Personal coaching system for clients with ongoing concerns such as weight loss

• US 7,376,700 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wellcoaches Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wellcoaches Corporation
• Inventors: Moore, Margaret A., Clark, Paul T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollack; Melvin H.
• Application Number:
  US09/628,607
• Time in Patent Office: 2,850 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/219, 709/227, 705/2, 705/3, 705/8, 705/9, 705/14, 706/45
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

The invention features a method for coaching a plurality of clients, involving providing multiple coaches and assigning a personal coach to each client. Information is received from each client particular to an ongoing concern of the client, e.g., weight loss, and, based on that information, the coach devises a set of recommendations that are transmitted to the client, starting the coaching relationship.

Claims

1. A method by which a company provides interactive, ongoing coaching to a plurality of clients using non-e-mail-based Internet communication as well as e-mail based communications, said method comprising:

a) providing multiple coaches who have access to a common web platform;

b) at some stage in said method prior to step d), assigning a personal coach from said multiple coaches to each said client;

c) receiving from the client information particular to an ongoing personal, health-related concern of the client;

d) having the coach and client meet in real-time, scheduled coaching sessions;

e) having the coach and client agree, in real-time, on the client'"'"'s life habits to change, and agree on the client'"'"'s personal goals;

f) having the coach transmit to the client, via the Internet, information pertaining to e);

g) having the client transmit to the coach, via the Internet, particularized information pertaining to e), wherein the information includes reportage of events occurring in the life of the client subsequent to e);

h) based on the information received by the coach in step g), having the coach and client work together, in real-time, to help the client take steps toward reaching the client'"'"'s personal goals;

i) having the client and coach transmit to each other information, via the Internet, pertaining to h);

j) having the client and coach access an Internet file that contains information pertaining to any of c)-i) and that are personal to the client and not accessible by other clients; and

k) repeating steps h) and i).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in steps f-h), the client and the coach communicate over the Internet at scheduled times, with real-time dialogue in the form of “

chat”

format typed comments and questions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in steps f-h), the client and the coach communicate over the Internet at scheduled times, with real-time dialogue in the form of Internet-based telephone conversation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in steps f-h), the client and the coach communicate over the Internet at scheduled times, with real-time dialogue in the form of Internet-based video/audio conversation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein there is provided for the coaches a web-based chat room to which said clients and the general public are denied access.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coaching process includes providing to the clients incentives for reaching goals pertaining to the ongoing concern of the clients.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the incentives include rewards provided to the clients for reaching said goals.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the incentives include the awarding of points that are redeemable for rewards.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein there is provided for the clients a web-based chat room.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said clients'"'"' chat room is not accessible by the coaches and the general public.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises providing a publicly-accessible Web site that provides information about said coaching method.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said Web site includes advertising of products or services not sold by the company, wherein entities other than the company pay the company to post said advertising on the Web site.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein products or services are offered for sale on said Web site.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein clients are offered incentives to communicate, via the Internet, with prospective clients of the company about their experience with the coaching program.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein there are periodic visits to the coaches'"'"'Web site by non-coach individuals with expertise in the subject of the clients'"'"' ongoing concern.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein there are periodic visits to the clients'"'"' Web site by non-coach individuals with expertise in the subject of the clients'"'"' ongoing concern.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to stress.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to anxiety.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to depression.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to pregnancy.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to addiction.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to menopause.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to andropause.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to a chronic disease.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to elder care.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said ongoing concern of the client pertains to caring for a disabled person.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein, during steps (f-h), both the client and the coach view monitors which display an electronically-stored file that contains a history of the setting and meeting of the client'"'"'s goals, and wherein the client and coach communicate via Internet chat, conventional telephony, Internet telephony, or video, or a combination thereof, while said file is displayed.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the client has access, between coaching sessions, to said electronically-stored file.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein, during steps (f-h), the coach is visible on the monitor of the client while the coach speaks.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein, during steps (f-h), the client'"'"'s face is visible on the monitor of the coach while the client speaks.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein, during steps (f-h), the client is not shown on the coaches'"'"' monitor.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein, during steps (f-h), the client is shown on the coaches'"'"' monitor.