U.S. patent application number 14/027308 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for behavior monitoring and reinforcement system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to ACE IDEAS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Alison C. Earles, Jeffrey Pawlan. Invention is credited to Alison C. Earles, Jeffrey Pawlan.
Application Number | 20140074499 14/027308 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38006395 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140074499 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Earles; Alison C. ; et
al. |
March 13, 2014 |
Behavior Monitoring and Reinforcement System and Method
Abstract
A system, method and computer software that provides for a
computer implemented system and method for comprehensive
reinforcement of human behavior by capturing environmental
information for participants and reinforcing their daily choices in
their environments. Unique applications of technology are used to
record, reinforce and document the desired behavior activities of
participants in order to track, promote, encourage and further
reward the desired behavior.
Inventors: |
Earles; Alison C.; (Atlanta,
GA) ; Pawlan; Jeffrey; (San Jose, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Earles; Alison C.
Pawlan; Jeffrey |
Atlanta
San Jose |
GA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ACE IDEAS, LLC
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
38006395 |
Appl. No.: |
14/027308 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13596215 |
Aug 28, 2012 |
8560344 |
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14027308 |
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11588307 |
Oct 27, 2006 |
8374888 |
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13596215 |
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60731211 |
Oct 28, 2005 |
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60735052 |
Nov 9, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G16H 40/60 20180101; G06Q 30/0207 20130101; G16H 20/70 20180101;
G06Q 40/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/2 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 50/22 20060101
G06Q050/22; G06Q 30/02 20060101 G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method for comprehensive reinforcement of
human behavior, comprising: with a computing device, storing
information to enroll a plurality of individuals such that the
individuals become participants in a behavior reinforcement plan
established by a sponsor entity, wherein the behavior reinforcement
plan is designed to encourage one or more desired behaviors for the
participants; with a computing device, storing baseline data or
measurements related to the one or more desired behaviors or its
impact on the one or more desired behaviors for each participant;
capturing from one or more stations activity data describing a
participant's engagement in an activity associated with the
behavior reinforcement plan; with a computing device, allocating
points to a participant based on the activity data and according to
the type of activity engaged; with a computing device, further
allocating points to the participant based on one or more other
persons engaging in a particular activity with the participant; and
with a computing device, presenting to each participant performance
measurement data indicating a participant's accumulation of
points.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising with a computing
device, computing one or more handicapping factors for a
participant based on the baseline data or measurements for that
participant and impact of certain activities by that participant on
that participant and on others; wherein allocating points is based
further on the one or more handicapping factors for the
participant.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the handicapping factor is based
on the impact of the participant's activity on the participant's
health status at the time of participation in the activity.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the handicapping factor is based
on the impact of the participant's activity on the health of
others.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the handicapping factor is based
on the location where the participant engages in the activity.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing comprises capturing
activity data associated with a first participant and at least a
second participant engaging in the particular activity, wherein
further allocating comprises further allocating points to the first
participant for engaging at least the second participant in the
particular activity with the first participant.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing comprises capturing
activity data indicating that a first participant and at least a
second participant participated in the particular activity at the
same station within a predetermined period of time, wherein further
allocating points comprises further allocating points to the first
participant for engaging at least the second participant in the
particular activity with the first participant.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing one or more
incentives that are designed to encourage the participants to
achieve the one or more desired behaviors of the comprehensive
behavior reinforcement plan, and determining whether a participant
has achieved the one more incentives based on the participant's
performance measurement data.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing comprises capturing one
or more of: data indicating a measure of physical activity of a
participant related to the one or more desired behaviors; data from
a point of transaction system that indicates proof of purchase of
items or services associated with the one or more desired
behaviors; data indicating presence of a participant at a facility
relevant to the one or more desired behaviors; and data from a
body-attachable activity monitor device on a participant that
indicates a measure of an activity related to the one or more
desired behaviors.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing comprises capturing
from equipment deployed in or near a facility where the
participants frequent physical activity data that detect identity,
time and location information of the participants in or near the
facility, and further comprising analyzing the physical activity
data to assign a measurement value thereto.
11. A comprehensive behavior reinforcement system, comprising: a.
one or more computing devices that receive, store and process data;
b. a plurality of activity data capture devices connected to the
one or more computing devices by one or more: of a wired or
wireless wide area and wired or wireless local area network; c.
wherein the one or more computing devices perform functions of: i.
storing information to enroll a plurality of individuals such that
the individuals become participants in a behavior reinforcement
plan established by a sponsor entity, wherein the behavior
reinforcement plan is designed to encourage one or more desired
behaviors for the participants; ii. storing baseline data or
measurements related to the one or more desired behaviors or its
impact on the one or more desired behaviors for each participant;
iii. capturing from one or more stations activity data describing a
participant's engagement in an activity associated with the
behavior reinforcement plan; iv. allocating points to a participant
based on the activity data and according to the type of activity
engaged; v. further allocating points to the participant based on
one or more other persons engaging in a particular activity with
the participant; and vi. presenting to each participant performance
measurement data indicating a participant's accumulation of
points.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more computing
devices are configured to: compute one or more handicapping factors
for a participant based on the baseline data or measurements for
that participant and impact of certain activities by that
participant on that participant and on others; allocate points is
based further on the one or more handicapping factors for the
participant.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the handicapping factor is
based on the impact of the participant's activity on the
participant's health status at the time of participation in the
activity.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the handicapping factor is
based on the impact of the participant's activity on the health of
others.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the handicapping factor is
based on the location where the participant engages in the
activity.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more computing
devices are configured to capture data associated with a first
participant and at least a second participant engaging in the
particular activity, and to further allocate points to the first
participant for engaging at least the second participant in the
particular activity with the first participant.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more computing
devices are configured to capture activity data indicating that a
first participant and at least a second participant participated in
the particular activity at the same station within a predetermined
period of time, and to further allocate points to the first
participant in for engaging the second participant in the
particular activity with the first participant.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more computing
devices are configured to compute incentives that are designed to
encourage the participants to achieve the one or more desired
behaviors of the comprehensive behavior reinforcement plan, and to
determine whether a participant has achieved the one more
incentives based on the participant's performance measurement
data.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more computing
devices are configured to capture one or more of: data indicating a
measure of physical activity of a participant related to the one or
more desired behaviors; data from a point of transaction system
that indicates proof of purchase of items or services associated
with the one or more desired behaviors; data indicating presence of
a participant at a facility relevant to the one or more desired
behaviors; and data from a body-attachable activity monitor device
on a participant that indicates a measure of an activity related to
the one or more desired behaviors.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more computing
devices are configured to capture from equipment deployed in or
near a facility where the participants frequent physical activity
data that detect identity, time and location information of the
participants in or near the facility, and to analyze the physical
activity data to assign a measurement value thereto.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/596,215, filed Aug. 28, 2012, which in turn
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/588,307
filed Oct. 27, 2006, entitled "Behavior Monitoring and
Reinforcement System and Method," which in turn claims priority to
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/731,211, filed Oct. 28, 2005,
and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/735,052, filed Nov. 9,
2005. The entirety of each of these applications is incorporated
herein by reference
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to systems and methods for
encouraging and tracking improvements in human behaviors, including
but not limited to, health or wellness.
[0003] Conventional healthcare and insurance databases concentrate
on their members' use of healthcare services and orders for covered
prescriptions. The members have little incentive to change their
lifestyle or unhealthy habits since no benefits, price reductions,
increased salary, or other incentives are offered for making
healthy choices, which benefit not only the individual, but also
the employer, the insurance company, and all other employees
through reduced health care and insurance costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, it is one goal of the present invention to
provide an objective and documentable means of rewarding the good
behaviors of individuals in the context of a behavior investment
system. One example of such a behavior investment system is one
that tracks, promotes and rewards health promoting behaviors and
proven improvements in the health of participating members.
[0005] According to one embodiment, the system, method and computer
software according to the invention provides for unique
applications of technology to record and document the desired
behavior activities of participants, and it also provides a degree
of confidence and security that the participants honestly reported
their activities.
[0006] Briefly, a computer implemented system and method are
provided for comprehensive reinforcement of human behavior by
capturing environmental information for participants and
reinforcing their daily choices in their environments. The system
and method involves storing information to enroll a plurality of
individuals such that the individuals become participants (also
called investors) in a comprehensive behavior reinforcement plan
established by a sponsor entity. The comprehensive behavior
reinforcement plan is designed to encourage one or more desired
behaviors for the participants. The behavior reinforcement plan is
also referred to herein as a behavior investment plan because
participants receive investment credit for activities related to
the desired behavior. Baseline data or measurements related to the
one or more desired behaviors or its/their impact on the one or
more desired behaviors for each participant is captured and store.
Depending on the specific application of the behavior investment
program, one or more handicapping (or adjustment) factors for a
participant may be computed based on the baseline data or
measurements that might affect the participant's ability (or speed
of progress) to achieve desired behavior goals. On an ongoing
basis, activity data is captured that represents participant
activities that are relevant to the one or more desired behaviors
for each participant. Based on the captured activity data,
performance measurement data is computed for each participant that
represents a measure of how the participant is progressing towards
achievement of one or more desired behaviors. The performance
measurement data for a particular participant may then be compared
with respect to one or more other participants using the
handicapping factors for the particular participant and the one or
more other participants. The performance measurement data for a
participant may also be presented to that corresponding
participant. According to still a further aspect of the invention,
communications may be made to a participant at the time that
activity data is collected from a participant, where such
communications are designed to reinforce the participant's progress
towards, and achievement, of the one or more desired behaviors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the various entities that
may have a role in a behavior investment program provided by the
system and methods according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a behavior investment system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the various modules of a
behavior investment server according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting an enrollment process
according to an embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a baseline data collection
process according to an embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting an example of an activity
data capturing and report computations made from devices that have
recorded an investor's physical activity according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting an example of a
telephone-based activity data capturing and report computation
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting an automated voice
interactive session by which an investor may earn credit according
to an embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting a biometric screen data
capturing process and report computation according to an embodiment
of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a flow chart depicting an example of a
point-of-sale transaction data capturing and report computation
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a flow chart depicting an example of a
physical-activity monitor data capturing and report computation
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a flow chart depicting a data capturing and
report computation for data from a behavior management service
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a flow chart depicting an education session and
related data capturing and report computation according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a flow chart depicting different levels of
delivering reinforcement messages to investors according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a block diagram depicting an integrated reward
platform that may be implemented as an Internet or intranet web
side according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Reference is made first to FIG. 1, where various entities
are shown that have a role in a behavior investment program or
plan. The behavior investment program is designed and managed by a
behavior investment service provider 10 on behalf of a sponsor 20
who may be introduced to the behavior investment service provider
10 by a broker or consultant 15. One example of a behavior
investment program or plan is a health benefits plan and the health
benefits plan is used throughout this description as one example of
a particular type of behavior investment program. It should be
understood that there are numerous applications of the system and
methods (examples of which are provided hereinafter) described
herein other than health benefit plans.
[0023] Associated with the behavior investment plan there may be an
insurance carrier or plan administrator 30. For example, in the
case of a health benefits plan, the insurance carrier is a health
insurance provider. If the sponsor 20 is an employer, then the
behavior investment service provider 10 communicates with employee
administrators 40 that are responsible for deployment of the
behavior plan shown at 45. The participants in the plan are shown
at reference numeral 50. The term participant is also used herein
interchangeably with the term "investor" because the plan
participants are investing in improving or maintaining one or more
desired behaviors as part of the plan. The value of the desired
behavior may be expressed in terms of investment as a certain
number of so-called "BehaviorBux.TM.". Moreover, participants may
be awarded investment credit for engaging in an activity related to
a desired behavior with another participant. Investment credit for
engaging another participant in a desired behavior related activity
is given the term "BuddyBux.TM." hereinafter. Furthermore,
investment credit awarded in health behavior investment program may
be referred to herein as "HealthBux.TM.". The terms
BehaviorBux.TM., BuddyBux.TM. and HealthBux.TM. are trademarks of
Ace Consulting, LLC, and their usage throughout this description
and the accompanying figures in no way relinquishes any rights in
those terms as trademarks of Ace Consulting, LLC.
[0024] As a result of their behavior improvement or maintenance
improvement, the participants may actually receive a financial
benefit in various forms, including but not limited to, reduced
health insurance premiums and products or services earned as a
result of achieving certain improvement or maintenance goals.
[0025] The behavior investment service provider 10 may engage the
services of a behavior management service provider 60. The behavior
management service provider 60 may provide consultation services to
investors 50 in order to help investors improve one or more
behaviors and to provide related encouragement.
[0026] An incentive fulfillment service provider 70 may also be
involved to keep track of incentive awards built up by investors 50
by achieving certain goals or meeting certain challenges as part of
the behavior investment plan. The incentive awards may be measured
in so-called dividend "points" that have financial value, and which
can be redeemed by an investor with one or more product and service
suppliers shown at 80.
[0027] Turning to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a behavior investment
system 90 according to one embodiment is described. The behavior
investment system 90 is a computer-implemented system and may be
implemented on computer server based platform, or a stand-alone
computing platform depending on the particular application and
scalability required. The behavior investment system 90 provides
for comprehensive reinforcement of human behavior by capturing
environmental information about participants and reinforcing their
daily choices in their environments. At the heart of the system 90
is a behavior investment server 100 that performs various data
management, reporting and other functions to implement the behavior
investment plan or program. There may be additional servers that
store activity data before transmission or downloads of the
activity data to the behavior investment server 100. For example,
the manufacturer of an activity monitor or biometric screening
monitor may store data on their servers before the data is
transmitted or downloaded to the behavior investment server. If
there is an insurance carrier or plan administrator for the
behavior investment plan, then there may be an associated insurance
carrier or plan administrator server and participant database shown
at 300. Similarly, there may be a behavior management server 600
associated with the behavior management service provider 60 and an
incentive fulfillment server 700 associated with the incentive
fulfillment service provider 70. Communication and exchange of data
between these servers may be achieved through a network 900 (e.g.,
Internet) that may comprise local (wired and wireless) area
networks, wide area (wired and wireless) and wired and wireless
telephone networks. Similarly, a participant or investor may
communicate and exchange data with any of these servers via a
participant PC or phone 500 connected to the network 900. There may
also be an interactive voice response server 450 to provide for
telephone based voice interactivity between participants and the
behavior investment server 100, and between persons at the third
party service providers as well for purpose of activity data
capture, incentive fulfillment, etc. Similarly, there may be a call
center 460 that provides live interactive telephone contact with
participants and/or individuals associated with activity data
capture, incentive fulfillment, etc.
[0028] In addition, there are one or more activity data capture
devices shown at 1000 for purposes of capturing data for investor
activities that are related to the behavior investment plan.
Non-limiting examples of these data capture devices are shown in
FIG. 2, but it should be understood that other devices heretofore
known or hereinafter developed may also be used to register and
track certain investor activities that are relevant to a behavior
investment plan. Certain component or elements of the activity data
capture devices may be deployed at variations locations within a
building or across a campus of buildings associated with a work
environment, at third party locations such as wellness clinics,
health clubs, pharmacies, participants' homes, etc. For example, in
one embodiment, there may be an electronic time clock or security
card reader 1010 that reads data from an ID card 1015 to indicate
that a person associated with that ID card is present at a
particular place/location. There may be radio frequency identifier
(RFID) readers 1020 deployed at various locations that read
portable or wearable RFID tags 10250 of a participant. There may be
point of sale (POS) terminal devices 1030 that accumulate
information associated with a sales transaction made by a
participant's credit/debit card 1035. A standard person computer
(PC) 1040 may be used to allow a user to input and upload activity
related data, or to interface with a peripheral device such as an
electronic pedometer 1045 or GPS device 1047. The electronic
pedometer 1045 can store data indicating the distance that a person
may have traveled over a period of time, and likewise the GPS
device 1047 may store similar information, albeit generated by
different means. A standard landline telephone or mobile wireless
telephone 1050 may be used to register a certain type of behavior
related activity.
[0029] Still other types of activity data capture devices include
miniature memory chip devices 1060, known commercially as an
Ibutton.TM. made and distributed by Dallas Semiconductor, Inc.
These devices are very small and capable of being deployed as
portable or wearable person identifier devices. The data which
these devices store may be read by dedicated memory chip device
readers 1065 or in some cases by a standard PC as well. Other forms
of determining that an investor is at a particular location may be
by way of bar code tags 1070 carried or worn by an investor and
read at various locations by bar code readers 1075. The Ibutton.TM.
technology may also be employed as a form of an electronic time
clock. Alternatively, the investor may be given an ID card that
he/she passes through an electronic time clock upon arrival and
upon exiting a facility. The ID card could be used for a period of
time, e.g., one month, during which the card stores data verifying
the visits to the facility and the duration of the visits. These
cards could be returned to the behavior investment service provider
where the data is read into the server 100 for updating an
investor's relevant behavior activity and allocating credit
accordingly.
[0030] Further still, one or more transponders 1080 may be deployed
at locations or sites where activity is to be captured indicating
presence of an investor. These transponders 1080 periodically, or
when polled by another device, transmit a wireless radio frequency
signal, infrared signal, audio signal, or other signal that is
received by, for example a portable read/write (two-way) capable
miniature memory chip device 1060 carried or worn by an investor or
a portable RFID read/write capable device. An example of a portable
Ibutton.TM. reader/writer device is the Model PIR1 manufactured and
distributed by Embedded Data Systems. The data captured from a
transponder 1080 by the investor carried or worn reader devices are
then uploaded to the behavior investment server 100. Other examples
of data collection devices are cards that store information on a
magnetic stripe and are read or written to by a reader device.
[0031] As will be described hereinafter, the activity data capture
devices 1000 shown in FIG. 2 are also representative of the types
of devices that may be used to track and verify the specific
nature, time, place and duration of wellness and healthy activities
that may be relevant to a health-oriented behavior investment
plan.
[0032] The data captured by one or more of the data captured
devices is uploaded to the behavior investment server 100 by way of
the network 900. In some cases, additional MODEM devices may be
required or integrated into the data capture devices, as is known
in the art and omitted in FIG. 2 for simplicity.
[0033] Reference is now made to FIG. 3 where the various software
modules executed by the behavior investment server 100 are shown.
These modules are representative of the various functions of the
behavior investment server 100, but it is not meant to limit the
nature or degree of functions that may be performed by the behavior
investment server 100. There are an enrollment and
de-identification module 110, an investor baseline data collection
module 120, a behavior activity data capture setup module 130, a
behavior activity data collection module 140, a
participant/investor reporting module 150, a behavior data analysis
module 160, a reinforcement message/alert generation module 170, a
program/plan design module 180, a legal compliance module 190, a
sponsor plan data capture module 195 and a database system 197
comprising one or more data storage devices and associated database
management software. Each of these modules is described in more
detail hereinafter.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart for functions of the
enrollment/de-identification module 110. The purpose of the
enrollment/de-identification module 110 is to receive information
from an individual to enable the individual to become a participant
or investor associated with a behavior investment plan. During the
enrollment process, an individual may communicate with the behavior
investment server 100 through any means heretofore known or
hereinafter developed, such as on-line computer access through the
Internet, telephone, etc. At 112, an investor sets up an account
with the behavior investment server 100 including a password and
user name. At this time, the server 100 may confirm a person's
eligibility to use the system and his or her gender. Also at this
time, the investor is de-identified by assigning a code or account
number for the investor that in no way reveals the identity of the
investor. The de-identifying code or account assigned to the
investor is associated with data that the behavior investment
server 100 accumulates for that participant, and may under certain
circumstances share with other entities. At 114, an investor is
presented with the terms and conditions for using the system and is
allowed to acknowledge/review the privacy and security notices
explaining how personal information is protected by the server 100.
The disclosures presented in 114 may include those that are
associated with established laws or regulations, such as the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA).
[0035] At 116, the investor completes a questionnaire that may
capture information about the investor relevant to a particular
type of behavior investment plan. For example, for a health
benefits plan, the information captured from the investor include
gender, age, baseline physical activity level, eating habits,
frequency of physical activity with colleagues/co-workers, amount
of physical activity associated with or at work, amount of
consumption of fruits/vegetables at work, and in general existing
participation in activities with established behavior values. An
investor may also indicate his/her literacy level and/or language
preference.
[0036] At 118, an investor may schedule an on-site screening that
is tailored to the particular behavior investment plan.
[0037] Other functions performed during the enrollment process may
include allowing an investor to purchase equipment necessary for
participation in the behavior investment plan, such as one of the
activity data capture devices shown in FIG. 2.
[0038] Still another function performed during the enrollment
process is shown at 119 where an investor is assigned to one or
more groups or teams depending on the parameters associated with
the behavior investment plan. In one embodiment, the server 100 may
automatically assign the investor to one of a plurality of groups
or teams. For example, an employer may wish to divide its employees
up into groups by department, location, function, etc., to allow
the groups to compete against each other as part of the behavior
investment plan. In another embodiment, the server 100 may
automatically identify groups or teams for which the investor is
eligible and permit the investor to select membership in one or
more of the groups or teams for which the investor is eligible.
[0039] The baseline data collection module 120 is now described
with reference to FIG. 5. The baseline data collection module 120
captures and stores data or measurements related to the one or more
desired behaviors or its/their impact on the one or more desired
behaviors for each participant. For example, each participant may
have certain mental, physical or biological conditions that affect
that participant's ability to progress to the behavior goals. The
baseline data or measurements allow the system to fairly measure
the impact of a behavior related activity and to compare a
participant's progress in the behavior reinforcement program with
the progress of other participants. In addition to data collection,
this module also performs some initial screening functions as will
become apparent hereinafter. After all of the investors of a
behavior investment plan have set up accounts with the server, then
at 122, the server reviews the data entered by the investor and
associated with his or her account number and identifies or tags
those accounts that are eligible for special treatment, such as
behavior management counseling. For example, an investor whose
account number has been associated with screenings or assessments
that indicate diabetes may be tagged as a person who is eligible
for a specialized diabetes management service that is designed to
optimize the health of the investor. At 124, the server 100
contacts each investor and provides the investor's de-identified
account number, the contact information for any investment
advisor/consultant associated with a behavior management service
provider, and the investor completes some baseline behavior
screening and/or risk assessment.
[0040] The type of data received about an investor during the
baseline screening process depends on the nature of the behavior
investment plan. For example, the server may provide a more
detailed health status assessment questionnaire by which the
investor provides specific information about current behaviors and
health status, as well as information about energy levels and
productivity. More detailed biometric data may be obtained for an
investor through a live screening or a biometric screening kiosk
apparatus. In fact, investors may earn awards for periodically
visiting a biometric kiosk apparatus as is described
hereinafter.
[0041] Also at 124, an investor may provide his or her account
number to an authorized person other than the investor, who may
then identify him or herself and then record the investor's
biometric measurements such as (in the case of a health benefits
plan) weight, body mass index, height, glucose levels for
association with the account number a database. Similarly, an
investor may provide his or her account number to an authorized
person other than the investor, who may then identify him or
herself and then verify and record the investor's proof of age for
association with the account number in a database.
[0042] At 126, the data obtained from the screening at 124 is
associated with the investor's account number. In addition, at 126,
the server 100 computes a handicapping factor for an investor based
on that investor's baseline data or measurements. The handicapping
factor enables the system to fairly evaluate the impact (and thus
credit) allocated to an investor for engaging in particular
behavior related activity, and allows the system to fairly compare
that investor's progress with other investors for purposes of
establishing competitions or challenges for rewards or incentives
between investors whenever the difficulty of a challenge may be
significantly affected by physical or mental limitations. The
handicapping factor may be computed based on biometric screening
data (age, gender, etc.), availability of resources necessary to
achieve the desired behavior, different physical or environmental
barriers to the desired behavior, etc.
[0043] At 128, the server creates an opening account statement and
behavior investment strategy based on the investor's answers to
questions, screening data and eligibility of behavior management
service.
[0044] After an investor has completed the enrollment process or
the baseline data collection process, the server 100 may present
the investor with the tools appropriate for the program,
instructions for using the tools and rules of the program. The
server 100 may credit the investor with investing BehaviorBux for
reviewing the educational segment and passing a quiz comprising
several questions related to the rules of the program.
[0045] Similar to investor registration with the server 100,
program administrators establish accounts with the server and
receive tools needed to prove on-site behavior education or
promotion activities. Program administrators may also access
instructions about tools when they log into the server and may
access group data if the program administrator has the necessary
privileges or authority (e.g., the administrator is an
HIPAA-authorized individual or the number of participants is
sufficiently large so as to render the data de-identified).
[0046] The behavior data capture setup module 130 is a module by
which the types of (and manner of capturing) behavior activity data
for a behavior investment plan are registered with the server 100
and made available to the behavior data analysis module 160. As one
example, the sponsor or program administrator may label location
marker devices in a manner that communicates location and relative
location. That is, a location marker at the bottom of the stairs is
always labeled by the name of the stairwell and the floor number,
so that the behavior activity data collection module 140 may easily
calculate the direction of the stair climbing, floors climbed, and
location of the stairwell. The types of devices that may be
suitable for use as location markers are shown in FIG. 2, and
include RFID readers in conjunction with portable or wearable RFID
tags, electronic time clocks, memory chip device readers in
conjunction with miniature memory chip devices, bar code readers in
conjunction with bar code tags, as well as transponders in
conjunction with personal area network (PAN) devices, read/write
capable RFID devices and read/write capable memory chip devices. In
addition, a marker on a walking route might always be labeled by
the mile mark from a starting location marker. The sponsor or
program administrator may assign identifiers to data capture
devices/identity devices so they may be used in combination with a
location marker device to record the identity of the investor and
the time and date the investor passes by or touches the location
marker device.
[0047] In another embodiment, the sponsor or program administrator
may assign an identifier to an activity data capture device so that
its handshake with a particular location marker may be used to
communicate a special meaning when interpreted with subsequent data
handshakes at that location marker which immediately follow. The
behavior investment server 100 may configure an activity data
capture device that ensures that any data handshakes by an investor
within a predetermined period of time (e.g., 10 minutes) of a
certain type of data handshake receive special reinforcement. For
example, a particular behavior management service provider such as
a cardiac therapy provider has a reader device that ensures that
the cardiac therapy provider's data handshake preceded or followed
by an investor's data handshake through his or her complimentary
device (RFID device, bar code tag, Ibutton.TM. device, etc.) at the
same reader device within a predetermined period of time of each
other (e.g., 2 minutes) is interpreted by the behavior investment
server 100 as proof of that investor's participation in medical
counseling and simultaneous authorization of reinforcement of the
participation. Similarly, a health fitness instructor may have a
reader device that interprets two reads/scans (or data handshakes)
of a particular investor's complimentary device within a
predetermined period of time as an indication that the investor
participant in a fitness program. It should be understood that the
same reader device can be used to indicate different activities.
For example, detecting an instructor's wand at reader device A
followed by investor's wand at reader device A is interpreted by
the server 100 to mean that the investor attended instruction.
[0048] The behavior data capture set up module 130 is also used to
establish parameters for recognizing certain purchases made by an
investor at a POS terminal. Certain types of products/services may
be associated with a desired behavior and used to assign investment
credit to the investor. Conversely, the set up module 130 may be
configured to allow investors to redeem accumulated investor credit
or points associated with their achievement of behavior change
goals to purchase merchandise or services by passing a suitable
investor identifier device through a POS terminal at the supplier
of the goods or services. Another variation of the POS terminal is
a vending machine. The set up module 130 may be configured to allow
an investor to self-identify himself/herself and purchase items
with investor credit or points at a vending machine and/or capture
proof of investor purchases of items associated with the desired
behavior and make the data available to the behavior data analysis
module 160.
[0049] The behavior data capture set up module 130 may configure
parameters associated with an interactive voice response system to
interact with investors. For example, the interactive voice
response system may be configured to allow users to self-identify,
prove their presence at a location relevant to a desired behavior
(through use of the landline phone at the location, GPS device or
other location technology), receive an auditory reinforcement of
the activity, and capture the proof of presence data for analysis
by the behavior data analysis module 160.
[0050] Examples of other configurations that are made by the
behavior data set-up module 130 are:
[0051] The arrangement by which an investor proves the desired
behavior by wearing an activity monitor that automatically
transmits the proof electronically to the server 100. Examples of
such devices are described above in connection with FIG. 2.
[0052] The arrangement by which data from two or more data capture
devices are compared to further verify the authenticity of reported
behavior.
[0053] The arrangement by which investors may record their presence
and the date and time of their presence at different locations
while receiving an auditory or visual reinforcement (using any kind
of technology capable of achieving this goal--such as a time clock
system, telephone system, RFID or GPS device).
[0054] The particular mechanism by which an activity data capture
device transmits or sends data to the server 100.
[0055] A software function that interprets data collected through a
location-marker activity data capture device and proves that the
investor account number to which the data capture device is
assigned should be credited as having performed the activity
indicated by the location marker in combination with any other
"indicator" data collection devices used before or after the
relevant handshake with the location-marker.
[0056] A software function that analyzes the timing of the data
handshakes to identify a group's (multiple investors') performance
of a desired behavior (e.g., exercise at a fitness club). For
example, if two investors (through their person activity data
capture devices) conduct data handshakes at the same location
marker within a predetermined period of time (e.g., one minute),
each investor is awarded credit for doing the activity themselves
and credit for engaging another investor to do the activity.
[0057] The behavior activity data capture devices need to be
installed at the various locations before data can be collected
from them for use in connection with the behavior investment plan.
New activity data capture devices may be added to a behavior
investment plan already in existence.
[0058] The module 130 may also be configured to deliver to a
participant, depending on the manner of activity data capture,
reinforcement communications to a participant at the time that
activity data is collected. The reinforcement communications are
designed to reinforce the participant's progress towards, and
achievement, of the one or more desired behaviors. For example, the
reinforcement communications may be a text message if the
participant is uploading the activity data himself/herself via a PC
or other device, a (pre-recorded) voice message if the collection
of the activity data or occurrence of the activity is by way of
telephone communications, other audio (alerts, celebratory music
clips, etc.) if by way of a telephone, mobile phone, PC or other
suitable participant portable device, or vibration on a mobile
phone, etc.
[0059] The behavior activity data collection module 140 is the
software function that collects the activity data captured by the
various activity data capture devices for storage in association
with an investor's account number in one of the databases 197 and
for analysis by the behavior data analysis module 160.
[0060] The participant/investor reporting module 150 generates the
various reports of investor performance based on the data analysis
performed by the behavior data analysis module 160. Examples of the
various reports are described hereinafter.
[0061] The behavior data analysis module 160 analyzes the data
captured by the activity data collection devices for investors in
order to compute and assign credit to behavior related activities
of an investor. In doing so, the behavior data analysis module
computes, for each investor, performance measurement data that
represents a participant's progress with respect to achievement of
one or more desired behaviors based on the captured activity data
received for that participant/investor. In addition, the behavior
data analysis module 160 compares the performance measurement data
for a particular investor with respect to one or more other
participants using the handicapping factors for the particular
investor and for the one or more other investors.
[0062] The participant investor/reporting module 150 receives data
from the behavior analysis module 160 to report to investors as
described below. The behavior data analysis module performs many
functions, examples of which are described below.
[0063] Assignment or Investor Selection of Behavior Goals.
[0064] Investors may be assigned or may select goals regarding the
desired behavior and receive reinforcement for achieving those
goals. Examples of reinforcements are credit or point levels,
incentives, recognition, employee benefit plan discounts,
charitable contributions, etc.
[0065] Categorizing Investors.
[0066] Investors may be categorized as beginner behavior-adopters,
active adopters and counselors based on their accomplishment of
different requirements with respect to adoption and maintenance of
the desired behavior and demonstrated ability to mentor others in
adopting the desired behavior. Beginner behavior-adopters may
receive reinforcement through awards, messaging and wearable badges
for achieving active adopter status. Active behavior-adopters may
receive reinforcement through awards, messaging, and wearable
badges for achieving counselor status. Counselors may receive
reinforcement for continually mentoring beginner and active
behavior-adopters. The behavior data analysis module 160 may award
credits or points to counselors based on a percentage of the awards
and reinforcements earned by those beginner and active
behavior-adopters on their "team". Thus, a "pyramid" rewarding
scheme may be implemented whereby counselors receive a share in the
award credits of each of their subordinate investors that they
mentor. The behavior data analysis module tracks each counselor's
share of awards earned by those in their team.
[0067] A group of investors or a program sponsor (such as a
corporation or religious congregation) may be categorized as a
beginner behavior-adopter, active adopter or counselor based on
group members' verified accomplishment of different requirements
with respect to adoption and maintenance of the desired behavior
and demonstrated ability to mentor other groups in adopting the
desired behavior. Beginner-level organization behavior-adopters may
receive reinforcement through awards, messaging and branding for
achieving active behavior-adopter status. Active-level organization
behavior-adopters may receive reinforcement through awards,
messaging, branding and public recognition for achieving
counselor-level organization status. Counselor-level organizations
receive reinforcement, such as tax breaks, public service
announcements, subsidies, insurance premium discounts, branding and
public recognition, etc., for continually mentoring beginner-level
and active level behavior-adopter organizations that achieve and
maintain the desired behaviors.
[0068] Furthermore, the behavior data analysis module 160 may
categorize investors in different ways based on data collected
about them so as to identify the reinforcement messaging most
likely to bring about the desired behavior.
[0069] Group Reporting.
[0070] The behavior data analysis module 160 generates reports
about the behaviors of investors by individual, group and teams
reports. Reports may be automatically generated and delivered to
individual investors, and group or team reports may be
automatically generated and delivered to media contacts in the
immediate group of investors, at charity partners and in the larger
community of groups or teams.
[0071] Adjustment for Handicap Factor.
[0072] When computing performance of an investor (or a group of
investors) for comparison in a competition or challenge with other
investors (or groups of investors), the data analysis module 160
adjusts the performance achievement based on the handicap factor
for each investor.
[0073] Investment Opportunities and Policy.
[0074] The data analysis module 160 may analyze an inventor's
baseline screening data and generate a list of behavioral
"investment opportunities" that are particularly relevant to the
investor, such as visits to a fitness facility, walking loops
around the walking path near the investor's office, etc. Moreover,
the data analysis module 160 may analyze the baseline screening
data to create an "investment policy" for the investor that
outlines recommended behavior "investments" and describes
opportunities for such "investments" that are relevant for the
investor. Similarly, the baseline screening data for a group of
investors may be analyzed together with an assessment of the
environmental conditions of the group to create an "investment
policy" for the group that outlines recommended environmental
changes, communications to group members and outside parties, such
as health and benefit plan designs that are relevant for the
investors in a group.
[0075] The data analysis module 160 may also analyze baseline
screening information and questionnaire response information to
compute or express an impact of the investor's current detrimental
behavior or poor health status on his or her personal financial
state, the good of society, the earth, or other affected groups or
persons, or similarly to express the impact of an investor group's
current detrimental behavior or poor health status on the
sponsoring organization's financial state, the good of society, the
earth, or other affected groups or persons.
[0076] The reinforcement message/alert generation module 170 is
responsive to commands from other modules, such as the behavior
data analysis module 160 and reporting module 150 to deliver
reinforcement messages to an investor or group of investors. An
investor may select the specific manner by which the messages are
delivered to him/her. Examples of reinforcement messages are
explained below.
[0077] Encouragement messages (video or audio) by program
administrators, sponsor officers, celebrities, comedians,
investors, investor's family members or champions of the desired
behavior may be recorded for delivery to investors. These messages
may be recorded early on in, or during, the behavior investment
plan and stored in one of the databases 197 for later retrieval and
delivery at the appropriate time for presentation to an investor.
The messages may be delivered by way of a video clip or audio clip
to an investor during an investor log-in session with the server
100, email messages to an investor, audio, video or photo messages
to an investor's mobile phone devices, etc. The data analysis
module 160 determines when it is appropriate to deliver a message
to an investor based on the investor's performance accomplishments,
lack of accomplishments, recent period of inactivity, recent period
of activity, activity or performance of other investors involved in
a challenge or competition, etc. Investors may reinforce themselves
or other investors by creating personalized messaging (electronic,
telephonic, video, etc.) that is stored in one of the databases 197
for delivery upon investor achievement or lack of achievement of
goals related to the desired behavior.
[0078] Advertisers and/or sponsor entities who wish to earn
goodwill with investors may generate and record congratulatory
messages that are sent to investors upon investors achieving goals
and/or maintaining the desired behavior. Moreover, the
congratulatory messages may be accompanied by award incentives,
charitable contributions and other reinforcements (with or without
a congratulatory message), but without the advertiser ever gaining
knowledge of the identity of an investor. Further still,
advertisers and sponsors may obtain (de-identified) information
from the server 100 about a target population in order to create
content and surveys to obtain additional useful information from
investors and offer useful information to them, again without
gaining access to the identities of the investors.
[0079] Other types of reinforcement messages may include
information about incentives that an investor is entitled to or has
earned. The data analysis module 160 analyzes the baseline
screening data and computes the incentives or rewards for which the
investor may be eligible based on parameters of the plan design.
Information about these incentives is communicated in messages to
the investor by the message generation module 170. Similarly,
messages may be generated to present (e.g., display) rules and
communication materials about challenges or programs for which the
user is eligible, terms of an agreement to earn rewards or
incentives on another person's behalf or to donate rewards or
incentives to charity,
[0080] An investor may also authorize scheduled reporting of or
access to his/her information to any individual employed by an
entity that is directly subject to HIPAA privacy and security laws
(such as a physician, pharmacist, psychologist, nutritionist,
health insurer, employees of a health plan sponsor that operate the
health plan, or physical therapist) or to an entity that is a
"business associate" to an entity subject to HIPAA privacy and
security laws (disease management counselor, actuarial or
consulting firm for a health plan, third party administrator of a
health plan, insurance broker, wellness program provider, employee
assistance provider, or wellness coach) for any purpose, such as
professional reinforcement of the desired behavior.
[0081] The program design module 180 is used to allow a sponsor
and/or consultant to define the parameters associated with a
behavior investment plan. It is here that the server 100 is
configured to analyze the baseline screening information, workplace
assessment questionnaires, etc., to calculate the economic impact
of differing percentages of investors achieving the desired
behavior. This module may identify recommended changes to the
workplace environment to remove perceived barriers to the desired
behavior that exist in the workplace environment.
[0082] Moreover, the program sponsor may provide information about
the location and distance of environmental resources that may be
used for physical activity (such as walking routes, stairs, on-site
fitness centers) and information about other resources that promote
the desired behavior to recommend placement and which can be used
in the naming of location marker devices for purposes of activity
data capturing. Likewise, the program sponsor may provide
information about the kinds of resources that may be used to
promote healthy eating to recommend placement and usage of POS and
vending system activity data capturing tools.
[0083] The plan design module 180 may also generate a recommended
behavior change program with credit or point values for standard
activities and values for environment specific activities based on
the average amount of effort expended to achieve the behavior
and/or the perceived desirability of the behavior, as well as
incentives and recommendations for achieving such goals. For
example, climbing 20 floors of stairs is equal to 20 BehaviorBux,
completing an effectiveness survey is equal to 100 BehaviorBux.
[0084] The legal compliance module 190 manages security procedures
that may be necessary to comply with industry standard and/or legal
regulations. One example of such compliance requirements are the
HIPAA privacy and security procedures for health related
information. The legal compliance module 190 manage what is
referred to as an "organized health care arrangement" comprised of
the health plan or health care provider, any employees of the
health plan sponsor identified as eligible to use "protected health
information" for purposes permitted by law, and all business
associates to the health plan and/or health care providers that
must access "protected health information" in order to operate the
behavior change program or analyze its effectiveness. This module
also manages a set of HIPAA authorizations by which investors may
permit non-HIPAA entities access to their biometric or behavior
information and a set of HIPAA revocations by which users may
revoke prior authorizations.
[0085] The legal compliance module 190 creates a set of privacy and
security procedures and contracts for the behavior investment
program that establish confidentiality and security obligations and
data use and sharing obligations and restrictions among every
entity that uses biometric and behavior information in order to
operate the behavior investment program when it is not incorporated
into a HIPAA covered health plan or provided by a HIPAA covered
health care provider. Each investor will be provided with an
online, telephone or other electronic mechanism that requires the
investor to acknowledge review of a HIPAA or other kind of privacy
notice that describes how biometric and behavior information is
used.
[0086] Furthermore, the module 190 implements an online, telephonic
or other electronic mechanism that automatically grants access to
"de-identified" information to any individual who uses a password
provided to an entity that is directly subject to HIPAA privacy and
security laws (such as a physician, pharmacist, psychologist,
nutritionist, health insurer, employees of a health plan sponsor
that operate the health plan, or physical therapist), or any
individual who uses the password provided to an entity that is a
"business associate" to an entity subject to HIPAA privacy and
security laws (such as a disease management counselor, actuarial or
consulting firm for a health plan, third party administrator of a
health plan, insurance broker, wellness program provider, employee
assistance provider, or wellness coach). These individuals may
re-identify the information as needed because they have been
provided with the re-identification key pursuant to their proof of
HIPAA compliance.
[0087] Further still, the legal compliance module 190 may implement
an online, telephonic or other electronic mechanism that enables an
investor to create for distribution to others a report from the
investor's confidential information that does not include the
investor's account number.
[0088] The sponsor plan data capture module 195 captures
information from the program sponsor and investors about the work
environment and its effect on the desired behavior (such as food
offerings and its effect on weight maintenance). This module also
manages data provided by a program sponsor relevant to the
potential economic impact of increasing the desired behavior among
its population (such as absenteeism, health claims data, age
distribution, disability claims data and workers compensation
data). Investors and/or the program sponsor may provide information
to this module about eligible individuals who model the desired
behavior and should serve as leaders for the behavior investment
program, about existing environmental or third-party resources that
promote the desired behavior, and existing smaller communities that
may serve as teams in competitions aimed at promoting the desired
activity and contact information for the leaders of those
communities.
[0089] Reference is now made to FIG. 6 in which a description is
provided of a computation made by the data analysis module 160
based on activity data collected from electronic activity data
capture devices, examples of which are shown in FIG. 2. For purpose
of this example, the relevant activity data capture devices may
comprise an RFID reader at a particular physical location that
reads an RFID tag worn or carried by an investor, a memory chip
reader at a particular physical location in that reads a miniature
memory chip device carried or worn by an investor, a bar code
reader that reads a bar code tag carried or worn by an investor or
an electronic time lock at a particular location that reads an ID
card carried or worn by an investor. Alternatively, the relevant
activity data capture devices may comprise transponders positioned
at various locations or sites and investor-worn or carried personal
area network devices, read/write capable RFID devices or read/write
capable memory chip devices. The device that is carried or worn by
the investor is referred to herein as the "personal device" and the
device that reads data from the personal device is referred as the
reader.
[0090] At 202, the behavior data analysis module 160 analyzes from
the relevant data activity collection devices the serial number (or
other identifier) of the personal device that has been read, the
serial number (or other identifier) of the reader device and the
date and time of the read event. Alternatively, the investor or an
agent of the investor may enter a code at the time that the
personal device is read to further assist the server in identifying
the investor.
[0091] In addition, the data analysis module 160 analyzes whether
the serial number of personal devices are read within a
predetermined time interval at the same reader to interpret that
the investor associated with same personal device is attempting to
register or prove a particular activity, or whether a first
investor associated with one personal device should be given credit
for the behavior activity of a second investor who closely follows
the first investor at the reader device.
[0092] At 204, the data analysis module 160 retrieves the account
number associated with the personal device or a code entered at
that time, the credit to be awarded to that investor (herein
referred to as BehaviorBux value), the location information
associated with the readers and any relevant meaning associated
with the sequence and timing of read events (examples of which are
described above). Thus, the meaning associated with two read events
of the same personal device by the same reader within a
predetermined time interval is retrieved. Another meaning that may
be given to a particular sequence of read events is to determine
whether the serial numbers of reader devices at other locations
read the same personal device within a predetermined time interval.
This may indicate that an investor has engaged in a particular
sequence of positive behavior activities for which special credit
should be given to the investor.
[0093] Next, at 206, the data analysis module 160 analyzes the type
of activity associated with the read events, the time and date of
the activity, whether the activity was performed alone or with
another investor to determine a base credit or BehaviorBux value
for the investor.
[0094] At 208, the data analysis module 160 adjusts the base
BehaviorBux value based on the handicap factor (described above)
and also adds credit for engaging in the activity with another
investor, called BuddyBux.
[0095] The activity collection process shown in FIG. 6 may be used
to encourage the use of stairwells rather than elevators. For
example, RFID, barcode, magnetic-stripe, keypad or similar
readers/detection devices are installed, preferably, on each floor
of a building stairwell (in an employer's building, for example)
and the investor would be credited for taking the stairs. Such
readers/detection devices may be configured to automatically detect
when the participating member passed nearby. Preferably, the
investor may be required to voluntarily swipe his ID card or other
personal device near or through a reader or a transponder. The
moment of data capture is signaled by a distinct sound that
immediately reinforces the activity. A weighted score is calculated
based on a number of factors including, for example, how fast the
stairs are taken, the impact handicap factor of the investor, the
number of flights of stairs that are taken, and whether the
investor went up or down the stairs.
[0096] Turning to FIG. 7, another example of an activity data
capturing process is described. In this example, the investor calls
into the server 100 from a telephone (landline or wireless) at a
location associated with a behavior related activity. For example,
the location may be a fitness facility, health services seminar
site, etc. At 210, the investor calls into the server 100 using a
phone number that the server 100 recognizes as being associated
with a corresponding behavior related activity. The investor making
the call enters his/her account number and the server 100 captures
the telephone number from which the call is made and the date and
time of the call. Additional information may be entered such as an
activity number of a particular representative or service provider
associated with that location. In addition, if the investor is
attending the behavior related activity with another investor, the
account number and related information of the other investor(s) is
noted by the server if entered within a predetermined period of
time that is interpreted by the server as being worthy of BuddyBux
credit.
[0097] At 212, the server 100 compares the telephone number of the
incoming call with data stored in one of its databases to determine
that is associated with an approved behavior related activity. In
addition, the server 100 uses related stored information to
determine the meaning associated with the call based on the data
collected during the call (account number of one or several
investors), the date and time of the call, etc. This meaning
determines the amount of credit (BehaviorBux) to be awarded to an
investor for the particular activity.
[0098] At 214, the server creates a report for storage in one of
its databases based on the type of behavior related activity, the
time and date of the activity, the duration of the activity and
whether the activity was for one investor or for one investor who
also is promoting the desired behavior of another investor. These
pieces of information are used by the server 100 to compute the
base BehaviorBux credit to be associated with the activity for the
relevant investor(s).
[0099] At 216, the server 100 takes the base BehaviorBux credit
value and applies an adjustment to it according to a handicap
factor for that investor if the activity is one that requires such
a handicap adjustment. The server 100 also adds any credit
applicable to an investor for doing the activity with another
investor, the so-called BuddyBux value, and adds this to the base
BehaviorBux value to reach the total BehaviorBux invested for that
activity for the investor.
[0100] Examples of uses of the process shown in FIG. 7 include an
investor attending a support group or counseling session for
alcohol or drug abuse rehabilitation. The reporting and verifying
means may be a telephone call from the doctor or supervisor of the
counseling session or group. The investor would give the person
responsible for making the call his or her account number, a
server-assigned code for the approved counseling activity, and the
telephone number of the server's telephone data entry function. The
behavior investment service provider may either staff a call center
with individuals to receive calls of this type for other behavior
management service providers, or may use an interactive voice
response automated telephone system. The doctor or supervisor
making the report provides a unique identification known only to
that provider and to the behavior investment server as well as the
account number of the investor that allows the system to know which
participating member to credit. Thus, it is not possible for
another person to call and falsely misrepresent untrue attendance.
If the behavior investment service provider's call center or
automated voice response system does not recognize the calling
number as an approved known location, then the telephone operator
or the interactive system asks the caller to record the name,
address, phone number and contact name for the location. This
information is recorded so that a representative of the behavior
investment service provider can call and determine whether this
location and activity meet the qualifications for allocating credit
to an investor. If so desired the representative of the behavior
management service provider may request the behavior investment
service provider update its database to include this activity and
location for future use.
[0101] Some fitness clubs or other preventative health services may
not wish to allow their clients to take the time to make these
telephone calls. In that case, other means may utilized in order to
report and verify the attendance by a participating member, such as
the electronic time clock, RFID equipment, Ibutton.TM. equipment,
bar code reader equipment, transponders, etc., examples of which
are described above in connection with FIG. 2.
[0102] Reference is now made to FIG. 8 which illustrates still
another activity data capture technique according to one
embodiment. In this example, the activity is an automated phone
counseling session. At 220, the investor calls into to an automated
phone counseling service, enters his/her account number, makes
certain message menu selections, answers one or more questions on a
particular counseling topic, and may be transferred to a
topic-related hotline number. The date and time of the session is
also captured. At 222, the server generates a report on the data
collected at 220 for storage in one of the databases. At 224, the
server examines the data in the report produced at 222 from the
session at 220, and if the time and date of the call, together with
other requirements concerning the messages listened to and
responses collected from the investor meet certain requirements
(along with any hotline transfers the investor elected), the server
allocates a certain BehaviorBux value to the investor's account for
the activity.
[0103] FIG. 9 illustrates an example activity data capture process
for biometric screening of an investor. Biometric screening is an
example of a health type behavior activity that is relevant to a
health investment plan. A biometric screening may be performed at a
kiosk device that is known and available to individuals to perform
basic biometric screening data collections for upload to the server
100. Alternatively, the biometric screening may be performed by a
physician during a visit to the physician's office, and uploaded
electronically or manually (through user input) to the server
100.
[0104] At 230, the investor's account number is captured, together
with various biometric parameters such as blood pressure, weight,
glucose level, body fat percentage. This information is associated
with the collecting entity, e.g., an identifier of the particular
kiosk or of the physician, and the date of the data collection. At
232, the meaning associated with the biometric screening activity
is determined, such as whether it is for purposes of establishing a
baseline set of parameters, for purposes of comparison to prior
results, etc.
[0105] At 234, the server 100 computes the baseline credit to be
allocated to the biometric screening event. For example, the server
100 may have established a data and time requirement, the number
and/or type of screening, etc. for a particular base BehaviorBux
value. If an investor had the screening together with another
investor, then the investor may receive BuddyBux credit for doing
so.
[0106] At 236, the screening data itself is examined and compared
with prior screening data or other goal related information for the
investor to determine whether the investor should be allocated some
goal or maintenance related credit. For example, if various goals
are achieved in a particular biometric screening, the total credit
allocated to the investor may be a product of the number of goals
achieved and some BehaviorBux value of the goal, to produce the
total investment value for the screening activity.
[0107] For those investors who participate in a health investment
plan, and are considered high health risks, the system may be
configured in a particular manner. Such high risk investors may
provide their doctors with written consent to supply the behavior
investment service provider with their specific examination or
laboratory results. This would allow, in these special cases, for
an individual who works for an insurance company to evaluate the
investor's medical results and determine whether progress has been
made and whether the server should allocate credit to the
investor.
[0108] Referring now to FIG. 10, another activity data capture
example is described for a point of sale transaction. In this type
of activity data capture, a POS terminal is used to capture data
associated with a purchase transaction related to a desired
behavior. At 240, the investor purchases a product or service with
a payment card (credit card, debit card, health account card, etc.)
or uses a loyalty number when making a purchase. This information,
together with the location or identifier of the POS terminal,
product or service codes associated with items or services
purchased (for which BehaviorBux credit is given) is captured from
the POS terminal. In addition, the date of the transaction is
captured, together with any similar information from any investor
at the same location within a predetermined period of time.
[0109] At 242, the server 100 retrieves the account number for the
investor based on the payment card or loyalty number in the
captured transaction data. In addition, the server captures and
stores, in association with that investor account number, the
number of units of behavior-promoting items purchased and the date
of the transaction, as well as whether the investor engaged in that
transaction alone or with another investor in order to qualify for
BuddyBux credit.
[0110] At 244, the server 100 analyzes the captured POS transaction
data to determine whether it satisfies certain requirements based
on date of the transaction and past purchases, and allocates the
appropriate BehaviorBux credit value depending on the number of
qualifying items in the transaction. In addition, the server
allocates BuddyBux credit if the investor engaged in the
transaction with another investor within the predetermined period
of time.
[0111] One example of the process shown in FIG. 10 is for a
cashier, for example, at a company cafeteria to initiate a data
upload to the server 100 to allocate credit or points for the an
investor. For example, the participating member's RFID tag, ID
card, credit card, loyalty card, or other membership identification
device is used to provide the investor's unique account number to
the cash register or to a separate reporting device. The cashier
may manually enter a code for each food item purchased by that
member or the register automatically identifies the food items
being purchased and sends such information along with the
investor's account number to the server 100 for recordation and
credit. It is thus possible to assign a credit to the purchase of a
salad or vegetables, for example. Although not preferred, such
feature could also be used to apply a negative credit for a poor
food choice made by the investor in the company cafeteria. It is
not necessary for this reporting device to send the information
back to the server immediately; the data could be stored, updated,
and sent one or two times each day to the databases.
[0112] Turning to FIG. 11, an activity tracking device, e.g.,
electronic pedometer, is described as another example of an
activity data capture. In this example, the investor is wearing or
is carrying a device that is capable of measuring, in real-time,
the amount of activity that the investor is engaged in. This is
particularly useful in a health-type behavior investment system in
which the amount of a type of activity of an investor is used to
allocate investment credit to an investor. At 250, the investor
uploads data collected by the device to the server 100 by way of a
personal computer, telephone, or a reader device that is connected
to a PC or a network interface device (which is in turn connected
to the Internet). At the time of the upload, an identifier of the
device and the activity recorded by the device are uploaded to the
server 100. The recorded activity may comprise the number of steps,
distance traveled, etc., within a period of time. At 252, the
server 100 associates the identifier of the device with the account
number of the investor and generates a report for storage as to the
captured activating by time and date. In addition, at 252, the
server 100 generates a report of activities of other investors that
may have uploaded similar data within a designated period of time.
The server 100 may also update rankings and other statistics for
the investor and for a group of which the investor is a member. At
254, the server 100 analyzes the data contained in the activity
report to determine whether it meets certain minimum requirements
(amount or degree of activity within a certain time interval) and
the date and time of the activity. The server computes a credit
amount to be allocated for the activity by the product of some
activity measurement value (e.g., number of steps/activity
sessions) and the BehaviorBux value for the steps in order to
arrive at a baseline BehaviorBux investment value. The server may
also adjust the baseline investment value for a handicap factor
associated with the investor, if one is available, for purposes of
comparison against other investors, etc. Further still, if another
investor uploads his/her activity data close in time to such data
uploaded by other designated investors (as part of a buddy group),
then that investor may receive additional BuddyBux credits for
promoting the desired behavior of other investors.
[0113] FIG. 12 illustrates how data from a third party partner,
such as a behavior management service provider, may be assimilated
by the server 100 to allocate the appropriate investment value for
an investor. At 260, the behavior management service provider
sends, by way of email, web form, Internet file transfer, etc., a
report containing the account number(s), date and time and nature
associated with one or more counseling sessions conducted with an
investor. The server, at 262, generates a report for storage in its
databases, in association with the account number, the fact that
the investor completed an investment education/counseling activity.
If the counseling session report satisfies date and time
requirements for that investor, then the server credits BehaviorBux
value to the investor for that counseling session.
[0114] One example of the counseling activity session represented
in FIG. 12 in which the investor receives so-called "cognitive
therapy" by calling a hotline associated with a particular
counseling function. The investor enters his/her account number
after dialing the hotline number, and selects an option to plan the
day's behavior promoting activities. The investor may be prompted
to enter or record the food selections or health activities that
the investor plans to engage in for the day. This is primarily
designed to provide personal accountability back to the investor.
Use of this function in and of itself is worth investment credit to
the investor. A similar arrangement may be achieved through email
or web based communication between the server 100 and an
investor.
[0115] FIG. 13 illustrates how data from an education session may
be assimilated by the server 100. At 270, an investor participates
in an on-line, live in-person, or other education session and takes
a quiz. If the investor achieves a minimum score on the quiz, then
this information is (uploaded if sourced from a third party entity)
stored by the server 100. At 272, the server 100 analyzes the date,
time and contents of the education session, and allocates
BehaviorBux investment credit to the account number of the
participating investor(s).
[0116] FIG. 14 illustrates the types of reinforcement that may be
communicated to investors according to an embodiment of the
invention. The server 100 takes in the data concerning captured
activities for investors and determines appropriate reinforcements
to be delivered to investors. At 280, the server 100 generates two
types of reinforcement in response or in association with received
activity data. The first is an immediate reinforcement at the time
that the activity data is uploaded to the server 100. Examples of
immediate reinforcement are sound, text, light, and/or vibration to
the investor to confirm that the activity data is collected. These
types of reinforcements are particularly effective when the
investor is uploading the activity data himself/herself. A text
message may be delivered or displayed to a user when uploading the
data from a PC or mobile phone, or other data device that has a
display or speaker. The text message may include words of praise
and/or encouragement to the user concerning the particularly
activity data just uploaded.
[0117] The second type of reinforcement at 280 is one that is on a
short-term periodic basis, such as weekly. For this type of
reinforcement, the server 100 may analyze the types of activity
data uploaded for an investor over a recent period of time, e.g.,
one week. In particular, the server 100 may generate a report for
an investor as to the activities captured during that time
interval, the types of activities and the dates. On a group level,
the server 10 may report to all investors in a group (or a lead
investor), the activities, types and dates uploaded for the group.
The server 100 may also generate reports for that time interval as
to the BehaviorBux earned/invested, the amount of additional
investment required to achieve a particular milestone or dividend,
and the degree to which the investor has advanced in a gaming
situation by virtue of the activities captured for that time
interval.
[0118] Examples of gaming situations are described below. The
server 100 may allocate one of its databases to store electronic
games that incorporate incentive points or credits earned by
investors through exhibiting and maintaining the desired behavior.
Alternatively, an investor may authorize release of his or her
points or credits to outside electronic (or on-line) game providers
for use in a game. The server 100 may allocate storage in one of
its databases for entertainment modules that incorporate current
incentive points or credits earned by the user through exhibiting
and maintaining the desired behavior. Alternatively, an investor
may authorize release of his or her current points or credits or
summarized behavior information to an outside (on-line)
entertainment entity for purposes of interactive entertainment.
[0119] At 282, the server generates longer term reinforcement
messages. For example, the server may generate a message announcing
a particular type of dividend awarded to an investor as a result of
achieving a particular goal. The dividend may include points
allocated to a point bank account that the investor can used to
purchase merchandise or services, a deposit to a health savings
account or flex account, reduction of an investor's insurance
premium, phone encouragement messages, feedback/reinforcement
messages from a counselor or doctor, etc.
[0120] FIG. 15 illustrates how the behavior investment server 100
uses its stored data to set up an integrated reward platform that
is an Internet or intranet web site 290 accessible to investors.
The site 290 may be a clearinghouse for performance and results of
investors, communications related to an investment program, data
from other databases (such as a wellness database) and
investor/employee recognition information. Using this information,
the site 290 may issue award points, manage on-line redemption and
fulfillment of points, and may generate consolidated reports. This
could be handled through the server 100 or through data sharing
between the server 100 and an incentive fulfillment company, where
the server 100 transmits data to an incentive fulfillment server
data showing points earned through accomplishment of goals without
revealing to the incentive fulfillment company how the points were
earned.
[0121] Several additional features and capabilities of the system
and method according to the present invention are now described. In
the context of a health investment plan, the system may be used to
automatically score a health risk assessment. The server 100 may
automatically score an investor's health risk assessment based on
biometric data received for the investor and questionnaire
responses and provide the results and an explanation at the end of
an investor's phone call into the server. The scoring and
explanation may include suggestions for the investor to take
certain actions, such as visit a dentist, get a cholesterol check,
etc. The server 100 may include the capability of recording a
reminder memo for the following a predetermined period of time
later to follow up with the investor as to whether the investor has
taken any of those suggested actions. The server stores the
recorded reminder and places it in a virtual mailbox associated
with the investor's account number. Later, the server 100 invokes
an automated telephone system function that calls the investor and
alerts him/her that there is a "reminder message in your
BehaviorBux mailbox, please enter your account number to retrieve
your secure message." The investor can call back later and enter
his/her account number or enter the account number at that time to
listen to the reminder. After the reminder plays to the investor,
the server may ask if the investor has completed the recommended
action. If so, the server may play a congratulation message. If
not, the server may ask if the investor wants to record another
reminder, or if the investor would like to request further support.
A similar arrangement may be achieved through email or web based
communication between the server 100 and an investor.
[0122] The system and method according to the embodiments of the
present invention have unlimited applications and utility. Health
is only one example of an embodiment. Moreover, the data collected
by the system for investors (particularly in the context of a
health investment plan), may be used for data mining purposes on a
de-identified basis. For example, the behavior investment service
provider may sell or license to service/product suppliers,
insurance companies, actuaries, etc., access to its data collected
over time from investors in connection with a behavior investment
plan. These entities will have a view into de-identified
information for a wide range of individuals to analyze and learn
what sorts of techniques, products, incentives, services etc., were
well received by investors and worked to improve the relevant
behavior.
[0123] Moreover, investors may voluntarily (i.e., with their
permission) avail themselves to marketing or advertisements from
product or service providers who have access to the de-identified
information. For example, when the server 100 generates an investor
report or encouragement message to an investor, the server 100 may
associate a targeted or tailored message from an advertiser who has
learned about the investor through the data collected by the server
100, but does not know the identity of the investor.
[0124] Further still, the data collected by the server 100 may be
used to compute a behavior credit score for an investor that the
investor can use, voluntarily, to prove to a prospective employer,
insurer, dating service, social network, etc., that he/she is a
good risk for insurance and/or has a healthy lifestyle, etc. Only
the investor can authorize release of the behavior credit score to
a third party.
[0125] Set forth below are examples of applications of the system
and method described herein.
Example 1
Time Clock Technology Based Data Collection and Reporting Tools
[0126] The following is an example of a computer-based (but not
necessarily server-based) implementation of a behavior investment
plan using known and existing software and hardware.
[0127] Equipment and software used: Exaktime.TM. JobClocks (wand
stations), outdoor protective cover if there is an outside wand
station, green keytabs (wands), other color wands, Palm Pilot
Zire.TM., JobClock Manager.TM. software, Microsoft Excel.TM.. The
Exaktime software interacts with wireless, portable,
battery-powered time clocks that may be placed indoors or outdoors.
Investors "clock in" at the different time clocks by swiping a wand
at the center of the clock. Using infra-red technology, the Palm
Pilot Zire.TM. collects information from the time clocks when a
designated official holds the Palm Pilot device in a certain
position near the time clock. The information collected is then
transmitted to the JobClock Manager software by synchronizing the
Palm Pilot device with the computer that operates the JobClock
Manager software. The JobClock Manager software runs time reports
for payroll purposes, but can also be configured so that one type
of report, called an exception report, lists the clock,
identification number or description of the wand swiped at the
clock, and the time of the swipe.
[0128] Exaktime JobClock Technology to Capture Data for Use with
the Self-Tracking and Encouragement System
[0129] Step One. Using the set up information provided by Exaktime,
assign a location name to each of the wand stations.
[0130] Walking, running routes or stair-climbing: In general,
locations should be at the beginning, middle and end points of a
physical activity route. Example, for a stair-climbing route, name
wand stations "Top Floor" "Middle Floor" and "Lobby." The middle
wand station is used to discourage fraud. It can be eliminated if
there are structural or other barriers to fraud already. For
example, a mall-walking route may only require two well-placed wand
stations, named "Mall One" and "Mall Two," simply because it takes
such a long time to park and walk to either wand station that it is
unlikely investors would do so.
[0131] Fitness Center: When the activity takes place in one
location, such as an on-site gym or fitness center, only one wand
station bearing the name of the location is necessary.
[0132] Cafeterias: Name a wand station for each cashier
location.
[0133] Health Promotion Activity: Name a wand station to be used
for different health-promotion activities. This wand station can be
used for periodic events, such as company-sponsored walks, weekly
support group meetings, health fairs or other activities for which
you want to reward attendance. This wand station will be identified
by activity wands (see below).
[0134] Step Two. Using the information provided by Exaktime, assign
an identification number or name or description to keytabs
(wands).
[0135] Participant/Investor Identifications: Each participant or
investor is a random HealthBux account number upon enrollment. Each
wand tag is labeled with an investor's name, but in the JobClock
Manager program the wand is assigned to the investor's account
number. This wand is the investor's identification wand, which he
or she will use to self-track his or her presence at the wand
station locations.
[0136] Food Descriptions: If it is desired to use wand station to
capture different kinds of food purchases, descriptions are
associated with wands that inform the software program what the
wand station is being used for at a particular time. For example,
if is desired to track fruit and salad consumption at the company
cafeteria, one wand is assigned the name "Fruit" in the JobClock
Manager software and given a wand tag labeled "Fruit" as well.
Different colors may be useful to distinguish these wands from the
investors' identification wands. Assign another (different colored)
wand the name "Salad" in the JobClock Manager software and give it
a wand tag labeled the same. Attach both activity wands to the
cafeteria wand station using a durable attachment device that is
long enough for the wand to dangle from the wand station when not
in use and then reach the wand station when needed. To indicate
that an investor has purchased a salad, he/she swipes the Salad
wand attached to the Cafeteria wand station and then swipes his/her
identification wand. The software program will read: Wand Station
Cafeteria--Salad at 12:42:03 pm, Mary at 12:42:05 pm and translate
this to Mary purchased salad and earned 10 HealthBux credits for
doing so. (HealthBux is a health-specific term derived from the
more general term BehaviorBux referred to above.)
[0137] Activity Descriptions: Activity description wands can be
used to identify different activities tracked by the roaming
Activity wand station. This allows for rewarding activities at any
time and obtaining detailed reporting on the activities. If
desired, a wand can be named for each event. Example: "Healthy Legs
Road Race 2005" "Weight Watchers meeting on-site" "Lunch and Learn
on Weight Maintenance During the Holidays." By doing this, it is
possible to create detailed reports on attendance at specific
events, but it is necessary to rename the wand for the next event.
Alternatively, activities may be given categories. Example:
"Physical activity group event" "group support meeting"
"educational meeting."
[0138] HealthBux Credit: Wands can be used to identify different
HealthBux values for different activities. If it is desired to
award HealthBux credit for a particular event, investors can swipe
the appropriate HealthBux value wand. For example, if is desired to
provide an extra incentive for investors to attend an educational
meeting, you would swipe the "educational meeting" wand, followed
by the "HealthBux 20" wand before allowing all attendees to swipe
their own identification wands. The HealthBux software program
reads "educational meeting" at 9:00:00 am "HealthBux 20" at 9:00:02
am Account Number 24 at 9:00:06 am, 25 at 9:00:12 am etc. and
interpret that data to show that Account Numbers 24 and 25 attended
an educational meeting and earned 20 HealthBux credit for doing
so.
[0139] End of Activity: Wands can be used to indicate the end of an
activity. When an official swipes an "End of Activity" wand, the
software program stops applying the description or HealthBux value
previously swiped to any subsequent swipes. For example, a wand
station located in the gym is usually used to indicate a regular
workout worth 20 HealthBux. A participant must swipe in, work out
for 30 minutes or more, and swipe out. The company agrees to award
100 HealthBux for anyone who takes an Introduction to Yoga Stress
Release class at the gym. At the gym wand station, an instructor
swipes a "physical activity event" wand followed by a HealthBux
value 100 wand, and then permits all class members to swipe their
identification wands. After everyone has swiped in, the instructor
swipes the End of Activity wand. Joe, Mary and Ed go to the yoga
class and swipe their wands after the physical activity event wand
and the HealthBux 100 wand, but before the End of Activity wand.
Fred just does his normal workout and swipes his wand after the End
of Activity wand has been swiped. The software program can
differentiate the activities and HealthBux credit values for each
of these individuals because the End of Activity wand tells it when
to treat further swipes according to the regular set up for that
wand station.
[0140] Winners of Challenges and Games: For games and challenges in
which individuals will compete for prizes, the Roaming wand station
can be used to designate winning Teams or individuals.
Teams
Example
[0141] Company Olympics features teams from Sales, Production and
Finance departments. First place earns the Team 100 HealthBux,
second 50, 3rd 10. Sales Team wins the Relay walk around the plant.
An official swipes an "Olympics" wand at the start of the
Olympics--this designates all the swipes that follow as Olympics
events. Then, the official swipes the wand marked "Relay Walk."
After Sales Team wins, official presents Team representative with
the Red 1st place Wand (assigned value of 100 HealthBux) and
representative swipes the Wand. The Sales Team HealthBux Account
Statement will show 100 HealthBux earned for Relay Walk in the
Company Olympics.
Individuals
Example
[0142] Company Olympics features a 10 k race. Three Roaming wand
stations are swiped with an "Olympics" wand. At the start of the
race, each wand station is swiped with a "10 k" wand. Then each
wand station is swiped with HealthBux 20 (value assigned just for
participating in the 10 k). Participants run with their wands and
swipe in at one of the Wand Stations as they finish. The System
reads: Olympics 8:00 am, 10 k 8:30 am, HealthBux 20 8:31:00 am,
Account Number 24 8:50:02 am, Account Number 25 8:55:04 am, Account
Number 28 9:15:07 am. The HealthBux Account Statement for each
individual might read Olympics 10 k 20 HealthBux Time: x minutes, y
seconds.
Buddies or Group Support:
[0143] Wands can be used to identify when individuals are
participating in an activity or food purchase together. This is
very helpful for promoting a buddy system or for encouraging
experienced investors to engage in activities with new investors or
investors who have decreased participation. Example: participants
can earn 5 extra HealthBux if they engage in a designated activity
with another member of the program. The extra HealthBux will be
awarded to both participants if the system sees both participants
swipe at the same wand station within a 15 second time window.
Example: experienced participants and novices can earn "Mentor"
HealthBux every time they engage in an activity together. The
system identifies certain wand numbers as belonging to Mentors and
certain wand numbers as belonging to Novices. Each time a Mentor
wand swipes a wand station within 15 seconds of a Novice, both
members get extra HealthBux.
[0144] Step Three. Communicate program rules and base HealthBux
values to investors and distribute wands.
[0145] Step Four. Collect data from wand stations using the
handheld Palm Zire.TM. device provided by Exaktime.
[0146] Step Five. Synchronize the Palm Zire.TM. device to the
computer that has JobClock Manager installed on it.
[0147] Step Six. Open JobClock Manager and go to reports. Under
reports, choose exception report, "print as excel document".
[0148] Step Seven. Name the exception report according to the dates
of data collected and save. Example: Pilot program91to9152005.
[0149] Step Eight. Open the Master ACE Model and locate the tab
marked report.
[0150] Step Nine. Copy the exception report for the dates you want
and paste it over whatever exception report is currently in the tab
marked report. (Do this by clicking top left corner box of
spreadsheet, then selecting edit, copy. On report tab, click top
left corner box of spreadsheet and click paste.)
[0151] Step Ten. Go to the Report Output tab and select process
report. This will cause the software program to calculate
activities and HealthBux values for all participants using the most
recent data pulled from the wand stations and all previous
records.
[0152] Step Eleven. Go to the statistics tab of the Master ACE
Model program. To view an individual's activities, select the
activity bar at the top. To view an investor's HealthBux Account
balance, select the HealthBux earned bar at the top.
[0153] Step Twelve. To email out HealthBux Account Statements for
all investors, open the MasterPartcipantFile, Master ACE Model
program, and Microsoft Outlook. Go to the statistics tab of the
Master ACE Model program and make sure it shows the data to be sent
out. Instead of the participant's name at the top, it will only
have the account number. However, when the email macro is executed,
the number will be replaced by the name. To test the email macro,
add a blank row after the first entry on the MasterParticipantFile
and change the first listing's email address to a particular email
address. Go back to the Statistics page and select Tools, Macro,
Macros. When the "email active participant" is displayed, select
Run. The system will send the Account Statement for the first
investor listed in the Master Participant File to the designated
email address.
Example 2
[0154] Example 3
[0155] Set forth below is an example of an instructional message
that may be made available to investors as part of a health
investment plan. This message informs the investors that work in a
particular building how to achieve certain investment credit for
engaging in different degrees of physical activity.
Example 4
[0156] Set forth below is exemplary text of rules and information
about presented to participants of a health investment program
implemented according to the techniques of the present
invention.
[0157] In view of the foregoing detailed description of preferred
embodiments of the present invention, it readily will be understood
by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is
susceptible to broad utility and application. While various aspects
have been described in the context of screen shots, additional
aspects, features, and methodologies of the present invention will
be readily discernable therefrom. Many embodiments and adaptations
of the present invention other than those herein described, as well
as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements and
methodologies, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the
present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without
departing from the substance or scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of
various processes described and claimed herein are those considered
to be the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present
invention. It should also be understood that, although steps of
various processes may be shown and described as being in a
preferred sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such
processes are not limited to being carried out in any particular
sequence or order, absent a specific indication of such to achieve
a particular intended result. In most cases, the steps of such
processes may be carried out in various different sequences and
orders, while still falling within the scope of the present
inventions. In addition, some steps may be carried out
simultaneously. Accordingly, while the present invention has been
described herein in detail in relation to preferred embodiments, it
is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and
exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes
of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention.
* * * * *