IP Library Granted Patent US 12706221
Granted Patent B2
US 12706221 · App. 17/466,914 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Calculating viral transfer risk and reducing exposure through occupancy optimization

Inventors: Brian Decker (Bonifacius, MN); Hadi D. Halim (Kendall Park, NJ); Gregory J. Boss (Saginaw, MI); Ranjan Prasad (Eden Prairie, MN)
Assignee: Optum, Inc.
G16H50/80G05B19/042G06Q10/02G16H10/60G16H50/30G16H50/70H04L9/0866G05B2219/2614
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12706221
App. No.
17/466,914
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to viral transfer risk management. In example embodiments, an apparatus is configured to retrieve a first user identifier associated with a first client computing entity. The apparatus is further configured to determine, based at least in part on a first transfer risk score associated with the first user identifier, a first transfer risk score grouping for the first user identifier. The apparatus is further configured to, based at least in part on the first transfer risk score grouping and physical space parameters associated with a physical space identifier, allocate a first physical space assignment within a physical space associated with the physical space identifier to the first user identifier associated with the first client computing entity.

Claims (59)

1 . A system comprising one or more processors and at least one memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first user identifier associated with a first client computing entity;

determining, based at least in part on (i) a first transfer risk score associated with the first user identifier, (ii) real-time updates to respective transfer risk scores associated with a plurality of nearby user identifiers, and (iii) an adjustable risk threshold associated with one or more government regulations, a first transfer risk score grouping for the first user identifier;

detecting speech that is spoken within a physical space associated with a physical space identifier;

determining, based at least in part on applying speech detection and natural language processing to the speech, one or more viral transmission risk statements within the speech;

based at least in part on the first transfer risk score grouping, one or more physical space parameters associated with the physical space identifier, and the one or more viral transmission risk statements, controlling an HVAC system within a physical space associated with the physical space identifier by adjusting air filtration associated with the physical space or adjusting exhaust associated with the physical space; and

allocating a first physical space assignment based at least in part on distributing physical space assignments such that client computing entities associated with low transfer risk groupings are positioned closest to a physical space ventilation pattern starting point and client computing entities associated with high transfer risk groupings are positioned closest to a physical space ventilation pattern end point and such that client computing entities associated with moderate transfer risk groupings are positioned between those client computing entities associated with high transfer risk groupings and low transfer risk groupings.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical space parameters comprise one or more of physical space shape, physical space height, physical space square footage, physical space restricted areas, physical space openings, physical space ventilation pattern, physical space ventilation capabilities, available physical space assignments, or reserved physical space assignments.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a reserved physical space assignment of the reserved physical space assignments is associated with a respective transfer risk score associated with a respective user identifier to which the reserved physical space assignment is allocated.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the plurality of nearby user identifiers each associated with a different nearby client computing entity of a plurality of nearby client computing entities within a first proximity of the first client computing entity;

for each nearby user identifier of the plurality of nearby user identifiers, determining, based at least in part on a respective transfer risk score associated with the nearby user identifier, a respective transfer risk score grouping; and

responsive to detecting a change in location associated with the first client computing entity, based at least in part on the one or more physical space parameters, locations associated with the plurality of nearby client computing entities, and respective transfer risk score groupings associated with the plurality of nearby user identifiers, transmitting a collision potential notification to the first client computing entity.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more of adjusting sanitation associated with the physical space or allocating a first physical space assignment to the first user identifier based at least in part on transfer risk groupings associated with other user identifiers associated with reserved physical space assignments and minimizing viral transmission risk for one or more client computing entities of a plurality of client computing entities within the physical space.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first transfer risk score grouping is one of low, moderate, high, or waiver exception.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein allocating the first physical space assignment is further based at least in part on distributing physical space assignments such that client computing entities associated with waiver exception transfer risk groupings are positioned among those client computing entities associated with low transfer risk groupings and at least a required physical distance away from those client computing entities associated with high transfer risk groupings.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein a low transfer risk grouping is associated with a transfer risk score of less than 10%, a moderate transfer risk grouping is associated with a transfer risk score of at least 10% and less than 80%, a high transfer risk grouping is associated with a transfer score of at least 80%, and a waiver exception transfer risk grouping is associated with a transfer risk record having a transfer risk record value representing a waiver exception to having been immunized.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the adjustable risk threshold is further associated with one or more physical space capacities.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise generating the first transfer risk score by:

retrieving a first transfer risk vector associated with the first user identifier, the first transfer risk vector comprising a plurality of transfer risk records; and

based at least in part on one or more of a first transfer risk record value of a first transfer risk record associated with an immunity date, a current immunity timeframe, a second transfer risk value of a second transfer risk record associated with a first vaccination date, a first vaccination incubation timeframe, a first vaccination efficacy value, generating the first transfer risk score.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein other transfer risk records of the plurality of transfer risk records comprise one or more of transfer risk record values representative of one or more vaccination records, personal protective equipment (PPE) wearing habits, natural immunity, immunization declaration, one or more medical conditions, or medical history.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

storing a distributed ledger record associated with the first user identifier in a distributed ledger.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting control signals to the HVAC system.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:

responsive to receiving, originating from the first client computing entity, a private key of a public-private key pair associated with the first user identifier,

receiving a distributed ledger record associated with the first user identifier from a distributed ledger;

decrypting the distributed ledger record using the private key; and

transmitting, to the first client computing entity, a transfer risk transcript interface configured for display via the first client computing entity.

15 . The system of claim 4 , wherein transmitting the collision potential notification is further based at least in part on a detected velocity or position with respect to time and its derivatives associated with the first client computing entity and a safe physical distance threshold associated with the first transfer risk score grouping associated with the first user identifier.

16 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the collision potential notification comprises one or more corrective movement recommendations.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the physical space comprises an airplane, a restaurant, a vehicle, a multi-passenger vehicle, or a venue.

18 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first proximity is based at least in part on regulatory and scientific information and known transmissibility risks.

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

allocating a first physical space assignment to the first user identifier based at least in part on a risk ceiling associated with the physical space associated with the physical space identifier, and wherein the risk ceiling is generated based at least in part on a configurable safety threshold defined for the physical space.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a location associated with the first client computing entity; and

responsive to determining the first client computing entity is within the physical space associated with the physical space identifier and that the first client computing entity is associated with a first physical space assignment, transmitting a physical space assignment interface to the first client computing entity for display via the first client computing entity.

21 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first user identifier associated with a first client computing entity;

determining, based at least in part on (i) a first transfer risk score associated with the first user identifier, (ii) real-time updates to respective transfer risk scores associated with a plurality of nearby user identifiers, and (iii) an adjustable risk threshold associated with one or more government regulations, a first transfer risk score grouping for the first user identifier;

detecting speech that is spoken within a physical space associated with a physical space identifier;

determining, based at least in part on applying speech detection and natural language processing to the speech, one or more viral transmission risk statements within the speech;

based at least in part on the first transfer risk score grouping, one or more physical space parameters associated with the physical space identifier, and the one or more viral transmission risk statements, controlling an HVAC system within a physical space associated with the physical space identifier by adjusting air filtration associated with the physical space or adjusting exhaust associated with the physical space; and

allocating a first physical space assignment based at least in part on distributing physical space assignments such that client computing entities associated with low transfer risk groupings are positioned closest to a physical space ventilation pattern starting point and client computing entities associated with high transfer risk groupings are positioned closest to a physical space ventilation pattern end point and such that client computing entities associated with moderate transfer risk groupings are positioned between those client computing entities associated with high transfer risk groupings and low transfer risk groupings.

22 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a first user identifier associated with a first client computing entity;

determining, by the one or more processors and based at least in part on (i) a first transfer risk score associated with the first user identifier, (ii) real-time updates to respective transfer risk scores associated with a plurality of nearby user identifiers, and (iii) an adjustable risk threshold associated with one or more government regulations, a first transfer risk score grouping for the first user identifier;

detecting speech that is spoken within a physical space associated with a physical space identifier;

determining, based at least in part on applying speech detection and natural language processing to the speech, one or more viral transmission risk statements within the speech;

based at least in part on the first transfer risk score grouping, one or more physical space parameters associated with the physical space identifier, and the one or more viral transmission risk statements, controlling an HVAC system within a physical space associated with the physical space identifier by adjusting air filtration associated with the physical space or adjusting exhaust associated with the physical space; and

allocating a first physical space assignment based at least in part on distributing physical space assignments such that client computing entities associated with low transfer risk groupings are positioned closest to a physical space ventilation pattern starting point and client computing entities associated with high transfer risk groupings are positioned closest to a physical space ventilation pattern end point and such that client computing entities associated with moderate transfer risk groupings are positioned between those client computing entities associated with high transfer risk groupings and low transfer risk groupings.

23 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a plurality of locations, each location associated with a different client computing entity of a plurality of client computing entities within a physical space associated with a physical space identifier;

receiving a plurality of user identifiers each associated with a different client computing entity of the plurality of client computing entities; and

for each user identifier of the plurality of user identifiers, determining, based at least in part on a respective transfer risk score associated with the user identifier, a respective transfer risk score grouping.