Method, system, and program for using a virtual environment to provide information on using a product

• US 7,229,288 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zierenberg, Terry, Gratton, Fabio, Stuart, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski; Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chyn; Aileen
• Application Number:
  US10/326,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20040121295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 434/262, 434/236
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for providing information on a promoted product to a user. A virtual environment is rendered and a virtual customer is rendered within the virtual environment, wherein the virtual customer utilizes the promoted product by receiving input control signals from the user indicating movement of the virtual customer through the virtual environment. Interactions are rendered between the virtual customer and the virtual environment in response to the input control signals to enable the user to virtually experience how the promoted product is capable of impacting daily activities of the user and to promote the product.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a computer program for providing training information to a user on a display executed by a computer on using a medical therapy to treat a medical condition, comprising:

displaying a virtual environment;

displaying a user controlled virtual patient within the virtual environment, wherein the user controlled virtual patient is simulating receiving the medical therapy and simulating real life activity in the virtual environment;

receiving input control signals from the user controlling movement of the user controlled virtual patient through the virtual environment;

rendering interactions between the user controlled virtual patient and the virtual environment in response to the input control signals to enable the user to virtually engage in a simulated daily activity through the actions of the user controlled virtual patient, wherein the simulated daily activity is other than simulated receiving of the simulated medical therapy;

displaying a virtual patient not controlled by the user and receiving an alternative simulated medical therapy to treat the same medical condition of the user controlled virtual patient;

rendering interactions between the user controlled virtual patient and the non-user controlled virtual patient to convey information demonstrating how the non-user controlled virtual patient is less able to engage in same simulated daily activities experienced by the user controlled virtual patient as a result of the alternative simulated medical therapy the non-user controlled virtual patient is receiving versus the simulated medical therapy the user controlled virtual patient is receiving; and

displaying information on how the simulated medical therapy positively impacts the user controlled virtual patient engaged in the simulated daily activities in the virtual environment to promote the simulated medical therapy for the user to treat the medical condition in real life.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated medical therapy involves use of a medical device to dispense medication, further comprising:

displaying a representation of the medical device; and

receiving input control signals from the user to simulate dispensing medication from the displayed medical device when the user controlled virtual patient is interacting in the virtual environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the medical device comprises an insulin pump and wherein the medical condition comprises diabetes.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the user to check a health state of the user controlled virtual patient in response to receiving user input control signals to cause the user controlled virtual patient to perform the simulated daily activity;

receiving user input control signals to check the health state of the user controlled virtual patient; and

displaying information on the health state.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

after receiving user input control signals to check the health state, displaying information on applying the simulated medical therapy.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving user input control signals to check the health state comprises:

receiving user input control signals to use a virtual health meter to measure a simulated biometric parameter of the user controlled virtual patient;

determining whether the measured biometric parameter requires application of the simulated medical therapy; and

prompting the user to apply the simulated medical therapy after determining that application of the simulated medical therapy is required.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input control signals to check a health state before the user directs the user controlled virtual patient to perform the simulated daily activity; and

displaying information on checking the health state in response to the user input control signals to check the health state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the information further comprises displaying positive reinforcement to the user for checking the health state before performing the simulated daily activity.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying positive reinforcement to the user for proactively engaging in positive behavior unrelated to the simulated medical therapy.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical condition is diabetes, wherein the simulated medical therapy received by the user controlled virtual patient comprises insulin pump therapy and wherein the alternative simulated medical therapy received by the non-user controlled virtual patient comprises insulin injections.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein one scene of the displayed virtual environment includes simulated medical items related to the simulated medical therapy that the user must cause the user controlled virtual patient to gather for use in subsequent scenes of the virtual environment.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the virtual environment comprises:

displaying a plurality of scenes, wherein the scenes include the simulated daily activities of the user controlled virtual patient that are capable of being impacted by the simulated medical therapy.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated daily activity comprises an athletic activity.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the rendered interactions between the non-user controlled virtual patient and user controlled virtual patient comprise a predefined dialog or are performed in response to user controls.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated daily activity comprises sleeping.

16. A system for providing training information to a user of the system on using a simulated medical therapy to treat a medical condition, comprising:

a display for displaying information;

means for displaying a virtual environment;

means for displaying a user controlled virtual patient within the virtual environment, wherein the user controlled virtual patient is simulating receiving the simulated medical therapy and simulating real life activity in the virtual environment;

means for receiving input control signals from the user controlling movement of the user controlled virtual patient through the virtual environment;

means for rendering interactions between the user controlled virtual patient and the virtual environment in response to the input control signals to enable the user to virtually engage in a simulated daily activity through the actions of the user controlled virtual patient, wherein the simulated daily activity is other than simulating receiving of the simulated medical therapy;

means for displaying a non-user controlled virtual patient not controlled by the user and receiving an alternative simulated medical therapy to treat the same medical condition of the user controlled virtual patient;

means for rendering interactions between the user controlled virtual patient and the non-user controlled virtual patient to convey information demonstrating how the non-user controlled virtual patient is less able to engage in same simulated daily activities experienced by the user controlled virtual patient as a result of the alternative simulated medical therapy the non-user controlled virtual patient is receiving versus the simulated medical therapy the user controlled virtual patient is receiving; and

means for displaying information on how the simulated medical therapy positively impacts the user controlled virtual patient engaged in the simulated daily activities in the virtual environment to promote the simulated medical therapy for the user to treat a medical condition in real life.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the simulated medical therapy involves use of a medical device to dispense medication, further comprising:

means for displaying a representation of the medical device; and

means for receiving input control signals from the user to simulate dispensing medication from the displayed medical device when the user controlled virtual patient is interacting in the virtual environment.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the medical device comprises an insulin pump and wherein the medical condition comprises diabetes.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for prompting the user to check a health state of the user controlled virtual patient in response to receiving user input control signals to cause the user controlled virtual patient to perform the simulated daily activity;

means for receiving user input control signals to check the health state of the user controlled virtual patient; and

means for displaying information on the health state.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving user input control signals to check a health state before the user directs the user controlled virtual patient to perform the simulated daily activity; and

means for displaying information on checking the health state in response to the user input control signals to check the health state.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for displaying the information further renders positive reinforcement to the user for checking the health state before performing the simulated daily activity.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for displaying positive reinforcement to the user for proactively engaging in positive behavior unrelated to the simulated medical therapy.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the medical condition is diabetes, wherein the simulated medical therapy received by the user controlled virtual patient comprises insulin pump therapy and wherein the alternative simulated medical therapy received by the non-user controlled virtual patient comprises insulin injections.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for displaying the virtual environment further performs:

displaying a plurality of scenes, wherein the scenes include the simulated daily activities of the user controlled virtual patient that are capable of being impacted by the simulated medical therapy.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the simulated daily activity comprises an athletic activity.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the rendered interactions between the non-user controlled virtual patient and user controlled virtual patient comprise a predefined dialog or are performed in response to user controls.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the simulated daily activity comprises sleeping.

28. An article of manufacture for providing training information to a user of the article of manufacture on a display on using a simulated medical therapy to treat a medical condition, wherein the article of manufacture causes operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

displaying a virtual environment;

displaying a user controlled virtual patient within the virtual environment, wherein the user controlled virtual patient is simulating receiving the simulated medical therapy and simulating real life activity in the virtual environment;

receiving input control signals from the user controlling movement of the user controlled virtual patient through the virtual environment;

rendering interactions between the user controlled virtual patient and the virtual environment in response to the input control signals to enable the user to virtually engage in a simulated daily activity through the actions of the user controlled virtual patient, wherein the simulated daily activity is other than simulated receiving of the simulated medical therapy;

displaying a non-user controlled virtual patient not controlled by the user and receiving an alternative simulated medical therapy to treat the same medical condition of the user controlled virtual patient;

rendering interactions between the user controlled virtual patient and the non-user controlled virtual patient to convey information demonstrating how the non-user controlled virtual patient is less able to engage in same simulated daily activities experienced by the user controlled virtual patient as a result of the alternative simulated medical therapy the non-user controlled virtual patient is receiving versus the simulated medical therapy the user controlled virtual patient is receiving; and

displaying information on how the simulated medical therapy positively impacts the user controlled virtual patient engaged in the simulated daily activities in the virtual environment to promote the simulated medical therapy for the user to treat a medical condition in real life.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the simulated medical therapy involves use of a medical device to dispense medication, further comprising:

displaying a representation of the medical device; and

receiving input control signals from the user to simulate dispensing medication from the displayed medical device when the user controlled virtual patient is interacting in the virtual environment.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the medical device comprises an insulin pump and wherein the medical condition comprises diabetes.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 28, further comprising:

prompting the user to check a health state of the user controlled virtual patient in response to receiving user input control signals to cause the user controlled virtual patient to perform the simulated daily activity;

receiving user input control signals to check the health state of the user controlled virtual patient; and

displaying information on the health state.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising:

after receiving user input control signals to check the health state, displaying information on applying the simulated medical therapy.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein receiving user input control signals to check the health state comprises:

receiving user input control signals to use a virtual health meter to measure a biometric parameter of the user controlled virtual patient;

determining whether the measured biometric parameter requires application of the simulated medical therapy; and

prompting the user to apply the simulated medical therapy after determining that application of the simulated medical therapy is required.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving user input control signals to check a health state before the user directs the user controlled virtual patient to perform the simulated daily activity; and

displaying information on checking the health state in response to the user input control signals to check the health state.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 34, wherein

displaying the information further comprises displaying positive reinforcement to the user for checking the health state before performing the simulated daily activity.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 35, further comprising:

displaying positive reinforcement to the user for proactively engaging in positive behavior unrelated to the simulated medical therapy.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the medical condition is diabetes, wherein the simulated medical therapy received by the user controlled virtual patient comprises insulin pump therapy and wherein the alternative simulated medical therapy received by the non-user controlled virtual patient comprises insulin injections.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein one scene of the displayed virtual environment includes simulated medical items related to the simulated medical therapy that the user must cause the user controlled virtual patient to gather for use in subsequent scenes of the virtual environment.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein rendering the virtual environment comprises:

displaying a plurality of scenes, wherein the scenes include the simulated daily activities of the user controlled virtual patient that are capable of being impacted by the simulated medical therapy.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the simulated daily activity comprises an athletic activity.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the rendered interactions between the non-user controlled virtual patient and user controlled virtual patient comprise a predefined dialog or are performed in response to user controls.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the simulated daily activity comprises sleeping.