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

Description:
This Appln is a con&#39;t-in-part of Ser. No. 09/092,604 filed Jun. 5, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,686. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to aggregating and pooling information. 
     2. Related Art 
     In programs that have a number of participants, it sometimes is desirable to aggregate information from those participants, so as to indicate to individuals in a population when the population (or a subset of that population) is achieving a selected goal. For example, in find-raising events for an affinity group, it is often desirable to publicize to the individuals the progress of the fund-raising event toward a selected goal. Similarly, in an affinity group such as a weight-loss club, it would be advantageous to be able to publicize the collective results of the efforts of individuals in the affinity group. 
     One problem in the known art is that of collecting information from diverse sources, aggregating that information, and presenting that information to the individual members of the population. This problem is particularly exacerbated if the information to be collected is not available in any single location, and is further exacerbated if the individuals to receive the information to be publicized are not available in any single location. 
     The known art includes methods for aggregating and pooling information for bidding or otherwise conducting auctions using distributed communication systems. Some of these known methods include systems described as known art in the following applications: 
     U.S. application Ser. No. 09/092,604, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,686, “Method for Conducting an On-Line Bidding Session with Bid Pooling,” filed Jun. 5, 1998, in the name of the same inventor, and assigned to the same assignee; 
     U.S. application Ser. No. 08/603,131, filed Feb. 20, 1996, issued on Aug. 11, 1998, as U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,219, in the name of the same inventor, and assigned to the same assignee. 
     These applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, and are collectively referred to herein as the “On-Line Bidding Disclosures.” Although these applications describe other known art, no admission is made herein that any part of these applications are themselves known in the art. 
     In the On-Line Bidding Disclosures, individual users, coupled to a system using a communication network, are able to enter values into their client devices. The individual values are collected at a server device or other data clearinghouse. The individual values are aggregated or pooled. The aggregated or pooled information is used to determine whether the individual users, either individually or in sub-populations, are winners of the on-line auction. 
     Accordingly, it would also be advantageous to aggregate or pool information (whether medical, financial, or otherwise) so that the collective information could be publicized to participating individuals. This would be particularly advantageous in encouraging members of an affinity group to promote their individual efforts so as to cause the collective affinity group to achieve a selected goal, or in encouraging sub-populations of a population to promote their individual efforts so as to cause the collective efforts of each sub-population to match or exceed other sub-populations. These advantages are achieved in embodiments of the invention in which each individual uses a client device to enter values (either over a period of time, or in response to a prompt by the client device), and in which the aggregated or pooled information is presented by means of a broadcast medium or other communication technique. For example, members of a weight-loss club can aggregate their individual weight-loss each day, so that the aggregated results can be announced on a popular television show or displayed at their client devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a method and system for aggregating and pooling information with feedback in a computer communication system. A communication system includes a server device and a set of client devices. Each client device collects information from an associated individual (whether by asking questions of those individuals, or accepting data input from peripheral devices), and transmits that data to a server device. The server device, or some other device at its behest, determines statistical information with regard to that data (such as aggregate, correlation, dispersion, or other measures), and provides that information to a communication channel for distribution to the individuals. 
     In a first preferred embodiment, the communication channel includes a broadcast communication channel that members of an affinity group can display. In a second preferred embodiment, the communication channel includes redistributing the determined statistical measures to associated individuals using the client devices. In a first aspect, the invention includes distributing the computed statistical measure (such as an aggregate or sum) for the entire population. For example, the first aspect would include announcing a total weight-loss for a weight-loss club on a television show. In a second aspect, the invention includes comparing the computed statistical measure for a first sub-population against a similar statistical measure for a second sub-population. For example, the second aspect would include comparing total weight-loss for selected teams and awarding a prize or other benefit to the team with the best result. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a computer communication system for aggregating and pooling information. 
     FIG. 2 shows a process flow diagram of a method for aggregating and pooling information in a computer communication system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following description, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with regard to preferred process steps and data structures. Embodiments of the invention can be implemented using general purpose processors or special purpose processors operating under program control, or other circuits, adapted to particular process steps and data structures described herein. Implementation of the process steps and data structures described herein would not require undue experimentation or further invention. 
     Related Applications 
     Inventions described herein can be used in combination or conjunction with inventions described in the following patent application(s): 
     Application Ser. No. 09/159,219, filed Sep. 23, 1998, in the name of Stephen J. Brown, titled “Modeling and Scoring Risk Assessment,” assigned to the same assignee. 
     and 
     Application Ser. No. 09/159,058, filed Sep. 23, 1998, in the name of Stephen J. Brown, titled “Reducing Risk Using Behavioral and Financial Rewards,” assigned to the same assignee. 
     These applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     System Elements 
     FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a computer communication system for aggregating and pooling information. 
     A system  100  includes a set of client devices  110 , a communication path  120 , a server device  130 , and remote workstation  140 . 
     Client Devices 
     The client devices  110  can be identical or can be of differing types. Thus, some client devices  110  can include the first type of client devices  110  as described below; some client devices  110  can include the second type of client devices  110  as described below, or some client devices  110  can include alternative types of client devices  110 . 
     A first type of client device  110  includes a computer  111  (including a processor, memory, and mass storage), a set of web browser software  112 , and a modem  113 . 
     An embodiment of the first client device  110  is described in detail in the On-Line Bidding Disclosures. 
     The first type of client device  110  operates under control of the web browser software  112  and operating software to allow an operator  114  to perform web browsing activity. Known web browser software is available from Netscape Corporation or from Microsoft Corporation. Web browsing activity is described in documentation available from either of those companies. 
     The first type of client device  110  uses the modem  113  to send and receive messages using the communication path  120 . The communication path  120  is described in further detail below. 
     A second type of client device  110  includes a “remote apparatus” such as described in the following patent application: 
     Application Ser. No. 08/847,009, filed Apr. 30, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,493, in the name of Stephen J. Brown, titled “Monitoring System for Remotely Querying Individuals,” assigned to the same assignee. 
     This application is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     The second type of client device  110  includes a display  115 , an input device  116 , an input port  117 , and a communication interface  118 . 
     The second type of client device  110  uses the display  115  to inform the operator  114  that input information is desired. The operator  114  can comprise a patient, a caregiver for the patient, or some other person. Preferably, the display  115  includes an alphanumeric display capable of displaying a question or request to the operator  114 . 
     The second type of client device  110  uses the input device  116  to receive an answer to the question or request. For example, if the question asks for the patient&#39;s weight that day, the operator  114  uses the input device  116  to input the patient&#39;s weight for that day. The input device  116  can include a keypad or keyboard, such as for a computer or a television remote control, or can include a more restricted set of keys by which the operator  114  can increment, decrement, or accept a value to be entered for the patient&#39;s weight for that day. 
     The second type of client device  110  uses the input port  117  to receive data from a measuring device or other device. For example, the display  115  can request that the operator  114  couple the second client device  110  to a medical scale with an electronic readout, and the input port  117  can receive the electronic readout so as to directly receive a signal corresponding to the patient&#39;s weight for that day. 
     The second type of client device  110  uses the modem  113  similarly to the first type of client device  110 , to send and receive messages using the communication path  120 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the client device  110  may includes a wide variety of other devices, possibly including an electronic toy (such as a “game boy” or “virtual pet”), a telephone inter-operating with an interactive voice response system, a television set-top box inter-operating with a cable or satellite television interactive system, a medical device operated at medical personnel office, or any other system by which the operator  114  can enter a value to be used by the system  110  for aggregation and response. 
     Communication Path 
     The communication path  120  includes a set of electronic communication links for sending and receiving messages between the client devices  110  and the server device  130 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the communication path  120  includes the internet, to which the client devices  110  and the server device  130  are coupled. The messages are formatted using a communication protocol for use with the internet, such as TCP/IP, HTML, or a combination thereof. In alternative embodiments, the modem  113  may be replaced by any suitable communication interface, such as a direct communication link (such as a land-line or radio), another type of network link (such as a LAN, WAN, or combination thereof), or using another communication network (such as a private or public telephone network). 
     Server Device 
     The server device  130  includes a computer  131  (including a processor, memory, and mass storage), a database  132 , and a modem  133 . The server device  130  is similar to the “on-line auction company 12” described in detail in the On-Line Bidding Disclosures. 
     The server device  130  uses the modem  133  to send and receive messages using the communication path  120 . 
     The server device  130  uses the database  132  to receive individual values entered by each client device  110 , and to identify those individual values with their associated client device  110 . The server device  130  also uses the database  132  to determine statistical measures of the pool of those values in response thereto. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the server device  130  operates in a similar manner as the “on-line auction company 12” described in detail in the On-Line Bidding Disclosures 
     In a first preferred embodiment, the server device  130  aggregates the individual values entered by each client device  110 . The server device  130  determines an aggregate value for the set of individual values, and sends that aggregate value back to each client device  110 . Each client device  110  then displays the aggregate value to each individual operator  114 , for use by the operator  114  or by an associated person, such as the patient. 
     For example, if the individual values each represent the weight lost by the patient for that day, the server device  130  can aggregate those values to determine a total weight lost by the entire set of patients having client devices  110 . The server device  130  can then feed back that information to each client device  110  so that each patient can be motivated to contribute to the group effort, even if that individual patient&#39;s contribution is relatively minor. 
     The aggregate value determined by the server device  130  can be any statistical measure or other calculated measure responsive to the set of individual values provided by the set of client devices  110 . For example, the aggregate value can be a total (as described with reference to the On-Line Bidding Disclosures), a maximum or minimum value, a median value, a selected centile value, a variance or standard deviation, or some other measure. It is expected that the aggregate value will have meaning to each individual patient associated with a client device  110 , even if that individual patient&#39;s contribution to that aggregate is relatively minor. 
     In a second preferred embodiment, the server device  130  aggregates the individual values entered by each client device  110 , but determines the aggregate values with regard to a set of affinity groups with which each individual is associated. As described in the On-Line Bidding Disclosures, each individual operator  114  at each individual client device  110  can choose to associate themselves with one or more selected affinity groups. As described in the On-Line Bidding Disclosures, these affinity groups contest against each other to obtain the “best” aggregate value. For example, in an on-line auction, the best aggregate value is the highest total bid. 
     The server device  130  determines a separate aggregate value for each affinity group, and feeds back those separate aggregate values to each client device  110  (or to just those client devices  110  associated with the selected affinity group). 
     For example, if the individual values each represent the weight lost by the patient for that day, the server device  130  can determine separate aggregate values for each affinity group, to determine a total weight lost by the entire set of patients in each affinity group. The server device  130  can then feed back that information to each client device  110  so that each patient can be motivated to contribute to their selected affinity group effort, even if that individual patient&#39;s contribution is relatively minor. 
     The individual values and the separate aggregate values can be selected from a wide variety of possible values, so as to promote individual well being on behalf of each patient, and on the part of each selected affinity group. 
     For a first example, the individual values can be the measured height and weight for each patient, and the aggregate value (whether a single aggregate value or a set Weight of separate aggregate values) can be a deviation from ideal weight for the entire affinity group. 
     For a second example, the individual values can be monetary contributions to a charitable or other financial cause, and the aggregate value (whether a single aggregate value or a set of separate aggregate values) can be a total monetary contribution. 
     For a third example, the individual values can be sales made by field salespersons for a company or product, and the aggregate value (whether a single aggregate value or a set of separate aggregate values) can be a total amount of sales. 
     Remote Workstation 
     A remote workstation  140  is coupled to the server device  130 , so as to access information in the database  132  and to receive the aggregate values (whether a single aggregate value or a set of separate aggregate values). 
     The remote workstation  140 , similar to the first type of client device  110 , includes a computer  141  (including a processor, memory, and mass storage), a set of database software  142  or other display software (such as a set of web browser software), and a modem  143 . 
     The remote workstation  140  uses the database software  142  or other display software to access the database  132 . In accessing the database  132 , the remote workstation  140  can receive the aggregate values (whether a single aggregate value or a set of separate aggregate values), or can receive selected sets of individual values from the client devices  110 . 
     The remote workstation  140  uses the modem  143  similarly to the way the client device  110  or the server device  110  use their respective modems. 
     An operator  144  at the remote workstation  140  can use the database software  142  or other display software to add a broadcast message to the database  132 . The server device  130 , when feeding back the aggregate value, sends the broadcast message to the client devices  110 . 
     The broadcast message can be a congratulatory message relating to the resultant aggregate value, an exhortatory or inspirational message for the one or more selected affinity groups, or a commercial or political message to one or more selected affinity groups. 
     For a first example, if the resultant aggregate value indicates that a weighloss club has collectively lost 10,000 pounds of weight in one day, and this is a new record, the broadcast message can indicate the new record and congratulate all patients, even those whose contribution was relatively minor. 
     For a second example, the broadcast message can be a daily inspirational message for an affinity group, selected by the operator  144  at the remote workstation  140 . 
     For a third example, the broadcast message can be a prize announcement (or an announcement of another benefit) to the individual patient who contributes most to the aggregate value. Similarly, when there are multiple affinity groups, the broadcast message can announce a prize or other benefit to the team with the best result. 
     Method of Operation 
     FIG. 2 shows a process flow diagram of a method for aggregating and pooling information in a computer communication system. 
     A method  200  includes a set of flow points to be reached, and steps to be performed, by elements of the system  100 , including the client devices  110 , the server device  130 , and the remote workstation  140 . 
     Client/Server Feedback At a flow point  210 , the system  100  is ready to receive individual values from client devices  110 . 
     At a step  211 , client devices  110  receive individual values from their associated operators  114 . As noted above, each client device  110  can receive an individual value in response to a question-and-answer session, or can receive an individual value in response to a coupled data-collection device. 
     At a step  212 , client devices  110  send their individual values to the server device  130 . Operators at each client device  110  can select an affinity group in response to a menu of affinity groups presented by the server device  130 . 
     At a step  213 , the server device  130  receives the individual values and records them in the database  132 . 
     At a step  214 , the server device  130  determines one or more aggregate values (either a single aggregate value or a set of separate aggregate values) in response to the set of individual values. 
     At a step  215 , the server device  130  feeds back the one or more aggregate values to the client devices  110 . 
     At a step  216 , the client devices  110  display the fed back aggregate values to their associated operators  114 . 
     The method  200  thereafter proceeds with the flow point  210  again, such as a next day. For example, the method  200  can be selected to operate at a same or similar time each day. 
     Client/Workstation Feedback 
     At a flow point  220 , the remote workstation  140  is ready to receive individual values or aggregate values from the server device  130 . 
     At a step  221 , the remote workstation  140  receives individual values or aggregate values from the server device  130 . 
     At a step  222 , the operator  144  at the remote workstation  140  examines the received individual values or aggregate values. 
     At a step  223 , the operator  144  at the remote workstation  140  enters a broadcast message to be sent to client devices  110 . 
     At a step  224 , the remote workstation  140  sends the broadcast message to the server device  130 . 
     At a step  225 , the server device  130  sends the broadcast message to selected client devices  110  (or to all of them). 
     The method thereafter proceeds with the flow point  220  again, such as a next day. For example, the method  200  can be selected to operate at a same or similar time each day. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     Although preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.