# How Apps Use Timed Content to Enforce Health Behavior Changes > A system for health apps that locks users out of missed daily lessons and forces them to move forward to the next scheduled module instead of catching up. - **Patent:** US 12431234 - **Original title:** Enforced content interaction timing for lifestyle and health related behavior change - **Owner:** McNeil AB - **Granted:** 2025 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 1 - **Field:** software, ai_ml, consumer_electronics ## What it does This patent describes a software mechanism that forces users to follow a strict chronological schedule for health-related content, such as smoking cessation programs. If a user fails to access a specific module during its designated 'active' window, the system locks that content permanently. When the user tries to access the missed content later, an 'enforcement module' blocks them and notifies them that the module is no longer available. The system then directs the user to wait for the next scheduled module, ensuring the user stays on a predefined path rather than skipping or delaying lessons. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover systems that allow users to access missed content at any time (on-demand learning). - Does not cover health behavior programs that do not use a time-locked enforcement mechanism. - Does not cover manual overrides where a user can unlock previous modules by contacting support. - Does not cover general notification systems that simply remind users to complete a task without blocking access. ## The clever bit The system treats missed content as a permanent state change rather than a simple 'to-do' item, effectively using software to force a 'no-turning-back' psychological commitment to the program schedule. ## Real-world examples 1. Smoking cessation mobile apps 2. Digital pregnancy health coaching platforms 3. Structured dietary habit-formation applications ## Why it matters This patent reflects a shift in digital health toward 'behavioral design,' where software developers use friction and scarcity to influence human habits. By preventing users from 'cramming' or skipping ahead, the system attempts to mimic the structure of professional coaching. It is a commercial tool for companies like McNeil AB to increase engagement and adherence in digital therapeutics. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Apps Use Timed Content to Enforce Health Behavior Changes cover? A system for health apps that locks users out of missed daily lessons and forces them to move forward to the next scheduled module instead of catching up. ### Who owns patent US 12431234? McNeil AB owns this patent, granted in 2025. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 30, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 12431234 cited by? This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent reflects a shift in digital health toward 'behavioral design,' where software developers use friction and scarcity to influence human habits. By preventing users from 'cramming' or skipping ahead, the system attempts to mimic the structure of professional coaching. It is a commercial tool for companies like McNeil AB to increase engagement and adherence in digital therapeutics. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover systems that allow users to access missed content at any time (on-demand learning). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12431234/raptor-cost **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12431234 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Using a Phone Display as a Visual Beacon Based on Activity](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11188196/app-library) — Apple's patent describes a device that changes its screen lighting behavior, such as pulsing or strobing, based on a user's heart rate or body temperature. - [How Pull-to-Refresh Works on Your Smartphone](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8448084/pull-to-refresh-gesture) — This patent describes the 'pull-to-refresh' gesture that lets users update a list of content, like a social media feed, by dragging down until a trigger appears and then releasing. - [How Smartphones Manage Multiple Notifications on a Locked Screen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11921980/vision-pro-optic-id) — A patent describing how a locked smartphone displays multiple notifications from different apps and allows users to interact with them individually without unlocking the phone. - [How Computers Automatically Manage Temporary Pop-up Windows](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7343566/os-x-dock) — A method for computer systems to automatically display, fade out, and close temporary windows based on timers or system events without requiring user interaction. - [How Online Stores Automatically Block Illegal Alcohol and Tobacco Deliveries](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7801772/amazon-recommendations) — A system that checks if your online order of alcohol or tobacco is legal to deliver at your chosen time based on local laws.