System and method for controlling neurostimulation according to user activity and clinician rule-based scheduling of stimulation programs

A method of providing neurostimulation therapy to a patient, comprising:

• storing an activity profile for the patient in an external controller device of a neurostimulation system of the patient, wherein the activity profile represents expected times of performance of a plurality of different activities by the patient, and wherein the activity profile links the plurality of different activities to respective ones of a plurality of different stimulation programs for use by the neurostimulation system of the patient, each of the different stimulation programs adapted to provide a different stimulation effect on the patient;
• storing a plurality of clinician defined scheduling rules that define time periods for provision of stimulation according to ones of the plurality of different stimulation programs based on the expected times of performance of respective activities of the plurality of different activities by the patient, the plurality of clinician defined scheduling rules including at least one rule associated with a particular activity of the plurality of different activities and defining a programmable timing for delivery of a neurostimulation therapy to the patient after detecting performance of the particular activity by the patient, wherein the neurostimulation therapy is associated with a particular stimulation program of the plurality of different stimulation programs;
• monitoring activities of the patient using at least one external device to detect the performance of the particular activity by the patient;
• operating a stimulation program scheduling process in the external controller device of the neurostimulation system that automatically controls when an implantable pulse generator of the neurostimulation system of the patient generates electrical pulses according to ones of the plurality of different stimulation programs with different stimulation effects for application to neural tissue of the patient according to times defined by at least the expected times of the activity profile and the plurality of clinician defined scheduling rules, wherein the operating includes activating the stimulation program in order to deliver the neurostimulation therapy to the patient via the implantable pulse generator according to the programmable timing defined by the at least one rule based on detection of the particular activity;
• and
• delivering the neurostimulation therapy to the patient.