Patent Publication Number: US-2016236096-A1

Title: Wellness System For Interacting With A User

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application benefits from the priority of U.S. Provisional Applications 61/939,742 filed on Feb. 14, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical field of the invention relates to health and wellness and more specifically to motivating to a user to improve their wellness. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people wish to have a healthier lifestyle but find it hard to stick with a health and wellness routine, they don&#39;t feel motivated to becoming healthier and also don&#39;t know how to fit in a healthy lifestyle into their daily routine. This means they usually end up sticking with their current state of wellness and this is typically below average. 
     User engagement and keeping users engaged isn&#39;t trivial. An example in the prior art that was a success for user engagement was the Tamagoutchi, a handheld digital virtual pet that millions of people played with. It features virtual characters based on animals, objects, or people. Tamagotchis are alien species that start off as an egg and it is a responsibility of a user to raise the egg into an adult creature. The creatures develop differently based on the care the user provides. With better sustenance provided to the Tamagoutchi by the user it ends up being smarter, happier, and requiring less attention as it developed. 
     Most health and wellness solutions on the market today fall short on interactive, engaging and motivational features that provide end user engagement. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a wellness system for interacting with a user that overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the invention there is provided a wellness system for interacting with a user comprising: a remote server comprising a memory circuit for storing at least an actionable plan data; a server processor comprising a first wireless transceiver and coupled with the remove server; a smartphone device comprising a processor for executing a smartphone application for receiving of the user input and the smartphone device comprising a display screen for being seen by the user for displaying a notification graphic and a virtual electronic pet graphic, the smartphone device comprising a user input area for receiving user input a second wireless transceiver for communicating with the first wireless transceiver for wirelessly receiving a sustenance data for graphically being depicted on the display screen as the virtual electronic pet graphic and for wirelessly transmitting a notification compliance data received from the user input area to the first wireless transceiver; the virtual electronic pet graphic comprising at least a first virtual electronic pet image and a second virtual electronic pet image; wherein one of the first virtual electronic pet image and the second virtual electronic pet image are displayed on the display screen in dependence upon the server processor processing the at least an actionable plan data and the notification compliance data to generate of the sustenance data. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the invention there is provided a wellness system for interacting with a user comprising: providing a wellness team for engaging with the user; interviewing the user by the wellness team to determined an actionable plan data comprising a series of time based activities for the user to perform, the series of time based activities derived from hydrating and physical activity and resting and eating; providing a smartphone application for being executed by a smartphone device having a display screen, the smartphone application for receiving of input from the user; displaying a notification graphic for being viewed by the user on the display screen, the notification graphic representing one of the time based activities for being performed by the user; displaying a virtual electronic pet graphic for being viewed by the user on the display screen; engaging the user with the virtual electronic pet graphic through varying an animation thereof; measuring a time taken between the notification graphic being displayed to the user and receiving of notification compliance data from the user; mathematically combining the hydration data and activity data and rest data and nutrition data to generate a health score for the user; and, affecting a visual appearance of the virtual electronic pet graphic based on the measured time taken and the health score for the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates, a wellness system for interacting with a user (WS) in accordance with the embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2A , a virtual electronic pet graphic that is displayed is either a first virtual electronic pet image or a second virtual electronic pet image is shown; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates an example of the first actionable plan data; 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates various notification graphics; 
         FIG. 2D , illustrates notification being provided to the user in the form of a notification message; 
         FIG. 2E  illustrates first through third virtual electronic pet images; and, 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates the wellness system with its operational steps for interacting with the user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , a wellness system for interacting with a user (WS)  100  in accordance with the embodiments of the invention is provided. The WS  100  is comprised of a remote server  101  comprising a memory circuit  180  for storing at least an actionable plan data  101   a ,  101   b  for a first user  199  and a second user (not shown), respectively. 
     A server processor  107  having a first wireless transceiver  107   a  and coupled with the remove server  101  is provided. In the WS  100  the user  199  interacts through a smartphone device  103  for receiving of input from the user  199 . The smartphone device  103  comprising a processor  103   e  for executing a smartphone application (APP)  105  and the smartphone device  103  comprises a display screen  103   a  for being viewed by the user  199  for displaying a notification graphic  188   b  and a virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a.    
     For communicating with the first wireless transceiver  107   a  the smartphone device  103  comprises a second wireless transceiver  103   b  for wirelessly receiving a sustenance data  175  for graphically being depicted on the display screen  103   a  as the virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a  and for wirelessly transmitting a notification compliance data  176  to the first wireless transceiver  107   a.    
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a  that is displayed is either a first virtual electronic pet image  189   a  or a second virtual electronic pet image  189   b . One of the first virtual electronic pet image and the second virtual electronic pet image are displayed on the display screen  103   a  in dependence upon the server processor  107   a  processing the at least an actionable plan data  101   a  and  101   b  and the notification compliance data  176  to generate of the sustenance data  175 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 1B , the one of the at least a first virtual electronic pet image  189   a  and a second virtual electronic pet image  189   b  are other than a same image and comprise a visual representation of one of happy pet image, such as that indicated by  189   a  ( FIG. 2E ) and a third virtual electronic pet image  189   c , that in this case represents a sad pet image ( FIG. 2E ) and a hungry pet image and a thirsty pet image and an angry pet image and an excited pet image and a pet image that is indicative of needing exercise, such as that indicated by  189   b , the other images not shown. 
     Preferably the at least a first virtual electronic pet image  189   a  and a second virtual electronic pet image  189   b  as of an animal that is easily recognizable by the user  199  and that the user  199  can easily form a bond with. So for example an animal, such as a dog (as shown) a cat and a penguin and a bird and a fish. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , a wellness team  102  is provided and includes at least a health coach ( 102   a ) that has access to a computer terminal  110  that is coupled with the remote server  101 , the computer terminal  110  for receiving of the actionable plan data and the health coach  102   a  for communicating with the user  199  through the smartphone device  103  via the first wireless transceiver  107   a  and the second wireless transceiver  103   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the notification graphic  188   b  is a graphic depiction of an action for the user  199  to observe in order to perform an action for obtaining of the notification compliance data  176 , the action being for performing by the user  199  such as eating food as depicted by the notification graphic  188   b , by showing an empty food bowl. Other activities may include performing a physical activity and drinking water and eating food and sleeping. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , the at least an actionable plan data  101   a ,  101   b  comprises a first actionable plan data  101   aa  comprising a first plurality of time stamps as well as a first plurality of activities and a second actionable plan data  101   ba  comprising a second plurality of time stamps as well as a second plurality of activities. The first actionable plan data  101   aa  is a time based sequence of activities for the user  199  to perform, such as a first activity at a first time, Activity 1 being performed at a time T1, respectively and a second activity at a second time, Activity 2 for being performed at a time T2, respectively. 
     An example of the first actionable plan data  101   aa  is shown in  FIG. 2B , where there is a plurality of time stamps as well as a plurality of activities, where each activity is tied to a unique time stamp as shown in this example: T1: 6 am and Activity 1: wake up, T2: 7 am Activity 2: drink water, 8 am eat breakfast, 9 am walk, 10 am drink water, 12 pm lunch, 2 pm physical activity, 3 pm drink water, 5 pm snack, 7 pm dinner and 10 pm sleep. 
     For interacting with the smartphone device  103  the user  199  provides user input in the form of tactile input, audio input and visual input, such as that from a camera. Most smartphone devices  103  comprise an accelerometer  103   d  also, wherein the accelerometer  103   d  is utilized for providing of the notification compliance data  176 . Through using the accelerometer  103   d  when the user  199  goes for a walk with their phone in their pocket the accelerometer will register their steps and based on these steps the APP  105  will increment the exercise data  302 . 
     Based on this initial contact with the user  199  and the wellness team  102 , the wellness team  102  creates the first actionable plan data  101   aa  the user profile data  101   ab  and their interview. This first actionable plan data  101   aa  is a time based sequence of events and is meant to be a snapshot in the daily life of the user  199 . The more complete the profile can be for the user  199  the better. It is the goal to understand the users  199  habits and likes and dislikes and medical conditions in order to provide as complete a user  199  profile as possible. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2C , in order to simplify the interaction with the user in performing the time based sequence of events the notification graphic  188   b  is an exercise graphic  152 , a drinking water graphic  151 , a eating food graphic  153  and sleeping graphic  153 . The virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a  is show on the screen  103   a  also for urging the user  199  to comply. For example when its time for the user  199  to drink water, the virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a  is such that the virtual pet is motioning towards the drinking water graphic  151 , meaning its time for the user  199  to have some water. Once the user  199  has had their water, then they interact with the smartphone device  103  and click on the notification graphic  188   b , in this case the drinking water graphic  151  and this generates compliance data that is then sent back to the remote server  101  and then processed to modify the sustenance data  175 . 
     The sustenance data  175  is used for sustaining the “life” of the virtual pet  188  in the same manner in which sustaining the live of a real living pet would take place. Referring to  FIG. 1A , the sustenance data  175  includes hydration data  301 , exercise data  302 , rest data  304  and nutrition data  303 . Sustenance for the virtual pet  188  comes from the user  199  drinking water, performing exercise, eating their meals and taking their rest, respectively. 
     Each of the hydration data,  301  exercise data  302 , rest data  304  and nutrition data  303  have a value from zero to ten, where ten means that the virtual pet  188  is optimally hydrated, optimally exercised, optimally rested and optimally fed and mathematically combining all of these data will generate a health score for the user. On the opposite extreme, a value of zero is indicative of dehydration, lethargic, insomniac and hungry, respectively. Drinking water increments the hydration data. Referring to  FIG. 2D , notification to the user  199  is optionally provided as a notification message  254 . 
     As for a real pet, the more sustenance that it receives (water, food, exercise and rest) the more lively the virtual pet  188  will be and as such the virtual pet  188  will appear more active on the display screen  103   a . The less sustenance that is provided to the virtual pet the less lively the virtual pet appears on the display screen  103   a.    
     For example when the user  199  goes for a walk, then the virtual pet is taken for a walk and the exercise data  302  is incremented, when the user  199  eats, the virtual pet  188  is fed and the nutrition data  303  is incremented giving the pet water is indicative of the user  199  drinking water and the hydration data  301  is incremented, and when the user  199  wakes up and goes to bed is shown as the pet getting enough sleep and this increments the rest data  304 . 
     Decrementing of the hydration data  301 , exercise data  302 , rest data  304  and nutrition data  303  is performed by the processing the at least an actionable plan data and the notification compliance by the server processor  107 . 
     Preferably the nutrition data  303  is derived from the user  199  taking a photo of their meal, this photo is then transmitted to the remote server  101  and the wellness team evaluates the picture and enters calories and breakdown of the food, for example the protein, fat, carbs, sugars and thereby populates the nutrition data  303 . 
     Preferably the virtual pet graphic  188   a  is presented as a dog and is a direct representation of the wellness of the user  199 . The more improved the wellness of the user  199  because they adhere to the actionable plan, the healthier in appearance will be the virtual pet  188 . If the user isn&#39;t adhering to their actionable plan and providing compliance data within a timeframe when the notification graphic  188   b  appears, then the virtual pet appears to be lethargic and fat. The opposite is that when the user  199  is adhering to their actionable plan and providing compliance data, then the virtual pet  188  appears to be healthy and lively. 
     Based on the interaction the virtual pet  188  character is then generated for them based on their initial health and the sustenance data  175  is initially filled in. For example, if the user  199  is of average health, then the hydration data  301 , exercise data  302 , rest data  304  and nutrition data  303  have a value of five out of ten and the virtual pet  188  will appear to be average looking  189   d  and average size (not too fat or too skinny) and will have an average liveliness. The goal of the WS  100  in accordance with the embodiments of the invention is for the user  199  to improve their health to make their virtual per  188  more active and more lively and happier looking and younger appearing. 
     The age of the user  199  is irrelevant in this case and what is important is how they are acting in terms of their health and in complying with the notifications to generate the compliance data. 
     Over time, the wellness team  102  reviews the at least an actionable plan data  101   a . If the user is not adhering to the WS  100 , then a call results to them so they improve their adherence. The aim of the WS  100  is to have a healthy virtual pet  188  and in turn a healthy user  199  and for the virtual pet  188  to engage the user for compliance. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2E , in order to provide personality to the virtual pet  188  and for the virtual pet  188  to take on its own “life”, the APP  105 , is for receiving of the sustenance data and includes a state machine  202  as is know to those of skill in the art. The state machine  202  is for providing of the “life” to the virtual pet  188  and for making the virtual pet  188  to seem alive and to be acting on its own to engage the user  199  to provide compliance data in response to the notification data. 
     In addition there is provided a third virtual electronic pet image  189   d , wherein the state machine  202  controls whether one of the first, second and third virtual electronic pet images,  189   a ,  189   b ,  189   d  is displayed in a series of animated sequences and comprises a plurality of additional virtual electronic pet images for being displayed for engaging of the user to provide notification compliance data within a predetermined amount of time after the notification graphic is displayed on the display screen for the user. The smartphone device  103  includes a user input area  204  for receiving input from the user  199 . 
     The virtual pet  188  undergoes different stages of growth, as the user improves their adherence to the actionable plan and cooperates with the WS  100 . The virtual pet  188 , will appear to be skinnier, fatter, older, younger, more active as a puppy, depending on the compliance and actions of the user  199 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , the wellness system  100  is illustrated in its operational steps for interacting with the user  199 . A wellness team  102  is provided  501 , the wellness team  102  interviews the user  199  to determined the actionable plan data  101   a  comprising a series of time based activities for the user to perform, the series of time based activities derived from hydrating and physical activity and resting and eating  502 . In step  503 , a smartphone application for being executed by a smartphone device  103  having a display screen  103   a  is provided, the smartphone application  105  for receiving of input from the user  199 . In step  504  displaying a notification graphic  188   b  for being viewed by the user  199  on the display screen  103   a  is provided, the notification graphic  188   b  representing one of the time based activities for being performed by the user  199 . Referring to step  505  displaying the virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a  for being viewed by the user on the display screen is performed and thereafter engaging the user with the virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a  through varying an animation thereof  506 , takes place. In order to measure compliance, measuring a time taken between the notification graphic being displayed to the user  199  and receiving of notification compliance data from the user  199  takes place. Mathematically combining the hydration data  301  and activity data  302  and rest data  304  and nutrition data  303  to generate a health score  299  ( FIG. 1A ) for the user  199  is performed in step  508  affecting a visual appearance of the virtual electronic pet graphic  188   a  based on the measured time taken and the health score  299  for the user  199 . 
     Advantageously, the virtual pet  188  as part of the WS  100  serves to engage the user  199  using the state machine  107 , in this manner there are games that can be played with the virtual pet  188 . Further advantageously, because the WS  100  utilizes a smartphone  103  its designed to be carried with the user  199  so that notifications are preferably administered whenever necessary. By representing the wellness of the user  199  using a virtual pet  188  it has been noted that the user  199  will take care of the virtual pet  188  and in turn take better care of themselves. The sustenance for the virtual pet is provided by the user  199  and their compliance to the notifications and the virtual pet  188  taking reference of its “life” to that of the Tamagotchi, as is well known in the prior art. 
     The virtual pet  188  is representative of the users health, the healthier the user  199  the happier the virtual pet  188  appears. Advantageously the goal of the embodiments of the invention is to provide the virtual pet  188  to engage the user  199  and for them to take care of the virtual pet  188  by taking care of themselves. 
     Numerous other embodiments may be envisaged without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.