System and method for managing behavior change applications for mobile users

Abstract

An example system and method for managing behavior change applications for mobile users is disclosed. In an embodiment of the system and method, data on a plurality of users in a behavioral change program is received from a plurality of devices operating in a communications network. The data is used to determine plurality of user segments. Each user of the plurality of users is classified into a one of the plurality of user segments. Then a plurality of behavioral models is determined, where each of the plurality of behavioral models comprises a statistical model of relations between behaviors of users within a corresponding one of the plurality of user segments. An intervention model is then determined for a user, where the intervention model is based on a behavior model of the user segment to which the user belongs. Interventions are then sent to a device of the user according to the intervention model.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing behavior change applications receiving data associated with a plurality of users operating a plurality of devices in a communications network and delivering interventions to the plurality of users, the system comprising:
 one or more servers computers including application programs which when executed cause the one or more servers computers to control the system to:
 receive a first data set from a plurality of applications, each of the plurality of applications implemented on one of the plurality of devices and collecting data associated with one of the plurality of users for the first data set, wherein the first data set includes information on user attributes of the plurality of users; 
 determine a plurality of user segments for a behavioral change program based on the first data set, the plurality of user segments each including a subset of the plurality of first users; 
 determine a second data set, the second data set being a subset of the first data set and associated with a selected user segment of the plurality of user segments; 
 determine an intervention model, the intervention model based on the second data set and associated with the selected user segment; 
 receive a third data set from a selected application of the plurality of applications that is associated with a selected user and a selected device, wherein the third data set includes user attributes of the selected user; 
 classify the selected user into the selected user segment of the plurality of user segments based on the third data set; and, 
 receive a fourth data set from the selected application, the fourth data set including activity information on the selected user; and, 
 send an intervention to the selected application according to the intervention model in response to receiving the fourth data, wherein the intervention comprises a notification perceptible at the selected device and is based on a behavior indicated by the activity information received in the fourth data set. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data set further includes activity information associated with a behavioral change program and the application programs further cause the one or more servers to control the system to:
 store the first data set in a data fusion module; and,   update the first data set in the data fusion module as activities of the plurality of users take place over time to generate an updated first data set for the plurality of users.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the application programs further cause the one or more servers to control the system to:
 receive the updated first data set for the plurality of users and update the intervention model associated with the selected user segment as the activities of the plurality of users take place over time.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the intervention comprises a first intervention and the activity information included in the first data set received from the plurality of applications comprises data input at a user interface to at least one of the plurality of devices indicating a response to at least one second intervention. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the intervention comprises a first intervention and the application programs further cause the one or more servers to control the system to send a second intervention to the selected application according to the intervention model in response to receiving activity information in a fifth data set from the selected application. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data set received from the plurality of applications comprises data received from sensors in at least one of the plurality of devices. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application programs further cause the one or more servers to control the system to determine an the intervention model for the selected user segment by mapping a user state to a behavior pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of devices includes mobile devices operating in a cellular network. 
     
     
         9 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more server computers, cause the one or more server computers to:
 receive a first data set from a plurality of applications, each of the plurality of applications implemented on one of the plurality of devices and collecting data associated with one of the plurality of users for the first data set, wherein the first data set includes user attributes of the plurality of users;   determine a plurality of user segments for a behavioral change program based the first data set, the plurality of user segments each including a subset of the plurality of first users;   determine a second data set, the second data set being a subset of the first data set and associated with a selected user segment of the plurality of user segments;   determine an intervention model, the intervention model based on the second data set and associated with the selected user segment;   receive a third data set from a selected application of the plurality of applications that is associated with a selected user and a selected device, wherein the third data set includes user attributes of the selected user,   classify the selected user into the selected user segment of the plurality of user segments based on the third data set;   receive a fourth data set from the selected application, the fourth data set including activity information of the selected user; and,   send an intervention to the selected application according to the intervention model in response to receiving the fourth data, wherein the intervention comprises a notification perceptible at the selected device and the intervention is sent to change behavior indicated by the activity information received in the fourth data set.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the first data set includes activity information associated with a behavioral change program and the one or more computer readable storage media further include instructions to cause the one or more server computers to:
 store the first data set in a data fusion module; and,   update the first data set in the data fusion module as activities of the plurality of first users take place over time to generate an updated first data set for the plurality of first users.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more computer readable storage media further include instructions to cause the one or more server computers to:
 receive the updated first data set for the plurality of first users and update the intervention model for the selected user segment as the activities of the plurality of first users take place over time.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the third data set includes activity information on the selected user, and the one or more computer readable storage media further include instructions to cause the one or more server computers to determine the intervention model for the selected user by determining a conditional state of the selected user from the third data set, and mapping the conditional state to the intervention model. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer readable storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more computer readable storage media further include instructions that, when executed, cause the selected application to:
 receive the intervention sent from the one or more server computers; and,   process and present the intervention to the selected user according to the intervention model.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the first data set includes activity information associated with a behavioral change program, and further including instructions that, when executed cause the selected application to send the fourth data set to the one or more server computers. 
     
     
         15 . A system for managing data associated with a plurality of applications on a plurality of devices operating in a communications network, the system comprising:
 one or more server computers coupled to the communications network and configured to:   receive a first data set from a plurality of applications, each of the plurality of applications implemented on one of the plurality of devices and collecting data associated with one of the plurality of users for the first data set, wherein the first data set includes activity information of the plurality of users and user attributes of the plurality of users;   determine a plurality of user segments for a behavioral change program based on the received first data set, the plurality of user segments each including a subset of the plurality of first users;   determine a second data set, the second data set being a subset of the first data set and associated with a selected user segment of the plurality of user segments;   determine a behavioral model for the selected user segment, the behavioral based on the second data set;   received a third data set from a selected application of the plurality of applications that is associated with a selected user, wherein the third data set includes user attributes of the selected user;   classify the selected user into the selected user segment of the plurality of user segments based on the third data set,   send a first intervention to the selected application according to the intervention model, wherein the first intervention comprises a notification perceptible at a selected device of the plurality of devices on which the selected application is implemented; and,   receive a fourth data set from the selected application, the fourth data set being information on a response to the first intervention sent to the selected application, the fourth data including activity information of the selected user indicating if the first intervention changed a behavior of the selected user.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises the selected device of the plurality of devices on which the selected application is implemented, the selected device comprising:
 a controller, and,   a memory including application program instructions for the selected application that when executed cause the controller to control the selected device to:   send a portion of the third data set to the system;   receive the first intervention from the one or more server computers and process the intervention.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more server computers comprise a data fusion module configured to store the first data set and update the first data set as activities of the plurality of users take place over time. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more server computers are configured to determine the intervention model for the selected user by determining a conditional state of the selected user from the third data, and, mapping the conditional state to the intervention model. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the communications network comprises a cellular network. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the activity information of the selected user comprises information indicating that a task was performed.