US 10,706,737 B2 · Systems and methods for computer implemented treatment of behavioral disorders

Abstract

A system and method are provided for treating excessive or problematic computer use. In at least one embodiment, a method is employed to treat excessive or problematic computer use by acquiring information about the unwanted user activity, monitoring user activity for the unwanted behavior, controlling the behavior when it occurs, enabling the user to record self-observations and evaluating the results. This method may employ a computer based system to treat excessive or problematic computer use which includes configuring a user activity monitor with constraints, programmatically enforcing those constraints, reporting the activities monitored and restricted, and enabling a user to input self-observations. Potential constraints include a complete bar on the user activity, as well as, progressively decreasing the amount of time the user may engage in the activity, i.e. titrating the user activity.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A mobile computing device comprising:

an input device;
an output device;
a memory storing
a categorization hierarchy comprising gaming applications;
and
at least one application executable by the mobile computing device, the at least one application belonging to the gaming applications of the categorization hierarchy;
and
at least one processor coupled to the input device, the output device, and the memory and configured to
receive, via the input device, information from a user of the mobile computing device, the information indicating that access to the at least one application by the user is to be monitored;
monitor access to the at least one application by the user to record an actual duration of usage of the at least one application by the user;
generate a user activity report indicating the actual duration;
display the user activity report via the output device;
receive, via the input device, information specifying at least one constraint on access to the gaming applications of the categorization hierarchy, the at least one constraint identifying a limited duration of access to the gaming applications;
and
impose the at least one constraint to limit, to the limited duration, access to the at least one application by the user.

12 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for treating excessive use of a mobile computing device by a user of the mobile computing device, the instructions being encoded for execution by at least one processor of the mobile computing device, the mobile computing device comprising memory storing a categorization hierarchy comprising gaming applications and at least one application executable by the mobile computing device, the at least one application belonging to the gaming applications of the categorization hierarchy, the instructions comprising instructions to:

receive, via an input device of the mobile computing device, information from the user, the information indicating that access to the at least one application by the user is to be monitored;
monitor access to the at least one application by the user to record an actual duration of usage of the at least one application by the user;
generate a user activity report indicating the actual duration;
display the user activity report via an output device of the mobile computing device;
receive, via the input device, information specifying at least one constraint on access to the gaming applications of the categorization hierarchy, the at least one constraint identifying a limited duration of access to the gaming applications;
and
impose the at least one constraint to limit, to the limited duration, access to the at least one application by the user.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for computer implemented treatment of behavioral disorders

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for computer implemented treatment of behavioral disorders

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12