Human behavior modification which establishes and generates a user adaptive withdrawal schedule

• US 4,853,854 A
• Filed: 12/26/1985
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PICS, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Health Innovations LP
• Inventors: Behar, Albert, Timmerman, Catherine, Howard-Link, Donald A., Frederiksen, Lee W., Behar, Orna
• Primary Examiner(s): Jablon, Clark A.
• Application Number:
  US06/813,401
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 364/413, 364/415, 364/569, 364/709, 364/710, 131/270, 131/329, 368/10, 368/107, 368/108, 368/109
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A human behavior modification method and apparatus aid in withdrawing from a particular habit. A behavioral event such as smoking a cigarette may be associated with the habit numerous times over a period of time. The present method and apparatus aids withdrawal from the habit by providing a structured environment which enables one to reduce the occurrence rate of such behavioral events over a period of time in a way specifically personalized to characteristics of the user'"'"'s habit. The base line behavioral pattern of a person for a specific habit is measured and used to generate a personalized withdrawal program for the specific habit and user. The user is notified of the withdrawal schedule by means of audio and/or visual stimuli, and the withdrawal program is modified as necessary based on the user'"'"'s progress during withdrawal. The user interacts with the apparatus by data inputs which are processed by a microprocessor employing a series of computer programs embedded in memory.

Claims

1. A smoking reduction method for scheduling time intervals between active inducement of user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said method comprising:

tracking errant smoking event occurrences of the user with respect to said scheduled time intervals;

establishing and generating a user adaptive withdrawal schedule which schedules and displays the time intervals between permitted smoking events over a plurality of days and in response to said errant smoking event occurrences; and

visually indicating to the user the number of days left to go in said schedule.

2. A smoking-reduction system for scheduling time intervals between active inducement of user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said system comprising:

means for tracking errant smoking event occurrences of the user with respect to said scheduled time intervals;

modification programming means for establishing and generating a user adaptive withdrawal schedule which schedules and displays the time intervals between permitted smoking events over a plurality of days and in response to said errant smoking event occurrences; and

display means which includes a visual display indicating the number of days left to go in said schedule.

3. Apparatus for stimulating human behavior modification, said apparatus comprising:

event sensor means for generating an event signal representing the occurrence of a discrete event associated with a predetermined pattern of habitual human behavior;

modification programming means connected to receive said event signals over a predetermined first time span during which the habitual behavior naturally occurs and to responsively generate a personalized program for modification of said habitual behavior including a programmed schedule of future occurrence times for said events to occur over a second time span; and

output means connected to output a humanly sensible stimulus at said scheduled future occurrence times;

wherein said modification programming means includes means for detecting during the second time span whether the event signals accurately follow the established programmed schedule of future occurrence times and, if not, for adaptively changing said programmed schedule of future occurrence times in response to detected deviations.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 including further output means which includes, during the second time span, a visible indicator of the time remaining until the next scheduled event occurrence time.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said output means includes a visible indicator of the time remaining in a least one of said first and second time spans.

6. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said output means comprises an audio transducer.

7. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein:

said event sensor means comprises at least one manually activated electrical switch;

said output means comprises audio and visual electro-transducers; and

said modification programming means comprises a microprocessor based data processor including a digital memory and connected to receive inputs from the event sensor means and to responsively drive said output means in accordance with a predetermined computer control program stored in said digital memory.

8. A method for evoking personalized modification of a human behavior denoted by behavioral events, by use of a programmable device with which a user interacts to create and implement a behavior modification plan, said method comprising:

user-activating said programmable device upon the occurrences of said behavioral events;

establishing an unmodified behavior baseline during a first predetermined period of time by recording the occurrences and times of at least one of said behavioral events during said first period;

automatically establishing a behavior modification plan in accordance with a predetermined programmed algorithm stored in said device including;

(i) establishing a second period of time for modifying said behavior;

(ii) establishing the timing intervals of said behavioral events which said person is to be permitted to commit during said second period;

signaling the user via said device, by at least one stimulus, so that the user is prompted to commit said permitted behavioral events at said timing intervals during said second period;

user-activating said device at the time when said permitted behavioral event is actually committed; and

revising said timing between said permitted behavioral events during said second period if the user records the commission of behavioral events with timing that substantially differs from said behavior modification plan.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said behaviorism is habitual smoking.

10. Apparatus for evoking modification of a predetermined human behavior, said behavior being denoted by a time sequence of behavioral events, by use of a programmable device with which a person interacts to create and implement a behavior modification time period, said apparatus comprising:

means for activating said programmable device upon the occurrences of said events;

means for establishing an unmodified behavior base line during a first predetermined period of time by recording the occurrences and timing of at least one of said first behavioral events during said period;

means for establishing a behavior modification plan including

(1) means for establishing a modification period of time for modifying said behaviorism,

(ii) means for establishing the future timing intervals of said behavioral events which said person is permitted to commit during said modification period;

means for informing the user via said device, of said established future timing of said behavioral events which said person is permitted to commit during said modification period; and

means for revising said future timing intervals if the user commits behavioral events in a manner substantially differing from the behavior modification plan.

11. A smoking reduction system for scheduling time intervals between user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said system comprising:

a smoke event sensor means for generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

timing means for generating a personalized program gradually increasing future time intervals between said smoking events including a programmed schedule of future smoking event occurrence times;

output means connected to signal a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times; and

program adaptation means, responsive to a comparison of the timing of actual smoking events and scheduled smoking events over a period of time, for temporarily suppressing further increased time intervals between future scheduled smoking events.

12. A smoking reduction system as in claim 11 wherein said timing means generates day-by-day schedules for future smoking events and wherein said program adaptation means includes means for repeating the current or an earlier day'"'"'s schedule in response to detecting an excessive number of actual smoking events occurring substantially prior to scheduled occurrence times.

16. (Amended) A smoking reduction system as in claim 11, 12, 13, 15 or 14 further comprising:

restart means for restaring the schedule, when activated, for a predetermined limited number of restarts.

13. A smoking reduction system for scheduling time intervals between user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said system comprising:

a smoke event sensor means for generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

timing means for generating a personalized daily program of future timing intervals between said smoking events including a programmed daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times;

said timing means including means for deducing a user'"'"'s probable personal daily waking and sleeping pattern and for generating such daily future smoking event occurrence times as a function of the relative time within such waking and sleeping pattern;

output means connected to signal a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times; and

an on/off switch connected to said means for deducing for activation by the user in correspondence with the user'"'"'s waking/sleeping pattern.

14. A smoking reduction system as in claim 13 wherein said means for deducing the user'"'"'s waking and sleeping pattern is further responsive to the occurrence of time periods during which no event signals are generated.

15. A smoking reduction system for scheduling time intervals between user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said system comprising:

a smoke event sensor means for generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

timing means for generating a personalized daily program of future timing intervals between said smoking events including a programmed daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times;

said timing means including means for deducing a user'"'"'s probable personal daily waking and sleeping pattern and for generating such daily future smoking event occurrence times as a function of the relative time within such waking and sleeping pattern; and

output means connected to signal a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times;

said means for deducing the user'"'"'s waking and sleeping pattern being responsive to the occurrence of time periods during which no event signals are generated.

17. A smoking reduction method for scheduling time intervals between user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said method comprising:

generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

generating a personalized program of future time intervals between said smoking events including a programmed schedule of future smoking event occurrence times;

signalling a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times; and

temporarily suppressing further changes in the time intervals between future scheduled smoking events responsive to a comparison of the timing of actual smoking events and scheduled smoking events over a period of time.

18. A smoking reduction method as in claim 17 wherein said generating step generates day-by-day schedules for future smoking events and wherein said temporarily suppressing step includes repeating the current or an earlier day'"'"'s schedule in response to detecting an excessive number of actual smoking events occurring substantially prior to scheduled occurrence times.

21. A smoking reduction method as in claim 17, 18, 19 or 20 further comprising the step of:

restarting the schedule when requested by a user but only for a predetermined limited number of restart request.

19. A smoking reduction method for scheduling time intervals between user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said method comprising:

generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

generating a personalized daily program of future timing intervals between said smoking events including a programmed daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times;

deducing a user'"'"'s probable personal daily waking and sleeping pattern and using such daily pattern to vary the daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times as a function of the relative time within such waking and sleeping pattern;

signaling a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times; and

including use in said deducing step of an on/off switch activated by the user in correspondence with the user'"'"'s waking/sleeping pattern.

20. A smoking reduction method for scheduling time intervals between user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said method comprising:

generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

generating a personalized daily program of future timing intervals between said smoking events including a programmed daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times;

deducing a user'"'"'s probable personal daily waking and sleeping pattern and using such daily pattern to vary the daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times as a function of the relative time within such waking and sleeping pattern; and

signaling a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times;

wherein said deducing step is responsive to the occurrence of time periods during which no event signals are generated.

22. A smoking reduction system for scheduling time intervals between user smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said system comprising:

a smoke event sensor means for generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

timing means for generating a personalized daily program of future timing intervals between said smoking events including a programmed daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times;

said timing means including means for deducing a user'"'"'s probable personal daily waking and sleeping pattern from activation of an on/off switch of a device for recording said event signals and from the occurrence of time periods during which no smoke event signals are generated and for generating such daily future smoking even occurrence times as a function of the relative time within such waking and sleeping pattern; and

output means connected to signal a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times.

23. A smoking reduction method for scheduling time intervals between used smoking events so as to gradually reduce a user'"'"'s smoking habit, said method comprising:

generating an event signal representing occurrence of an actual user smoking event;

generating a personalized daily program of future timing intervals between said smoking events including a programmed daily scheduled of future smoking events occurrence times;

deducing a user'"'"'s probable personal daily waking and sleeping pattern and using such daily pattern from activation of an on/off switch of a device for recording said event signals and from the occurrence of time periods during which no smoke event signals are generated to vary the daily schedule of future smoking event occurrence times as a function of the relative time within such waking and sleeping pattern; and

signaling a user at scheduled future smoking event occurrence times.

24. Apparatus for stimulating human behavior modification, said apparatus comprising:

event sensor means for generating an event signal representing the occurrence of a discrete event associated with a predetermined pattern of habitual human behavior;

modification programming means connected to receive said event signals over a predetermined first time span during which the habitual behavior naturally occurs and to responsively generate a personalized program for modification of said habitual behavior including a programmed schedule of future occurrence times for said events to occur over a second time span; and

output means connected to output a humanly sensible stimulus at said scheduled future occurrence times;

wherein said modification programming means includes means responsive to operator request for recycling said program means for a predetermined number (at least one) of reuse cycles but which is thereafter rendered incapable of further reuse.

25. A method for evoking personalized modification of a human behavior denoted by behavorial events, by use of a programmable device with which a user interacts to create an implement a behavior modification plan, said method comprising:

user-activating said programmable device upon the occurrences of said behavioral events;

establishing an unmodified behavior baseline during a first predetermined period of time by recording the occurrences and times of at least one of said behavioral events during said first period;

automatically establishing a behavior modification plan in accordance with a predetermined programmed algorithm stored in said device including;

(i) establishing a second period of time for modifying said behavior;

(ii) establishing the timing intervals of said behavioral events which said person is to be permitted to commit during said second period;

signaling the user via said device, by at least one stimulus, so that the user is prompted to commit said permitted behavioral events at said timing intervals during said second period; and

repeating all the above-stated steps upon request by the user but only for a predetermined limited number of restart requests.

26. Apparatus

for stimulating human behavior modification, said apparatus comprising:

event sensor means for generating an event signal representing the occurrence of a discrete event associated with a predetermined pattern of habitual human behavior;

modification programming means connected to receive said event signals over a predetermined first time span during which the habitual behavior naturally occurs and to responsively generate a personalized program for modification of said habitual behavior including a programmed schedule of future occurrence times for said events to occur over a second time span;

output means connected to output a humanly sensible stimulus at said scheduled future occurrence times; and

means for generating on-off signals representing the waking/sleeping schedule of the user and wherein said modification programming means is connected to use the schedule of said on-off signals in generating said programmable schedule of future occurrence times.

27. Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said modification programming means ignores event signals occurring during apparent waking/sleeping schedules corresponding to unusually short or long days during said first predetermined time span.

28. Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said modification programming means ignores unusually long periods of inactivity in said event signals and on/off activations.

29. Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said modification means also schedules recurrent curfew periods during which no events are scheduled to occur, determined as a function of detected on-off times and wherein said output means includes a visible indicator of the existence of such a curfew period.

30. Apparatus for stimulating human behavior modification, said apparatus comprising:

event sensor means for generating an event signal representing the occurrence of a discrete event associated with a predetermined pattern of habitual human behavior;

modification programming means connected to receive said event signals over a predetermined first time span during which the habitual behavior naturally occurs and to responsively generate a personalized program for modification of said habitual behavior including a programmed schedule of future occurrence times for said events to occur over a second time span; and

output means connected to output a humanly sensible stimulus at said scheduled future occurrence times;

wherein said modification programming means includes means for also initiating at least one uniquely distinquishable further humanly sensible stimulus via said output times significantly different than said scheduled occurrence times.

31. Apparatus for actively stimulating human behavior modification, said apparatus comprising:

event sensor means for generating an event signal representing the occurrence of a discrete event associated with a predetermined pattern of habitual human behavior;

modification programming means connected to receive said event signals over a first time span during which the habitual behavior naturally occurs and to responsively generate a personalized program for modification of said habitual behavior including a programmed schedule of future occurrence times for actively prompting said events to occur over a second time span; and

output means connected to actively signal a human user to engage in another occurrence of said discrete event by outputting a humanly sensible stimulus at said scheduled future occurrence times, which stimulus is capable of interrupting the human user activity to actively stimulate such further occurrence even though the apparatus may be out of the user'"'"'s sight;

wherein said predetermined pattern of human behavior is a time sequence of cigarette smoking events and wherein said modification programming means monitors the existing pattern of cigarette smoking events over said first time span comprising a first plurality of days and then schedules a graduated reduction in the frequency of scheduled future cigarette smoking events over a subsequent second time span comprising a second plurality of days, the elapsed time between scheduled future events increasing according to a prescribed first withdrawal curve from day-to-day and increasing in accordance with a second withdrawal curve within each day of the second time span.