Inducing desired behavior with automatic application of points

• US 20040248070A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leland J. Ancier
• Original Assignee: Leland J. Ancier
• Inventors: Ancier, Leland J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Each of a plurality of desired behaviors is associated with a corresponding positive point value, and each of a plurality of undesired behaviors is associated with a corresponding negative point value. A behavior tracking manager tracks behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time. The behavior tracking manager automatically calculates a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined time period. The behavior tracking manager, in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocates consequences to the subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time. Each of a plurality of levels can be associated with a corresponding point cost, and the behavior tracking manager can automatically assigning an appropriate level to the subject, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for inducing desired behavior in a subject, the method comprising:

associating each of a plurality of desired behaviors with a corresponding positive point value;

associating each of a plurality of undesired behaviors with a corresponding negative point value;

tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time;

automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined period of time; and

in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total further comprises:

associating each of a plurality of levels with a corresponding point cost; and

automatically assigning an appropriate level to the subject for the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating each of a plurality of privileges with a corresponding point cost.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total further comprises:

automatically allocating specific privileges to the subject during the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total further comprises:

allowing the subject to purchase privileges during the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically providing at least one default feature from a group of default features comprising:

a default desired behavior;

a default undesired behavior;

a default positive point value associated with a desired behavior; and

a default negative point value associated with an undesired behavior.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving, from a user, at least one modification to at least one provided default feature from a group of default features comprising:

a default desired behavior;

a default undesired behavior;

a default positive point value associated with a desired behavior; and

a default negative point value associated with an undesired behavior.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, from a user, at least one user defined feature from a group of user defined features comprising:

a user defined desired behavior;

a user defined undesired behavior;

a user defined positive point value associated with a desired behavior; and

a user defined negative point value associated with an undesired behavior.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

associating at least one privilege with at least one level.

10. The method of claim 3 or claim 9 further comprising:

automatically providing at least one default privilege.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one modification to at least one provided default privilege.

12. The method of claim 3 or claim 9 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one user defined privilege.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

each defined time period comprises one week.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

at least one desired behavior comprises an expected behavior.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

tracking performance of expected behaviors by the subject; and

automatically outputting information to a user concerning the performance of expected behaviors by the subject.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

automatically generating a report detailing a change in performance of at least one expected behavior by the subject.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

automatically generating a report detailing a failure to perform at least one expected behavior by the subject.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein:

at least one undesired behavior comprises an incident, with which a predefined consequence is associated.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

tracking performance of an incident by the subject; and

automatically outputting information to a user concerning the performance of the incident by the subject.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incident comprises automatically deducting a specified number of points from the subject'"'"'s point total for a specified number of defined periods of time.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incident comprises automatically reducing a subject'"'"'s earned level for a specified number of defined periods of time.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

tracking performance of an incident by the subject; and

automatically applying a predefined consequence associated with the incident upon tracking performance of the incident by the subject.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

automatically applying a predefined consequence associated with the incident for at least two defined periods of times, responsive to the performance of the incident by the subject.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incident comprises automatically allocating a punishment to the subject.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically converting earned points into a cash value, to be paid to the subject.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically allocating at least one redeemable token to the subject based on the earned point total.

27. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

automatically allocating at least one redeemable token to the subject based on the earned level.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating at least one report to a user detailing performed behaviors by at least one subject.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

automatically saving data concerning performed behaviors by at least one subject; and

automatically utilizing saved data to generate at least one report detailing performed behaviors by at least one subject.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the subject is one from a group of subjects comprising:

a child;

an employee;

a protege;

a student;

a patient;

a camper;

an inmate;

a nursing home resident;

a user;

a soldier; and

a trainee.

31. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by at least one additional subject over a defined period of time;

automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by at least one additional subject during the defined period of time;

in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocating consequences to at least one additional subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein:

at least one behavior comprises a common behavior, to be utilized in conjunction with at least two subjects.

33. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

associating at least one punishment with at least one level.

34. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating at least one punishment with at least one point cost.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

automatically allocating at least one punishment to the subject during the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

36. The method of claim 33 or claim 34 further comprising:

automatically providing at least one default punishment.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one modification to at least one provided default punishment.

38. The method of claim 33 or claim 34 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one user defined punishment.

39. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

automatically providing at least one default point cost associated with a level.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one modification to at least one provided default point cost associated with a level.

41. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one user defined point cost associated with a level.

42. The method of claim 3 or claim 34 further comprising:

automatically providing at least one default point cost associated with an feature from a group of features comprising;

a privilege; and

a punishment.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one modification to at least one provided default point cost associated with an feature from a group of features comprising;

a privilege; and

a punishment.

44. The method of claim 3 or claim 34 further comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one user defined point cost associated with an feature from a group of features comprising;

a privilege; and

a punishment.

63. The method of claim 1 wherein:

at least one desired behavior comprises an incentive, with which a predefined consequence is associated.

64. The method of claim 63 further comprising:

tracking performance of an incentive by the subject; and

automatically outputting information to a user concerning the performance of the incentive by the subject.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incentive comprises automatically adding a specified number of points to the subject'"'"'s point total for a specified number of defined periods of time.

66. The method of claim 63 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incentive comprises automatically incrementing a subject'"'"'s earned level for a specified number of defined periods of time.

67. The method of claim 63 further comprising:

tracking performance of an incentive by the subject; and

automatically applying a predefined consequence associated with the incentive upon tracking performance of the incident by the subject.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising:

automatically applying a predefined consequence associated with the incentive for at least two defined periods of times, responsive to the performance of the incentive by the subject.

69. The method of claim 63 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incentive comprises automatically allocating a privilege to the subject.

70. The method of claim 63 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incentive comprises automatically allocating at least one token to the subject.

71. The method of claim 18 wherein:

at least one predefined consequence associated with at least one incident comprises automatically taking away at least one token from the subject.

45. A computer implemented method for inducing desired behavior in a subject, the method comprising:

associating each of a plurality of desired behaviors with a corresponding positive point value;

associating each of a plurality of undesired behaviors with a corresponding negative point value;

tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time;

automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined period of time; and

automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on an average point total earned during a specified number of periods of time.

46. A computer program product for inducing desired behavior in a subject, the computer program product comprising:

program code for associating each of a plurality of desired behaviors with a corresponding positive point value;

program code for associating each of a plurality of undesired behaviors with a corresponding negative point value;

program code for tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time;

program code for automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined period of time;

program code for, in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time; and

a computer readable medium on which the program codes are stored.

47. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for associating each of a plurality of levels with a corresponding point cost; and

program code for automatically assigning an appropriate level to the subject for the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

48. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for associating each of a plurality of privileges with a corresponding point cost.

49. The computer program product of claim 48 further comprising:

program code for automatically allocating specific privileges to the subject during the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

50. The computer program product of claim 48 further comprising:

program code for allowing the subject to purchase privileges during the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

51. The computer program product of claim 47 further comprising:

program code for associating at least one privilege with at least one level.

52. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for tracking performance of expected behaviors by the subject; and

program code for automatically outputting information to a user concerning the performance of expected behaviors by the subject.

53. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for tracking performance of an incident by the subject; and

program code for automatically applying a predefined consequence associated with the incident upon tracking performance of the incident by the subject.

54. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for automatically allocating at least one redeemable token to the subject based on the earned point total.

55. The computer program product of claim 47 further comprising:

program code for automatically allocating at least one redeemable token to the subject based on the earned level.

56. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for generating at least one report to a user detailing performed behaviors by at least one subject.

57. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by at least one additional subject over a defined period of time;

program code for automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by at least one additional subject during the defined period of time; and

program code for, in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocating consequences to at least one additional subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

58. The computer program product of claim 47 further comprising:

program code for associating at least one punishment with at least one level.

59. The computer program product of claim 46 further comprising:

program code for associating at least one punishment with at least one point cost.

60. The computer program product of claim 59 further comprising:

program code for automatically allocating at least one punishment to the subject during the subsequent period of time, based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

61. A computer system for inducing desired behavior in a subject, the computer system comprising:

a software portion configured for associating each of a plurality of desired behaviors with a corresponding positive point value;

a software portion configured for associating each of a plurality of undesired behaviors with a corresponding negative point value;

a software portion configured for tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time;

a software portion configured for automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined period of time; and

a software portion configured for, in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

62. A computer system for inducing desired behavior in a subject, the computer system comprising:

means for associating each of a plurality of desired behaviors with a corresponding positive point value;

means for associating each of a plurality of undesired behaviors with a corresponding negative point value;

means for tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time;

means for automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined period of time; and

means for, in a subsequent defined period of time, automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

72. A computer implemented method for inducing desired behavior in a subject, the method comprising:

a behavior tracking manager tracking desired and undesired behaviors performed by a subject over a defined period of time, each desired behavior being associated with a positive point value, and each negative behavior being associated with a negative point value;

the behavior tracking manager automatically calculating a point total based on the behaviors performed by the subject during the defined period of time; and

in a subsequent defined period of time, the behavior tracking manager automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total earned during the previous period of time.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein automatically allocating consequences to the subject based on the point total further comprises:

the behavior tracking manager automatically assigning a level to the subject for the subsequent period of time based on the point total earned during the previous period of time, the level being associated with a corresponding point cost.