# US 2019/0167105 A1 · A method, apparatus and system for tailoring at least one subsequent communication to a user > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167105 A1 - Document ID: US20190167105A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/323,542 - Filed: 2017-08-14 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-16 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Paul Anthony SHRUBSOLE; Murtaza BULUT; Christian Andreas TIEMANN; Warner Rudolph Theophile TEN KATE; Chaitanya DONGRE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167105A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet} - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - A61B 5/165: {Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety} - A61B 5/167: {Personality evaluation} - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management - G06Q 50/22: Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services - G16H 10/60: for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records - G16H 80/00: ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract There is provided a method, apparatus and system for method for tailoring at least one subsequent communication to a user. Data acquired on the user in connection with a plurality of communications to the user is processed to determine a value for one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user in connection with each communication. At least one communication parameter is varied in respect of each communication. The values for the one or more characteristics indicative of the state of the user that are determined in connection with each communication are compared to identify one or more communication parameters that are most suitable for the user. One or more communication parameters are set for the at least one subsequent communication to the user according to the one or more identified communication parameters. The subsequent communication to the user is enabled based on the set one or more communication parameters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for tailoring at least one subsequent communication to a user, the computer-implemented method comprising: processing data acquired on the user in connection with a plurality of communications to the user to determine a value for one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user in connection with each communication, wherein at least one communication parameter is varied in respect of each communication; comparing the values for the one or more characteristics indicative of the state of the user that are determined in connection with each communication to identify one or more communication parameters that are most suitable for the user; setting one or more communication parameters for the at least one subsequent communication to the user according to the one or more identified communication parameters; and enabling the at least one subsequent communication to the user based on the set one or more communication parameters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of communication parameters are varied in respect of each communication and the plurality of communication parameters are varied simultaneously or in a predefined order. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data acquired on the user comprises any one or more of: physiological data, psychological data, audio data, visual data, and user input data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, the computer-implemented method further comprising: acquiring contextual information in connection with each communication; and weighting the determined values for the one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user based on the acquired contextual information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the contextual information is acquired from at least one sensor in an environment of the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, the computer-implemented method further comprising: detecting a deviation in at least one characteristic indicative of the state of the user; and when the deviation is detected, acquiring contextual information from the user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, the computer-implemented method further comprising: updating the one or more communication parameters set for the at least one subsequent communication based on any one or more of: an identified current activity of the user; an identified activity pattern of the user; a deviation from an identified activity pattern of the user; and an input received from the user indicative of a current state of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one communication parameter comprises any one or more of: a time for the communication to the user; a duration of the communication to the user; a content for the communication to the user; an affective level for the content of the communication to the user; a difficulty level for the content of the communication to the user; a cognitive level for the content of the communication to the user; and a form of the communication to the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user comprise any one or more of: a characteristic indicative of an affective state of the user; a characteristic indicative of a mobility capability of the user; a characteristic indicative of a level of pain experienced by the user; a characteristic indicative of a physiological state of the user; a characteristic indicative of a psychological state of the user; a characteristic indicate of a strength of the user; a characteristic indicative of an impairment of the user; a characteristic indicative of a cognitive ability of the user; and a characteristic indicative of a level of social skills of the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, the computer-implemented method further comprising: performing the computer-implemented method for a plurality of users; and assigning a priority value to at least one of the plurality of users; wherein setting one or more communication parameters for at least one subsequent communication takes into account the priority value assigned to the at least one of the plurality of users. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, the computer-implemented method further comprising: detecting a deviation in at least one characteristic indicative of the state of the user; and repeating the computer-implemented method of claim 1 to re-set one or more communication parameters for at least one subsequent communication to the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that, on execution by a suitable computer or processor, the computer or processor is caused to perform the computer-implemented method of claim 1. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for tailoring one or more subsequent communication to a user, the apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to: process data acquired on the user in connection with a plurality of communications to the user to determine a value for one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user in connection with each communication, wherein at least one communication parameter is varied in respect of each communication; compare the values for the one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user that are determined in connection with each communication to identify one or more communication parameters that are most suitable for the user; set one or more communication parameters for the at least one subsequent communication to the user according to the one or more identified communication parameters; and enable the at least one subsequent communication to the user based on the set one or more communication parameters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, the apparatus further comprising: a memory configured to store the values for the one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user that are determined in connection with the communications and the associated communication parameters for the communications. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the control unit is configured to acquire contextual information in connection with the plurality of communications from at least one sensor in an environment of the user. ### Claim 16 A system for tailoring at least one subsequent communication to a user, the system comprising: one or more sensors for acquiring data on the user in connection with a plurality of communications, wherein one data comprise or more of: physiological data, psychological data, audio data, visual data, and user input a control unit configured to: process data acquired from the one or more sensors to determine a value for one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user in connection with each communication, wherein at least one communication parameter is varied in respect of each communication; compare the values for the one or more characteristics indicative of a state of the user that are determined in connection with each communication to identify one or more communication parameters that are most suitable for the user; set one or more communication parameters for the at least one subsequent communication to the user according to the one or more identified communication parameters, and enable the at least one subsequent communication to the user based on the set one or more communication parameters.