Method and apparatus for using physical characteristic data collected from two or more subjects

• US 6,701,271 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Greene, David P., Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., Yu, Philip Shi-lung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US09/859,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 702/81, 702/127, 702/128, 702/130, 702/136, 702/182, 702/186, 600/300, 600/301, 600/310, 600/481, 128/903, 128/870, 434/257-259, 723/9-10, 723/14, 723/16, 705/1, 705/80
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for using physical characteristic information obtained from two or more subjects to help evaluate subjects or to determine a course of action to take with the subjects includes receiving data indicative of one or more physical characteristics from two or more subjects, determining an evaluation of the data, and providing a notification to a device of the evaluation. A physical characteristic of a subject might be or include the subject'"'"'s heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar level, posture, temperature, respiration rate, facial response or position, weight, height, galvanic skin response, pheromone emission, brain wave pattern or rhythm, odor, motion, etc., or a change in any one or more of them.

Claims

1. A method for providing feedback, comprising:

receiving first data indicative of a physical characteristic of a first subject from a first device associated with said first subject and second data indicative of a physical characteristic of a second subject from a second device associated with said second subject;

determining an evaluation of said first data and said second data, wherein said evaluation is representative of a state of both said first subject and said second subject; and

providing a notification regarding said evaluation to a device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said physical characteristic of said first subject includes at least one of the following:

said first subject'"'"'s heart rate;

said first subject'"'"'s blood pressure;

said first subject'"'"'s blood sugar level;

said first subject'"'"'s posture;

said first subject'"'"'s weight;

said first subject'"'"'s height;

said first subject'"'"'s temperature;

said first subject'"'"'s respiration rate;

a facial response of said first subject;

a galvanic skin response of said first subject;

a pheromone associated with said first subject;

a brain wave pattern of said first subject;

an odor generated by said first subject;

motion of said first subject;

a change in motion of said first subject;

a change in said first subject'"'"'s heart rate;

a change in said first subject'"'"'s blood pressure;

a change in said first subject'"'"'s blood sugar level;

a change in said first subject'"'"'s posture;

a change in said first subject'"'"'s temperature;

a change in said first subject'"'"'s respiration rate;

a change in a facial response of said first subject;

a change in a galvanic skin response of said first subject;

a change in a pheromone associated with said first subject;

a change in a brain wave pattern of said first subject; and

a change in an odor generated by said first subject.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving first data indicative of a physical characteristic of a first subject includes at least one of the following:

receiving data from at least one observer of said first subject regarding at least one physical characteristic of said first subject;

receiving data indicative of at least one physical characteristic from at least one sensor worn by said first subject; and

receiving data indicative of at least one physical characteristic from at least one sensor associated with said first subject.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data indicative of one or more physical characteristics for each of a plurality of subjects, wherein said plurality of subjects includes said first subject and said second subject.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a pattern in said data indicative of one or more physical characteristics for each of a plurality of subjects.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a notification regarding said pattern to said device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining an evaluation of said first data and said second data includes at least one of the following:

determining an aggregation of data indicative of a physical characteristic for each of a plurality of subjects, said plurality of subjects including said first subject and said second subject and at least one other subject;

determining an averaging of data indicative of a physical characteristic for each of a plurality of subjects, said plurality of subjects including said first subject and said second subject and at least one other subject;

computing a result based on a function of said first data and said second data;

comparing said physical characteristic of said first subject with a stored record of behavior;

comparing said physical characteristic of said second subject with a stored record of behavior;

determining a prediction regarding at least one action that might be taken by at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

determining a risk of violence associated with at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

determining a trading propensity associated with at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

determining an action that may be taken by at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

determining an action that is desired to be taken by at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

determining a course of entertainment to provide to at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

determining probability associated with an action that might be taken by said first subject;

determining at least one response to provide at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

determining at least one option to offer at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

selecting entertainment to provide at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

selecting information to provide at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

selecting at least one environmental condition for at least one of said first subject and said second subject; and

altering at least one environmental condition for at least one of said first subject and said second subject.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining which of a plurality of devices to provide said notification.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying said plurality of devices.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said device includes at least one of the following:

ear phones;

a speaker;

a software program;

a visual display device;

an electronic storage device;

a server; and

a user device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification includes at least one of the following:

an evaluation of said first data and said second data;

an email message;

a visual display;

an electronic signal;

an audible sound; and

a voice message.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaluation includes at least one of the following:

an aggregation of data indicative of a physical characteristic for each of a plurality of subjects;

an averaging of data indicative of a physical characteristic for each of a plurality of subjects;

a selection of a behavior associated with said physical characteristic of said first subject;

a selection of a behavior associated with said physical characteristic of said second subject;

a comparison of said physical characteristic of said first subject with a stored record of behavior;

a prediction regarding at least one action that might be taken by at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

a determination of a risk of violence associated with at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

a determination of a trading propensity associated with at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

a determination of a course of action;

a determination of a course of entertainment;

a determination of a probability associated with a course of action that might be taken by at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

a determination of at least one response to provide at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

a determination of a least one response to subject said first subject to;

a determination of a least one response to subject said first subject to;

a determination of at least one option to offer at least one of said first subject and said second subject;

a selection of entertainment;

a selection of information; and

a selection of at least one environmental condition.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification regarding a plurality of options.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting one of said plurality of options based, at least in part, on said evaluation.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

selecting said device based, at least in part, on said selecting one of said plurality of options.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said device is associated with at least one of said plurality of options.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a course of action based on said first data and said second data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing a notification based on said course of action.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a course of action based on said evaluation.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a notification based on said course of action.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining an evaluation of said first data and said second data includes comparing said physical characteristic of said first subject to at least one record of behavior associated with said physical characteristic of said first subject.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said determining an evaluation includes determining a course of action based on said record of behavior.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a desired course of action and wherein said determining an evaluation of said first data and said second data includes determining an action based, at least in part on said data and said desired course of action.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said physical characteristic of said first subject is the same as said physical characteristic of said second subject.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said physical characteristic of said first subject is different from said physical characteristic of said second subject.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said physical characteristic of said first subject is indicative of a response of said first subject to a first presentation.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said physical characteristic of said second subject is indicative of a response of said second subject to a second presentation.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said physical characteristic of said second subject is indicative of a response of said second subject to said first persentation.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second devices are the same.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said first device is associated with more than one subject.

31. A method for providing feedback, comprising:

receiving data indicative of a physical characteristic of each of a plurality of subjects, wherein said physical characteristics of said subjects are indicative of responses of said subjects to a presentation;

determining a desired course of action associated with said plurality of subjects based, at least in part, on said data indicative of a physical characteristic of each of said plurality of subjects; and

providing a notification based, at least in part, on said course of action.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said determining a course of action based on said data indicative of a physical characteristic of each of a plurality of subjects includes one of the following:

determining a course of action based, at least in part, on said data indicative of a physical characteristic of each of a plurality of subjects and a desired action that can be taken by at least one of said plurality of subjects;

determining a course of action based, at least in part, on said data indicative of a physical characteristic of each of a plurality of subjects and a desired action that can be taken by said plurality of subjects; and

determining at least one behavior associated with said physical characteristic.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining a desired action to be taken by said plurality of subjects.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said plurality of subjects includes a first subject and a second subject and wherein said data indicative of a physical characteristic of each of a plurality of subjects includes data indicative of a characteristic of said first subject and data indicative of a characteristic of said second subject.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said characteristic of said first subject is different from said characteristic of said second subject.

36. A method for providing feedback, comprising:

determining a desired action associated with a group of subjects;

receiving data indicative of a physical characteristic of at least one of said group of subjects, wherein said physical characteristic of said at least one of said group of subjects is indicative of a response of said at least one of said group of subjects to a presentation;

determining a course of action expected to lead to said desired action based, at least in part, on said physical characteristic and said desired action; and

providing a notification based on said course of action.

37. A system for facilitating feedback, comprising:

a memory;

a communication port; and

a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;

receive first data indicative of a physical characteristic of a first subject and second data indicative of a physical characteristic of a second subject;

determine an evaluation of said first data and said second data, wherein said evaluation is representative of a state associated with both said first subject and said second subject; and

provide a notification regarding said evaluation to device.

38. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for using feedback, comprising:

first instructions for obtaining receiving first data representative of a physical characteristic of a first subject and second data representative of a physical characteristic of a second subject;

second instructions for preparing an evaluation of said first data and said second data, wherein said evaluation is representative of a state associated with both said first subject and said second subject; and

third instructions for sending third data indicative of said evaluation of said first data and said second data to a device.

39. A method for providing feedback, comprising:

receiving first data indicative of a physical characteristic of a first subject from a first device associated with said first subject and second data indicative of a physical characteristic of a second subject from a second device associated with said second subject;

determining an evaluation of said first data and said second data, wherein said determining said evaluation includes comparing said physical characteristic of said first subject to at least one record of behavior associated with said physical characteristic of said first subject; and

providing a notification regarding said evaluation to a device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said determining an evaluation includes determining a course of action based on said at least one record of behavior.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said determining said evaluation includes comparing said physical characteristic of said second subject to at least one record of behavior associated with said physical characteristic of said second subject.