M ETHOD FOR M OTIVAT G A SU BJEECT TOWARD A HE=ALTH-RB-ATEED GOAL

HELD OFTHEINVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of health and physical fitness training. In particular, the invention is directed to methods and applications for motivating a subject to achieve a health-related goal.

BACKGROUND TO THE I NVE TION

With the many material excesses readily available to individuals in more developed countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult for such populationsto live a healthy lifestyle.

Of great significance to morbidity and mortality is the sedentary lifestyle lead by many individuals. This generally lack of mobility has lead to an increasing obesity epidemic, which in turn has caused elevated incidences of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes for example.

As is well appreciated in the art, physical activity is important in preventing and also reversing obesity along with the associated health risks. However, many individuals have difficulty in motivating themselves to exercise. The prior art provides methods for providing such motivation, such as by personal training sessions, attaching television saeens to exercise equipment, and group meetings (for example, those provided by Weight Watchers™). These methods often fail, or do not provide the level of motivation required to achieve the desired health outcome. Health can also be negatively affected by other factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake and illicit drug use. Again, many individuals find difficulty in self-motivating toward avoidance of these harmful agents. Peer-driven programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and similar support groups can be helpful, but many fail to provide the sufficient motivation for the improvement required.

It is an aspect of the present invention to overcome or alleviate a problem of the prior art by providing a method for motivating an individual to achieve a desired health outcome. The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

SUMMARYOFTHEINVtiNTION

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims as present herein reflect inventive aspects which lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims presented herein are hereby expressly incorporated into this Summary, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and from different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the claims presented herein, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination. In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description. In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms "comprising", "comprised of" or "which comprises" is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a method comprising step A and step Bshould not be limited to methods consisting only of methods A and B. Any one of the terms "including" or "which includes" or "that includes" as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, "including" is synonymous with and means "comprising". In a first aspect, the present invention provides a processor-based method for improving a health-related parameter of a subject, the method comprising the steps of :

providing a health-related goal,

providing a faith-related reward, and

providing the subject with the reward upon attainment of the goal.

Applicant proposes that an individual's faith is a useful factor in motivating toward behaviours that improve the physical health of the individual. To the best of the Applicant's knowledge never before has it been appreciated that the strength of an individual's religious belief can lead to improved health outcomes by using the belief in the context of a reward system. While the teachings of many religions emphasize respect for the body and that behaviours such as gluttony are to be avoided, none actually motivate an individual based on a reward system that is redeemable in a physical or worldly manner. As used herein, the term "processor-based" is intended to mean that the method is executed at least in part or even entirely on any processor-equipped device such as a personal computer, laptop, netbook, tablet, PDA, smart phone or other similar contrivance. The method may be implemented on a single processor-based device or across multiple processor-based devices connected to a LAN, WAN or the Internet. The method may be implemented in the form of standalone software adapted to be installed on a single processor-equipped device.

Qven the familiarity that many individuals have with personal computers and other processor-driven devices, the present met hods are particularly amenable to implementation on such contrivances.

The use of hand-held processor-driven devices such as smart phones provides more specific advantages with reference to the present methods, as described further infra. These devices are convenient to carry, and it is therefore more likely that a subject will enter data reliably. For example, where the health-related goal is a distance walked by the subject, it is desirable for the subject to accurately enter the distance actually walked. It is more likely that the distance (and more so the correct distance) will be entered if the user is carrying a hand-held device that executes the method. If the subjected waited until they returned to their desk-based personal computer before entering the data, the task may be forgotten or the distance incorrectly recorded.

In one embodiment the hand-held processor-based device includes a global positioning capability allowing for distances may be automatically recorded. This form of the method has the further advantage that distance data is able to be validated.

As used herein, the term "faith" is intended to mean a belief in a supernatural being or force. In one embodiment, the supernatural being is a god of the kind worshipped by many religions, and includes Hindu deities such as Ganesha, Indra and Surya. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the god is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as central to the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths. The present invention is particularly applicable to individuals of a Christian faith, with members being often resident in Western countries and in greater need of motivation toward engaging in behavioursto improve health.

In the context of the present invention the health-related goal may be any goal, the attainment of which leads to an improvement in a health-related parameter from a baseline. In a preferred embodiment the health-related goal is the performance of a certain amount of physical exercise. The exercise may be any type of activity such as walking, running, jogging, skipping, cycling, or swimming. The goal may be set by reference to a certain distance travelled, or a certain time for which the exercise is conducted, for example. Alternatively, the health-related goal may be set by reference to a desired physiological state, as brought about by any activity. For example, the goal may be to achieve a certain body weight, a certain BMI, a certain blood pressure, or a certain pulse rate.

In some embodiments, the health-related goal is set by reference to a certain number of kilojoules to be expended. An advantage of this form of the method is that a more direct comparison may be made between the amount of exercise performed between different subjects. For example, a larger subject will expend more energy than a smaller subject in walking a given distance, and could therefore be accorded greater credit toward a health- related goal.

The use of kilojoules expended as a health-related goal may also be advantageous since it will allow for a more direct comparison between different forms of exercise by the same subject. For example, the energy expended by running a certain distance is greater than that expending by a slow walk.

Accordingly, the method may comprise the further step of calculating the amount of energy expended by the subject in an exercise performed in the course of achieving the health- related goal. While the energy expenditure may be approximated solely on the basis of the type of exercise performed, a more accurate assessment is achievable where the subject provides relevant information such as sex, height, weight, age, BMI, ethnicity, body composition et cetera. Such factors are known to affect metabolism during exercise, and will be useful in more accurately assessing the amount of energy burnt in a session

It will be appreciated that the health-related goal may be provided by the subject, or by any other entity involved or not involved in execution of the present methods. Preferably, the goal is not provided by the subject.

In some embodiments, the health-related goal is not related to exercise, but instead the avoidance of behaviours and agents that are deleterious to the health. Such goals may relate to decreasing the number of cigarettes smoked per week, quantity of alcohol consumed, illicit drugstaken, or high fat meals consumed.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the health-related goal relates to the distance travelled by the subject by any form of self-propulsion such as walking and/or jogging and/or running and/or cycling and/or swimming. In further preferred embodiments, the health-related goal relates to the time for which the subject engages in the self-propulsion. It is proposed that these activities are particularly useful in the context of the present invention, given that parameters of time and distance are simple to measure, especially using GPS technology and timers as incorporated into many smart phones and related devices. The step of providing the health-related goal to the subject may be achieved by any processor-based means, including (but not limited to): text means (such as by presenting characters on a visual display operably connected to the processor), audio means (such as by playing an .mp3 file through a speaker operably connected to the processor), graphical means (such as by presenting a TIFF image on a visual display operably connected to the processor), or video means (such as by playing a .mov file on a visual display operably connected to the processor). The faith-related reward may be any tangible or intangible benefit that appeals to the subject by reference to their faith. For example, the reward may be completely or predominantly a text-based reward, such as a devotional. A devotional is a short writing about a topic related to the Christian faith, and usually incorporates a Bble verse, words of encouragement or challenging and inspiring thoughts. Many devotional writings also contain illustrationsfrom everyday life and then relate that to Christian living.

The text-based reward may be a quotation from a religiously significant person, or written information on a geographical site of importance to the faith under consideration.

The faith-related reward may be, completely or predominantly graphics-based such as an image of a figure or scene of the Bble, a Skint, a Fbpe, a Bshop, or a Martyr; or a photograph of a holy site. The faith-related reward may be completely or predominantly audio-based such as a Bble reading, a hymn reading, a spoken prayer, or a spiritually inspiring song.

The faith-related reward may be completely or predominantly video-based, such as a prerecorded interview with a person of religious significance, the re-enactment of a scene from the Bble, or the video recording of a religious ceremony

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the faith-related reward isadevotional.

The step of providing the faith-related reward to the subject may be achieved by any processor-based means, including (but not limited to): text means, audio means, graphical means, or video means as further exemplified supra.

In one embodiment, the method comprises providing at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or more discrete health-related goals. The reward for attaining each goal may be the same, similar or different for each goal. In a simple embodiment of the method, each discrete health-related goal is the same. For example, the first goal may be for the user to exercise for 30 minutes. Thus, the first goal is achieved (and the first reward attained) after 30 minutes of exercise. The second goal is also 30 minutes of exercise, and so after a further 30 minutes of exercise is achieved the user is provided with a second faith-based reward, and so on. Thus, each reward is "unlocked" in turn, upon the attainment of each subsequent goal.

Preferably the multiple discrete health-related goals are presented to the subject in the form of a sequence of goals. In some embodiments, the ability of the user to commence a later goal is not permitted until the first goal iscompleted.

The multiple goals may be presented in a manner that has a faith-based significance to the subject. Without wishing to be limited by theory in any way, it is proposed that the subject associates exercise with an aspect of their faith thereby increasing the level of motivation to exercise. In this way, the subject's faith is utilized to better effect in motivating toward a desired health-related outcome.

Preferably the sequence of goals is presented to the subject as a finite sequence, more preferably with the finite sequence being presented as a faith-based sequence.

The sequence (and more particularly the faith-based sequence) may be presented as a geographical sequence (such as a series of places frequented by Jesus Christ during His ministry), or a chronological sequence (such as the 9ations of the Cross), or a prayer sequence (such as the Fbsary). Alternatively, the sequence may be presented in an order of events described in the Bible. For example, the events in the Gospel of 9. Luke are not all described exactly in chronological order, instead, they follow an Orderly sequence' (Luke 1 :3). Thissequence followsthree distinct phases:

1. Jesus early ministry in the Galilee region.

2. Jburney to Jerusalem.

3. Fi ents leading to Jesus crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Without wishing to be limited by theory in any way, it is proposed that the subject is strongly inclined to complete the sequence such as the supra due to a religious conviction that the sequence should be completed to properly honour his or her God. Thus, the subject istypically highly motivated to complete all goals in the sequence.

In one embodiment of the method, the sequence is relatable to a physical activity, and particularly a physical activity that is in turn relatable to distance such as walking, running or jogging. For example, the sequence may reflect the various milestones on a pilgrimage to a holy site (such as the Way of 9 James in Spain), or a journey travelled by a religious figure (such as 9 Raul's voyage to Rome). The method may emulate such a pilgrimage or journey by providing faith-related goals in the form of virtual geographical milestones along the way.

Preferably, the goal is a distance travelled and the method emulates the travels of a faith- based figure on a historically accurate or fictional journey. The distance travelled in order to satisfy the goal may be substantially that which the faith-based figure travels on the journey. Thus, in order to get from one virtual site to the next (and to receive a faith-based reward) the subject must walk, run, jog or cycle a certain distance. The distances may be scaled downwardly where the real distances are great, such as for 9 Paul's voyage to Pome. In one embodiment of the method, participation by two or more subjects is provided for such that the method includes the step of displaying to the subject the progress, success or failure of a second subject in achieving a health-related goal and/or obtaining a faith-related reward. This comparative display is proposed to yet further motivate the subject into achieving their desired health outcome. Accordingly, a preferred form of the method comprises the steps of providing a health-related goal for a second subject, providing a faith-based reward for the second subject, and providing the second subject with the reward upon attainment of the goal.

Preferably, the second subject is challenged by the same or similar health-related goals as the subject and/or receives the same or similar faith-based rewards as the subject upon successful completion of the goals. EEven more preferably, the subjects commence participation in the method at the same time, or at a similar time. In this way, a more direct competition between subjects is provided.

In addition to a second subject, the method may comprise a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth subject. The number of subjects in some embodiments is at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, or 100 in some embodiments of the method.

The successful attainment of a health-related goal by a subject may be validated by an external source, or may be self-regulated in an honesty system.

It is contemplated that the method may be executed without the need to install dedicated software on the processor-based device. For example, the entire method may be embodied in a remote computer, with data transmission between the computer and the subject's processor-based device being via the Internet, by way of a browser platform such as Microsoft Internet EExplorer™ Google Chrome™ Mozilla Rrefox™or Apple Skfari™

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components and steps of the method have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled persons can implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the invention. In addition, the grouping of functions is for ease of description.

The various embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASQ, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions desaibed herein. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be any processor, controller, microcont roller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The steps of any method desaibed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium. An exemplary storage medium can be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an application specific integrated circuit (ASQ.

Various embodiments may also be implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, components such as ASCs, or field programmable gate arrays (" FPGAs"). Implementation of a hardware state machine capable of performing the functions desaibed herein will also be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art. Various embodiments may also be implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.

In a further aspect the present invention provides processor-executable program instructions capable of executing a method as desaibed herein. Preferably, the processor- executable instructions are executable in the context of an iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, Nokia, Palm, Blackberry or other smartphone operating system. The method may be web- based and embodied in HTML (and particularly HTML5) such that it may be executable on many platforms and devices.

Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides a processor-based device having processor executable instructions as desaibed herein. Preferably the device is a smart phone or similar device. 9ill a further aspect of the present invention provides a processor-readable memory comprising information relating to a health-related goal and a faith-related reward. The health-related goal and/ or faith-based reward may be any of those described herein, and in any combination.

In one embodiment, the processor-readable memory further comprises exercise-related information of a user. The information may be any type of exercise information referred to herein including a distance exercised or a time exercised. Preferably, the memory comprises exercise-related information of two or more users.

In another embodiment, the processor-readable memory has processor executable program instructions as described herein. A non-limiting preferred embodiment of the invention will now be disclosed by reference to the accompanying drawings, and in which:

FIG 1 is a saeenshot of the " home" page of the application.

RG 2 is saeenshot of the "your journey" page of the application.

RG 3 is saeenshot of the "your journey" page of the application, with rewards options menu displayed.

RG 4 is saeenshot of the "your journey" page of the application with map options menu displayed.

RG 5 is saeenshot of the "your journey" page of the application with setting option menu displayed.

RG 6 is saeenshot of the "start exercise" page of the application.

RG 7 is saeenshot of the "groups" page of the application.

RG 8 is a saeenshot of the "tell friends" page of the application.

RG 9 is a saeenshot of the " my exercise" page of the application. PREFERRED EM BODI MEENT OF THE I NVEENTI ON

The method has been embodied in the form of both Apple iOSand Android OS executable software application, having functionality as described infra. The application has been configured to emulate events described in the Gospel of 9 Luke. The events are presented as a finite sequence of health-related goals. Each milestone has an associated faith-related reward that can only be "unlocked" by the user entering 30 minutes of exercise into the application. New users are presented with a registration page, where details are entered. Upon successful registration the user is presented with the " home" page (Rg 1). Qicking on the "your journey" button displays the "your journey" page (Rg 2), showing on a map the first milestone of Christ's journey through Israel, the Jordan ver. The reward for this first milestone is provided "free", and does not need to be attained by entering any exercise into the application. The user is presented with a map of the site of Jesus' baptism, and surrounding regions. The site of the baptism is shown with a labelled marker pane.

Qicking on the top, right hand button reveals a menu displaying the various rewards available (Rg 3), being "scripture" , "devotion", "location facts" and "images". All rewards are related to Jesus' baptism or the site at which the baptism occurred.

Where "scripture" is selected, the following text isdisplayed:

Luke 3:21-22 HC

The Baptism of Jesus

²¹ When all the people were baptized, Jesus also

was baptized. As He was praying, heaven opened,

²² and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven:

You are My beloved Son.

I take delight in You! Where "devotion" isselected, the following text is displayed:

We will begin our journey of walking in the steps of Jesus here at Jesus' baptism, beside the Jordan Rver. Doctor Luke, the apostle Raul's friend and co-worker, is our travel guide. Luke begins by placing Jesus in His historical world. Ruling over the empire is Tberias Caesar. Ruling over Judea and Galilee, the two provinces where Jesus exercised most of His ministry, were Pontius Rlate and Herod respectively. And religious power was in the hands of the high priests, Annas, and then later hisson-in- law, Caiaphas. We'll meet most of these men later on our journey.

John the Baptist's ministry is to call people to change their lives and open their hearts for the coming of the Messiah. For centuries the Jewish people have been waiting for, and praying for, the coming of their King and Saviour. Now He's arrived.

And He comes to John the Baptist, and expresses His identification with the people by being baptized. But of course, it's what happens next that is most important. While Jesus is praying - did you notice that this great event occurs while our Lord is at prayer - Jesus is anointed by the Spirit and God speaks. And God says about Jesus what He has never said about any other person, "You are my Son, who I love, with you I am well pleased. " It's been said that in God's Hall of Religious Fame there is only one portrait: Jesus. Only one man has come from God. Only one man can bring us back to God. Only one man is supreme in God's affections. Only one man has God's unqualified endorsement. Jesus. His ministry has begun, and we must hang on every word He says.

Where " location facts" isselected, the following text isdisplayed:

Translated from Hebrew, the Jordan Rver literally means 'the descender'. It drops from 70 metres above sea level to 393 metres below sea level at its end, the Dead

Sea. The Jordan Rver was dammed in 1964 and now is only a fraction of the river it used to be. Current modern day photos often only show a trickle or murky river. It is easier to imagine what the Jordan really looked like by viewing it upstream from the dam.

'Yardenit', the popular baptism site at the northern end of the Jordan Rver near the Sea of Galilee is not the actual site where Jesus was baptized, but became popular since access was possible and water flowed. The precise location is unknown but likely to be further south on the border between Israel and Jordan, which was off- limits for many years. In 1996 archaeologists discovered baptismal pools from the

Roman and Byzantine periods, which may be the location described as 'Bethany- beyond-t he- Jordan', where Jesus was baptized. The Tourism Ministries of both Israel and Jordan opened up this site to the public in 2011. Where " images" isselected, several photographs of the Jordan Rver are displayed.

Qicking on the button at the top, fourth from left, displays the " map options" page (Rg 4) where the user can select satellite, terrain or overlay views. Qicking on the button at the top, third from left, displays the "account details" page (Rg 7) where the user can update details, join or change an exercise group, invite friends into their exercise group, compare progress with other users, or view the application privacy policy.

Qicking on the button at the top, second from left, displays the "your settings" page (Rg 5) where the user can select their preferred Bible translation, distance measurement units, alter their group details, or alter account details.

Returning to the home page by clicking the left-most button at the top of the page, the user is presented with the four options. Qicking on the "start exercise" button revealsthe "start exercise page (Rg 6), allowing the user to enter time automatically (based on an embedded stop watch function) or manually enter time in the lower data entry boxes. The stop watch function page displays exercise tips such as the following:

Remember, a well balanced fitness program must address the 3 fundamental components of fitness.

Cardiovascular

At least 30 minutes of physical activity 4 to 5 times a week that moderately inaeases your heart rate. How you exercise is up to you - try a purposeful walk, gardening, swimming, bike riding.

3rength

Muscular strength is only achieved by using resistance. Oonsider push-ups, sit-ups or weights.

Flexibility

The only way to inaease your flexibility is to stretch. Twice a day or before and after exercise - comfortably hold a muscle at the end of its range for 15 seconds.

Gombining these in your fitness program will minimise the chance of injury and allow you to reach your health and Faith ast goals!

Returning again to the home page (Rg. 1 ), the user may click the "tell friends" button to display the "tell friends" page (Rg 8), allowing the user to share the application with friends via Racebook™, Twitter™ or email.

Returning back to the home page (Rg 1 ), the user may click the "your journey" button to display the "your journey" page (Rg 2). To show a graphical output of the users exercise history, the "graph" button in the lower right hand corner of the screen displays a graph of exercise activity (in minutes) against time (in days).

In order to advance to the next geographical site on the "your journey" map, the user must complete 30 minutes of exercise, and enter at least that a period of 30 minutes into the application in order to proceed to the second reward: Jesus' Temptation in the Desert of Judea. This site is shown on the map with a pointer, and again, the reward page is shown with the user being able to alternately select saipture, devotion, location facts and images of the relevant site.

The application includes the ability to compare the user's progress with that of a group of users of which they are a member.