Aggregating and pooling health related information in a communication system with feedback

• US 7,305,348 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US09/625,080
• Time in Patent Office: 2,688 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for aggregating and pooling information with feedback in a computer communication system. A communication system includes a server device and a set of client devices. Each client device collects information from an associated individual (whether by asking questions of those individuals, or accepting data input from peripheral devices), and transmits that data to a server device. The server device, or some other device at its behest, determines statistical information with regard to that data (such as aggregate, correlation, dispersion, or other measures), and provides that information to a communication channel for distribution to the individuals. The communication channel can include either (1) a broadcast communication channel that members of an affinity group can display, or (2) redistributing the determined statistical measures to associated individuals using the client devices. The statistical measure (such as an aggregate or sum) can be computed and distributed for the entire population, or can be computed and compared for selected sub-populations as a contest.

Claims

1. A method of aggregating information from individuals in a population thereof, said method comprising

a) coupling a client device to a data collection element for each of a plurality of individuals in the population, said data collection element including a weight scale;

b) prompting each individual for health-related information, and collecting the health-related information for each individual at the client device associated with each individual, said health-related information including weight of each individual;

c) sending the collected information from said client devices to a server device over a network;

d) extracting the collected information from the data collection elements;

e) generating statistical information from said collected information sent from a plurality of the client devices;

f) distributing the statistical information to the individuals; and

g) repeating steps a-d after a period of time has elapsed;

wherein said statistical information comprises a first statistical measure for a first subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals and a second statistical measure for a second subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals, said first statistical measure based upon weight of said first subpopulation of individuals and said second statistical measure based upon weight of said second subpopulation of individuals;

h) comparing the first statistical measure with the second statistical measure, and distributing a result of the comparison to the first subpopulation of individuals and to the second subpopulation of individuals; and

i) awarding a benefit to said first subpopulation or said second subpopulation based on the result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the statistical information is distributed by the server device to the client devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said first subpopulation and said second statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said second subpopulation.

4. A system for aggregating information for individuals in a population thereof said system including:

a data collection element disposed for collecting an individual value comprising health-related information for each of plurality of individuals in the population in response to a prompt received by the client device for the health-related information, said data collection element including a weight scale;

a server device, disposed for receiving said individual values, for determining at least one aggregate value in response thereto, and extracting the collected information from the data collection elements over a network, the collected information including weight of each individual;

wherein said server device distributes said at least one aggregate value to a plurality of client devices;

wherein each of the client devices repeats collecting the individual value for the individual associated therewith, said server device repeats the determination of at least one aggregate value in response to the repeated collection performed by the client devices and said server device distributes the repeated determination of the at least one aggregate value to a plurality of said client devices, when a preset period of time has elapsed since the previous collection of individual values, determination of at least one aggregate value and distribution of said at least one aggregate value; and

wherein the at least one aggregate value comprises a first statistical measure for a first subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals and a second statistical measure for a second subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals, said first statistical measure based upon weight of said first subpopulation of individuals and said second statistical measure based upon weight of said second subpopulation of individuals;

wherein the server device is configured to compare the first statistical measure with the second statistical measure, and distribute a result of the comparison to the first subpopulation of individuals and to the second subpopulation of individuals; and

wherein the server device is further configured to award a benefit to said first subpopulation or said second subpopulation based on the result of the comparison.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a set of client devices, each coupled to a respective data collection element.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a communication path between said client devices and said server device.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said first statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said first subpopulation and said second statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said second subpopulation.

8. A method of aggregating information from individuals in a population thereof, said method comprising:

a) coupling a client device a data collection element for to each of a plurality of individuals in the population said data collection element including a weight scale;

b) prompting each individual for health-related information, and collecting the health-related information for each individual at the client device associated with each individual, said health-related information including weight of each individual;

c) sending the collected information from said client devices to a server device over a network;

d) extracting the collected information;

e) generating statistical information from said collected information sent from a plurality of the client devices;

f) distributing the statistical information to the individuals; and

g) repeating steps a-d after a period of time has elapsed;

wherein said statistical information comprises a first statistical measure for a first subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals and a second statistical measure for a second subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals, said first statistical measure based upon weight of said first subpopulation of individuals and said second statistical measure based upon weight of said second subpopulation of individuals;

i) comparing the first statistical measure with the second statistical measure, and distributing a result of the comparison to the first subpopulation of individuals and to the second subpopulation of individuals; and

j) awarding a benefit to said first subpopulation or said second subpopulation based on the result of the comparison.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the statistical information is distributed by the server device to the client devices.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said first statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said first subpopulation and said second statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said second subpopulation.

11. A system for aggregating information for individuals in a population thereof, said system including:

a client device a data collection element disposed for collecting an individual value comprising health-related information for each of plurality of individuals in the population in response to a prompt received by the client device for the health-related information, said data collection;

a server device, disposed for receiving said individual values, for determining at least one aggregate value in response thereto, extracting the collected information from the data collection elements over a network, the collected information including weight of each individual; and

wherein said server device distributes said at least one aggregate value to a plurality of said client devices over a network;

wherein each of the client devices repeats collecting the individual value for the individual associated therewith, said server device repeats the determination of at least one aggregate value in response to the repeated collection performed by the client devices and said server device distributes the repeated determination of the at least one aggregate value to a plurality of said client devices, when a preset period of time has elapsed since the previous collection of individual values, determination of at least one aggregate value and distribution of said at least one aggregate value;

wherein the at least one aggregate value comprises a first statistical measure for a first subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals and a second statistical measure for a second subpopulation of individuals within the plurality of individuals, said first statistical measure based upon weight of said first subpopulation of individuals and said second statistical measure based upon weight of said second subpopulation of individuals;

wherein the server device is configured to compare the first statistical measure with the second statistical measure, and distribute a result of the comparison to the first subpopulation of individuals and to the second subpopulation of individuals; and

wherein the server device is further configured to award a benefit to said first subpopulation or said second subpopulation based on the result of the comparison.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a communication path between said client devices and said server device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said first statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said first subpopulation and said second statistical measure is based upon a total weight loss for said second subpopulation.