TOOL FOR IDENTIFYING OCCURRENCE OF ACUTE INCIDENT SYMPTOMATIC OF MENTAL CONDITION OR DISORDER

A tool is described for objectively identifying and providing assessment of acute psychotic episodes, such as auditory hallucinations, symptomatic of a mental condition or disorder. The tool can include an audio interface on a microphone-equipped networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device which a patient can use to determine whether the perceived sounds are real or hallucinatory. If the microphone fails to detect ambient sounds indicating that the sounds are real, the application can provide a remote alert signal so that appropriate parties (e.g. the patient's treatment team or emergency medical personnel) can take action.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to a tool for identification of occurrences of acute instances of a key symptom of psychotic illness, namely auditory hallucinations.

BACKGROUND

Psychosis broadly and auditory hallucinations specifically are present in several major mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and most notably schizophrenia spectrum illnesses. Auditory hallucinations involve hearing voices and other sounds when such sounds are not objectively present.

One objective in treating schizophrenia and other illnesses involving psychosis is to provide medication which can obviate the symptoms and allow those suffering with the condition to live in the community. However, because of the complexity of psychosis and the fact that psychiatry remains an inexact science, medications are not always completely effective and can, for a substantial number of sufferers, only partially treat distressing auditory hallucinations or be entirely ineffective in that area.

If a medication regimen is not effective, or if a patient is non-adherent to the regimen, or if titration or medication adjustment is required, symptoms such as hallucinations may remain present, and may impede community functioning and quality of life for the patient. At a minimum, this is information that should be brought to the attention of the person(s) providing treatment, and the occurrence of acute auditory hallucinatory episodes may also indicate a serious worsening of the condition that places the patient and/or others in the community at risk. However, the nature of psychosis makes it very difficult for a patient to “self diagnose” auditory hallucinations.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a tool is described for objectively identifying and providing assessment of acute psychotic episodes, such as auditory hallucinations, symptomatic of a mental condition or disorder. The tool can include an audio interface on a microphone-equipped networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device which a patient can use to determine whether those sounds are real or hallucinatory. If the microphone fails to detect ambient sounds indicating that the sounds are real, the application can provide a remote alert signal so that appropriate parties (e.g. the patient's treatment team) are notified and can take action.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method for providing a remote alert signal identifying potential occurrence of an acute auditory hallucinatory episode is described. The method comprises monitoring, by at least one processor of a first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device, for a deliberate overt activation action by a user, wherein the activation action represents an indication that the user is hearing sounds. Responsive to the activation action, the processor(s) will use at least one microphone on the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device to monitor ambient sounds. The processor(s) will test the ambient sounds against a threshold, and responsive to at least one instance for which the processor(s) determine, in response to the activation action, that the ambient sounds fail to satisfy the threshold, the processor(s) will transmitting at least one alert signal, via a network to which the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device is coupled, to at least one remote receiving device beyond the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device.

In some embodiments, the processor(s) will test the ambient sounds against the threshold locally on the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device. In some embodiments, the processor(s) will test the ambient sounds against the threshold remotely by transmitting the ambient sounds from the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device to a remote computer system and receiving threshold testing results from the remote computer system at the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device.

In some embodiments, the processor(s) will transmit the alert signal(s) only after a predetermined number of instances within a predetermined time period for which the processor(s) determine in response to the activation action, that the ambient sounds fail to satisfy the threshold.

In some embodiments, the alert signal(s) may be one or more of a text message, a pager message, a telephone call and an e-mail message, and the remote receiving device(s) may comprise one or more additional networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device(s) associated with a medical professional involved in treatment of the user.

The threshold may be, for example, a minimum volume threshold, or a minimum confidence level associated with natural language processing of the ambient sounds.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device comprising at least one processor, at least one microphone coupled to the at least one processor, at least one input device coupled to the at least one processor, at least one communications interface coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one communications interface is coupled to at least one wireless communication module, and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory containing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to implement the above-described method for providing a remote alert signal identifying potential occurrence of an acute auditory hallucinatory episode.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tangible computer-readable medium containing computer-usable instructions for execution by at least one processor of a networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to implement the above-described method for providing a remote alert signal identifying potential occurrence of an acute auditory hallucinatory episode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made toFIG. 1, which shows in schematic form an illustrative system, indicated generally by reference100, for providing a remote alert signal identifying potential occurrence of an acute auditory hallucinatory episode.

A first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device, represented for simplicity of illustration by smartphone104, is associated with a user102who has been diagnosed with psychosis. The smartphone104may be owned by the user102, or merely possessed by the user104under a loan, lease, bailment or other suitable arrangement. The smartphone104is merely one representative example of a networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device, which may also be a tablet, smartwatch or other suitable device possessing a microphone, suitable wireless communication hardware and sufficient processing capacity. The wireless communication hardware may operate in conjunction with other communication hardware, for example a WiFi signal from a smartwatch or tablet may communicate with a router having a wired connection to one or more network.

The processor(s) of the smartphone104execute a listening application106, which monitors for a deliberate overt activation action by the user102. Importantly and critically, the activation action represents an affirmative, unambiguous indication by the user that the user102is hearing voices or other sounds. For example, the listening application106may have a virtual button on a screen thereof that says “I'm hearing things” or “I am hearing voices” or “Are the voices real?” or “Discretely check the background for noises”, or something similar. Alternatively, the listening application106may have an activation action that involves a specific sequence of button pushes, or a specific gesture, such as vigorously shaking the smartphone104in a manner that can be unambiguously be detected by an onboard accelerometer. The listening application106may run in the background for rapid access, or may be launched when needed. In the latter case, the act of launching the listening application106may represent an affirmative, unambiguous indication by the user that the user102is hearing sounds. The listening application106may be a stand-alone application, or may be a component of a larger software application providing additional features and functionality, for example to assist an individual with psychosis with living in the community.

In response to the activation action by the user102, the processor(s) executing the listening application106on the smartphone104uses at least one microphone108on the smartphone104to monitor ambient sounds, shown as arrows110. In some embodiments, the microphone108may be inactive prior to the activation action, so that only ambient sounds110after the activation action are monitored. In other embodiments, the processor(s) executing the listening application106may cause the microphone108to remain active in the background. For example, the processor(s) executing the listening application106may continuously record ambient sounds110and store a predetermined duration (e.g. a preceding 5 seconds, 10 seconds, etc.) thereof in a rolling buffer so that ambient sounds110immediately prior to the activation action may be used, either alone or in addition to ambient sounds110following the activation action.

Optionally, the listening application106may display a waveform or other representation of the ambient sounds110on a screen of the smartphone104.

The processor(s) executing the listening application106tests the ambient sounds110against a threshold to determine whether the user102is experiencing an acute auditory hallucinatory episode. The threshold is designed to test whether there is evidence in the ambient sounds110to support the indication by the user102that the user102is hearing voices or other sounds, e.g. whether it can be inferred that the voices/sounds heard by the user102are actually present in the ambient sounds110, or may be an auditory hallucination. Depending on the desired bias in terms of Type I error (false positive) vs. Type II error (false negative), various thresholds can be used, alone or in combination. For example, the threshold may be a minimum volume threshold, or may be a minimum confidence level associated with natural language processing of the ambient sounds110, e.g. whether or not a natural language processing engine can identify spoken works in the ambient sounds110. These are merely some representative examples of thresholds, and are not intended to be limiting.

The processor(s) executing the listening application106may test the ambient sounds110against the threshold locally on the smartphone104, or remotely by transmitting the ambient sounds110from the networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device to a remote computer system112through one or more networks114(e.g. comprising one or more wireless networks, intranets, cellular networks, the publically switched telephone network (PSTN) and/or the Internet) to which the smartphone104is coupled and receiving threshold testing results from the remote computer system112at the smartphone104. In the latter case, the remote computer system112may have far superior processing capacity to the smartphone104so as to more rapidly execute the required processing, e.g. natural language processing.

Optionally, if the processor(s) executing the listening application106determine that the ambient sounds110satisfy the threshold, indicating that the microphone108has detected ambient sounds110supporting an inference that the sounds heard by the user102are actually present, the processor(s) executing the listening application106may provide a visual and/or audible notification to the user102. This may provide reassurance to the user102that the user102is hearing actual ambient sounds and is not experiencing an auditory hallucination.

If the processor(s) executing the listening application106determine that the ambient sounds110fail to satisfy the threshold, this indicates that the ambient sounds110detected by the microphone108do not support an inference that the sounds heard by the user102are actually present, and therefore that the sounds may be an auditory hallucination. Accordingly, responsive to the processor(s) executing the listening application106determining that the ambient sounds fail to satisfy the threshold, the processor(s) executing the listening application106will cause the smartphone104to wirelessly transmit one or more alert signals116that identify the user102and indicate that the user102may be experiencing an auditory hallucination. Optionally, the processor(s) executing the listening application106may also provide a visual and/or audible notification to the user102. The alert signal(s)116are sent, via the network(s)114, to at least one remote receiving device beyond the smartphone104. Examples of remote receiving devices include at least one second networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device118associated with a medical professional120involved in treatment of the user102, a telephone or dispatch system126associated with an ambulance or paramedic service128, and a dedicated monitoring center130. The alert signal(s)116can be one or more of a text message, a pager message, a telephone call, an e-mail message, a push notification or other types of signal. The alert signal(s)116may indicate that the user102may be experiencing an auditory hallucination either explicitly, or implicitly (e.g. a push notification on a dedicated application running on a smartphone or other device associated with a medical professional120involved in treatment of the user102).

The processor(s) may cause transmission of the alert signal106in response to a single instance for which the processor(s) determines, in response to the activation action, that the ambient sounds fail to satisfy the threshold. In other embodiments, the alert signal(s)116will only be generated after a predetermined number of instances within a predetermined time period for which, following an activation action by the user102, the processor(s) executing the listening application106determine that the ambient sounds110fail to satisfy the threshold. Additionally, in some embodiments, the number of activation actions by the user, and the number of times that the ambient sounds110fail to satisfy the threshold, may be recorded and transmitted to inform clinicians of patient wellness between appointments.

As noted above, the smartphone102is merely one representative example of a networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device. Where the device (e.g. smartphone104) has telephone connectivity through the network(s)114, the alert signal116may be, for example, an automated telephone call, text message, pager message or e-mail message sent according to conventional protocols. Alternatively, the alert signal116may be transmitted through the network(s)114to another system, e.g. remote computer system112, for further processing. For example, profile information132about the user102may be stored on the remote computer system112, and the remote computer system112can use the profile information132to embellish the alert signal116. For example, the alert signal116may consist of a unique identifier for the user102, or a limited data set (e.g. a unique identifier and timestamp and/or location). The remote computer system112can forward the embellished alert signal116, which can then be forwarded to, for example, one or more of a device118associated with a medical professional120involved in treatment of the user102, a telephone or dispatch system126associated with an ambulance or paramedic service128, and a dedicated monitoring center130. Alternatively or additionally, the remote computer system112may update an electronic medical record of the user based on the alert signal116. The alert signal116may trigger an alert within the electronic medical record and/or an alarm on a web portal.

Optionally, where available, the alert signal116can include location information (e.g. from a location processor of the smartphone104). For example, if a profile of the user102indicates that he or she may pose a danger to himself/herself or others in the event of auditory hallucinations, the alert signal116can be used to dispatch emergency medical personnel128to the location of the smartphone104, which is expected to be at (or at least near) the location of the user102. In such cases, the alert signal can also provide additional information, such as one or more photographs of the user102to assist emergency medical personnel128in identifying the user102when they arrive.

Reference is now made toFIG. 2, in which an illustrative method for providing a remote alert signal identifying potential occurrence of an acute auditory hallucinatory episode is indicated generally at reference200.

At step202, the method200monitors, by at least one processor of a first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device, for a deliberate overt activation action by a user. As noted above, the activation action, when detected, represents an indication that the user is hearing sounds. If the activation action is detected (a “yes” at step202), the method200proceeds to step204; otherwise (a “no” at step202) the method200continues to monitor at step202.

At step204, responsive to the activation action being detected, the processor(s) using at least one microphone on the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device to monitor ambient sounds. In one illustrative implementation, the Cordova-Plugin-Media sound detector, available from Apache for both Android and iOS platforms at https://cordova.apache.org/docs/en/latest/reference/cordova-plugin-media/, may be used to access the microphone. This package allows the microphone to capture any ambient sounds around the networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device, and to play, pause and stop recorded audio, change the volume and read the current position of playing audio. In one illustrative embodiment, ambient sounds are captured by the interval function (shown below) every 0.4 seconds. The amplitude range is 0 to 1, with voice capture sensitivity set to anything more than 0.06 of the amplitude rate to eliminate very low volume noises. This is merely one illustrative implementation and is not limiting.

Returning toFIG. 2, after step204the method200proceeds to optional step206, where the processor(s) may display a visual representation of the ambient sounds on a display of the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device. In one illustrative implementation, the ambient sounds are visualized as a sine waveform (other visual representations may also be used). A first function, shown at400inFIG. 4, may be used to build the sine waveform based on detected amplitude. The amplitude is magnified to enable identification of minor changes in the wave form. The sine curve is drawn in 10 px segments starting at the origin in this function. The height of the sine waveform is changing based on detected sound amplitude with a parameter called “unit”. This allows the waveform to be plotted on a display of the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device. The detected sound may then be applied to the waveform using the function shown at500inFIG. 5, according to the following recursive steps:

1. Clear the screen in position (x, y) with context.clearRect;

3. Define color and width of waveform;

4. Draw sine curve at moment of t;

5. Update moment of t; and

6. Return to step (1).

After optional step206, or from step204where optional step206is omitted, the method200proceeds to step208, where the processor(s) test the ambient sounds against a threshold. As noted above, this may be done locally or remotely, and the threshold may be, for example, a minimum volume threshold, a minimum confidence level associated with natural language processing of the ambient sounds, or another suitable threshold.

If the processor(s) determine at step208that the ambient sounds satisfy the threshold (a “yes” at step208), this indicates that the ambient sounds detected by the microphone supporting an inference that the sounds heard by the user are actually present, and the method proceeds to optional step210to provide a visual and/or audible notification to the user, and then returns to step202.

If the processor(s) determine at step208that the ambient sounds fail to satisfy the threshold (a “no” at step208), this indicates that the ambient sounds detected by the microphone(s) do not support an inference that the sounds heard by the user are actually present, and therefore that the sounds may be an auditory hallucination. Accordingly, responsive to the processor(s) determining that the ambient sounds fail to satisfy the threshold (a “no” at step208), the method200proceeds to step212where the processor(s) transmit an alert signal, via a network to which the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device is coupled, to at least one remote receiving device beyond the first networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device. The alert signal may be transmitted, for example, in the manner described above. After step212, the method200returns to step202, or may optionally end.

Although illustrative embodiments have been described with respect to individuals who have been diagnosed with psychosis, it will be appreciated that this is merely by way of illustrative example. The present disclosure is not limited to psychosis, and may be applied in respect of any psychiatric disorder for which auditory hallucinations are a symptom.

As can be seen from the above description, the technology described herein represents significantly more than merely using categories to organize, store and transmit information and organizing information through mathematical correlations. The technology is in fact an improvement to the technology of monitoring previously diagnosed psychiatric conditions. The technology described herein provides for objective external assessment of whether a user-identified experience is an actual auditory sensory experience or is an occurrence of an acute auditory hallucinatory episode, and for notification of relevant third parties where a hallucinatory episode is detected. This facilitates the ability of relevant personnel to timely respond to the incident to prevent harm. As such, the technology is confined to psychiatric monitoring applications. Moreover, it is to be appreciated that the present technology is not directed to methods of medical treatment or even to methods of diagnosing a particular disorder; it is applied, inter alia, where a diagnosis has already been made by a human medical practitioner. The technology provides an objective technique for detection of potential acute incidents within the context of an existing diagnosis, eliminating subjectivity by either doctor or patient. In this sense, the present technology provides a manually activated mechanical diagnostic tool to replace subjective perception with objective measurement. In this sense, the present technology, while innovative in its application and implementation, is analogous in its result to a manually activated heart monitor for a patient already diagnosed with a cardiac condition. Just as a heart monitor replaces a subjective assessment of “my heart is racing” with an objective measure of actual heart rate that can be relied upon by user and practitioner, the present technology replaces an inherently subjective and unreliable comparison between perceived and actual sounds with a reliable objective assessment in real time.

The present technology may be embodied within a system, a method, a computer program product or any combination thereof. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium or media having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present technology. The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

An illustrative computer system in respect of which aspects of the technology herein described may be implemented is presented as a block diagram inFIG. 6. For example, the illustrative computer system600may be used to implement the remote computer system112, as part of a dispatch system126associated with an ambulance or paramedic service128, and/or part of a dedicated monitoring center130, all as shown inFIG. 1.

The illustrative computer system is denoted generally by reference numeral600and includes a display602, input devices in the form of keyboard604A and pointing device604B, computer606and external devices608. While pointing device604B is depicted as a mouse, it will be appreciated that other types of pointing device, or a touch screen, may also be used.

The computer606may contain one or more processors or microprocessors, such as a central processing unit (CPU)610. The CPU610performs arithmetic calculations and control functions to execute software stored in an internal memory612, preferably random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM), and possibly additional memory614. The additional memory614may include, for example, mass memory storage, hard disk drives, optical disk drives (including CD and DVD drives), magnetic disk drives, magnetic tape drives (including LTO, DLT, DAT and DCC), flash drives, program cartridges and cartridge interfaces such as those found in video game devices, removable memory chips such as EPROM or PROM, emerging storage media, such as holographic storage, or similar storage media as known in the art. This additional memory614may be physically internal to the computer606, or external as shown inFIG. 6, or both.

The computer system600may also include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded. Such means can include, for example, a communications interface616which allows software and data to be transferred between the computer system600and external systems and networks. Examples of communications interface616can include a modem, a network interface such as an Ethernet card, a wireless communication interface, or a serial or parallel communications port. Software and data transferred via communications interface616are in the form of signals which can be electronic, acoustic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface616. Multiple interfaces, of course, can be provided on a single computer system600.

Input and output to and from the computer606is administered by the input/output (I/O) interface618. This I/O interface618administers control of the display602, keyboard604A, external devices608and other such components of the computer system600. The computer606also includes a graphical processing unit (GPU)620. The latter may also be used for computational purposes as an adjunct to, or instead of, the (CPU)610, for mathematical calculations.

The various components of the computer system600are coupled to one another either directly or by coupling to suitable buses.

FIG. 7shows an illustrative networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device in the form of a smartphone700. Thus, the smartphone700is an illustrative representation of the networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device shown as a smartphone104inFIG. 1.

The smartphone700includes a display702, an input device in the form of keyboard704and an onboard computer system706. The display702may be a touchscreen display and thereby serve as an additional input device, or as an alternative to the keyboard704. The onboard computer system706comprises a central processing unit (CPU)710having one or more processors or microprocessors for performing arithmetic calculations and control functions to execute software stored in an internal memory712, preferably random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM) is coupled to additional memory714which will typically comprise flash memory, which may be integrated into the smartphone700or may comprise a removable flash card, or both. The smartphone700also includes a communications interface716which allows software and data to be transferred between the smartphone700and external systems and networks. The communications interface716is coupled to one or more wireless communication modules724, which will typically comprise a wireless radio for connecting to one or more of a cellular network, a wireless digital network or a Wi-Fi network. The communications interface716will also typically enable a wired connection of the smartphone700to an external computer system. A microphone726and speaker728are coupled to the onboard computer system706to support the telephone functions managed by the onboard computer system706. Of note, the microphone726may be used to detect ambient sounds (e.g. ambient sounds110as shown inFIG. 1). A location services module722(e.g. including GPS receiver hardware) may also be coupled to the communications interface716to support navigation operations by the onboard computer system706. One or more cameras730(e.g. front-facing and/or rear facing cameras) may also be coupled to the onboard computer system706. A magnetometer732may also be coupled to the communications interface716to support navigation operations by the onboard computer system706; the magnetometer functions as an electronic compass and gathers data used to determine the direction of magnetic North. An accelerometer734and gyroscope736are coupled to the communications interface716to gather data about movement of the smartphone700. A light sensor738is also coupled to the communications interface716. Input and output to and from the onboard computer system706is administered by the input/output (I/O) interface718, which administers control of the display702, keyboard704, microphone726, speaker728and camera(s)730. The onboard computer system706may also include a separate graphical processing unit (GPU)720. The various components are coupled to one another either directly or by coupling to suitable buses.

Without limitation, any one or more of the display702(if a touchscreen), keyboard704, microphone726, camera730, accelerometer734and gyroscope736and light sensor738may be considered an input device that can be used to monitor for a deliberate overt activation action by the user.

The term “computer system”, “data processing system” and related terms, as used herein, is not limited to any particular type of computer system and encompasses servers, desktop computers, laptop computers, networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, as well as other types of computer systems.

Thus, computer readable program code for implementing aspects of the technology described herein may be contained or stored in the memory712of the onboard computer system706of the smartphone700or the memory612of the computer606, or on a computer usable or computer readable medium external to the onboard computer system706of the smartphone700or the computer606, or on any combination thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the claims. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the technology and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the technology for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Certain illustrative embodiments have been described by way of example. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In construing the claims, it is to be understood that the use of a computer, and in particular a networked mobile wireless telecommunication computing device, to implement the embodiments described herein is essential.