METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPLIANCE CONFIRMATION AND INCENTIVES

• US 20080091087A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jack, Neuhauser, Alan, Crystal, Jack, Flanagan, Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 9,489,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1216 for diagnostics of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1176 Recognition of faces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/008 Detecting noise of gastric tract, e.g. caused by voiding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/02 Stethoscopes acoustic details thereof G10K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring use by a user of a portable research device based on one or more kinds of monitored data. Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion using actively and/or passively gathered data.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring use by a user of a portable research device, comprising:

producing monitored data by monitoring at least one of the user'"'"'s heart activity, the user'"'"'s breathing activity, the user'"'"'s borborygmus (gastrointestinal noise), the user'"'"'s gait, the user'"'"'s data input to the portable research device, the user'"'"'s keyboard usage characteristics, the user'"'"'s vascular pattern, the user'"'"'s facial and/or ear patterns, the user'"'"'s signature, the user'"'"'s fingerprint and/or handprint, the user'"'"'s hand geometry, the user'"'"'s retinal and/or iris pattern, the user'"'"'s airborne biochemical indicators, the user'"'"'s muscular activity, and an impact of the portable research device with another object; and

determining whether use of the portable research device by the user is in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion and/or a level of the user'"'"'s compliance therewith based on the monitored data.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s heart activity.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s borborygmus.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s gait.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s data input to the portable research device.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s keyboard usage characteristics.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s vascular pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s facial and/or ear patterns.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s signature.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s fingerprint and/or handprint.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s hand geometry.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s retinal and/or iris pattern.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s airborne biochemical indicators.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s muscular activity.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising producing monitored data by monitoring an impact of the portable research device with another object.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising producing compliance indication data by determining whether use of the portable research device by the user is in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion based on the monitored data.

17. A system for monitoring use by a user of a portable research device comprising:

a monitor for producing monitored data by monitoring at least one of the user'"'"'s heart activity, the user'"'"'s breathing activity, the user'"'"'s borborygmus, the user'"'"'s gait, the user'"'"'s data input to the portable research device, the user'"'"'s keyboard usage characteristics, the user'"'"'s vascular pattern, the user'"'"'s facial and/or ear patterns, the user'"'"'s signature, the user'"'"'s fingerprint and/or handprint, the user'"'"'s hand geometry, the user'"'"'s retinal and/or iris pattern, the user'"'"'s airborne biochemical indicators, the user'"'"'s muscular activity, and an impact of the portable research device with another object; and

a processor coupled with the monitor to receive the monitored data and operative to determine whether use of the portable research device by the user is in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion and/or a level of the user'"'"'s compliance therewith based on the monitored data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s heart activity.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s borborygmus.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s gait.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s data input to the portable research device.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s keyboard usage characteristics.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s vascular pattern.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s facial and/or ear patterns.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s signature.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s fingerprint and/or handprint.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s hand geometry.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s retinal and/or iris pattern.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s airborne biochemical indicators.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring the user'"'"'s muscular activity.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor is operative to produce the monitored data by monitoring an impact of the portable research device with another object.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is operative to produce compliance indication data based on the monitored data.

33. A method of monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion comprising:

producing passively monitored data in a portable research device, communicating a request message to the portable research device from a monitoring system, automatically producing a response message using the portable research device, the response message including and/or based on the passively monitored data, communicating the response message to the monitoring system and, determining in the monitoring system whether the use of the PUA complies with at least one predetermined use criterion and/or a level of compliance therewith based on the passively monitored data.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the request message comprises a text message, a telephone call, a voice mail, an e-mail, a voice message, a sound, a plurality of sounds, a web page, an image, a light alert, or a combination thereof.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the request message requests a pre-determined response that acknowledges receipt of the request message.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the request message is accompanied by data of interest to the user.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the response message is generated by selecting stored data using a message input.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the response message is generated in response to a request for a pre-determined response.

39. A method of monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion comprising:

communicating a request message to the portable research device, the request message requesting data representing an ability of the portable research device to gather, store and/or communicate research data;

receiving a response message communicated from the portable research device including the requested data; and

storing data indicating whether the user is in compliance with the at least one predetermined use criterion and/or a level of the user'"'"'s compliance therewith based on the received data.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the request message comprises a text message, a telephone call, a voice mail, an e-mail, a voice message, a sound, a plurality of sounds, a web page, an image, a light alert, or a combination thereof.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the request message is accompanied by data of interest to the user.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the response message is generated by selecting stored data using a message input.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the response message is generated in response to a request for a pre-determined response.

44. A system for monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion comprising:

communications operative to communicate a request message to the portable research device, the request message requesting data representing an ability of the portable research device to gather, store and/or communicate research data;

the communications being operative to receive a response message communicated from the portable research device including the requested data;

a processor coupled with the communications to produce data indicating whether the user is in compliance with the at least one predetermined use criterion and/or a level of the user'"'"'s compliance therewith based on the received data; and

storage coupled with the processor to receive and store the compliance data.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the request message comprises a text message, a telephone call, a voice mail, an e-mail, a voice message, a sound, a plurality of sounds, a web page, an image, a light alert, or a combination thereof.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the request message is accompanied by data of interest to the user.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the response message is generated by selecting stored data using a message input.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the response message is generated in response to a request for a pre-determined response.

49. A method of monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion comprising:

communicating a request message to the portable research device, the request message requesting data representing a power capacity of the portable research device;

receiving a response message communicated from the portable research device including the requested data; and

storing data indicating whether the user is in compliance with the at least one predetermined use criterion and/or a level of the user'"'"'s compliance therewith based on the received data.

50. A system for monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion comprising:

communications operative to communicate a request message to the portable research device, the request message requesting data representing a power capacity of the portable research device;

the communications being operative to receive a response message communicated from the portable research device including the requested data;

a processor coupled with the communications to produce data indicating whether the user is in compliance with the at least one predetermined use criterion and/or a level of the user'"'"'s compliance therewith based on the received data; and

storage coupled with the processor to receive and store the compliance data.

51. A method for monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion comprising:

passively gathering data for assessing an identity of a user of the portable research device;

processing the passively gathered data to produce assessment data indicating a possibility that the user is not a predetermined correct user of the portable research device;

based on the assessment data, presenting a message to the user requesting a response from which the user'"'"'s identity may be determined; and

processing a response to the message to produce data indicating whether the user is the predetermined correct user.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein pattern recognition techniques are employed to assess when a PUA is not in the possession of the correct user.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein a processor controls a speaker, earphone or visual display of the PUA to present a message to the user requesting a response from which the user'"'"'s identity as the predetermined correct user or as a different person may be determined.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein a processor sends a message via communications to a monitoring system indicating that the message should be presented to the user.