System and method for health care video conferencing

A method for providing video conferencing services on a mobile device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a data packet via an encrypted electronic communication channel, the data packet comprising i) authorization from a server hosting privacy health care data and ii) scheduling information for a health care provider. The method may include creating a clickable link using the data packet, the clickable link configured for initiating a video conference session from a single user action on the clickable link. The method may include, in response to the user pressing the clickable link, (i) sending a second data packet to the health care provider for initiating the video conference session, and (ii) initiating the video conference with the health care provider via a secure communication channel.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of video conference systems, and more particularly to the field of video conference systems used in a health care environment providing easy access to end users and validation of video conference sessions.

Background

Video conferencing has become popular with the migration of services online. In the health care context, providers are increasingly reliant on remote care for their patients. With the globalization of health care services, as well as novel health threats that necessitate providing care at a distance, there is long felt need for convenient video conference solutions.

Existing video conference solutions fail to adequately harmonize the technology of video conference systems with the technical computer infrastructure needed to meet the requirements of end-to-end privacy and security demanded in health care environments. Accordingly, there is a need for advanced and convenient health care video conference systems.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method implemented on a mobile video conference participant device is provided. The method may include receiving a data packet via an encrypted electronic communication channel, the data packet comprising i) authorization from a server hosting privacy health care data and ii) scheduling information for a health care provider. The method may include creating a clickable link using the data packet, the clickable link configured for initiating a video conference session from a single user action on the clickable link. The method may include: in response to the user pressing the clickable link, sending a second data packet to the health care provider for initiating the video conference session, and initiating the video conference with the health care provider via a secure communication channel. In some embodiments, once a link is established, the patient may provide consent for the system to store the linked visit data between patient and provider. This allows for future appointment requests, follow up visits, and encrypted message exchanges between patient and provider.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method implemented on a server configured for scheduling video conference sessions is provided. The method may include receiving data associated with a patient for medical services. The method may include receiving authorization from a server hosting a database comprising privacy health care data associated with the patient in response to a query for the customer's eligibility for medical services. The method may include determining scheduling information for the patient. The method may include creating a data packet for transmission over an encrypted electronic communication channel, the data packet comprising i) the authorization from the server hosting and ii) the scheduling information. The method may include transmitting the data packet via the encrypted electronic communication channel for a remote video conference device to initiate a video conference session.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method implemented on a mobile video conference participant device is provided. The method may include receiving data associated with a patient for medical services. The method may include receiving appointment information for the patient for medical services. The method may include receiving authorization, via an intermediate server, from an eligibility portal server hosting a database comprising privacy health care data associated with the patient in response to a query for the customer's eligibility for medical services. The method may include transmitting data to a remote mobile video conference participant device for configuration a video conference session associated with the appointment in response to receiving the authorization.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods and systems are provided for creating appointments for video conference sessions between medical providers and patients of the providers. In the disclosure, a medical provider may refer to an organization such as a hospital, medical clinic, etc. or to the individual persons such as a doctor, a nurse, or other medical provider, etc. The video conference sessions may be performed on a mobile video conference participant device. Such a mobile device may be similar to a computing device (e.g., a computer, a laptop computer, a mobile device (phone), a wearable device, or any other suitable electronic apparatus. In another example, the computing device may be a specially programmed or specially configured to be a special-purpose computing device capable of performing the methods disclosed herein. Advantages disclosed herein include enabling simple and reliable communication between patients and their medical providers. The methods enable collection of patient data (e.g., data entry from either the patient or the medical provider) and interfacing to an eligibility portal (e.g., via secure communications with a server including eligibility information) to set up one-click video conferencing for patients. For example, the medical provider may provide all patient information and appointment scheduling information into a video conference participant device or a video conference participant server with the device or server communicating with the eligibility portal to determine entitlement to the services. Once the entitlement is determined, but device or server may send information (e.g., a data packet including all necessary information) to the patient's video conference participant device to set up a one-click link for the patient. In this manner, a video conference session for a medical video conference appointment is created without manual input of data into a device of the client prior to joining the video conference session.

In some embodiments, the systems and methods may provide for mobile clinical staff (MCS) scheduler integration. For example, certain specialties may need to incorporate the services of MCS to facilitate an upcoming video conference visit. MCS may be a separate on-site service system, either freelance-based or employer-managed company that may complement these video conference visits by sending one or more MCS to patient's home prior to or during a video conference session. MCS can be one or combination of medical assistant, emergency medical technician (EMT), patient care tech, medical technician, lab tech or IT tech, depending on practice needs. They may bring portable video conference kits which may include: laptop with Wi-Fi hotspot or satellite internet, point-of-care equipment for vitals, glucometers, venipuncture kits, blood pressure cuffs, otoscopes and other designed scopes for heart and lung sounds or even skin irregularities. Each practice may assess their own triage protocols to identity and customize their MCS needs. Practices, health plans or managed care groups may need to contract with an MCS deployment company or engage in a pay-as-you-go option.

Reference is now made toFIG.1, which illustrates a system enabling features associated with enabling video conference sessions between medical providers and patients using the video conference participant devices100A-C. For example, the features may configure the system for scheduling patient appointments with medical providers, which may include patient interactions such as receiving biographical and entitlement information, receiving appointment scheduling information, or reading biometric signals of the patient. The features may include interfacing with an eligibility portal server (e.g., a universal eligibility portal (ELI)) to determine the (e.g., types and scope of) medical services available to the patients.

In some embodiments, the video conference participant devices may be facilitated by a video conference server unit150, with at least one video conference unit100C linked to the video conference server unit150within a local area network such as a medical clinic or hospital; the video conference server unit150may facilitate video conference sessions between, e.g., video conference participant devices100A,100C.

In other optional embodiments, the video conference unit100B may be in communication with the video conference server unit150via the internet, with the video conference server unit150facilitating the video conference sessions. In yet other embodiments, the video conference units (e.g.,100A,100B) may include functionality to facilitate the video conference sessions between themselves without needing a video conference server unit150. In such embodiments, one of the video conference units (e.g.,100B) may include server capabilities such as communication with the eligibility portal server140.

The system may include a data store170(e.g., databases172,174, . . . ,176) for storing video conference session data and metadata. The video conference server unit150(or one of the mobile video conference units100B, C, may be in communication with the server160to store data associated with the video conference sessions. For example, the video and audio itself may be stored. In another example, metadata such as the appointment dates, times, participants, etc. may be recorded to provide a log of the sessions. In some embodiments, the logs and records may be saved and configured based on medical rules such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

In some embodiments, the system may provide end-to-end encryption for private and secure communications. Any suitable encryption schemes such as RSA private key, public key, pre-shared keys, etc. may be used to provide the end-to-end encryption. In some embodiments, a server or module within of the processing units such as video conference service unit150may provide features to enable encryption of the communication. For example, server160(or a module) may be an encryption or authentication server. The encryption or authentication server may authenticate user passwords and/or grant access to network resources (e.g., other servers) and/or network services, and provide for encryption of end-to-end messages. An authentication server may also provide an access ticket (e.g., a Kerberos Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT)) to a client (e.g., a computing system101) after authentication of the user password. The access ticket (e.g., a TGT) may be used to access network locations, network resources, and/or network services. In another embodiment, the authentication server may be part of a Single Sign-On (SSO) system. In an SSO system, a user is generally authenticated by the authentication server and the authentication server grants access (e.g., via a TGT) to multiple devices, network resources, network locations, and/or network services, which use the SSO system for authentication. In will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other encryption and authentication methods may be used with the embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the disclosure is not limited to the Kerberos or SSO methods and systems. Other examples may include multi-factor encryption and authentication, public key or private key encryption, etc. Authorization, Authentication, and Access (AAA) servers may be used in various embodiments of the disclosure. One skilled in the art will recognize that any of these servers may be placed at various logical or physical locations; for example, the encryption and/or authentication server may be located between the user mobile devices (e.g.,100A-C) and video conference server unit150.

The mobile video conference units100A, B may include a module for providing the end-to-end encryption. For example, a module within the mobile video conference units100A, B may include software and/or hardware for communication using encrypted messaging with other mobile video conference units100A, B or video conference server unit150.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the user of video conference participant device100A may share his video, audio, biometric information with the other participants. Audio/video from video conference participant device100may be forwarded to video conference server200via the Internet120and/or any other suitable communication network such as, for example but not limited to, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a mobile communication network, a satellite communication link, a landline telephone service, etc.

Video conference server150may include processor152, I/O module151, data bus153, and video conference application154. It will be appreciated that video conference server150may include hardware and software components, such as are well-known in the art. It will similarly be appreciated video conference server150may include other components are not depicted inFIG.1. Video conference server150may include more than one process152. For example, one such process152may be a special purpose processor operative to execute video conference client154. Video conference client154may be an application that is implemented in software and/or hardware on video conference serve150. Video conference client154may be any suitable server-side application for video conferencing including commercial off-the-shelf software from a software vendor or may be purpose-built software. In accordance with embodiments described herein, video conference application154may include an appointment schedule module155configured for determining appointment dates and sessions between patients and the medical providers. Video conference client154may include a virtual assistant module156configured for provide virtual assistant to the users such as the patients or medical provider staff. In some embodiments, the virtual assistant may be based on an artificial intelligence (AI) model. The AI model may be configured based on any one of the suitable AI techniques including neural networks, deep learning modeling, natural language processing, etc. In some embodiments, the AI model may be configured by another processing unit (e.g., a dedicated or distributed processing server) with the tailored AI model copied to the video conference server unit.

I/O module151may be a hardware and/or software component that may be configured to transmit and receive data to and from devices in communication with video conference unit150. In some embodiments, I/O module151may include encryption algorithms to provide secure end-to-end communications with mobile devices such as100A-C. In other embodiments, a separate module (not shown) coupled to the processor may be configuration to provide the encryption algorithms to provide secure end-to-end communications.

For example, I/O module151may be implemented as a transceiver. Video conference server150may be configured to use I/O module151to facilitate a video conference session between users of video conference participant devices100as per instructions received from video conference client154.

It will be appreciated that each of video conference devices100A-C may be configured and implemented in accordance with any of the configurations described herein with relation to video conference participant device100.

FIG.2is an exemplary block diagram of the video conference participant device ofFIG.1. Video conference participant device100′ may include processor270, I/O module210, display screen220, camera230, one or more speakers240, microphone250, biometric device260, data bus290used for communication between the components, and video conference client280, which may be implemented as either a software application and/or hardware component and may be executable by processor270to facilitate participation by video conference participant device100′ in a video conference meeting such as depicted inFIG.1. Processor270may also operate I/O module210, display screen220, camera230, speaker240, microphone250, and biometric sensor260in support of video conference meetings as per instructions provided by video conference client280. For example, I/O module210may send and receive audio/video data between the participants of the video conference meeting; received video data may be displayed on display screen220; camera230may provide video data to be sent to other video conference participant devices100′; speaker(s)240may play the received audio data; microphone250may provide audio input to be sent to other video conference participant devices100′; and biometric sensor(s)260may read biometric data from a user (e.g., a patient) of the device100′ to send to another participant device100′ (e.g., a medical provider viewing and interpreting the biometric data). In some embodiments, I/O module210may include encryption algorithms to provide secure end-to-end communications with other mobile devices or servers units such as video conference server unit150. In other embodiments, a separate module (not shown) coupled to the processor270may be configuration to provide the encryption algorithms to provide secure end-to-end communications.

In some embodiments, the video conference sessions may be between two video conference participant devices such as between a doctor and a patient; in other embodiments video conference sessions may be created among a group of more than two participants. For example, a video conference session may include more than one medical provider (e.g., one doctor plus one nurse, two doctors, etc.) or may include more than one patient.

In accordance with embodiments described herein, video conference client280may include an appointment scheduling module282. Appointment scheduling module282may be implementable either as a software application and/or hardware component that may be implemented as either an integrated component of video conference client280or as an independent module in communication with video conference client280. As will be described below, appointment scheduling module282may be configured to perform scheduling routines on video conference participation device100′. When the video conference participant device is used by a user (e.g., a patient), the appointment scheduling routines may be configured, for example, for gathering information from the user, and for alerting the user that an appointment has been scheduled. When the video conference participant device100′ is used by a medical provider, the appointment scheduling routines may gather appointment scheduling information and patient information to determine an appropriate appointment date and time for the video conference session. In other embodiments, the appointment scheduling module282may be included in the video conference server unit as illustrated inFIG.1.

Video conference client280may include a virtual assistant module284. Virtual assistant module284may be implementable either as a software application and/or hardware component that may be implemented as either an integrated component of video conference client280or as an independent module in communication with video conference client280. As will be described below, virtual assistant module284may be configured to perform virtual assistant functions such as interacting with a user (e.g., a patient or a medical provider) on the video conference participation device100′. Such interactions, for example, may include answering user queries or questions, and the interactions may include gather information from the user to send to the appointment scheduling module282. When the video conference participant device100′ is used by a medical provider, the virtual assistant module284may provide answers regarding patient information or other general provider-side information. Virtual assistant module284may work in conjunction with the appointment scheduling module282to determine appropriate appointment dates and times for video conference sessions.

Virtual assistant module284may include software and/or hardware for creating the AI model used to interact with the user. In other embodiments, the AI model may be previously created (e.g., at a dedicated or distributed processing node(s)) with the resulting model copied to the module284.

FIGS.3A-Bare further exemplary diagrams illustrating display screens of the video conference participant device ofFIG.2as viewed from a patient user of the system. For example, the video conference participant device310A may be a mobile table device, smart phone, wearable device, etc. The screen of the device310A shows an example video conference session with the other participant being a doctor312. The user may be provided with various prompts314such as whether to consent to sharing the screen.

In some embodiments as shown inFIG.3B, the device310B may include game-like interfaces for maintaining the attention of the user. These interfaces may be suitable for younger patients who may lose focus during a video conference session. Such interfaces may also provide feedback regarding the user's mental states (e.g., their mental or physical reflexes). In the example ofFIG.3B, the doctor may have switched the user's display to a game-like interface for keeping the attention of the user326. An example game-like interface may include a caption322requesting the user326to tap the screen as objects or dots324appear on the device310B.FIG.3Bshows the user326engaged and taping on the flashing dot324.

It will be appreciated to one skilled in the art that any of various games or applications may be suitable for maintaining (or in some cases distracting) the user's focus on the current session.

FIG.4is another exemplary diagram illustrating a display screen of the video conference participant device310C as viewed from a patient user of the system. In the example screen, the doctor412is shown in a split-screen format with the game-like interface occupying the remainder of the screen. The game-like interface may include a caption414requesting the user418to tap the screen as objects or dots416appear on the device310C.FIG.4shows the user418engaged and taping on the flashing dot416.

FIG.5is another exemplary diagram illustrating a display screen of the video conference participant device310D as viewed from a medical provider user of the system. During a video conference session, the medical provider user may have access to various display options. Some of the display options may include data views (e.g., patient information, biometric information, etc.), live (real-time) views of the patient, etc. Any number of these displays or views may be shown at a time on the medical provider device310D. In the example ofFIG.5, the device310D shows two views on the device310D including a view of the patient512and a view of biometric information514, which is eye biometrics in this example.

FIGS.6A-Bare further exemplary diagrams illustrating display screens of the video conference participant device310E as viewed from a medical provider user of the system. In the example ofFIG.6A, the device310E shows a single view with a live video612of the patient. The live video612may provide a similar experience to an in-person doctor's visit. The video conference device310E may use biometric sensors such as heart rate monitors, fingerprint readers, oximeters, etc. to provide readings and data. In the example ofFIG.6B, the device310F screen shows eye biometrics622for the medical provider to make an assessment of the patient. It will be appreciated by those skilled in art that any number and type of visual screens may be available to and chosen by the medical provider as suitable.

FIG.7is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for initiating an appointment for a video conference session from the perspective of a patient user of the system. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. The method may be methods of the video conference client100′ and/or the appointment scheduling module282. Starting at710, the method may include a user (e.g., patient) opening the video conference client mobile application. For example, the user may launch the software application on the mobile device; in other embodiments, the mobile device may be a dedicated platform and opening the software application may be automatic once the mobile device is in an “on” state. The step720, the method may include initiating an appointment. Initiating an appointment may include scheduling a time and date for a medical visit via video conference. At step730, the method may include receiving notification on the day of the appointment. In some embodiments, the user performing only a single step of clicking on a link that starts a video conference session with a medical provider, with the link crafted by the video conference client based on data received from a remote server or a remote video conference client. For example, the video conference server unit150ofFIG.1or the mobile video conference unit100B may be determined services entitlement along with appointment scheduling information to transmitted a set of data to the mobile device; based on the transmitted set of data, the mobile device crafts a link for the user.

FIG.8is another exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for updating an appointment for a video conference session from the perspective of a patient user of the system. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. The method may be methods of the video conference client280and/or the appointment scheduling module282. Starting at810, the method may include prompting a user for information. For example, the device may prompt for biographical information, medical history, insurance plan information, user preferences for medical providers, etc. At step820the method may include receiving the input. At step830at the method may include querying or scheduling an appointment. Querying for or scheduling an appointment may include the device communicating with a remote server such as server150ofFIG.1or a remote mobile device conference unit such as100B ofFIG.1. At step840, the method may include updating the appointment schedule. For example, may be a response from the remote device based on the query, the method may include the user's mobile device updating a local calendar with the appointment information.

FIG.9is another exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for updating an appointment for a video conference session from the perspective of a patient user of the system. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. The method may be methods of the video conference client280and/or the appointment scheduling module282. Starting at step910, the method may include initiating an appointment for the user (e.g., patient). At step920, the method may include waiting for a response from the user (e.g., patient). At step930, the method may include updating the appointment schedule.

FIG.10is another exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for creating a single step one-click link to initiate a video conference session from the perspective of a medical provider user of the system. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. The method may be methods of the video conference client280and/or the appointment scheduling module282. Starting at1010, the method may include receiving a request for appointment scheduling. For example, after a user of a remote mobile device requests an appointment, the medical provider user may receive the indication for an appointment. At step1020, the method may include querying a database. For example, the method may include querying a remote server hosting eligibility information for the patient. At step1030, the method may include determining the date and time to schedule the appointment. The scheduling may be based on one of several factors including the patient availability, medical provider availability, etc. At step1040, the method may include sending the appointment schedule to the user (e.g., patient) at a remote device. For example, the method may transmit a set of data including the scheduling appointment and any other information necessary for the remote device to join the video conference session on the date of the appointment.

FIG.11is another exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for scheduling and sending an appointment for a video conference session from the perspective of a medical provider user of the system. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. The method may be methods of the video conference client280and/or the appointment scheduling module282. Starting at1110, the method may include the provider or patient configuration the mobile application and providing the patient's information, such as biographical data. At step1120, the method may include the provider initiating an appointment. At step1130, the method may include creating a clickable link for a one-step process to join a video conference session (i.e., an online meeting) with the medical provider. At step1140, the method may include sending the link to the patient. At step1150, the method may include the patient pressing the link to initiating the meeting.

FIG.12is another exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for scheduling and sending an appointment for a video conference session from the perspective of a medical provider user of the system. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. Starting at1210, the method may include receiving input from a patient and/or a medical provider relating to a medical visit. The information from the patient and/or medical provider may include preferences for the scheduling such as time slots, preferred doctors or other medical professionals, etc. At step1220, the method may include determining a best available appointment schedule. For example, based on the input received from the patient, the method selects a best available appointment. At step1230, the method may determine whether the appointment meets a set of criteria. For example, the patient may have specified preferred time and date slots for the appointment, but the medical provider has limited available such that the scheduled appointment date and time does not meet at least of the patient or medical provider's criterion. If the scheduled appointment meets the criteria then the method may proceed to step1270. If the scheduled appointment does not meet at least one criterion then the method may proceed to step1240. At step1240the patient may select new criteria for the appointment. At step1250the method may determine whether a new appointment is available. For example, the method may determine whether a new appointment is available that meets the criteria. For example, the patient may have specified new time slots for appointment availability. The method may determine whether an appointment is available that meets the patient's availability. If a new appointment is available, then the method may proceed to step1260. If a new appointment is not available, then the method may proceed back to step1240. In some embodiments, the method may continuously loop back to prompt the patient for new criteria. At step1260, the method may include updating the appointment information based on the new available appointment. At step1270, the method may update an audit log after the appointment.

FIG.13is another exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for creating an appointment for a video conference session. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. Starting at1310, the method may include receiving input from a patient and/or a medical provider relating to a medical visit. The information from the patient and/or medical provider may include preferences for the scheduling such as time slots, preferred doctors or other medical professionals, etc. At step1320, the method may include determining a best available appointment schedule. For example, based on the input received from the patient, the method selects a best available appointment. At step1330, the method may determine whether the appointment meets a set of criteria. For example, the patient may have specified preferred time and date slots for the appointment, but the medical provider has limited available such that the scheduled appointment date and time does not meet at least of the patient or medical provider's criterion. If the scheduled appointment meets the criteria then the method may proceed to step1370. If the scheduled appointment does not meet at least one criterion then the method may proceed to step1340. At step1340the method may determine at least one trigger condition for scheduling or rescheduling the appointment. For example, trigger conditions may include time-based triggers, new slot times becoming available from the medical provider, new services eligibility for the patient, etc. At step1350, the method may determine whether at least one trigger condition has been set. For example, a trigger condition may be an elapsed time. If the elapsed time is met, the method may determine a new best available appointment. In another example, a trigger condition may be availability of a medical provider. If the medical provider has new availability, the method may determine a new best available appointment. If the at least one trigger condition is not set, then the method may proceed back to step1340. In some embodiments, the method may loop until the at least one trigger condition is set, and then proceed to step1360. If at least one trigger condition is set, then the method may proceed to step1360. At step1360, the method may include updating the appointment based on the at least one trigger condition. At step1370, the method may update an audit log after the appointment.

FIGS.14A-Bare further exemplary flow diagrams illustrating methods for establishing and initiating an appointment for a video conference session. The method may be performed by a mobile device, such as video conference participant devices100A-C ofFIG.1or100′ ofFIG.2. Beginning at step1410, the method may include determining whether the user has a hyperlink for a video conference meeting. For example, the user's own device may have crafted a hyperlink for the video conference session, or the user's device may have received a hyperlink from the remote server or a remote device to join the video conference session. The hyperlink may reflect previous queries to an eligibility server to determining entitled for medical services for the user. The hyperlink may represent a single-step process; in some embodiments, this single-step process may have been created without the user without having entered the various medical and/or biographical information. In other embodiments, the user may have entered basic information prior to any needing for medical attention; in such instances, the single-step process may represent a simplified process without the user need to take any actions between providing the basic information and receiving the hyperlink for the video conference session. For example, either the user or the medical providers may have determined a need for a medical visit via teleconference. The medical providers may have completed data entry of their devices, with a server or the medical provider's devices sending a hyperlink to the user for the video conference session. One skilled in the art will appreciate that alternatives to a hyperlink may be suitable based on design choices. If the user does not have a hyperlink then the method may proceed to step1420. If the user has a hyperlink then the method may proceed to step1422.

At step1420, the user may manually enter a code for a video conference session. For example, the user may have received a code via email, text message, or the like for the video conferences session. The user may enter the code to initiate the video conference session.

At step1422, the user clicks on the hyperlink. In other embodiments the action may be based on clicking on some graphical user interface component such as a button where the devices may be in secure communication over a proprietary protocol.

At step1430, the method may determine whether the user is new to the platform and application. If the user is new, the method may proceed to step1440. If the user has previously used the application or has previously registered with the application, then the method may proceed to step1450. At step1440, the user may register with the application. For example, the user may provide biographical data to the application. The user may also provide preferences for scheduling appointments such as preferred date and time slots, preferred medical providers, location preferences, etc.

At step1450, the user may select an available action from the application. The available actions may include those related to setting up or establishing a video link. The available actions may include entering information for the user. At step1460, the method may include setting up an appointment. For example, the user may request an appointment and provide information for setting up the appointment. At step1462, the method may include establishing a video link.

In another process1400B, the method may start at1470to connect to a provider (e.g., a medical provider). The method may include, at step1480, waiting for the provider. At method may include, at step1490, starting a video conference session.

FIG.15is an exemplary configuration hierarchy for a health care group in association with the video conferencing system. As illustrated inFIG.15, a health care group may have access to configuration settings of the video conference application. These configuration settings may include various settings related to appointment scheduling, office customization, notification settings, etc. The settings may be provided on an interface (e.g., a GUI) for a user of the health care group to configure. One skilled in the art will recognize that these are merely illustrative examples and that other alternative settings may be available as necessary or suitable for the medical care group.

FIG.16is another exemplary configuration hierarchy for an individual health care provider in association with the video conferencing system. As illustrated inFIG.16, an individual care group may have access to configuration settings of the video conference application. These configuration settings may include various settings related to appointment scheduling, office customization, notification settings, etc. The settings may be provided on an interface (e.g., a GUI) for a user of the individual health care provider to configure. One skilled in the art will recognize that these are merely illustrative examples and that other alternative settings may be available as necessary or suitable for the medical care group.

FIG.17is an exemplary diagram illustrating a display screen including a virtual assistant of the video conference participant device as viewed from a patient user of the system. In some embodiments, the video conference application may include virtual assistant features. For example, a virtual assistant may provide help in answering questions or setting up an appointment for medical checkup. In this context, a virtual assistant may be software and/or hardware configured to execute the methods described in the disclosure. In some embodiments, the virtual assistant may be augmented by a live person.

In the example ofFIG.17, the virtual assistant1710may include an avatar to provide a visual cue that the user is engaged with the virtual assistant. The virtual assistant may prompt1720the user for questions, and the assistant may continue a dialog with the user.

FIG.18is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for training an artificial intelligence model for the virtual assistance ofFIG.17. The virtual assistant may be trained to interact with the user based on any one of a variety of artificial intelligence training methods. In the example ofFIG.18, the method may include, at step1810, receiving training data (e.g., a large dataset with interactions between an assistant whether real or virtual and a typical user of the application). At step1820, the method may include training a model based on any number of training methods such as a supervised learning process. At step1830, the method may include applying the model to a virtual assistant of the video conferencing.

FIG.19is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating methods for applying the AI model created inFIG.18for the virtual assistance. The method may include, at step1910, receiving a query, e.g., from a user of the application. For example, the user may have selected the virtual assistant feature. The virtual assistant feature may have appeared on-screen to prompt the user. The user may ask a question (e.g., a query) to the virtual assistant. At step1920, the method may include applying the training model to the query to formulate a response. Based on the trained model, the virtual assistant may respond to the user. At step1930, the method may include sending a response to the user or patient.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specifically constructed for the required purposes, or it may be general purpose computer system selectively programmed by a computer program stored in the computer system. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, Blu-ray disks, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic-optical disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, solid state devices, other type of machine-accessible storage media, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, each coupled to a computer system bus.