Method and apparatus for encouraging consumption of a product

• US 10,311,463 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AIC Innovations Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AIC Innovations Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanina, Adam, Kessler, Gordon, Guan, Lei
• Primary Examiner(s): Sigmond, Bennett M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Scott C
• Application Number:
  US14/571,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20150095139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute

Abstract

A method and apparatus for engaging consumers in the performance of predetermined action. The method comprises the steps determining performance of a predetermined action, providing feedback related to the determined performance of the predetermined action, and broadcasting confirmation of performance of the predetermined action along with at least a portion of the provided feedback. An incentive be provided based upon performance of the predetermined action, or upon broadcasting. The predetermined action may include eating a candy or other edible item. The feedback may include material related to an advertising campaign, or otherwise related to the candy or edible item.

Claims

1. A method for notification of confirmation of performance of an action, comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of sub-steps to be performed by an individual performing one or more actions indicative of performance of a predetermined action;

receiving, via a camera, one or more video images of the individual performing one or more actions;

displaying on a display one or more images of the individual performing the one or more actions as they are being captured by the camera;

determining performance by the individual of each step of the plurality of sub-steps by a computer processor in accordance with machine vision activity recognition of the one or more received video images;

providing near real-time feedback on a display to the individual in conjunction with the display of the one or more video images of the individual performing the one or more actions, the feedback being related to the determination of performance by the individual of each step of the plurality of sub-steps;

broadcasting confirmation of performance of each step of the plurality of sub-steps along with at least a portion of the provided feedback by a transmission system associated with the computer processor to one or more peers of the individual as defined on one or more social networking sites; and

providing an incentive to the individual based upon the broadcasting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined action comprises eating a predetermined object.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising determining that the individual has eaten an object different from the predetermined object, wherein the near real-time feedback comprises one or more benefits of the predetermined object over the object that is different from the predetermined object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined action comprises drinking a predetermined item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting is performed via at least one of the one or more social networking sites.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the broadcasting comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive comprises a monetary incentive to the individual.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an additional incentive to the one or more peers of the individual while the one or more peers are viewing the broadcast.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an additional incentive to the one or more peers of the individual upon performance of each step of the plurality of sub-steps by the individual.

10. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform the steps of:

defining a plurality of sub-steps to be performed by an individual performing one or more actions indicative of performance of a predetermined action;

receiving, via a camera, one or more video images of the individual performing one or more actions;

displaying on a display one or more images of the individual performing the one or more actions as they are being captured by the camera;

determining performance by the individual of each step of the plurality of sub-steps by a computer processor in accordance with machine vision activity recognition of the one or more received video images;

providing near real-time feedback on a display to the individual in conjunction with the display of the one or more video images of the individual performing the one or more actions, the feedback being related to the determination of performance by the individual of each step of the plurality of sub-steps;

broadcasting confirmation of performance of each step of the plurality of sub-steps along with at least a portion of the feedback; and

providing incentive based upon the broadcasting.

11. The recording medium of claim 10, wherein the predetermined action comprises eating an edible object.

12. The recording medium of claim 10, wherein the predetermined action comprises drinking an edible item.

13. The recording medium of claim 10, wherein the broadcasting is performed via a social networking site.

14. The recording medium of claim 13, wherein the broadcasting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action along with the portion of the feedback.

15. The recording medium of claim 10, wherein the computer program further causes the computer to further perform image capture via an associated mobile device including a camera.

16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the computer program further causes the computer to display feedback to a user on a display of the mobile device.

17. A system for confirming action, comprising:

an image acquisition system for acquiring an image of an individual performing an action;

a processor for defining a plurality of sub-steps to be performed by an individual performing one or more actions indicative of performance of a predetermined action, and for analyzing the acquired image to determine performance by the individual of each step of the plurality of sub-steps whether the individual has performed each step of the plurality of sub-steps in accordance with machine vision activity recognition;

a display for displaying on a display one or more images of the individual performing the one or more actions as captured by the image acquisition system, and for displaying to the individual in conjunction with the display of the one or more video images of the individual performing the one or more actions near real-time feedback related to the determination of the performance of each step of the plurality of sub-steps by the individual; and

a transmission system for broadcasting confirmation of performance of each step of the plurality of sub-steps along with at least a portion of the feedback;

wherein the individual is provided an incentive based upon broadcasting of the confirmation of performance of each step of the plurality of sub-steps by the transmission system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined action comprises eating an item.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the broadcasting is performed via a social networking site.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the broadcasting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action along with the portion of the feedback.