Goal-based content selection and delivery

• US 9,171,048 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TheraTec, Inc. (Dynatronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WellClub, LLC
• Inventors: Brust, Thomas Edwin, Kennedy, Phil, Khan, Jamal, Johnson, Jay W., Waddell, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US13/772,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20140157171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 715/771, 715/758, 715/759, 715/753, 715/760, 705/2, 705/3, 600/300, 128/920, 128/921
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing and performing goal-based workflows to assist a human user with achieving a goal or set of goals are described. In one example, a goal-based workflow includes operations for obtaining information from the human user relevant to a goal, performing a psychological and psychological assessment of the human user, selecting and providing goal-based content to the human user, and obtaining and processing a response to the goal-based content from the human user. The operations may be conducted in connection with a subscription or membership to an information service. In further examples, the information service may integrate the content delivery with a social network of “supporter” human users, used to provide encouragement and motivation to the human user for achieving the goal. In other further examples, rewards and adjustments may be provided to the human user based on previous responses to the goal-based content.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating selection of goal-based content from an electronic information system, the method comprising electronic operations performed by at least one computing machine having at least one hardware processor and at least one memory, with the electronic operations comprising:

obtaining contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system relevant to a health goal for a client user, wherein progress towards achieving the health goal is obtained through performance of a plurality of real-world activities, wherein the contextual user information tracks a plurality of user-relevant tags associated with characteristics of the client user;

collecting input in response to at least one natural language inquiry to the client user related to at least one prior activity of the plurality of real-world activities;

performing an ongoing assessment of behavior of the client user to measure progress of the client user towards achieving the health goal, by analyzing the input from the client user collected in the assessment prompt to determine at least one particular user-relevant tag for tracking in the plurality of user-relevant tags, the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined based on relevancy of the tag to the ongoing assessment of behavior of the client user;

selecting a particular activity of the plurality of real-world activities for performance by the client user using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system, the particular activity being selected for the client user based on whether the particular activity is associated with at least one of the plurality of user-relevant tags and whether the particular activity is likely to be performed by the client user;

selecting content maintained in the electronic information system relevant to performance of the particular activity to encourage progress towards achieving the health goal, the content being selected from the electronic information system by using the contextual user information and the measured progress of the client user, wherein the content is associated with the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined from the ongoing assessment;

generating a client content service interface for display within a graphical user interface accessible by the client user to present the content relevant to achieving the health goal to the client user, wherein a presentation style and a delivery type of presenting the content is performed using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system; and

generating a supporter content service interface for display within a graphical user interface accessible by a supporter user to assist the health goal of the client user, wherein the graphical user interface accessible by the supporter user is designed to;

indicate the progress of the client user towards the health goal, establish an interaction between the supporter user and the client user related to the health goal, and provide additional suggested content for inclusion with suggested content related to the health goal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining contextual user information from the client user includes performing a psychological and physiological assessment of the client user, by using an assessment questionnaire presented to the client user with the graphical user interface;

and

wherein presenting the assessment prompt to the client user includes presenting at least one question to query the client user in the assessment prompt about the at least one prior activity, the presenting of the at least one question matching a communication style determined from the psychological and psychological assessment of the client user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content relevant to performance of the particular activity is tagged with the at least one particular user-relevant tag that corresponds to at least one behavior change attribute of behavior by the client user, and

wherein selecting the content relevant to performance of the particular activity includes use of the at least one behavior change attribute to select the content, the at least one behavior change attribute determined from the ongoing assessment of behavior.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic information system links the client user with at least one supporter user in a social network;

and

wherein the content relevant to achieving the health goal from the electronic information system is delivered to the client user at least in part through communications initiated by the at least one supporter user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the content relevant to achieving the health goal from the electronic information system is supplemented by content from the at least one supporter user;

and

wherein the at least one supporter user receives communications including at least one measurement of the progress of the client user to achieving the health goal.

6. The method of claim 1, the electronic operations further comprising:

capturing a response, from the client user, to the content relevant to achieving the health goal; and

changing the content relevant to achieving the health goal in response to the captured response and the ongoing assessment of behavior.

7. The method of claim 6, the electronic operations further comprising:

presenting a reward for the client user for the response to the content relevant to achieving the health goal, based on the response being an indication of completion of a real-world activity related to the health goal.

8. The method of claim 1, the electronic operations further comprising:

presenting a reward for the client user based on a determination of completion of a real-world activity related to the health goal, wherein the reward for the client user is at least one of;

a reward for redemption with a charitable organization, a reward for redemption in a virtual game, or a reward for redemption of an object related to achievement of the health goal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the health goal is related to a medical condition of the client user, and wherein the content relevant to achieving the health goal includes information relating to performance of multiple activities of the plurality of real-world activities by the client user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is presented by at least one of a website or a software application, wherein the electronic information system is a subscription-based information system used to deliver information related to achieving the health goal, and wherein the contextual user information is provided by the client user at least in part during establishment of a subscription with the subscription-based information system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the ongoing assessment of behavior of the client user to measure progress of the client user to achieving the health goal, further includes using data collected from a monitoring device.

12. An electronic information system, comprising:

at least one hardware processor;

at least one memory;

a user information database implemented using the hardware processor and the memory, the user information database configured to store contextual user information including behavior and assessment information for a human subject, wherein the contextual user information tracks a plurality of user-relevant tags associated with characteristics of a human subject;

a content database implemented using the processor and the memory, the content database configured to store context-sensitive content items available to be provided to the human subject, the context-sensitive content items being relevant to attainment of an overall health goal by the human subject, wherein progress towards attainment of the overall health goal for the human subject is obtained through performance of a plurality of real-world activities;

a content suggestion module implemented using the processor and the memory, the content suggestion module configured to select suggested content from the context-sensitive content items in the content database, by operations that;

perform an ongoing assessment of behavior of the human subject to measure progress of the human subject towards achieving the health goal, by analysis of the input from the human subject provided collected in the assessment prompt to determine at least one particular user-relevant tag for tracking in the plurality of user-relevant tags, the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined based on relevancy of the tag to the ongoing assessment of behavior of the human subject;

select a particular activity of the plurality of real-world activities for performance by the human subject using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system, the particular activity being selected for the human subject based on whether the particular activity is associated with at least one of the plurality of user-relevant tags and whether the particular activity is likely to be performed by the human subject; and

select content maintained in the electronic information system relevant to performance of the particular activity to encourage progress towards achieving the health goal, the content being selected from the electronic information system by using the contextual user information and the measured progress of the human subject, wherein the content is associated with the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined from the ongoing assessment; and

a content delivery module implemented using the processor and the memory, the content delivery module configured to present the content relevant to achieving the health goal to the human subject, wherein a presentation style and a delivery type of presenting the content is performed using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system;

a monitoring module implemented using the processor and the memory, the monitoring module configured to electronically monitor progress of the human subject towards the overall health goal and the performance of the particular activity by the human subject;

a feedback module implemented using the processor and the memory, the feedback module configured to electronically receive feedback from the human subject related to the performance of the particular activity by the human subject, and feedback from the human subject related to the progress of the human subject towards the overall goal; and

a supporter module implemented using the processor and the memory, the supporter module configured to;

electronically communicate with at least one human supporter connected to the human subject in a social network;

receive at least one proposed suggestion from the information system;

enable a selection, by the at least one human supporter, of the particular activity from the at least one proposed activity;

enable the at least one human supporter to initiate communications to the human subject to deliver the content relevant to achieving the health goal; and

communicate to the supporter the progress of the human subject towards the goal and achievement of the particular activity by the human subject.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a rules database implemented using the processor and the memory, the rules database configured to store rules related to selection of the context-sensitive content items and achievement of the particular activity by the human subject, wherein the rules are used by the content suggestion module to determine relevancy to the attainment of the overall goal by the human subject; and

a conditions module implemented using the processor and the memory, the conditions module configured to control selection of the context-sensitive content items to match at least one data condition specified by the human subject.

14. An electronic information system, comprising:

at least one hardware processor;

at least one memory;

a user information database implemented using the hardware processor and the memory, the user information database configured to store contextual user information including behavior and assessment information for a human subject, wherein the contextual user information tracks a plurality of user-relevant tags associated with characteristics of a human subject;

a content database implemented using the processor and the memory, the content database configured to store context-sensitive content items available to be provided to the human subject, the context-sensitive content items being relevant to attainment of an overall health goal by the human subject, wherein progress towards attainment of the overall health goal for the human subject is obtained through performance of a plurality of real-world activities;

a content suggestion module implemented using the processor and the memory, the content suggestion module configured to select suggested content from the context-sensitive content items in the content database, by operations that;

perform an ongoing assessment of behavior of the human subject to measure progress of the human subject towards achieving the health goal, by analysis of the input from the human subject provided collected in the assessment prompt to determine at least one particular user-relevant tag for tracking in the plurality of user-relevant tags, the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined based on relevancy of the tag to the ongoing assessment of behavior of the human subject;

select a particular activity of the plurality of real-world activities for performance by the human subject using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system, the particular activity being selected for the human subject based on whether the particular activity is associated with at least one of the plurality of user-relevant tags and whether the particular activity is likely to be performed by the human subject; and

select content maintained in the electronic information system relevant to performance of the particular activity to encourage progress towards achieving the health goal, the content being selected from the electronic information system by using the contextual user information and the measured progress of the human subject, wherein the content is associated with the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined from the ongoing assessment;

a content delivery module implemented using the processor and the memory, the content delivery module configured to present the content relevant to achieving the health goal to the human subject, wherein a presentation style and a delivery type of presenting the content is performed using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system; and

a conditions module implemented using the processor and the memory, the conditions module configured to control selection of the context-sensitive content items to match at least one data condition specified by the human subject;

a suggested action database implemented using the processor and the memory, the suggested action database configured to store suggested actions including the particular activity and additional activities for performance by the human subject;

a tagging database implemented using the processor and the memory, the tagging database configured to associate the tags with the suggested actions for performance by the human subject; and

a playlist database implemented using the processor and the memory, the playlist database configured to store a playlist of the suggested actions for performance by the human subject;

a rules database implemented using the processor and the memory, the rules database configured to store rules related to selection of the context-sensitive content items and achievement of the particular activity by the human subject, wherein the rules are used by the content suggestion module to determine relevancy to the attainment of the overall goal by the human subject; and

wherein the content suggestion module is configured to interface with the suggested action database, the tagging database, and the playlist database, to provide the suggested actions within a playlist to the human subject, based on characteristics associated with the human subject matching the tags associated with the suggested actions.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the content suggestion module applies at least one filter and at least one weight to prioritize the particular activity in the playlist of the suggested actions.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to facilitate selection of content for a health goal from a client user from an electronic information system, with the plurality of instructions causing the computing device to:

obtain contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system relevant to the health goal for the client user, wherein progress towards achieving the health goal is obtained through performance of a plurality of real-world activities, wherein the contextual user information tracks a plurality of user-relevant tags associated with characteristics of the client user;

collect input in response to at least one natural language inquiry to the client user related to at least one prior activity of the plurality of real-world activities;

perform an ongoing assessment of behavior of the client user to measure progress of the client user towards achieving the health goal, by analyzing the input from the client user collected in the assessment prompt to determine at least one particular user-relevant tag for tracking in the plurality of user-relevant tags, the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined based on relevancy of the tag to the ongoing assessment of behavior of the client user;

select a particular activity of the plurality of real-world activities for performance by the client user using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system, the particular activity being selected for the client user based on whether the particular activity is associated with at least one of the plurality of user-relevant tags and whether the particular activity is likely to be performed by the client user;

select content maintained in the electronic information system relevant to performance of the particular activity to encourage progress towards achieving the health goal, the content being selected from the electronic information system by using the contextual user information and the measured progress of the client user, wherein the content is associated with the at least one particular user-relevant tag determined from the ongoing assessment; and

generate a client content service interface for display within a graphical user interface accessible by the client user to present the content relevant to achieving the health goal to the client user, wherein a presentation style and a delivery type of presenting the content is performed using the contextual user information maintained in the electronic information system;

generate a supporter content service interface for display within a graphical user interface accessible by a supporter user to;

indicate the progress of the client user towards the health goal;

establish an interaction between the supporter user and the client user related to the health goal; and

provide additional suggested content for inclusion with the content relevant to achieving the health goal.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the client content service interface is provided by a first plurality of user interface components in a first internet-accessible application coupled to the information system, and wherein the supporter content service interface is provided by a second plurality of user interface components in a second internet-accessible application coupled to the information system.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, the instructions further configured to cause the computing device to:

facilitate a communication interface between the client content service interface and the supporter content service interface, the communication interface used to collect communications related to the goal from the supporter user and used to deliver the communications related to the goal to the client user, the communications occurring according to at least one communication preference of the client user;

wherein the client user and the supporter user are connected via a social network, and wherein the communication interface is used to exchange the communications via the social network.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the client content service interface and the supporter content service interface are coupled to the information system through an exchange of at least one message, and wherein the client content service interface and the supporter content service interface are provided with an internet-connected server used to generate and transmit the content to the client user and the supporter user respectively.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the supporter content service interface for display within the graphical user interface accessible by the supporter user is further generated to:

receive a selection of the suggested content related to the health goal to be provided to the client user, the suggested content being selected from a set of available suggested content items.