Electronic behavior modification reminder system and method

• US 6,567,785 B2
• Filed: 06/19/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Richard Clendenon
• Original Assignee: John Richard Clendenon
• Inventors: Clendenon, John Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sough, Hyung-Sub
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reagan, James A.
• Application Number:
  US09/336,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,431 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10, 705/11, 368/89
• US Class Current: 705/7.42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A discrete iterative and recursive operator reminder system and method for modifying recognized unwanted behavior, such as nail biting or poor posture. The system uses a combination of manual operator input and prior history to establish the timing of future prompting signals and lead a user successively to the desired result. It calculates the timing of each future prompting signal based upon the most recent operator response indicating whether the operator was engaged in the monitored behavior at the time of prompting signal generation. The system houses its microprocessor in a familiar object used for another purpose, such as a writing implement, wristwatch, or pocket-sized trinket, or is adapted for use within the programmed structure of a personal computer, cell phone, electronic notebook, pager, hand-held organizer, or other similar electronic device. The system may optionally display behavior related data, such as current date, time, progress graph, and average signal interval.

Claims

1. An interactive reminder system for use by an operator in changing deeply ingrained habits and behaviors that an operator has recognized as unwanted behavior and has a sincere desire to change, which during use provides a succession of prompting signals to the operator on a varied schedule depending upon previous operator input as to achievement in changing the unwanted behavior, to bring the operator successively closer to a targeted behavior modification result, and further which provides such prompting signals at the conclusion of time intervals calculated from information provided by the operator as to whether he or she was engaged in the unwanted behavior at the end of the most recent time interval, in combination with a succession of prior information provided by the operator as to whether he or she was engaged in the unwanted behavior at the end of the time intervals immediately prior to a predetermined number of previously generated prompting signals, said system comprising:

microprocessor means adapted for recursive and iterative calculation of successive time intervals for future operator-prompting signals intended to bring the operator successively closer to a targeted behavior modification result, wherein each said time interval for a next operator-prompting signal is calculated from a succession of electronic operator-generated response signals that includes a predetermined number of previously entered ones of said response signals and also the most recently entered one of said response signals, said microprocessor means also being adapted for increasing a next time interval when the operator is not engaged in a recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement at the time of the most recent one of said prompting signals, decreasing a next time interval when the operator is engaged in the recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement at the time of the most recent one of said prompting signals, and letting said next time interval remain unchanged when one of said operator response signals is not received after the most recent one of said prompting signals;

housing means adapted for support of said microprocessor means and which is also adapted for a primary functional purpose that is not related to behavioral modification purposes;

signal generation means adapted for providing a prompting signal at the conclusion of each of said calculated time intervals;

information display means connected through said housing;

operator response means adapted for use by an operator to provide at least one electronic response signal to said microprocessor that is capable of being interpreted by said microprocessor for calculation of time intervals, said operator response means also being connected through said housing;

power supply means adapted for providing electrical power to said microprocessor means, said signal generation means, said information display means, and said operator response means; and

electrical connection means adapted for electrical communication between said power supply means, said microprocessor means, said signal generation means, said information display means, and said operator response means so that after prompting signal generation and operator engagement of said operator response means, at least one of said electronic response, at least one of said electronic response signals is created by said operator response means to indicate whether the operator was engaged in the recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement at the time of the last one of said operator-prompting signals, with each said operator generated electronic response signal being used for calculation of a time interval prior to a next operator-prompting signal, and further with said calculation of time intervals, said prompting signal generation, and operator engagement of said operator response means continuing until the operator determines that the targeted behavior modification result has been achieved.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said information display means comprises a display panel having a minimum dimension sufficient for display of a date and time.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said display panel comprises at least one LCD panel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal generation means is selected from a group consisting of vibrating devices, devices producing audible sounds, devices producing visible displays, and devices capable of producing a confidential signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said operator response means comprises at least one depressible button.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said operator response means comprises one pair of depressible buttons positioned concentrically relative to one another.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said housing is selected from a group consisting of wristwatches, pocket watches, writing implements, key chains, jewelry, personal computers, hand-held electronic organizers, electronic notebooks, cell phones, pagers, and laptop computers.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said operator response means comprises at least one key on a computer keyboard, and said signal generation means is adapted for display on a computer monitor.

9. A behavior modification method for recognized unwanted behavior that is targeted for improvement, said method comprising the steps of

providing a reminder system having a microprocessor means adapted for recursive and iterative calculation of successive time intervals for future operator-prompting signals intended to bring an operator successively closer to a targeted behavior modification result, wherein each said time interval for a next operator-prompting signal is calculated from a succession of electronic operator-generated response signals that includes a predetermined number of previously entered ones of said response signals and also the most recently entered one of said response signals, and further whereby a next time interval is increased when the operator is not engaged in a recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement at the time of the most recent one of said prompting signals, in the alternative when the operator is engaged in the recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement at the time of the most recent one of said prompting signals said next time interval is decreased, and said next time interval remains unchanged when one of said operator response signals is not received after the most recent one of said prompting signals;

also providing said reminder system with a housing means which is adapted for a primary functional purpose that is not related to behavioral modification purposes, signal generation means adapted for providing a prompting signal at the conclusion of each of said calculated time intervals, operator response means adapted for use by an operator to provide at least one electronic response signal to said microprocessor means that is capable of being interpreted by said microprocessor means for calculation of time intervals, power supply means, and electrical connection means adapted for electrical communication between said power supply means, said microprocessor means, said signal generation means, said information display means, and said operator response means;

engaging said operator response means to initialize said reminder system;

repeated monitoring of current time by said microprocessor means until sufficient time has elapsed that the beginning of a period of active behavior monitoring is reached;

when said period of active behavior monitoring is reached automatic entry of said reminder system into a prompting signal generation mode;

said microprocessor means initially using a factory-set predetermined interval for generation of a first prompting signal and after said first prompting signal generation, said microprocessor means using a predetermined number of successive prior prompting signal intervals to calculate the time interval of a next prompting signal, including the time interval prior to the most recent one of said prompting signals;

after said first prompting signal is generated, using said operator response means to create one of said response signals to indicate whether the recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement occurred immediately prior to the time of said prompting signal generation;

said microprocessor means automatically calculating a time interval for next signal generation based upon a predetermined number of successive prior prompting signal intervals that include the time interval prior to the most recent one of said prompting signals, and whereby said microprocessor means increases said time interval for next signal generation when the operator is not engaged in a recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement at the time of the most recent one of said prompting signals, said microprocessor means decreases said time interval for next signal generation when the operator is engaged in the recognized unwanted behavior targeted for improvement at the time of the most recent one of said prompting signals, and said microprocessor means does not change said time interval for next signal generation when one of said operator response signals is not received after the most recent one of said prompting signals;

said microprocessor means repeating said calculation of time intervals for generation of a next prompting signal and said signal generation means repeatedly providing a next prompting signal at the end of each said time interval so as to bring the operator successively closer to a targeted behavior modification result until the operator determines that the targeted behavior modification result has been achieved; and

engaging said operator response means to enter a shut down command that turns off said reminder system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of using the one of said prompting signal intervals pending at shut down as the prompting signal interval used upon reactivation of said system.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of creating a first prompting signal further comprises the creation of a first prompting signal within two hours of said step of system activation.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of using said operator response member to create said response signals must be completed within a time period of approximately ten seconds for said microprocessor to use said signals in said calculation of a next prompting signal interval.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of shutting down said system being able to occur at any time by prolonged engagement of said operator response means for a predetermined period of time greater than three seconds.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of automatic display includes the display of a microprocessor calculated progress graph.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of automatic display includes the display of a microprocessor calculated recent interval average.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of time interval calculation for next signal generation by said microprocessor is based upon a minimum of fifty of said most recent ones of said operator responses so as not to unduly penalize an operator for having a short time period of inattention to behavior modification goals.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of providing said reminder system farther comprises the providing of a reminder system having information display means adapted for display of generation of information relating to behavior modification, and firther comprising the steps of engaging said operator response member to enter into a set-up mode, said microprocessor means generating behavior modification information relating to in a format for display through said information display means, and review of said displayed behavior modification information.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of engaging said operator response means to interrupt said automatic display and input data.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of engaging said operator response means to reset factory default settings in said reminder system.

20. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of engaging said operator response means to reset said period of active behavior modification for said reminder system.