User feedback engine

• US 8,610,593 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Van Acht, Victor Martinus Gerardus, Lambert, Nicolaas, Lanfermann, Gerd, Eck, Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/125,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 3406913-6916, 340/573.1, 600/300, 600/587, 600/595, 482/8, 482/9
• US Class Current: 340/691.3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/62 posture
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

There is therefore provided a user feedback engine, comprising a message generation module for generating messages for a user; a queue management module for managing a queue of the generated messages; wherein each message includes respective values for a plurality of parameters including a priority, a period of validity and a non-repeat time; and wherein the queue management module manages the messages in the queue in accordance with the respective values.

Claims

1. A user feedback engine, comprising:

a message generation module for generating messages for a user;

a queue management module for managing a queue of the generated messages;

wherein each message includes respective values for a plurality of parameters including a priority, a period of validity and a non-repeat time; and

wherein the queue management module manages the messages in the queue in accordance with the respective values.

2. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the queue management module is adapted to arrange messages in the queue in an order determined by their respective values for the priority parameter.

3. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the queue management module is adapted to manage the queue such that any message that has been in the queue for a period longer than the respective value for the period of validity is removed from the queue.

4. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for each message, the queue management module is adapted to determine if the same message has been previously generated by the message generation module or presented to the user within a period defined by the non-repeat time, and, if so, to discard the message.

5. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 4, wherein each message includes a respective value for a message type, and wherein the queue management module is adapted to determine if a message having the same value for the message type has previously been generated by the message generation module or presented to the user within a period defined by the non-repeat time, and, if so, to place the message at the back of the queue.

6. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for each message, the queue management module is adapted to determine if the same message has been previously generated by the message generation module or presented to the user within a period defined by the non-repeat time, and, if so, to place the message at the back of the queue.

7. A user feedback engine as claimed inclaim 1, that is suitable for use in a system that comprises one or more sensors.

8. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the message generation module is adapted to generate messages in response to signals received from one or more sensors.

9. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system is a rehabilitation or exercise system, and the message generation module is adapted to compare the signals received from the one or more sensors with predetermined templates or patterns for movement and/or posture of a user, and to generate messages in response to the comparison.

10. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the message generation module is adapted to determine the value of at least one of the plurality of parameters for each message in response to the comparison.

11. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the message generation module is adapted to determine the value of the priority parameter for each message in response to an amount of deviation of the signals from the one or more sensors with the predetermined templates or patterns.

12. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system is a navigation system, and the message generation module is adapted to compare the signals received from the one or more sensors with a predetermined route, and to generate messages in response to the comparison.

13. A user feedback engine as claimed in claim 1 that is suitable for use in a computer system, and wherein the messages generated by the message generation module are warning or error messages.

14. A rehabilitation or exercise system comprising a user feedback engine as claimed in claim 1.

15. A method of operating a user feedback engine, comprising:

generating messages for a user, the messages having respective values for a plurality of parameters including a priority, a period of validity and a non-repeat time; and

managing a queue of the generated messages in accordance with the respective values.

16. A computer program product comprising computer program code that, when executed on a computer or processor, is adapted to perform the method as claimed in claim 15.