Method, system and apparatus for encouraging frequent and purposeful electronic communications from caregivers to individuals with impaired memory

• US 7,958,201 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ted Lindsay
• Original Assignee: Ted Lindsay
• Inventors: Lindsay, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Haresh N
• Application Number:
  US12/583,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-228, 715/729, 379/106.02, 379/52, 704/271, 706/924, 340/539.12, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/924 Medical

Abstract

A computer implemented system and method for encouraging frequent and purposeful electronic communications from caregivers to individuals with impaired memory to, inter alia, alleviate feelings of isolation and improve memory. The system includes a Web-based application through which caregivers send text, image, voice and other forms of data for receipt by the sufferer on a PDA having a simple user interface. The Web application records the dates and nature (i.e., text, audio, photograph, video) of communications sent by each caregiver, processes the data in order to display it in a variety of meaningful ways to all caregivers, thus creating a peer-pressure environment to encourage more frequent communication. The Web application can also be programmed to send electronic reminders to all caregivers who opt-in to the service requesting that they send a communication to the sufferer, and more particularly to individual caregivers whose frequency of communication has been inadequate relative to a group of caregivers or to predefined expectations.

Claims

1. A system for encouraging frequent and purposeful electronic communications from caregivers to a person with impaired memory, the system comprising:

a. a computing device operated by a person with impaired memory;

said first computing device having means for receiving communications from other devices;

b. at least one caregiver computing device having a Web browser and operated by at least one caregiver of the person;

c. a Web application running on a Web server, said Web application being operably connected to said computing device and to said at least one caregiver communication device via a communications infrastructure;

said Web application comprising;

i. means for receiving communications data from said at least one caregiver computing device and for sending said communications data to the person with impaired memory;

ii. means for recording the time and type of said communications data;

said type of said communications data being at least one type selected from the group consisting of text, audio, picture and video data intended to invoke memories of the person with impaired memory;

iii. means for processing said communications data and for publishing a report of processed communications data on a Web page accessible by said at least one caregiver, said report comprising communication statistics useful in assessing the frequency and quality of communications sent by each at least one caregiver to the person with impaired memory.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said Web application further includes means for sending alerts to said at least one caregiver, said alerts prompting said at least one caregiver to send the person with impaired memory a communication, said alerts being sent when a predefined period of time has elapsed since said at least one caregiver'"'"'s last communication to the person with impaired memory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said report includes at least one of the following communication data for each at least one caregiver:

a. Days passed since last communication of any type;

b. Average number of days between communications;

c. Days passed since last text message sent;

d. Days passed since last picture sent;

e. Days passed since last video sent;

f. Text message over total communication ratio;

g. Picture over total communication ratio;

h. Video over total communication ratio.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said Web application further includes means for rating each of said at least one caregiver'"'"'s communication activity based on a comparison of said communication data with predetermined desired levels of communication.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said Web application further includes means for ranking each of said at least one caregiver by their level of communication activity relative to one another.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said ranking is based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of:

a. frequency of communication with the person with impaired memory; and

b. the level of utilization of each of said type of communication data.