Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique for assisting in improving effectiveness of lifestyle improvement actions.SOLUTION: An information processing system comprising one or more processors is provided, the one or more processors being configured to present one or more action categories with high priority based on information on lifestyle of a target user, and present the target user with one or more actions to be implemented by the target user in the presented one or more actions categories on the basis of how difficult it is for the target user to make it a habit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, U.S. companies are showing increasing interest in digital therapeutics (DTx), which uses digital technology to assist in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, in an effort to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] As companies become more interested in DTx, the demand for clinical evidence is growing.

[0004] One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a technology for supporting improvement of the effectiveness of lifestyle improvement actions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] As another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing system having one or more processors, the one or more processors presenting one or more high priority behavioral categories based on information regarding a target user's lifestyle habits, and presenting one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavioral categories based on the difficulty of the target user forming the habit.

[0006] As another aspect of the present disclosure, an information processing method is provided in which a computer executes a process of presenting one or more behavioral categories with high priority based on information on the lifestyle habits of a target user, and a process of presenting one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavioral categories based on a difficulty level of the target user forming the habit.

[0007] As another embodiment of the present disclosure, a program is provided for enabling a computer to realize a function of presenting one or more behavioral categories with high priority based on information regarding the lifestyle habits of a target user, and a function of presenting one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavioral categories based on the difficulty of the target user forming the habit. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to support improvement in the effectiveness of actions to improve lifestyle habits. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing system assumed in the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the support system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining an outline of a support service assumed in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a question regarding a lifestyle problem. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen showing the results of analyzing the lifestyle habits of a target user by behavior category. [Figure 6] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a table used for rank evaluation of scores calculated for each behavior category. [Figure 7] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a table used for selecting a focus category. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method for changing candidate actions presented for a focus category. [Figure 9] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example table of action candidates prepared for each action category. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of action candidates for a focus category. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of displaying candidate actions for a focus category. [Figure 12]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying content that motivates the practice of continuous behavior. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of displaying candidate actions for a focus category. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram illustrating another example table of candidate actions prepared for each action category. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1>

[0011] <System configuration> FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1 assumed in the first embodiment. The information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a lifestyle habit improvement support system (hereinafter referred to as the "support system") 10 that provides a lifestyle habit improvement support service (hereinafter referred to as the "support service"), a user terminal 20 operated by a user who uses the support service, and a network N that connects these terminals. The support system 10 is an example of an information processing system in the narrow sense.

[0012] The support system 10 in this embodiment is a system that distributes an application that supports improvement of lifestyle habits (hereinafter referred to as an “support application”), stores user data input through the support application, and provides information that supports improvement of lifestyle habits. The support system 10 in this embodiment is operated by a company, organization, etc., where the user works. However, the support system 10 may be operated by a business entity, etc., that is entrusted by the company, organization, etc., where the user works.

[0013] The assistance application in this embodiment is installed in the user terminal 20 and used to record the user's daily life. The record of daily life includes, for example, blood pressure value, weight, pulse rate, behavior history, and feelings and moods. The user terminal 20 is a computer terminal in which a support application is installed. The user terminal 20 in this embodiment is configured, for example, by a smartphone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, or a desktop computer.

[0014] The user terminal 20 is capable of communicating with the support system 10 through the network N. The user terminal 20 uploads user data input through a support application to the support system 10, and receives support services from the support system 10. The network N is, for example, a LAN (Local area network), the Internet, or a mobile communication system (4G, 5G).

[0015] <Hardware configuration> 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the support system 10. The support system 10 is composed of, for example, one or more servers. The support system 10 has a processor 101, a ROM (=Read Only Memory) 102 in which a BIOS (=Basic Input Output System) and the like are stored, a RAM (=Random Access Memory) 103 used as a work area for the processor 101, an auxiliary storage device 104, and a communication interface 105. Each device is connected via a bus and other signal lines 106.

[0016] The processor 101 is a device that realizes various functions through the execution of programs. In this embodiment, the support application and the OS (=Operating System) are collectively called programs. The processor 101, the ROM 102, and the RAM 103 function as a computer. The auxiliary storage device 104 is configured, for example, by a hard disk device or semiconductor storage. The communication interface 105 is an interface for communicating with other servers and the user terminal 20 (see FIG. 1) through the network N. The communication interface 105 supports Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), mobile communication systems, and other communication standards.

[0017] <Data stored in the auxiliary storage device> The auxiliary storage device 104 stores the assistance application as well as user data collected through the assistance application. Incidentally, the support app collects user data through communication with a wearable device worn by the user as well as through user operation input. For example, blood pressure, heart rate, exercise, sleep time, etc. are sequentially uploaded from the linked wearable device to the support app. In addition, meal contents and alcohol intake may be collected through image analysis.

[0018] The user data includes, for example, the user's attributes (gender, date of birth, age, height, weight), blood pressure value, activity records, mood records, physical condition records, medical examination history, operation history of the support app, biological characteristics, psychological characteristics, social characteristics, habits, goal achievement status, attention categories presented by the support service, actions recommended for attention categories, content encouraging the practice of actions (including information identifying the content), information motivating the continuous practice of actions, records of proficiency with the content, etc. However, the user data does not need to be all of this information and may be only a part of it.

[0019] The blood pressure values ​​are, for example, systolic blood pressure (i.e., the highest blood pressure value) and diastolic blood pressure (i.e., the lowest blood pressure value). The activity record is, for example, a history of using the assistance app, a medication record, a food record, a smoking record, a drinking record, and an exercise record. The activity record is an example of information about the activity. The record of taking medicine is, for example, the type and number of medicines taken, and the time when the medicine was taken. The record of taking medicine is an example of information related to taking medicine. The food record is, for example, the contents of the food eaten and the amount of salt ingested. The food record is an example of information related to food.

[0020] The smoking record is, for example, whether or not a person smoked, the date and time of smoking, and the number of cigarettes smoked. The smoking record is an example of information related to smoking. The drinking record is, for example, the date and time of drinking, the amount of alcohol consumed, and the type of alcohol. The drinking record is an example of information related to drinking. The exercise record includes, for example, records related to sports, as well as records of daily activities such as walking, shopping, cleaning, etc. The exercise record is an example of information related to exercise. The mood record is, for example, a subjective mood. The mood record is an example of information related to mood.

[0021] The record of physical condition is, for example, a subjective physical condition or symptoms. The record of physical condition is an example of information related to physical condition. The medical examination history is, for example, the start date of treatment, the date of examination, the content of treatment, and advice from doctors and other medical personnel. The medical examination history is an example of information related to medical examinations.

[0022] The operation history of the support application is, for example, a history of operations related to starting the application, inputting blood pressure values ​​and reviews, answering questions presented by the support service, and selecting an action to be taken. Biological characteristics include, for example, the presence or absence of other diseases, the presence or absence of injuries undergoing treatment, the presence or absence of knee or foot pain, the presence or absence of experience of treatment for hypertension, the number of years since hypertension was diagnosed, the strength of seasonings used in home cooking, and the amount of food eaten. Psychological characteristics include, for example, expectations for support apps, willingness to acquire knowledge and information that will contribute to improving lifestyle habits, whether reducing salt intake is difficult or whether one believes one's sense of taste cannot be changed, and psychological resistance to leaving food on one's plate.

[0023] Social characteristics include, for example, wake-up time, bedtime, type of work (e.g., shift work, day shift, night shift), days of the week worked, start time of work, time home from work, regular days off, and whether or not there is heating in the changing room. Habits include, for example, exercise habits, the habit of weighing oneself, the habit of checking calorie counts on food labels, the habit of choosing low-fat foods, the habit of not consuming caffeine after 4 p.m., the habit of eating and drinking after 10 p.m., the habit of skipping breakfast, the habit of snacking, the habit of taking a bath one hour before going to bed, the habit of stretching or massaging before going to bed, and the habit of sleeping six hours or more. The goal achievement status is, for example, the relationship between the user's status and a goal set for each user by a doctor or the like. The above-mentioned information can be classified into subjective information and objective information.

[0024] The attention category presented by the support service is, for example, a behavior category of food, exercise, weight loss, sleep, stress, and alcohol that is more likely to contribute to improving the lifestyle habits of the target user than others. In other words, the attention category is an example of a high-priority behavior category. The attention category is determined based on, for example, answers to questions about the target user's lifestyle habits and preferences, or medical evaluation criteria, and is notified to the target user by the support service. The attention category is reviewed periodically (for example, once a month) according to the progress of improvements in lifestyle habits.

[0025] Candidate actions recommended for a focus category (hereinafter also referred to as "candidate actions") are actions selected from a group of candidate actions related to the focus category. For example, when the focus category is "exercise," the candidate actions include walking (total distance, total time, etc.), jogging (distance, total time, etc.), housework (content, time length by content, total time, etc.), cycling (total distance, total time, etc.), swimming (total distance, total time, etc.), ball games (type, total time, etc.), and dancing (total time, etc.).

[0026] The candidate behaviors are determined based on, for example, the history of the target user's practice and the record of the improvement effect after the practice. In this embodiment, the target user selects the candidate behaviors. The candidate behaviors to be practiced are reviewed at shorter intervals (for example, once a week) than the review of the focus category. Content (including information identifying the content) that encourages the practice of a behavior refers to learning content that explains, for example, how to perform a candidate behavior or the effects that are expected from practicing the candidate behavior. The information that motivates the continued practice of the behavior may be, for example, points or other rewards that are awarded as the target user continues to practice. Examples of this type of information include an increase in accumulated points, the progress, growth, or evolution of an object, etc.

[0027] The degree of mastery of the content is the degree of understanding of the target user evaluated based on the target user's answers and performance. The degree of mastery is evaluated in the lifestyle habit improvement support service and notified to the target user. Furthermore, the user data includes user data collected from the target user in connection with the currently operating support service as well as user data collected from the target user in connection with other support services.

[0028] <Processing sequence executed in the information processing system> <Summary of support services> FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining an outline of the support service assumed in the first embodiment. The processing sequence shown in Fig. 3 is realized through the execution of a program by the processor 101 (see Fig. 2) constituting the support system 10 or a processor (not shown) constituting the user terminal 20. Note that the symbol S shown in the figure represents a step.

[0029] [Step 1] In the case of Fig. 3, the user terminal 20 transmits registration information of the user to the support system 10. For example, the measured values ​​of blood pressure and pulse rate, information on medicines taken, etc. are transmitted as the registration information. In the case of this embodiment, the input and transmission of the registration information is realized through the support app.

[0030] [Step 2] The support system 10 transmits learning contents, questions about lifestyle problems, and the like to the user terminal 20. The learning content includes knowledge and information that contributes to improving lifestyle habits. The learning content is prepared, for example, for each disease. In the present embodiment, the disease is assumed to be hypertension. The learning content may be text-based, still image-based, moving image-based, or audio-based. The questions regarding lifestyle issues are questions regarding the lifestyle habits and preferences of each user. In this embodiment, questions are prepared for six behavioral categories, for example, diet, exercise, weight loss, sleep, stress, and alcohol.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of questions regarding lifestyle problems. The questions shown in Fig. 4 are displayed on the display of the user terminal 20. As described above, the total number of questions in this embodiment is 50. Therefore, only a portion of the questions is displayed in Fig. 4. The question screen shown in Fig. 4 is arranged with a progress status display column 211, a title column 212, question columns 213, 214, 215, and a "next" button 216. Needless to say, the layout shown in Fig. 4 is just one example, and the number of questions displayed, etc. will change depending on the screen size, font size, etc. of the display.

[0032] The progress display field 211 is used to display the current progress against the total number of questions. In Fig. 4, the progress is represented by the length of the bar graph and text (e.g., 1 of 7 completed). The length of the colored portion of the bar graph represents the progress. In Fig. 4, the length of the colored portion of the bar graph is approximately 1 / 7 of the total length.

[0033] The title field 212 is used to display the name of the behavior category to which the question is related. The behavior category assumed in Fig. 4 is "Diet". Therefore, "Let's talk about diet" is displayed in the title field 212. Question field 213 is a question about the frequency of butter intake, and three answer options are provided as corresponding answers to the question. The same is true for the other questions. The three options are in the form of radio buttons. Therefore, only one of the three options can be selected. The same applies to the other questions described below.

[0034] Question field 214 asks about the frequency of hard cheese intake, and three answer options are provided for the question. Question field 215 is a question about the frequency of cottage cheese intake, and three answer options are displayed for the question. In the case of FIG. 4, when the "next" button 216 is operated, the screen switches to the next page.

[0035] [Step 3] Returning to the explanation of Figure 3. The user terminal 20 transmits the user's answer to the question about the assignment to the support system 10. In the case of this embodiment, the answer is input by the user selecting an option. [Step 4] The support system 10 transmits questions regarding motivations for learning content and lifestyle habits to the user terminal 20. The lifestyle motivation questions are questions about each user's motivation to improve their lifestyle. These questions are also prepared for six behavioral categories, for example, diet, exercise, weight loss, sleep, stress, and alcohol.

[0036] By the way, questions about diet include, for example, "Do you want to improve your diet?" or "Do you want to stop snacking?" The questions regarding lifestyle challenges and the questions regarding motivations for lifestyle are both examples of lifestyle questions. In this embodiment, a method is adopted in which questions are divided into "questions regarding tasks" and "questions regarding motivation" for one behavioral category and the user is asked questions to obtain answers, but "questions regarding tasks" and "questions regarding motivation" may be mixed within the questions for one behavioral category. In this embodiment, the total number of "questions regarding the task" and "questions regarding motivation" is 50.

[0037] [Step 5] The user terminal 20 transmits the user's answer to the question regarding the motivation to the assistance system 10. In the case of this embodiment, the answer is input by the user through selection of an option. [STEP 6] The support system 10 diagnoses the lifestyle habits of the target user based on the answer to the task (answer to step 3) among the received answers. In the case of this embodiment, for example, a score is calculated for each of the six behavior categories described above. In this embodiment, the score is calculated as the sum of the points given to the user's answers (options) to each question. For example, the best habit option among the three is given 1 point, the second best habit option among the three is given 2 points, and the worst habit option among the three is given 3 points. The support system 10 in this embodiment calculates a score for each behavior category.

[0038] [STEP 7] The support system 10 presents to the user terminal 20 the scores for each behavior category as the analysis results of the lifestyle habits of the target user. In this embodiment, the lifestyle analysis results are presented in the form of a bar graph, with the scores Sn (n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) calculated for each of the six behavioral categories. The score S1 corresponds to "diet", the score S2 corresponds to "exercise", the score S3 corresponds to "weight loss", the score S4 corresponds to "sleep", the score S5 corresponds to "stress", and the score S6 corresponds to "alcohol".

[0039] In this case, the length Ln (where n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) of the bar graph corresponding to the score Sn is calculated based on the following formula. Ln[%]=150-{(50 / (number of questions))*Sn} For example, if the weight loss score S3 is "15" and the number of questions regarding weight loss is "10," the length L3 of the bar graph representing the analysis results of lifestyle habits related to weight loss is calculated as 75% (=150-{(50 / 10)*15}).

[0040] Incidentally, if the weight loss score S3 is "10" (if each answer to all 10 questions is 1 point), the length L3 of the bar graph is calculated as 100% (=150-{(50 / 10)*10}), if the weight loss score S3 is "20", the length L3 of the bar graph is calculated as 50% (=150-{(50 / 10)*20}), and if the weight loss score S3 is "30" (if each answer to all 10 questions is 3 points), the length L3 of the bar graph is calculated as 0% (=150-{(50 / 10)*30}).

[0041] In this embodiment, the smaller the score Sn, the better the lifestyle analysis result, and the larger the score Sn, the worse the lifestyle analysis result. Thus, a behavioral category with a bar length of 100% represents a good lifestyle, and a behavioral category with a bar length of 0% represents a bad lifestyle. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen showing the results of analyzing the lifestyle habits of a target user by behavior category. The screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display of the user terminal 20. Arranged on the screen shown in Fig. 5 are a title 221, an explanation column 222 for the analysis result, and an analysis result display column 223. Needless to say, the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is just one example.

[0042] In FIG. 5, the title 221 reads "Your lifestyle assessment results." In the case of Fig. 5, the explanation column 222 states that the analysis result was calculated based on the user's answers, and that the lifestyle habits will be analyzed every few months to check for improvements in the lifestyle habits. Of course, the wording is merely an example. In this embodiment, the lifestyle habits of the target user are reevaluated every month. 5, the analysis results for five of the six behavior categories are represented by the length Ln of a bar graph in the analysis result display field 223. The analysis results for the remaining behavior category (i.e., alcohol) can be confirmed by scrolling the screen.

[0043] In the case of Figure 5, the bar graph is expressed by the length in the left-right direction. As mentioned above, the shorter the bar graph, the worse the analysis result, and the longer the bar graph, the better the analysis result. For this reason, the right end of the bar graph is labeled with a description of a good state, and the left end of the bar graph is labeled with a description of a bad state. For example, for diet, the right end of the bar graph is labeled "Excellent diet," and the left end of the bar graph is labeled "Poor diet." Target users can check the status of their own lifestyle habits by behavior category by observing the length of the bar graph corresponding to each behavior category.

[0044] That is, the target user can see at a glance which behavior categories his / her lifestyle habits are good and which behavior categories are not good. In other words, you can get an overview of the analysis results of your lifestyle habits across six behavioral categories. As a result, the target user can become aware of the behavioral categories that he or she should focus on in order to improve his or her lifestyle habits.

[0045] [STEP 8] Returning to the explanation of Figure 3. The support system 10 presents to the user terminal 20 candidate attention categories and behaviors to be practiced as analysis results of the lifestyle habits of the target user. The assistance system 10 determines the attention category based on the evaluation result of the score Sn calculated in step 7 and medical evaluation criteria. First, the support system 10 classifies the calculated score Sn into one of "A rank (good)", "B rank (Intermediate)" and "C rank (Bad)" based on evaluation criteria prepared for each behavior category.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a table used for ranking the scores calculated for each behavior category. In Figure 6, the six behavioral categories are assigned to the leftmost column, the first column from left to right is assigned the range of scores that will be classified as A rank, the second column from left to right is assigned the range of scores that will be classified as B rank, and the rightmost column is assigned the range of scores that will be classified as C rank.

[0047] As shown in Figure 6, the range of scores assigned to ranks A, B, and C varies depending on the behavioral category. For example, in the case of diet, a score S1 of 14 or less is classified as rank A, a score S1 of 15 to 24 is classified as rank B, and a score S1 of 25 or more is classified as rank C.

[0048] In the case of exercise, a score S2 of 6 or less is classified as rank A, a score S2 between 7 and 10 is classified as rank B, and a score S2 of 15 or more is classified as rank C. As shown in Figure 6, the range of scores assigned to each rank varies across behavioral categories, in part due to the different number of questions for each behavioral category. For example, there is only one question about alcohol. Therefore, the rank A, B, or C is determined by which of the three options you select.

[0049] After the ranks for each behavior category are determined, the support system 10 selects a focus category from among the six behavior categories. In the present embodiment, there are three focus categories. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a table used for selecting a category of interest. The example table shown in Fig. 7 gives a priority relationship to a combination of a behavior category and a rank based on a medical evaluation criterion. In this respect, the example table shown in Fig. 7 is also an example of performance data of users other than the target user.

[0050] In the case of FIG. 7, the behavioral categories are arranged in the leftmost column, the rank information is arranged in the center column, and the conditions required for selecting a category as the focus category are arranged in the rightmost column. In the chart shown in Figure 7, the order in which attention categories should be selected is determined by the combination of behavior category and rank. The higher the rank, the higher the priority.

[0051] First, the support system 10 checks whether the score S3 calculated for the weight loss of the target user is C rank, based on the chart shown in FIG. If the score S3 corresponding to the weight loss of the target user is rank C, the support system 10 further determines whether the BMI (=Body Mass Index) of the target user is 25 or more. If the BMI is 25 or more, the support system 10 selects "weight" as the first focus category in the behavior category. The BMI can be calculated from the weight and height of the user data.

[0052] However, if the score S3 corresponding to the target user's weight loss is rank C but the BMI is less than 25, or if the score S3 corresponding to the target user's weight loss is rank A or B, the support system 10 checks whether the score S1 calculated for the target user's diet is rank C. Similarly, the ranks of the behavior categories of the target user are collated with the table shown in FIG. 7 until three attention categories are selected.

[0053] In addition, for weight loss, diet, and exercise, if the total number of focus categories is less than three, the category may be selected as a focus category even if the corresponding score is A rank. When the three attention categories are determined, the support system 10 presents the three attention categories to the user terminal 20. The three attention categories may be presented to the user terminal 20 in a list format, or may be presented in association with a selection screen for selecting an action to be practiced.

[0054] Incidentally, the attention category means a behavior category that should be improved preferentially compared to other behavior categories, but as shown in Figure 7, the rank of the behavior category selected as the attention category is not necessarily C rank. For example, it may be B rank or A rank. In this embodiment, the difficulty (the magnitude of the load) of the actions presented as candidates is changed according to the rank of the attention category. For example, a method is adopted in which light exercises are presented as candidate actions for rank C, and heavy exercises are presented as candidate actions for rank A.

[0055] For example, if heavy exercise is presented as a candidate action to a user who does not have an exercise habit, the user is unlikely to actually put it into practice and will not improve their lifestyle habits. Also, if light exercise is presented as a candidate action to a user who does have an exercise habit, the user will not improve their lifestyle habits any more than they currently do. In this embodiment, the degree of difficulty (the magnitude of the load) of a candidate behavior according to the rank is changed based on the degree of difficulty score of the corresponding attention category. The difficulty score here indicates the difficulty of forming a habit. For example, a "high difficulty score" means that it is difficult to form a habit, and a "low difficulty score" means that it is easy to form a habit or that the habit has already been formed.

[0056] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for changing the candidate actions presented for the attention category. [Step 81] First, the support system 10 calculates the difficulty score of the task and the difficulty score of the motivation for the attention category. In this embodiment, each score is calculated by the following formula. Assignment difficulty score = (50 / (number of questions in assignment)) x assignment answer score Motivation difficulty score = (50 / (number of motivation questions)) x motivation answer score The number of questions in an assignment is the number of questions about an assignment in the focus category. The number of motivation questions is the number of motivation questions for the focus category. The score of an answer for a task is calculated as the sum of the points awarded to the corresponding answers. The score of a motivation answer is calculated as the sum of the points awarded to the corresponding answers.

[0057] [STEP 82] The assistance system 10 calculates the difficulty score for each attention category. In the present embodiment, the difficulty score is calculated by the following formula. Difficulty score = task difficulty score + motivation difficulty score - 100 An example of calculating the difficulty score according to the lifestyle habit status of the attention category will be described below. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the focus category is "exercise" and there is one question regarding the task and one question regarding motivation.

[0058] [If the lifestyle habits in the focus category are good] Here, we assume that 1 point is given for answering a question about the task and 1 point is given for answering a question about motivation. In this case, for example, the score for "exercise" is classified as A rank. In this case, the difficulty score is calculated as 0 (=(50 / 1×1)+(50 / 1×1)-100) points.

[0059] [If lifestyle habits in the featured category are poor] In this example, we assume that 3 points are given to the answer to the question about the task and 3 points are given to the answer to the question about the motivation. In this case, the score for "exercise" is classified as C rank. In this case, the difficulty score is calculated as 200 (=(50 / 1×3)+(50 / 1×3)-100) points.

[0060] [If lifestyle habits in the focus category are in the middle] In this example, we assume that 2 points are given to the answer to the question about the task and 2 points are given to the answer to the question about the motivation. In this case, for example, the score for "exercise" is classified as B rank. In this case, the difficulty score is calculated as 100 (=(50 / 1×2)+(50 / 1×2)-100) points.

[0061] In the above example, the points given to the answers to the questions about the task and the motivation are the same. However, it is possible that the points given to each answer are different. For example, if 3 points are awarded for answering the challenge question and 2 points are awarded for answering the motivation question, the difficulty score would be calculated as 150 (=(50 / 1×3)+(50 / 1×2)-100) points.

[0062] Also, in the above example, there was one question each about the assignment and motivation, but there may be cases where there are five assignment questions and two motivation questions. In this case, if three points are awarded for each answer to the assignment questions and two points are awarded for each answer to the motivation questions, the difficulty score will be calculated as 150 (=(50 / 5×15)+(50 / 2×4)-100) points.

[0063] [STEP 83] The support system 10 judges whether the calculated difficulty score is less than 100 points. In the present embodiment, this is because two types of load levels are assumed as candidates for the behavior corresponding to the attention category. In the above formula, the difficulty score ranges from 0 points to 200 points. For this reason, the judgment threshold value is set to 100 points, which is the intermediate value of the difficulty score.

[0064] [Step 84] For the attention category for which a positive result is obtained in step 83 (the difficulty score is less than 100 points), the assistance system 10 adopts the candidate behavior with the higher load. [Step 85] For the attention category for which a negative result is obtained in step 83 (the difficulty score is 100 points or more), the support system 10 adopts a default candidate behavior. Note that the default candidate behavior is a candidate behavior with a relatively small load.

[0065] Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example table of candidate behaviors prepared for each behavior category. The table shown in Fig. 9 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 104 (see Fig. 2). The table shown in Fig. 9 stores examples of allocation of two types of load levels to each of six behavioral categories (i.e., exercise, food, weight loss, sleep, stress, and alcohol). Note that, due to space limitations, Fig. 9 shows only four behavioral candidates corresponding to exercise.

[0066] For example, cycling has 15 minutes as the default intensity and 30 minutes as the high-intensity intensity. Additionally, walking is associated with a default amount of exercise of 20 minutes and a high-intensity amount of exercise of 40 minutes. Additionally, for jogging, 15 minutes is associated with the default amount of exercise, and 30 minutes with high-intensity exercise. Additionally, for swimming, 15 minutes is associated as the default amount of exercise, and 30 minutes is associated as the high-intensity amount of exercise.

[0067] [Example of default action suggestions] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of action candidates for a focus category. The screen shown in Fig. 10 is displayed on the display of the user terminal 20. Note that the display example shown in Fig. 10 is displayed when the difficulty score is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The screen shown in Fig. 10 has arranged thereon a title 231, an explanation column 232, and a candidate action column for each attention category 233. Needless to say, the arrangement shown in Fig. 10 is only one example. 10, the title 231 indicates "Select 3 daily challenges." Note that the title 231 also indicates an operation that the target user is required to perform.

[0068] In the case of FIG. 10, the explanation column 232 provides an explanation of the presented candidate actions. In the candidate behaviors by attention category field 233, candidates of behaviors to be practiced by attention category are presented in a selectable manner. Candidates for actions to be taken are presented in order based on the priority among the three focus categories. The priority is determined based on the table shown in Figure 7. The priority is determined by the relative order in the table.

[0069] In the case of FIG. 10, exercise, which has the highest priority among the three attention categories, is presented as the first attention category. In Fig. 10, four candidate behaviors are presented as candidates for behaviors to be practiced: "15 minutes of cycling," "20 minutes of walking," "15 minutes of jogging," and "15 minutes of swimming." When one of the four candidate behaviors is tapped, the corresponding candidate becomes selected or unselected. Depending on the focus category, the number of candidate actions presented may be two, three, or five or more. In addition, candidates of behaviors previously selected by the target user may be excluded from display for a certain period of time. This function provides an environment in which the selected behavior is less likely to be fixed.

[0070] As a result, the target user is able to select and practice a variety of behaviors, making it easier for him or her to continually work on improving their lifestyle habits compared to practicing only the same behavior. Furthermore, even if the same behavior category is repeatedly presented as a category of interest, it becomes difficult for candidates for the behavior to be practiced to become fixed, so that it is possible to give the target user the enjoyment of selecting candidates. In this embodiment, the action candidates are selected using check boxes, so it is possible to select two candidates for one attention category.

[0071] In the case of Fig. 10, "Cycling for 15 minutes" is selected by the target user. If the selected "Cycling for 15 minutes" is tapped again, the selection is cancelled. If you tap "View More" at the bottom of the screen, you will be presented with selectable actions to take for the remaining two focus categories. For example, when it comes to diet and sleep, the app presents several options for actions to take. For example, when selecting one candidate behavior for each attention category, one behavior is selected for diet, one behavior for exercise, and one behavior for sleep.

[0072] When multiple behavior candidates are selected for one attention category, for example, two behaviors are selected for diet, and one behavior is selected for exercise. When the third action is selected, a screen for confirming the selected three actions is presented to the user on the user terminal 20. When the user agrees with the presented three actions, the user's action selection is completed.

[0073] [Example of displaying action candidates with high load] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing another example of displaying candidate actions for a focus category, in which the same reference numerals are used to denote parts corresponding to those in Fig. 10. The screen shown in Fig. 11 is displayed on the display of the user terminal 20. Note that the display example shown in Fig. 11 is displayed when the difficulty score is less than a threshold value. In the case of FIG. 11, four candidate actions are displayed in the candidate action field 233: "30 minutes of cycling," "40 minutes of walking," "30 minutes of jogging," and "30 minutes of swimming."

[0074] [STEP 9] Returning to the explanation of Figure 3. When the user's selection of the three actions is finalized, the user terminal 20 transmits the actions selected by the user to the assistance system 10. [STEP 10] The support system 10 receives the three actions and registers the received three actions as actions to be practiced.

[0075] [STEP 11] The user terminal 20 transmits the behavior practice status and the measurement values ​​collected through the support application to the support system 10. Note that the user terminal 20 may transmit the collected user data to the support system 10 as it is. The transmission of the practice status, etc. here may be performed, for example, at a pre-scheduled timing (for example, every noon, every hour), or may be performed when the user operates the user terminal 20 to access the support system 10.

[0076] [STEP 12] The support system 10 notifies the user terminal 20 of content that motivates the user to continue practicing a behavior and new behavior candidates. The content here is an example of information that motivates a user to continue to perform an action. New candidate behaviors are presented from candidates with the same load as in step 8 for the focus category. In the present embodiment, candidates of behaviors selected by the user within a certain period of time are excluded. As a result, new candidates of behaviors are presented to the user as selection candidates. It should be noted that the presentation of the learning content and the presentation of the new action candidates may be executed separately.

[0077] Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining a display example of content that motivates the user to practice a continuous behavior. In the case of Fig. 12, the user's practice of a continuous behavior is represented as a growing tree. The screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display of the user terminal 20.

[0078] Arranged on the screen shown in Fig. 12 are a title 241, a content column 242, and a "Complete" button 243. Needless to say, the arrangement shown in Fig. 12 is just one example. In the case of Fig. 12, the title 241 shows "Great job, you've completed an action." This description is displayed when the user practices the action selected by himself / herself every day during the practice period of one week, for example. When the "Complete" button 243 is operated, the screen shown in Fig. 12 is closed.

[0079] [Initial screen] Content section 242 depicts a tree with two leaves. [After performance review 1] The content field 242 depicts a tree with eight leaves. Six leaves have been added compared to the initial screen. This change is assumed to occur when a low-impact action is accomplished. A low-stress behavior corresponds to a high difficulty score for the attention category (i.e., a behavior that is difficult to make into a habit). For a user in this state, there is a high need to make the behavior a habit by continuously practicing it. Therefore, in this embodiment, a mechanism is adopted in which a large reward is given for achieving continuous practice of the behavior, strongly stimulating the user's sense of accomplishment.

[0080] [After performance review 2] A tree with three leaves is depicted in the content field 242. One more leaf is added compared to the initial screen. This change is assumed to occur when a high-impact action is accomplished. A behavior with a high load corresponds to a behavior in which the difficulty score of the attention category is small (i.e., the behavior is relatively easy to form into a habit). The difficulty score is small, for example, when the score calculated for the attention category is classified as rank A. In other words, the target user has acquired basic lifestyle habits for the attention category. Therefore, in this embodiment, a small reward is given for the achievement of practicing a continuous behavior. This is because even if the reward is small, there is a low possibility that the user will not stop practicing the habitual behavior. Furthermore, since a reward is given, even if it is small, it is possible to give the user a sense of accomplishment as the tree gradually grows by practicing the continuous behavior.

[0081] [STEP 13] Returning to the explanation of Figure 3. As in step 9, when the user's selection of the three actions is finalized, the user terminal 20 transmits the actions selected by the user to the assistance system 10. [STEP 14] As in step 10, the support system 10 that has received the three actions registers the received three actions as actions to be practiced. In this embodiment, the period from step 10 to step 14 is one week.

[0082] [STEP 15] As in step 11, the user terminal 20 transmits the behavior practice status and the measurement values ​​collected through the assistance application to the assistance system 10. Thereafter, processing operations corresponding to steps 8 to 11 and steps 12 to 15 are executed once a week. In this embodiment, the processes from step 2 onward are repeatedly executed every month. That is, the attention category is reviewed every month, and the presentation and practice of candidates for actions to improve the reviewed attention category are repeated.

[0083] <Summary> According to the information processing system 1 (see FIG. 1) of the present embodiment, it is possible to support the practice of behaviors related to the attention category identified through the analysis of the lifestyle habits of the target user. As a result, the effectiveness of behaviors for improving lifestyle habits is increased. Furthermore, by leaving it up to the user to select the behavior to be practiced, it is possible to increase the likelihood that behavior that improves lifestyle habits will be practiced. In addition, the effectiveness of actions to improve lifestyle habits can be increased by changing the burden of the candidate actions presented to the user depending on the difficulty of forming a habit in the focus category (i.e., the magnitude of the difficulty score).

[0084] <Embodiment 2> In this embodiment, another example of presenting candidate actions to the user will be described. Note that the system configuration and the like in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another display example of candidate actions for the attention category. The screen shown in FIG. Arranged on the screen shown in Fig. 13 are a candidate action 251, an explanation field 252, a selection field 253, a selection button 254, and a switching button 255. Needless to say, the arrangement shown in Fig. 13 is just one example. In the case of FIG. 13, the candidate behavior 251 displays "Cycling," which is one of the candidate behaviors related to the focused category "exercise."

[0085] The explanation column 252 describes the effects that cycling, which is the focus category, has on the mind and body, and the operations required of the user. In the selection field 253, the words "Select minutes per day" and a pull-down button are displayed. In this embodiment, when the operation of the pull-down button is accepted, a plurality of options are displayed according to the result of the determination in step 83 (see FIG. 8).

[0086] Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining another example of a table of candidate actions prepared for each action category. In Fig. 14, the same reference numerals are used to denote parts corresponding to those in Fig. 9. In the case of Fig. 14, there are multiple options corresponding to the difficulty of forming a habit. For example, if the difficulty of forming an exercise habit is high, three options of "5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes" are displayed in the selection field 253 (see Fig. 13) for cycling. On the other hand, if the difficulty of forming an exercise habit is low, three options of "30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes" are displayed in the selection field 253 (see Fig. 13) for cycling. The number of options is just an example, and may be two, four or more.

[0087] In this manner, in the case of this embodiment, the user can freely select the magnitude of the load. Returning to the explanation of Figure 13. When the selection button 254 is operated after the time has been selected in the selection field 253, the selected time is determined as the practice target of the displayed action candidate. If the user wishes to select another action candidate, the user operates the switching button 255. In the present embodiment, one of the other action candidates corresponding to the focused category "exercise", such as "walking", "jogging" and "swimming", is displayed.

[0088] <Summary> In the case of the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment (see FIG. 1), the load of the candidate behaviors presented to the user is changed according to the difficulty of habituating the focus category (i.e., the difficulty score), but the load can be adjusted by the user's choice. Therefore, the possibility that the selected candidate behavior will be put into practice is higher than in the first embodiment, and the effectiveness of behavior for improving lifestyle habits can be further increased.

[0089] <Other embodiments> (1) Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope of the above-described embodiments. It is clear from the claims that the technical scope of the present disclosure also includes various modifications or improvements to the above-described embodiments.

[0090] (2) The processor in the above-described embodiments refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU (=Central Processing Unit)) as well as dedicated processors (e.g., GPU (=Graphical Processing Unit), ASIC (=Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (=Field Programmable Gate Array), programmable logic devices, etc.). In addition, the operations of the processor in each of the above-mentioned embodiments may be executed by multiple processors in cooperation with each other, and the order of execution of each operation in the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, and may be changed individually.

[0091] (3) In the above-described first embodiment, two options with different loads are assigned to one candidate behavior (for example, cycling) corresponding to a behavior category. However, three or more options may be assigned.

[0092] (4) In the above-described embodiment, a threshold value of 100 points, which is the midpoint of the possible range of difficulty scores (e.g., 0 to 200 points), may be used; however, a threshold value greater than the midpoint value or less than the midpoint value may also be used.

[0093] (5) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the reward for continued practice is differentiated depending on the difficulty of making a behavior a habit (the magnitude of the difficulty score for the focus category), but it may be the same.

[0094] (6) In the above embodiment, a reward is given for the continuous practice of a behavior by the user, but a reward may be given according to the progress of the user's learning about lifestyle habits and information on improving them. This is because the progress of learning about lifestyle habits, etc., is expected to change the user's awareness and improve the lifestyle habits.

[0095] (7) In the above embodiment, an example of content that motivates a user to continuously practice an action has been described in which a leaf is added to a tree branch every time a reward is given. However, the content may be such that the tree gets bigger every time a reward is given, or the tree grows. Needless to say, the tree is just one example, and other plants or animals may also be used. The content may also use artificial objects other than natural objects as motifs to visualize the results of the user's practice. The reward may also be given as points or other value, and expressed by an increase in a numerical value indicating the magnitude of the value.

[0096] (8) In the above-described embodiment, the number of answers (options) to each question is set to three. However, the number of answers (options) to each question may be two or four or more.

[0097] (9) In the above embodiment, the number of answers (options) for each question is uniform, but the number of answers (options) may vary from question to question. For example, questions with two answers (options) or questions with four answers (options) may be included.

[0098] (10) In the above embodiment, three attention categories are selected from six behavior categories, but the number of behavior categories is not limited to six, and the number of attention categories is not limited to three. For example, the number of behavioral categories may be five or less or seven or more, and the number of attention categories may be one, two, four or more.

[0099] (11) In the above-described embodiment, the rank of each behavior category is determined using the table shown in FIG. 6, and then the attention category is determined by comparing the determined rank of the behavior category with the table shown in FIG. 7. However, the attention category may be determined based on the relative rank relationship among the six behavior categories. For example, the attention category may be determined by prioritizing B rank over A rank, and C rank over B rank. In addition, if there are four or more C rank behavior categories, three attention categories may be determined by, for example, random drawing.

[0100] (12) In the above embodiment, the user is prompted to select three actions from among candidate actions related to the attention category. However, the selection operation may be completed after, for example, two actions have been selected. For example, if a user is not in a good physical or psychological state, there is a low possibility that the user will actually try to practice three actions even if they are forced to do so. Rather, it is more likely that the target user will continue to practice the actions if they only select the number of actions that they think they can practice. In addition, in daily life, people may get sick, injured, or suddenly become unwell. In such cases, it may be possible to change the behavior during the practice period (for example, one week) or to temporarily suspend the practice. For example, if a user injures his / her leg, the activity to be performed may be changed from walking to upper body exercises or stretching.

[0101] (13) In the above embodiment, the behavior to be practiced is reviewed on a weekly basis, and the attention category is reviewed on a monthly basis, but the review period is not limited to this. For example, the behavior to be practiced may be reviewed on a biweekly basis, or may be reviewed when the attention category is reviewed. Similarly, the review period of the attention category is not limited to a monthly basis, and may be, for example, on a bimonthly basis.

[0102] (14) In the above-described embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the user's lifestyle habits are diagnosed (specifically, a score is calculated) using answers to questions, but the score may also be calculated using quantitative data. For example, a score for a "task" may be calculated using continuously recorded behavioral data (i.e., tracking data), such as the average number of steps taken and the average amount of calories burned in the past month. In addition, for example, a score regarding "motivation" may be calculated using user data (for example, frequency of performing an action in the past month) input or collected through the support app. The lifestyle may be diagnosed using only the score calculated using the quantitative data. The lifestyle may also be diagnosed using the score calculated using the quantitative data as auxiliary data for the score calculated based on the answers from the user.

[0103] (15) In the above embodiment, the operator of the support system 10 is assumed to be a company, an organization, or an entity commissioned by a company, but the operator may be an entity including various organizations or institutions. Also, the operator may be an entity that operates a public or private medical insurance system, or a medical institution that provides medical services.

[0104] (16) The support service in the above-described embodiment is intended to support the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertension, but can also be applied to other diseases. For example, the technology can be applied to customizing messages in services that support the improvement of lifestyle habits related to nicotine addiction, insomnia, depression, diabetes, alcoholism, and obesity.

[0105] Incidentally, in the case of a user with nicotine addiction, the following user data is stored: carbon monoxide (CO) in the breath, nicotine concentration in saliva, smoking date and time, number of cigarettes smoked or number of times, user's cognitive information (way of thinking, values), exercise (number of steps, length of exercise, distance traveled), other illnesses (diabetes), medication, blood pressure, heart rate, pulse, current physical condition (headache, irritability, feeling good, nausea, etc.), and all or part of the answers to the assumed causes. These pieces of information are examples of information related to smoking.

[0106] For a user with insomnia, the user data may include, for example, all or part of the following: time of going to bed, time of waking up, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, number and content of meals, exercise record, and medication record. Time of going to bed, time of waking up, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency are examples of information related to sleep. In addition, in the case of a user suffering from depression, the user data stored may include, for example, all or part of a record of mood, a record of behavior, a record of medication, a record of sleep, and a record of appetite.

[0107] For a diabetic user, the user data may include, for example, the number and type of meals, exercise records, medication records, weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels are an example of information related to blood glucose levels. In the case of a user with alcoholism, for example, a record of medication, whether or not the user has drunk alcohol, and all or part of the details of the drinking are stored as user data.

[0108] In addition, for obese users, the user data stored may include, for example, target weight, start date of treatment, number of days of treatment, appropriate calorie intake, health history (mood), weight history, calorie intake history, date and time of calorie intake, medication history (dosage taken, date and time of medication taken), therapy history (therapy, content of advice, whether or not the user performed it), medical history, blood data (AST (aspartate aminotransferase) / ALT (alanine aminotransferase)) and all or part of the CT value.

[0109] <Summary> The disclosed examples described in the above-mentioned embodiments are shown below. (((1))) An information processing system having one or more processors, which present one or more high priority behavioral categories based on information regarding a target user's lifestyle habits, and present one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavioral categories based on the difficulty of the target user forming the habit. This information processing system can help improve the effectiveness of actions to improve lifestyle habits.

[0110] (((2))) The information processing system according to (((1))), wherein the processor determines a load level of the behavior to be presented to the target user according to the difficulty level calculated for each behavior category. This information processing system can increase the likelihood that actions to improve lifestyle habits will be implemented.

[0111] (((3))) The information processing system according to (((1))) or (((2))), wherein the processor calculates the difficulty level based on the score related to the habit task and the score related to motivation. This information processing system can increase the likelihood that actions to improve lifestyle habits will be implemented.

[0112] (((4))) The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))), wherein the processor changes at least one of the content to be presented, the timing of presentation, and the frequency of presentation based on the level of difficulty. This information processing system can increase the likelihood that actions to improve lifestyle habits will be implemented.

[0113] (((5))) The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))), wherein the processor changes the manner in which information that motivates the target user to continue to practice the behavior depending on the level of difficulty. This information processing system can increase the likelihood that actions to improve lifestyle habits will be implemented.

[0114] (((6))) An information processing method in which a computer executes a process of presenting one or more behavioral categories with high priority based on information regarding the lifestyle habits of a target user, and a process of presenting one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavioral categories based on the difficulty of the target user forming the habit. This information processing method can support improvement of the effectiveness of actions to improve lifestyle habits. In addition, in this information processing method, it is possible to combine the techniques corresponding to (((2))) to (((5))).

[0115] (((7))) A program for enabling a computer to perform the following functions: presenting one or more high-priority behavioral categories based on information about the target user's lifestyle habits; and presenting one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavioral categories based on the difficulty of the target user forming the habit. This program can help improve the effectiveness of lifestyle improvement actions. In this program, it is also possible to combine technologies corresponding to (((2))) to (((5))). [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 1...information processing system, 10...lifestyle habit improvement support system, 20...user terminal, 101...processor, 102...ROM, 103...RAM, 104...auxiliary storage device, 105...communication interface, 106...signal line

Claims

1. One or more processors; The one or more processors: presenting one or more behavioral categories with high priority based on information about the lifestyle habits of the target user; presenting one or more behaviors to be practiced by the target user for the presented behavior category based on the degree of difficulty of the target user forming the behavior into a habit; Information processing system.

2. The processor, determining a load level of the behavior to be presented to the target user according to the difficulty level calculated for each behavior category; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor, calculating the difficulty level based on a score regarding the habitual task and a score regarding motivation; The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor, changing at least one of the content to be presented, the timing of the presentation, and the frequency of the presentation based on the level of difficulty; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The processor, According to the level of difficulty, a manner in which information is presented that motivates the target user to continue to practice the behavior is changed. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

6. The computer presenting one or more behavioral categories with high priority based on information about the lifestyle habits of the target user; A process of presenting one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavior category based on a difficulty level of the target user forming a habit; An information processing method for performing the above.

7. On the computer, A function of presenting one or more behavioral categories with high priority based on information about the lifestyle habits of the target user; A function of presenting one or more behaviors that the target user should practice for the presented behavior category based on the difficulty of the target user forming the behavior into a habit; A program to achieve this.

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