WO2020165714A1 - Voice-based product selection system - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods of automated cannabis database construction and analysis are provided. Such automated database construction may use a virtual assistant that is triggered to access to stored information related to cannabis production and the cannabis consumption experience, provide guided surveys or queries to assess types and levels of effects of consumed products, and construct new database entries based on the survey or query responses. Such database entries may be aggregated with historical data to improve and/or tailor production and user experiences. Such database entries may further include cannabis consumption event data collected from connected consumption devices that know the properties of the cannabis cartridge used by the users, along with quantity and timing statistics about consumption. These data points are examined to identify correlations between production methods, cannabinoid profiles, consumption methods, etc., to allow producers, processors, and consumers to make better decisions.

Description

VOICE-BASED PRODUCT SELECTION SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present patent application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application number 62/804,399 filed February 12, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to a cannabis consumption knowledge database, cannabis consumption effect survey, virtual assistants, cannabis extracts, and cannabis products. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to automated cannabis database construction and analysis.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] Cannabis is a flowering plant that has long been used for medicinal purposes and as a recreational drug. Cannabis contains a unique class of terpeno-phenolic compounds known as cannabinoids or phytocannabinoids that have been extensively studied since the discovery of the chemical structure of tetrahydrocannabinol (A9-THC), commonly known as THC. THC is the main constituent responsible for psychoactive effects. Another prominent cannabinoid present in cannabis is cannabidol (CBD). CBD is non-psychoactive but has been found to have numerous medicinal benefits.

[0004] When used by humans medicinally or recreationally, cannabis can be consumed by a variety of delivery methods, including inhalation of vapors ( e.g ., from vaporized cannabis-based materials) or smoke (e.g., from smoked cannabis-based materials) created from cannabis plants, including dried flower buds and leaf portions. Other delivery methods may include oral administration of edible forms, such as lozenges, candies, baked goods, or beverages. Other delivery forms include topical creams and similar formulations for transdermal application, sprays for oral or nasal administration, liquids for buccal administration, etc. All of the alternative delivery methods to direct smoking of the dried plant require some method of extraction of the cannabinoids and other compounds from the plant. Further, these cannabis extracts may require further purification and/or formulation with various additives and excipients, etc., into particular formulations, recipes, and forms in order to prepare a final cannabis product for consumers.

[0005] Different types of the effects of cannabinoid-containing cannabis products may include, for example, therapeutic relief of symptoms, psychological (including psychoactive) impacts, time of onset, duration of effects, etc. These effects may be influenced by such factors as the strain of cannabis used to prepare the products, the relative amounts of different cannabinoids and other compounds such as terpenes in the products, and the potency or concentration of various cannabinoids in the products. These factors may in turn be influenced by the method of extraction employed and the conditions used to prepare the extracts (e.g., solvent used, time and temperature of extraction, conditions of any post-extraction purification steps applied, etc.). Further, the effects may be influenced by the delivery form itself (e.g., edible product, vaping product, topical product, etc.) and also by the formulation recipes and methods used to prepare the products and how and for how long the products are stored.

[0006] As such, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods of automated cannabis database construction and analysis.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention may include automated cannabis database construction and analysis. Such cannabis databases may incorporate information regarding the end-user experience of a cannabis product to improve and/or tailor production and selection of cannabis products for the user. In addition, such information provides insight into how the effects of different preparation (e.g., potency or formulation) and the consumption methods of the same cannabis product (or cannabis products with similar attributes) can change the effects of the cannabis on the user, which further allows for tailored user experiences involving selection of cannabis products in accordance with the desired effect.

[0008] Such database may be constructed in a process that involves use of a virtual assistant (e.g., iPhone Siri or Amazon Alexa) to be automatically triggered upon consumption of a cannabis product to identify the consumed product and associate query responses with the same. Such information may be used to adjust cannabis product production so as to enhance user experiences with the final product.

[0009] Further embodiments of the present invention also provide extractors and producers of cannabis products information about which strains, grow methods, and extraction and processing steps are correlated to better end results. Analytics of such data may further allow extractors to see how different blends or cannabinoid profiles deliver different levels of effects, both desired and undesired. Such data may thereafter be used to control such effects so as to deliver a consistent, predictable user experience in terms of the types of effects and levels thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network environment in which a system for automated cannabis database construction and analysis.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary survey-based method for automated cannabis database construction.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary delivery-based method for automated cannabis database construction.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for automated cannabis database analysis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention may include systems and methods for automated cannabis database construction and analysis. Such cannabis databases may incorporate information regarding the end-user experience of a cannabis product to improve and/or tailor production and selection of cannabis products for the user. In addition, such information provides insight into how the effects of different preparation (e.g., potency or formulation) and the consumption methods of the same cannabis product (or cannabis products with similar attributes) can change the effects of the cannabis on the user, which further allows for tailored user experiences involving selection cannabis products in accordance with the desired effect. Constructing such a database may be triggered by a delivery device or other consumption event signal. Each consumption event may be associated with data collected from the user and delivery device as well as stored in data entries for use in adjusting subsequent production and product selections.

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network environment in which a system for automated cannabis database construction and analysis. Such network environment may include a cannabis network server 102, user device 124, and delivery device 128, each of which are capable of communicating over communication network 132.

[0016] Cannabis network server 102 may include any type of server or other computing device as is known in the art, including standard hardware computing components such as network and media interfaces, non-transitory computer-readable storage (memory), and processors for executing instructions or accessing information that may be stored in memory. The functionalities of multiple servers may be integrated into a single server. Any of the aforementioned servers (or an integrated server) may take on certain client-side, cache, or proxy server characteristics. These characteristics may depend on the particular network placement of the server or certain configurations of the server.

[0017] In particular, cannabis network server 102 may include extract database 104, survey database 106, user database 108, cannabis product database 110, questionnaire database 112, relationship database 114, survey module 116, delivery module 118, selection module 120, and relationship module 122. Cannabis network server 102 may collect data from cannabis users to create database entries regarding each user consumption experience. The experience data may be collected in accordance with questions or queries from one or more surveys (e.g., from survey database) or questionnaires (e.g., from questionnaire database 110). Such experience data may further be associated with or incorporate inter alia extract data (e.g., from extract database 104), user data (e.g., from user database 108), and cannabis product data (e.g., from cannabis product database 110). The resulting data entry regarding the user experience may therefore track the user data, the extract data, and the cannabis product data in conjunction with responses to the questions or queries.

[0018] Extract database 104 may store information regarding the properties of a specific cannabis extract used to manufacture a cannabis product. The information for each extract may include, for example, extract name or identifier, extractor name or identifier, cannabis strain used for the extract, cannabis biomass origin, extraction method employed, extraction conditions used, form of extract provided (e.g., resin, distillate or isolate), cannabinoid profile, and cannabinoid concentration or potency in the extract, name or identifier of products that uses the extract, etc.

[0019] Survey database 106 may store the information collected by the survey module 104.

A user database 108 may store user accounts (e.g., user names or identifiers), cannabis product types previously consumed, delivery methods previously used, user experience data, and other data. Cannabis product information may be stored in a cannabis product database 110 to provide users with access to a centralized knowledge database of the cannabis products' properties, how the products affect users, how different product properties or storage methods alter those effects. A cannabis product database 110 may store cannabis product data supplied by users and extractors, such as: cannabis product name or identifier, product brand name, manufacturer, delivery form (e.g., vaping product, edible gummy, oral spray, etc.), cannabinoid profile and potency, name or identifier of extract used to manufacture the product (e.g., from extract database), additives and excipients used in the formulation; etc.

[0020] A questionnaire database 112 may store the survey questions that are presented to users. The questions may further be associated with a database storage structure with fields that may be filled in with responses to the questions. As the selection of survey questions may be tailored to the user, cannabis product being consumed, etc., the data structure for storing responses may likewise be customized based on the user, cannabis product, etc.

[0021] A relationship database 114 may store the relationships between terms and phrases from the survey databases 106 and cannabis product database 110 that are identified by the relationship module 122.

[0022] A survey module 116 may be executable to collect survey data related to cannabis consumption events from cannabis users (e.g., through the voice assistant 126 in the user device 124), which may also segment the survey data by cannabis product type, delivery form, and user-reported effect of the consumption among other data. The survey data, which may be responsive to questions from questionnaires in questionnaire database 112, may thereafter be stored in survey database 106.

[0023] Delivery module 118 may be executable to collect data from the delivery device regarding a consumption event. In some embodiments, the consumption event may be signaled by the delivery device upon activation and use by the user to consume a cannabis product.

[0024] Selection module 120 may be executable to access to the knowledge database of the cannabis network server 102, including collective survey data in the survey database 106. In some embodiments, selection module 120 may be executable to evaluate the data stored in the databases (e.g., extract database 104, survey database 106, user database 108, and cannabis product database 110) to identify properties and parameters that are correlated with certain experience metrics. In particular, user preferences may be identified and correlated to certain extract or product properties. Such correlations may further be used to predict what other products may produce desirable user experiences and make recommendations, as well as adjust production parameters and subsequent selections.

[0025] The relationship module 122 may be executable to identify the relationships between terms that allows the cannabis network server 102 to deliver the proper information to the user based upon their request. In some embodiments, relationship module 122 may use natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning techniques to identify correlations, trends, and other types of relationships between various parameters of the extract, user, and cannabis product. Relationship module 122 may also tailor how survey module 116 may operate to query the user regarding a consumption event, as well as how selection module 120 may generate and refine selections and recommendations.

[0026] Users may use any number of different electronic user devices 124, such as general purpose computers, mobile phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable computing devices (e.g., laptop, netbook, tablets), desktop computing devices, handheld computing device, or any other type of computing device capable of communicating over communication network 132. User device 124 may also be configured to access data from other storage media, such as memory cards or disk drives as may be appropriate in the case of downloaded services. User device 124 may include standard hardware computing components such as network and media interfaces, non-transitory computer-readable storage (memory), and processors for executing instructions that may be stored in memory.

[0027] User device 124 may include a voice assistant application 126. Such user device 124 may include voice-based assistant 126 (e.g., iPhone Siri or Amazon Alexa), which allows the user to interact with the cannabis network server 102 using a natural language interface.

[0028] In an embodiment, delivery device 128 may collect and communicate data related to the user cannabis consumption (e.g., from extract container 130) to be measured and communicated to the cannabis network server 102. Delivery device 128 may, for example, be programmed to read or otherwise obtain information from extract container 130 regarding the contents thereof, including a product identifier and/or profile of the product contents. Such information may be transmitted via communication network 132 to cannabis network server 102, which may execute delivery module 118 to collect and process such information, as well as provide the same for storage in one or more of the databases 104-114.

[0029] In other embodiments, delivery device 128 may merely signal to user device 124 that a consumption event is occurring. Such signal may be transmitted from delivery device 128 to cannabis network server 102 or user device 125, which may trigger an interaction between the user device 124 to communicate with survey module 116. In particular, survey module 116 may be executed to access survey database 106 regarding questions (e.g., from existing or customizable scripts) to pose to the user. Such questions may be sent to user device 124, which may thereafter pose such questions to the user via voice assistant 126. Voice assistant 126 may thereafter converse with the user regarding their consumption experience, posing the scripted questions and collecting responses.

[0030] Communication network 132 may be a local, proprietary network ( e.g ., an intranet) and/or may be a part of a larger wide-area network. The communications network 132 may be a local area network (LAN), which may be communicatively coupled to a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. The Internet is a broad network of interconnected computers and servers allowing for the transmission and exchange of Internet Protocol (IP) data between users connected through a network service provider. Examples of network service providers are the public switched telephone network, a cable service provider, a provider of digital subscriber line (DSL) services, or a satellite service provider. Communications network 132 allows for communication between the various components of the network environment.

[0031] Functioning of the survey module 116 is explained with reference to FIG. 2. One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary survey-based method for automated cannabis database construction. As discussed above, survey module 116 may be executed when a consumption event is detected or otherwise indicated (e.g., user input).

[0033] Instep 200, a user may log into the survey module 116 from the user device 124. Such login may occur automatically if the user (or user device 124) has an existing user account with cannabis network server 102.

[0034] In step 202, survey module 116 may retrieve one oe more questions from the questionnaire database. The retrieved questions may be designed to assess the effects of a consumed cannabis product upon the user. In some instances, survey module 116 may retrieve different questions depending on historical data (if any), user data, type of cannabis product consumed, etc.

[0035] In step 204, the user device 124 may execute the voice assistant 126 to provide the questions (e.g., reading aloud, presenting text options) for the user to answer, whether verbally and/or selection from a screen of user device 1245.

[0036] In step 206, user device 124 and/voice assistant 126 may capture user responses to the questions posed in step 204. Such captured response may thereafter be transmitted to survey module 116 for processing, which may include categorization, storage in one or more databases (e.g., survey database 106), and retrieval for later analysis.

[0037] Functioning of the delivery module 118 may be explained with reference to FIG. 3. One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary delivery-based method for automated cannabis database construction. In step 300, cannabis network server 102 or user device 124 may poll delivery device 128 for a new consumption event. In other embodiments, delivery device 128 may send a signal to cannabis network server 102 or user device 124 regarding a newly detected consumption event.

[0039] In step 302, it may be determined whether a consumption event has been detected. If so, the method proceeds to step 304. If not, the method may return to step 300 for continued polling or otherwise awaiting a consumption signal to trigger next steps. A new consumption event may be detected when a delivery device 128 is activated and used to generate consumable cannabis, whether by vapor, smoke, or other form. For example, where delivery device 128 is a vaping pen that vaporizes the contents of an extract container 130, the consumption event may be detected based on use of the extract container 130. In some embodiments, the extract container 130 may be encoded with information regarding the extract and/or contents of the cannabis product. Such encoding may be readable by the delivery device 128 or user device 124, or may include a code associated with information regarding the extract or cannabis product. A user may enter a code, for example, into user device 124, which may retrieve (with or without assistance by cannabis network server 102) information regarding the extract or cannabis product.

[0040] In step 304, a user associated with the delivery device 128 (and/or user device 124) may be identified, and in step 306, the cannabis product properties (e.g., cannabinoid content, biomass origin mix, etc.) may be identified. Data from the extract container 130 about the cannabis product's properties (e.g., cannabinoid content, biomass origin mix, etc.) may be combined with data from the delivery device 128 about the quantity of product consumed by the user. Data related to the consumption event may be written to the cannabis product database 110 in step 308, and the method may return to polling for new consumption event data.

[0041] Functioning of the selection module 120 may be explained with reference to FIG. 4. One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for automated cannabis database analysis. In step 400, user search criteria (e.g., type of desired effects such as therapeutic relief of symptoms, psychoactive impact, duration of effects, etc.) may be received.

[0043] In step 402, related terms may be retrieved from the relationship database 114. An example of a related term may be applied, for example, to a user desire for sleepy or soporific effect. The relationship database 114 may identify similar terms culled from the survey database 106 (e.g., regarding past experiences involving such terms as drowsy, insomnia, tired, languid, aroused, etc.)

[0044] In step 404, a search condition may be generated. An example of the search condition may include a combination of the user-provided search criteria and the related terms retrieved from the relationship database 114. Such terms may be used to search the extract database 102 and/or survey database 106.

[0045] In step 406, it may be determined if the number of results from the search exceed the predetermined threshold for the minimum number of results from the search. If the

predetermined threshold for the number of search results is not met, the method may proceed to step 408. If the predetermined threshold is met, the method may skip to step 410.

[0046] In step 408, a new broader search may be generated by returning to the relationship database 114 and retrieving terms related to the related terms found the first search. The final step is to present the search results to the user in step 410.

[0047] The present invention may be implemented in an application that may be operable using a variety of devices. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media refer to any medium or media that participate in providing instructions to a central processing unit (CPU) for execution. Such media can take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile and volatile media such as optical or magnetic disks and dynamic memory, respectively. Common forms of non-transitory computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM disk, digital video disk (DVD), any other optical medium, RAM, PROM, EPROM, a FLASHEPROM, and any other memory chip or cartridge.

[0048] Various forms of transmission media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a CPU for execution. A bus carries the data to system RAM, from which a CPU retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by system RAM can optionally be stored on a fixed disk either before or after execution by a CPU. Various forms of storage may likewise be implemented as well as the necessary network interfaces and network topologies to implement the same.

[0049] The foregoing detailed description of the technology has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology, its practical application, and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claim.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for automated cannabis database construction, the system comprising:

memory that stores a questionnaire database having a plurality of questions that each assess a different aspect of cannabis consumption effects associated with one or more cannabis products;

a processor that executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor retrieves a set of questions and an associated data structure from the questionnaire database based on detection of a cannabis consumption event associated with a user: and

a communication interface that communicates over a communication network, wherein the communication interface:

transmits the retrieved set of questions and associated data structure to a user device of the user, wherein a virtual assistant of the user device is executed to output the set of questions on the user device and store each response in a corresponding field in the associated data structure, and

receives the associated data structure, wherein at least one field of the data structure has been filled in by the virtual assistant based on user input in response to at least one of the questions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication further receives an indication of the cannabis consumption event sent over the communication network from a delivery device, and wherein the processor executes further instructions to determine that a cannabis consumption event has been detected based on the indication.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the indication of the cannabis consumption event further includes an identifier of the cannabis product being consumed.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein memory further comprises a database regarding one or more cannabis products in memory, wherein the processor matches the identifier to data regarding one of the cannabis products.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor executes further instructions to combine the indication of the cannabis consumption event to the at least one filled-in field of the received data structure.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the indication of the cannabis consumption event includes information read from an extract container used by the delivery device during the consumption event.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor retrieves the set of questions based on the identifier of the cannabis product being consumed.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication interface further polls the delivery device for new cannabis consumption events, and wherein the indication is responsive to the polling.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein memory further stores a survey database, and wherein the processor further incorporates the at least one filled-in field of the received data structure into the survey database.

10. A method for automated cannabis database construction, the method comprising:

storing a questionnaire database in memory, the questionnaire database having a plurality of questions that each assess a different aspect of cannabis consumption effects associated with one or more cannabis products;

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor retrieves a set of questions and an associated data structure from the questionnaire database based on detection of a cannabis consumption event associated with a user:

transmitting the retrieved set of questions and associated data structure to a user device of the user over a communication network, wherein a virtual assistant of the user device is executed to output the set of questions on the user device and store each response in a corresponding field in the associated data structure; and

receiving the associated data structure over the communication network from the user device, wherein at least one field of the data structure has been filled in by the virtual assistant based on user input in response to at least one of the questions.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an indication of the cannabis consumption event sent over the communication network from a delivery device, and determining that a cannabis consumption event has been detected based on the indication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication of the cannabis consumption event further includes an identifier of the cannabis product being consumed.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing a database regarding one or more cannabis products in memory, and matching the identifier to data regarding one of the cannabis products.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising combining the indication of the cannabis consumption event to the at least one filled-in field of the received data structure.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication of the cannabis consumption event includes information read from an extract container used by the delivery device during the consumption event.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising retrieving the set of questions based on the identifier of the cannabis product being consumed.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising polling the delivery device for new cannabis consumption events, and wherein the indication is responsive to the polling.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing a survey database, and wherein the processor further incorporates the at least one filled-in field of the received data structure into the survey database.

19. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for automated cannabis database construction, the method comprising:

storing a questionnaire database in memory, the questionnaire database having a plurality of questions that each assess a different aspect of cannabis consumption effects associated with one or more cannabis products;

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor retrieves a set of questions and an associated data structure from the questionnaire database based on detection of a cannabis consumption event associated with a user:

transmitting the retrieved set of questions and associated data structure to a user device of the user over a communication network, wherein a virtual assistant of the user device is executed to output the set of questions on the user device and store each response in a corresponding field in the associated data structure; and

receiving the associated data structure over the communication network from the user device, wherein at least one field of the data structure has been filled in by the virtual assistant based on user input in response to at least one of the questions.