Method and apparatus for encouraging consumption of a product

• US 8,942,994 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AIC Innovations Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AIC Innovations Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanina, Adam, Guan, Lei, Kessler, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Scott C
• Application Number:
  US13/369,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.11
• US Class Current: 705/14.66
• 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 indicative of performance of a predetermined action, the sub-steps comprising at least the steps of confirming the presence of an object in the mouth of an individual, confirming the closing of the mouth of the individual, and confirming an empty mouth of the individual;

determining performance by the individual of each of the sub-steps by a computer processor in accordance with machine vision activity recognition performed on one or more images obtained by a camera;

providing feedback related to the determined performance of the predetermined action;

broadcasting confirmation of performance of the predetermined action 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, wherein upon determination of eating a different object, one or more benefits of the predetermined object over the different object are provided as at least a portion of the provided feedback.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting is performed via a social networking site.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the broadcasting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action and at least a portion of the feedback.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive comprises a monetary incentive to the performer of the action.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive comprises an incentive to one or more peers of the performer of the action viewing the broadcast.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the incentive further comprises an incentive to one or more peers of the performer of the action upon performance of the predetermined action by the one or more peers.

9. A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program causing a general purpose computer to perform the steps of:

defining a plurality of sub-steps indicative of performance of a predetermined action, the sub-steps comprising at least the steps of confirming the presence of an object in the mouth of an individual, confirming the closing of the mouth of the individual, and confirming an empty mouth of the individual;

determining performance by the individual of each of the sub-steps by the general purpose computer in accordance with machine vision activity recognition performed on one or more images obtained by a camera;

providing feedback related to the determined performance of the predetermined action;

broadcasting confirmation of performance of the predetermined action along with at least a portion of the feedback; and

providing incentive based upon the broadcasting.

10. The computer program of claim 9, wherein the predetermined action comprises eating an edible object.

11. The computer program of claim 9, wherein the broadcasting is performed via a social networking site.

12. The computer program of claim 11, wherein the broadcasting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action along with the portion of the feedback.

13. The computer program of claim 9, wherein the computer program further causes the general purpose computer to further perform image capture via an associated mobile device including a camera.

14. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the computer program further causes the general purpose computer to display feedback to a user on a display of the mobile device.

15. 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 indicative of performance of a predetermined action, the sub-steps comprising at least the steps of confirming the presence of an object in the mouth of an individual, confirming the closing of the mouth of the individual, and confirming an empty mouth of the individual, and for analyzing the acquired image to determine whether the individual has performed each of the sub-steps in accordance with machine vision activity recognition;

a display for displaying feedback related to the determination of the performance of the action by the participant; and

a transmission system for broadcasting confirmation of performance of the predetermined action along with at least a portion of the feedback;

wherein the participant is provided an incentive based upon the broadcasting.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined action comprises eating an item.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the broadcasting is performed via a social networking site.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the broadcasting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action along with the portion of the feedback.