Method and apparatus for mobile health and wellness management incorporating real-time coaching and feedback, community and rewards

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a mobile lifestyle management system, combining a server-based application enabling creation of an integrated health and wellness plan (comprising diet, exercise, medication and vitals testing), with a client-based application enabling management of, and compliance with, the resulting lifestyle plan. The client application is installed on a wireless, Internet-enabled mobile device, the server application on an Internet-connected server, and the two applications exchange data with one another via an over-the-air “OTA” synchronization using standard Internet protocols. The resulting ecosystem operates as a stand-alone lifestyle management system, but can also be configured to function as a content delivery platform, when integrated with existing Web-based health and wellness content.

1 . An integrated health and wellness management system, comprising: 
 A secure server having a computer readable medium disposed in communication with the internet and accessible via a world wide web portal;    A server-based application residing on the server that provides for: 
 (a) Addition, deletion and configuration of user accounts;  
 (b) Generation of end user lifestyle plans comprising diet, exercise, medication and vitals testing;  
 (c) Tracking of end user compliance with plans; and  
 (d) Synchronization of plans and outcomes with a client-based application;  
   An internet-enabled mobile device featuring a wireless link to the Internet; and    A client-based application residing on the internet-enabled mobile device that provides for: 
 (a) Presentation of lifestyle plans comprising diet, exercise, medication and vitals testing;  
 (b) Delivery of real-time coaching and guidance;  
 (c) Capture of outcomes;  
 (d) Delivery of feedback; and  
 (e) Synchronization of plan and outcomes with the server-based application.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the internet-enabled mobile device is selected from the group consisting of PDAs, mobile handsets and cellular telephones, laptop and mobile computers, wireless devices, Bluetooth devices and other WAP devices.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , where the client-based application is written in the JAVA programming language, or in a native language configured to run on devices with an operating system selected from the list of Symbian, BREW, Windows Mobile, or Palm OS.  
     
     
         4 . A method of driving end user compliance with a lifestyle plan, comprising the following steps: 
 Providing an expert system for delivering real-time, graphical feedback based on references to agreed targets;    Developing a wellness profile unique to the end user;    Creating a personalized lifestyle plan incorporating agreed targets and revising as needed;    delivering real-time coaching and feedback by one or more practitioners to the end user; and    Supporting and rewarding the end user through the use of the expert system.    
     
     
         5 . A method for improving the health and wellness of an individual end user, the method comprising the steps of: 
 Delivering an integrated health and wellness management platform, the platform consisting of an internet-connected server-side application configured to enable the creation of a unique and comprehensive, personalized lifestyle plan by one or more health and wellness practitioners,    Connecting the platform via wireless synchronization with a client-side application installed on a wireless, internet-enabled mobile device; and    Configuring the wireless, internet-enabled mobile device to ensure compliance with the lifestyle plan through the application of behavior modification techniques including real-time coaching, outcome journaling and feedback, goal-based rewards and linkage with a broad community.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the personalized lifestyle plan comprises a series of scheduled events, each occurring at a specific time and/or place.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the series of scheduled events consist of one or more actionable activities related to a user's health and wellness.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the series of scheduled events are selected from the group consisting of fitness events, nutritional events, medication events, and vitals events.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the series of scheduled events include any scheduled activity tangentially related to health and wellness.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 downloading the client application and associated databases to the end user's wireless internet-enabled mobile device.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 initiating an over-the-air (OTA) synchronization using standard protocols to receive a copy of the lifestyle plan created by the practitioner.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 Viewing further information related to activities in the plan.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 Executing the activities and recording the actual outcomes.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 Modifying the components of the plan.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 Reviewing the rewards earned through documented compliance with plan and outcomes targets.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 Exchanging these rewards for coupons and/or goods and services supplied by partners.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the following step: 
 Sharing plans and results with others in the community; including practitioners, peers and “non-users” with a vested interest in the individual's success.    
     
     
         18 . A method of use of an integrated health and wellness management cycle consisting of the following steps: 
 A. User entering basic health information and exercise/nutritional preferences via web site, and optionally collecting such information and preferences via real-time interview;    B. Automatically creating a lifestyle plan and transmitting it to mobile device by a web application based on user inputs;    C. Handheld device guiding user through the execution of the plan, via reminders and real-time coaching/encouragement, data capture and feedback, and returning results back to the web application; and    D. Tracking the web-based application progress against plan, prompting for changes as required, linking user to community and delivering rewards.    
     
     
         19 . A method for creating and maintaining a wellness lifestyle plan for an end user integrating health and fitness practitioners, peers and supporting community over a real-time network utilizing server-side and client-side applications and user interfaces, the method comprising the following steps: 
 A. Initially setting up, including the steps of: 
 Administrator and/or practitioner creating new user accounts;  
 Automatically generating a user ID and invitation by a server-side application;  
 End user accepting invitation and submits profile information;  
 Practitioner establishing end user targets and settings;  
 Practitioner creating personalized lifestyle plan for end user based on end user targets and settings;  
 Automatically pushing client-side application/databases to mobile device; and  
 End user accepting download of application and databases;  
   B. Integrating the end user, including the following steps: 
 Automatically presenting lifestyle plan to end user for review;  
 Determining if current plan is acceptable to end user;  
 End user editing or replacing events and/or activities, as desired;  
 Determining if events or activities should be saved for future use;  
 Saving events and/or activities to Favorites as desired  
 Determining if additional information is needed to execute the lifestyle plan;  
 Retrieving and presenting information to end user by the application;  
 End user executing plan and recording actual outcomes; and  
 Automatically calculating results and presenting feedback by the application to the end user;  
   C. Integrating the practitioner, including the following steps: 
 Automatically synchronizing the client-side and server-side applications;  
 Automatically assessing compliance and presenting for review;  
 Determining if current plan requires editing;  
 Practitioner editing plan based on results and end user profile; and  
 Automatically synchronizing client-side and server-side applications.