Method and system for delivering behavior modification information over a network

Abstract

This invention features a method for delivering information over a network, the method including: a) monitoring an action of a user on the network to obtain observed user data relating to a desired behavior modification; b) obtaining user supplied data relating to the desired behavior modification; c) evaluating the observed user data and the user supplied data to generate tailored information for progressing a user towards the desired behavior modification; d) presenting the tailored information to the user over the network; and e) repeating steps a), b), c) and d) until the desired behavior modification is achieved. The user is continually provided with re-tailored information resulting from an iterative process of obtaining and evaluating data that progresses the user towards a desired behavior modification. The desired behavior modification can be, for example, the cessation of smoking.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for delivering information over a network, the method comprising: 
 a) monitoring an action of a user on the network to obtain observed user data relating to a desired behavior modification;    b) obtaining user supplied data relating to the desired behavior modification;    c) evaluating the observed user data and the user supplied data to generate tailored information for progressing a user towards the desired behavior modification;    d) presenting the tailored information to the user over the network; and    e) repeating steps a), b), c) and d) until the desired behavior modification is achieved.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including determining if additional data is required from the user in order for the user to achieve the desired behavior modification.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further including obtaining the additional data from the user.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said user action is selected from the group consisting of: an interaction with a online questionnaire, an interaction with a module to assist the user in the cessation of smoking, an interaction with a module to assist the user in selecting a date for the cessation of smoking, interacting with a module to provide the user with the ability to manage personal information, an interaction with a calendar module to provide the user with the ability to set dates and goals which relate to the quit date and the desired behavior modification, an interaction with a journal module that allows the user to record information related to the desired behavior modification, an interaction with a Medications Module, an interaction with a module relating to frequently asked questions, and an interaction with an online support community.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said Medications Module suggests a medication profile to the user based upon said user observed data and said user supplied data.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said action of the user includes an interaction with an online support community that is selected from the group consisting of: a discussion forum relating to discussion of specific issues associated with the desired behavior modification, a user initiated forum, interactive communication with community members via on-line chat, a buddy feature that tracks whether other known users are on-line at the same time as the user, a list of users who are celebrating a milestone in the desired behavior modification, and e-mail for sending and receiving messages to and from others users on the system.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said desired behavior modification is a cessation of smoking.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said user supplied data is selected from the group consisting of: a quit date, an age, a sex, a zip code, a type of dependency, a quantity of dependent substance used, and questionnaire answers.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said user observed data includes how often the user has interacted with specific features.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further including providing a link to the user to enable the user to interact with a counselor over a network.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising providing the observed user data and the user supplied data over the network to the counselor such that the counselor can provide tailored information and suggestions to the user based upon the observed user data and the user supplied data.  
     
     
         12 . A method for delivering smoking cessation information over a network, the method comprising: 
 a) monitoring a first action of a user on the network to obtain observed user data relating to the cessation of smoking;    b) monitoring a second action of the user on the network to obtain user supplied data relating to the cessation of smoking;    c) evaluating the observed user data and the user supplied data to generate tailored information and provide suggestions for an event, said tailored information and suggestions for progressing a user towards the cessation of smoking;    d) presenting the tailored information and suggestions to the user over the network; and    e) repeating steps a), b), c) and d) to provide updated tailored information until the desired behavior modification is achieved.    
     
     
         13 . A system for delivering healthcare content to a user over a network, the system comprising: 
 a monitoring engine for monitoring an event of a user on the network to obtain observed user data relating to a desired behavior modification, and to obtain user supplied data relating to the desired behavior modification;    an evaluation engine responsive to the monitoring engine, said evaluation engine configured to evaluate the observed user data and the user supplied data to generate tailored information which progresses the user towards the desired behavior modification.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further including a Medications Module for suggesting a medication profile for the user.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  further including a Quit Date Module for assisting the user in selecting a quit date for the desired behavior modification program.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  further including a module for assisting the user in the cessation of smoking.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  further including a Profile Module for providing the user with the ability to manage personal information.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  further including a Calendar Module for providing the user with the ability to set dates and goals which relate to the quit date and the desired behavior modification.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13  further including a Journal Module for the user to record information as they progress toward the desired behavior modification.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13  further including an On-Line Support Community Module.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said On-Line Support Community Module is selected from the group consisting of: a forum relating to discussion of specific issues associated with the desired behavior modification, a user initiated forum, interactive communication with community members via on-line chat; a buddy feature for tracking whether other known users are on-line at the same time as the user; a list of users who are celebrating a milestone in the desired behavior modification, and e-mail for sending and receiving messages to and from other users on the system.  
     
     
         22 . A system of manufacture, comprising: 
 a computer readable medium having computer readable program code for delivering information over a network, the computer readable program code including instructions for causing the computer system to: 
 a) monitor a first action of a user on the network to obtain observed user data relating to a desired behavior modification;  
 b) obtain user supplied data relating to the desired behavior modification;  
 c) evaluate the observed user data and the user supplied data to generate tailored information for progressing a user towards the desired behavior modification;  
 d) present the tailored information to the user over the network; and  
 e) repeat steps a), b), c) and d) until the desired behavior modification is achieved.  
   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the computer readable program code further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to determine if additional data is required from the user in order for the user to achieve the desired behavior modification.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said user observed data includes how often the user has interacted with specific features.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said desired behavior modification is a cessation of smoking.