GB2398401A

GB2398401A - Product selecting computer system

Info

Publication number: GB2398401A
Application number: GB0303401A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Geoffrey Gore
Original assignee: ADL SMARTCARE Ltd
Current assignee: ADL SMARTCARE Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-14
Filing date: 2003-02-14
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Also published as: WO2004072878A2; GB0303401D0

Abstract

A method for advising a user of a product suitable for the solution of a user-selected problem and suitable for use by a person with a constrained range of actions, comprising the steps of: <SL> <LI>a) a user selects one of a plurality of predefined problems; <LI>b) a system determines a question set for the user to answer based upon the selected problem; <LI>c) the system presents the determined question set to the user, wherein the question set includes at least one question concerning the ability of the person to perform an action or actions; <LI>d) the user answers the question set; and <LI>e) the system automatically identifies one or more products to the user that are suitable for the solution of the problem. </SL>

Description

Product Selection Embodiments of the invention relate to Identifying to a

user with constraints products that are suitable for the solution of a user-selected problem and are suitable for use by that constrained user. The constraints may be, for example, in the actions the user can perform.

A person who is elderly or who has a disability may have functional limitations and not be able to perform certain actions. Another person may be able to perform a certain action but would prefer to not to, e.g. because although the action may be possible it may be uncomfortable. Such people cannot or will not use standard products or services. They may require products or services with particular characteristics. It is difficult for a non-expert to know which products or services would be suitable to them.

It would be desirable to provide a system that automatically identifies to a user the products or services that are suitable for a person user taking into account any enforced or chosen constraints concerning the actions the person can perform.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for advising a user of a product suitable for the solution of a user-selected problem and suitable for use by a person with a constrained range of actions, comprising the steps of: a) a user selects one of a plurality of predefined problems; b) a system determines a question set for the user to answer based upon the selected problem; c) the system presents the determined question set to the user, the question set includes at least one question concerning the ability of the person to perform an action or actions; d) the user answers the question set; and e) the system automatically identifies one or more products to the user that are suitable for the solution of the problem.

The system may access a database storing a data structure that correlates a predetermined question set with the selected predetermined problem. There is preferably a different predetermined question set for each of the predefined problems.

Step e) may include the step of automatically filtering a list of possible products to obtain a list of suitable products by removing products that require an operator to be able to perform an action outside the constrained range of actions.

Step e) may include the step of automatically filtering a list of possible products to obtain a list of suitable products by removing products that require an operator to have certain characteristics which the person does not have.

Step e) may include the step of automatically filtering a list of possible products to obtain a list of suitable products by removing products that require an operator to have a certain environment, in which the product is to be used, which the person does not have. For example, the product may require a minimum amount of floor space.

Step e) may include the step of automatically scoring the suitable products by testing, for each product, predetermined criteria for that product against the answers made by the user. The system may access a database storing, for each of the plurality of predefined problems, a data structure specifying criteria for each of a plurality of possible products. The suitable products may be ranked on the basis of their scores.

A computer program may be provided for enabling a processor to perform any one or more of steps b), c) and e).

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for advising a user of a product suitable for the solution of a user-selected problem and suitable for use by a person with a constrained range of actions, comprising: a user input operable to enable a user to select one of a plurality of pre-defined problems and to provide answer to questions; an output device for presenting questions to the user and for identifying products; a memory storing, for each one of a plurality of predefined problems, a first data structure that correlates a predetermined question set with a predetermined problem and a second data structure that specifies criteria for each of a plurality of possible products; and a processor operable to access the first data structure associated with a predefined problem selected by a user and to use it to present questions to the user via the output device and operable to access the second data structure associated with the predefined problem selected by the user and to test the criteria therein against the answers made by the user, and thereby determine a suitable product or products and operable to identify the suitable product or products to the user using the output device.

The criteria specified by a second data structure for a product may include mandatory criteria that require that a person must be able to perform a particular action for the product to be suitable for that person and the processor is then additionally operable to automatically test the mandatory criteria of the second data structure, associated with the predefined problem selected by the user, against the answers made by the user.

The criteria specified by a second data structure for a product may include character criteria that require an operator of the product to have certain characteristics for the product to be suitable for that operator and the processor is then additionally operable to automatically test the character criteria of the second data structure, associated with the predefined problem selected by the user, against the answers made by the user.

The criteria specified by a second data structure for a product may include environmental criteria that require an operator of the product to have a certain environment available for the product to be suitable for that operator and the processor is then additionally operable to automatically test the environmental criteria of the second data structure, associated with the predefined problem selected by the user, against the answers made by the user.

The criteria specified by a second data structure for a product may include a test portion and a score portion and the processor is operable to automatically score the suitable products by testing, for each product, the test portion of the predetermined criteria for that product against the answers made by the user and, if the test is passed, assigning the score. The processor may be operable to rank the suitable products on the basis of their (cumulative) scores.

A computer program may be provided for controlling the operation of the processor.

The computer program may be embodied on a data carrier such as a magnetic or optical disk or it may be stored in a memory.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program for enabling a processor to perform the following steps: receive a user identification of a pre-defined problem; access a first data structure that correlates a predetermined question set with the predefined problem; use the first data structure to present questions to the user via an output device; access a second data structure, associated with the predefined problem that specifies criteria for each of a plurality of possible products; and test the criteria therein against the answers made by the user, and thereby determine a suitable product or products.

I For a better understanding of the present invention and to understand how it may i be brought into effect reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a system 10 for automatically identifying a item or items for solving a problem from many possible items in dependence on structured user input; and Fig. 2 illustrates the process flow of the system 10.

Fig. 1 illustrates a system 10 for automatically identifying an item or items for solving a problem from many possible items in dependence on structured user input. The structure of the user input is controlled by the system 10. The system is capable of specifying a suitable item for solving a problem that the user has. It is particularly useful for shortlisting suitable products for an elderly or disabled person, who consequently is unable to perform certain actions easily.

The system 10 comprises a user input device 12 such a mouse, keypad, keyboard etc; an output device 14 such as a display screen; a processor 16 and a memory 18. In this example, the user interface 20 (the user input device 12 and the output device 14), the processor 16 and the memory 18 are housed in a single device 22. In other embodiments the user interface 20 may be remote from the memory 18 or remote from the processor 16 and the memory 18 connected thereto by a suitable medium. For example, the processor 16 and memory 18 may be located in a web server with communication via the internet to the user interface 20.

The processor 18 is connected to the input device 12, the output device 14 and the memory 18. It receives data signals from the input device and provides control signal to the output device 14. The processor 16 is operable to read from the memory 18.

The operation of system 10 is controlled by software resident within the processor 16 and uses a database stored in the memory 18.

Fig. 2 illustrates the process flow of the system 10. A user seeks an item as a solution to a particular problem that arises as a consequence of their age or handicap.

The following steps are illustrated.

a) the user defines the 'problem' using the user input device at step 30; b) the processor automatically determines suitable questions and presents them to the user via the output device at step 32; c) the user answers the questions using the user input device at step 34; d) the system automatically determines a suitable item or suitable items (the results) at step 36; e) the system automatically ranks the results and displays presents them to the user via the output device at step 38; and f) the user makes a selection at step 40.

In more detail: Although applicable any items such as services, information or products, the example below will be described with relation to products only.

a) The user defines the 'problem' The user selects one of a plurality of predetermined problems from a list of problems presented by the processor.

b) the processor automatically determines suitable questions and presents them The selected problem is used by the processor to generate questions. The database in the memory has a plurality of predefined Problem/Question Correlation Tables (PQCT). There is a table associated with each predefined problem. A table specifies the questions to be asked if the user selects the problem associated with that table.

The processor accesses the memory and reads the problem/question correlation table associated with the selected problem. It uses the table to control the output to present the questions to the user.

c) the user answers the questions using the user input device The user may answers questions by: a) selecting an option b) entering data or c) selecting an image The questions include: 1) personal information questions e.g. sex, weight, height, age 2) personal functional ability questions e.g. can you perform a certain action? The questions are objective. They do not relate to subjective criteria such as the user's product, brand or design preferences.

d) the system automatically determines a suitable product(s) The system operates substantially as a filter, removing unsuitable products from a list of potential products. It additionally scores products on suitability/unsuitability.

I The user's answers and the selected problem are used by the processor to generate an ordered list of suitable products for the particular user with the selected problem.

The database in the memory has a plurality of predefined Problem/ProducVAnswer Correlation Tables (PPACT). There is a table associated with each predefined problem. A table specifies criteria for each product.

The processor accesses the memory and reads the Problem/ProducVAnswer Correlation Table associated with the selected problem. The user's answers are tested by the processor against the criteria in the read PPACT.

In the PPACT, there is a plurality of entries for each possible product that is a solution to the problem. Each entry specifies a particular, predetermined criteria or a criterion. Some criteria may be shared amongst products.

An entry may indicate a 'test' portion and a 'score' portion. If the test is satisfied by a user's answers, then the score is taken as a result. The entries for a product are tested one at a time and the cumulative score calculated. The relative suitability of the various products is determined by the products total cumulative scores.

The 'test' portion may be for example a number, numeric range or a particular answer.

The 'score' portion may be a numeric value e.g. -9 to 0 or it may be indicator e.g. $' indicating that it is mandatory or 'x' indicating it is unacceptable.

The 'test' portion may involve an algebraic equation or mathematical function that user's one or more of the user's answers. For example the 'test' may relate to obesity and the Body Mass Index may be used as a quantitative obesity measurement. The BMI calculation requires the height and weight of the user.

As an example of relative scoring, product A may be designed for very tall people, whereas product B may be designed for normally sized people.

One question asked would be "How tall are you?" The corresponding entry in the answer/product correlation table for product A may be (test; score) : I >2m; 0 1.9-2m; -2 <1.9m; -9 The corresponding entry in the answer/product correlation table for product B may be: >2m; -9 1.9-2m; -7 1.4m <1.8m; 0 <1.4m;-9 If user 1 answers 1.95m, the scores for products A d B are -2 and -7.

If user 2 answers 1.5m, the scores for products A and B are -9 and 0.

In this instance a 'perfect' score is 0 and degrees of unsuitability are specified.

The greater the negative number the more unsuitable. Product A is more suitable for user 1 and product B is more suitable for user 2.

As an example of mandatory scoring, consider the same products A and B. the product A is only suitable for someone who can stand-up and support their own

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One questions asked would be "can you stand-up and support your weight on two feet?" The answer would be "YES" or "NO".

The entry in the answer/product correlation table could be: YES; $ NO; x $' indicates that this is a mandatory answer. If the user's answer satisfies this criterion the product remains in the list of potential products.

x' indicates that this is an unacceptable answer. If the user's answer satisfies this criterion the product is deleted from the list of potential products.

As an example of functional testing, consider the same products A and B. the product B is only suitable for someone who is not severely obese.

Questions asked could be: "What is your height (m) ?" What is your weight (kg)?" The answers would be height H and weight M. The entry in the answer/product correlation table could be: M/Hz, 35; x if the user has a Body Mass Index greater than 35, product B is deleted from the list of possible products. 1.

e) the system automatically ranks the results and presents them to the user via the output device The process having tested the criteria of the possible products against the user's answers has deleted some products from the list of possible products and has a cumulative score for the remaining selectable products. The products are presented to the user in cumulative score order. The most suitable is displayed first and the least suitable is displayed last.

The system can record the answers made by a user and store them for reuse. In the future, the set of questions asked to solve a different problem may be reduced if the answers to some of the questions have been recorded previously.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A method for advising a user of a product suitable for the

solution of a user-selected problem and suitable for use by a person with a constrained range S of actions, comprising the steps of: a) a user selects one of a plurality of predefined problems; b) a system determines a question set for the user to answer based upon the selected problem; c) the system presents the determined question set to the user, wherein the question set includes at least one question concerning the ability of the person to perform an action or actions; d) the user answers the question set; and e) the system automatically identifies one or more products to the user that are suitable for the solution of the problem.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method involves the system accessing a database storing a data structure that correlates a predetermined question set with the selected predetermined problem.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a different predetermined question set for each of the predefined problems.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein step e) includes the step of automatically filtering a list of possible products to obtain a list of suitable products by removing products that require an operator to be able to perform an action outside the constrained range of actions.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein step e) includes the step of automatically filtering a list of possible products to obtain a list of suitable products by removing products that require an operator to have certain characteristics which the person does not have.
6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein step e) includes the step of automatically filtering a list of possible products to obtain a list of suitable products by removing products that require an operator to have a certain environment, in which the product is to be used, which the person does not have.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein step e) includes the step of automatically scoring the suitable products by testing, for each product, predetermined criteria for that product against the answers made by the user.
8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the system accesses a database storing, for each of the plurality of predefined problems, a data structure specifying criteria for each of a plurality of possible products.
9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the suitable products are ranked on the basis of their scores.
10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a computer program is provided for enabling a processor to perform any one or more of steps b), c) and e).
11. A system for advising a user of a product suitable for the solution of a user-selected problem and suitable for use by a person with a constrained range of actions, comprising: a user input operable to enable a user to select one of a plurality of pre-defined problems and to provide answers to questions; an output device for presenting questions to the user and for identifying products; a memory storing, for each one of a plurality of predefined problems, a first data structure that correlates a predetermined question set with a predetermined problem and a second data structure that specifies criteria for each of a plurality of possible products; and a processor operable to access the first data structure associated with a predefined problem selected by a user and to use it to present questions to the user via the output device and operable to access the second data structure associated with the predefined problem selected by the user and to test the criteria therein against the answers made by the user, and thereby determine a suitable product or products and operable to identify the suitable product or products to the user using the output device.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the criteria specified by a second data structure for a product includes mandatory criteria that require that a person must be able to perform a particular action for the product to be suitable for that l O person.
13. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the processor is operable to automatically test the mandatory criteria of the second data structure, associated with the predefined problem selected by the user, against the answers made by the user.
14. A system as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the criteria specified by a second data structure for a product includes character criteria that require an operator of the product to have certain characteristics for the product to be suitable for that operator.
15. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the processor is operable to automatically test the character criteria of the second data structure, associated with the predefined problem selected by the user, against the answers made by the user.
16. A system as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15 wherein the criteria specified by a second data structure for a product includes environmental criteria that require an operator of the product to have a certain environment available for the product to be suitable for that operator.
17. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the processor is operable to automatically test the environmental criteria of the second data structure, associated with the predefined problem selected by the user, against the i answers made by the user.
18. A system as claimed in any of claims 11 to 17 wherein the criteria specified by a second data structure for a product includes a test portion and a score portion! JO
19. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the processor is operable to automatically score the suitable products by testing, for each product, the test portion of the predetermined criteria for that product against the answers made by the user and, if the test is passed, assigning the score.
20. A system as claimed in claim 18 or 19 wherein the processor is operable to rank the suitable products on the basis of their scores.
21. A system as claimed in any of claims 18 to 20 wherein the processor is operable to rank the suitable products on the basis of their cumulative scores.
22. A system as claimed in any of claims 11 to 21 wherein a computer program may be provided for controlling the operation of the processor.
23. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the computer program is embodied on a data carrier.
24. A system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said data carrier is a magnetic or optical disk.
25. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said computer program is stored in a memory.
26. A computer program for enabling a processor to perform the following steps: receive a user identification of a pre-defined problem; access a first data structure that correlates a predetermined question set with the predefined problem; use the first data structure to present questions to the user via an output device; access a second data structure, associated with the predefined problem that specifies criteria for each of a plurality of possible products; and test the criteria therein against the answers made by the user, and thereby determine a suitable product or products.
27. A system, method or computer program substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying figures.