or more potential barriers to implementing a desired behavioural change;

means for presenting to the user a selected number of possible solutions to the barriers, the possible solutions being selected from a database of solutions according to a strength of association with or mapping from the barriers identified in said user input;

means for receiving user input selecting at least one said solution; and

means for prompting the user to enter a commitment to one or more actions intended to assist the behavioural change.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for presenting the user with a number of potential barriers to implementing a desired behavioural change.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

means for presenting to the user a list of potential benefits of the desired behavioural change; and

means for receiving user input selecting one or more of the listed potential benefits which the user considers to be motivating; and

means for delivering motivational messages to the user based on the selected potential benefits.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 in which the means for presenting and the means for receiving user input comprise an automated dialogue module.

5. The apparatus of any preceding claim comprising an internet server.

6. The apparatus of any preceding claim further including means for receiving a user selection of exercise activities corresponding to said one or more actions, and scheduled times for the activities;

schedule display means for displaying a schedule of planned exercise activities; and

alert means for sending an electronic alert message to the user in advance of a scheduled activity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the alert means comprises means for issuing a text or graphics message to the user'"'"'s mobile telephone or computing device, the message comprising an attendance reminder for a scheduled activity.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 or claim 7 in which the alert means comprises means for issuing a text or graphics message to the user'"'"'s mobile telephone or computing device, the message comprising a preparation reminder for a scheduled activity.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 6, 7 or 8 in which the alert means comprises means for issuing a text or graphics message to the user'"'"'s mobile telephone or computing device, the message comprising a motivation message to encourage attendance at the scheduled activity.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for presenting possible solutions to the barriers updates the strengths of association or mappings between barriers and solutions according to the most popular selections made by multiple users of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for presenting possible solutions to the barriers updates the strengths of association or mappings between barriers and solutions according to a measure of efficacy based on multiple users of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for receiving a said commitment from the user in written or spoken form.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including means for analysing the user commitment for deterministic statements that can lead to measurable achievements.

19. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the system provides reminders for one or more of the actions in a program of actions.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the reminders are provided by electronic mail or mobile telephony.

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the information provided in steps (a) and (d) is used to generate a user profile and the user profile is compared with other user profiles stored in the system to identify a profile match.

26. The apparatus of any preceding claim further including means for confirming attendance at a scheduled activity.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 in the means for confirming attendance comprises means for receiving electronic feedback from one or more scheduled activity location.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the electronic feedback includes exercise data.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further including means for obtaining exercise data from a plurality of electronically monitored physical activity devices as said electronic feedback.

30. The apparatus of any one of claims 27 to 29 further including means for displaying an exercise achievement report indicating degree of compliance with the exercise regime based on the confirmed attendance data.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 in which the alert means comprises means for issuing an electronic message to the user, the message comprising a motivation message based on the electronic feedback.

34. The apparatus of claim 30 further including means for displaying comparative exercise achievement data based on other users of the system.

14. A method of assisting behavioural change in an individual, which method comprises:

(a) identifying in the individual a barrier to implementing the desired behavioural change, said barrier being selected from a predetermined list;

(b) selecting one or more solutions to the barrier using a system comprising a mapping between barriers and solutions, the selected one or more solutions having the highest strength of association with the barrier identified in step (a);

(c) presenting the one or more solutions to the individual;

(d) verifying the individual'"'"'s acceptance of the one or more solutions, with steps (b) and (c) being repeated until the individual accepts at least one solution; and

(e) prompting the individual to enter a commitment to one or more actions intended to assist the desired behavioural change.

15. The method of claim 14 further including the step of:

identifying from the individual at least one perceived benefit of the desired behavioural change which the individual considers to be motivating, said benefit being selected from a predetermined list.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of:

delivering motivational messages to the user based on the selected potential benefits.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said barrier and said at least one perceived benefit is identified by the individual interacting with an automated dialogue module.

18. The method of claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the method is implemented for an individual via electronic communications.

22. An apparatus for assisting in maintenance of an exercise regime in an individual, comprising:

means for displaying to the user a selection of options for activities to be included in the exercise regime;

means for receiving a user selection of activities and scheduled times for the activities;

schedule display means for displaying a schedule of planned exercise activities; and

alert means for sending an electronic alert message to the user in advance of a scheduled activity.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the alert means comprises means for issuing a text or graphics message to the user'"'"'s mobile telephone or computing device, the message comprising an attendance reminder for a scheduled activity.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 or claim 23 in which the alert means comprises means for issuing a text or graphics message to the user'"'"'s mobile telephone or computing device, the message comprising a preparation reminder for a scheduled activity.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, 23 or 24 in which the alert means comprises means for issuing a text or graphics message to the user'"'"'s mobile telephone or computing device, the message comprising a motivation message to encourage attendance at the scheduled activity.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 31 in which the motivation message is generated according to one of a selection of possible communication styles based on a user profile.

33. The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 31 in which the motivation message is generated based on data derived from other users of the system having matches in user profile.

35. The apparatus of claim 22 further including means for initiating communication between the user and a second user of the apparatus as a ‘

buddy’

, the buddy being selected according to matches in user profile with the first user.