Social network for affecting personal behavior

Abstract

A social network for affecting personal behavior is provided. The psychological and behavioral progress of a registered user of the social network is maintained. The social network provides the registered user with friends who can track the user's progress and encourage the user by communications with the user. The friends of the user can be anybody, including people who are not registered with the social network. A dynamic mechanism for grouping different users into support groups is also provided. The grouping is based on the user's progress, satisfaction with the user's supporters, and the user's traits and preferences. User-customized profiles are used to elucidate user traits instead of standard direct forms to to avoid incorrect or misleading responses to the forms. In addition, a wireless portable device in communication with the social network of friends and supporters is provided for constant access to sources of motivation.

1 . A method for supporting behavior modification using a computer-implemented social network, the method comprising:
 implementing on a computer server a social networking system for a social network comprising a user;   implementing on the computer server an updating function allowing the user to update a quantity of behavioral action of the user;   implementing on the computer server a monitoring function allowing the quantity of behavioral action to be shared with viewers, wherein the viewers include both registered and non-registered users of the social network, wherein the monitoring function allows the viewers to monitor progress of the user toward a behavior modification goal;   implementing on the computer server a motivating function allowing friends of the user to send to the user messages, wherein the friends are a group selected by the user from among the viewers.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising implementing on the computer server a grouping function that automatically selects, based on common profile information, a subset of the viewers as members of a support group composed of the user and other users of the social network. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein implementing on the computer server a motivating function comprises allowing the friends of the user and the subset of members of the support group to send to the user messages that, in response to the shared information, provide feedback related to the behavior modification goal. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising implementing on the computer server a rating function to rate the support group. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising implementing on the computer server a poke function that automatically notifies the user when a friend views personal profile information of the user. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising implementing on the computer server a function that enables a professional coaching content provider to send to the user messages that provide feedback related to the behavior modification goal. 
   
   
       7 . A method for supporting behavior modification using a computer-implemented social network, the method comprising:
 implementing on a computer server a social networking system for a social network comprising a user;   implementing on the computer server an updating function allowing the user to update a quantity of behavioral action of the user;   implementing on the computer server a monitoring function allowing the quantity of behavioral action to be shared with viewers, wherein the monitoring function allows the viewers to monitor progress of the user toward a behavior modification goal;   implementing on the computer server a motivating function allowing friends of the user to send messages to the user, wherein the friends are a group selected by the user from among the viewers.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the updating function receives the quantity of behavioral action of the user from a portable device and automatically updates personal profile information of the user with the received quantity. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the portable device is integrated with an activity monitor, an accelerometer, a pedometer, a blood glucose meter, an insulin delivery device, or a blood pressure monitor. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the quantity of behavioral action of the user comprises physical activity information or diet information. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the physical activity information comprises an amount of physical exercise. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the diet information comprises servings of water consumed, servings of fruits and vegetables eaten, or an amount of water consumed. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the updating function allowing the user to update psychological state information of the user. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the psychological state information comprises a state selected from a list of predetermined emotional states or a list of emoticons. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising implementing on the computer server a chart function providing to the viewers a graphical view of a progress of the user toward the behavior modification goal. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the graphical view shows behavioral actions or psychological states as a function of time. 
   
   
       17 . A system for supporting behavior modification using a social network, the system comprising:
 an application server implementing a social network comprising a user, wherein the application server: i) implements an updating function allowing the user to update a quantity of behavioral action of the user; ii) implements a monitoring function allowing the quantity of behavioral action to be shared with viewers, wherein the monitoring function allows the viewers to monitor progress of the user toward a behavior modification goal; and iii) implementing on the computer server a motivating function allowing friends of the user to send messages to the user, wherein the friends are a group selected by the user from among the viewers, wherein the viewers comprise registered and non-registered users of the social network;   a portable device used by one of said plurality of users to transmit the quantity of behavioral action to the application server; and   a wireless gateway communicating with said portable device and said application server.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the portable device is a mobile phone, a wristwatch, a personal digital assistant, a portable music player, or other portable device with wireless capabilities. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the portable device is integrated with a portable medical device. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the portable medical device is an activity monitor, an accelerometer, a pedometer, a blood glucose meter, an insulin delivery device, or a blood pressure monitor. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the portable medical device generates a signal used to determine the quantity of behavioral action. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the quantity of behavioral action of the user comprises physical activity information or diet information. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the physical activity information comprises an amount of physical exercise. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the diet information comprises servings of water consumed, servings of fruits and vegetables eaten, or an amount of water consumed. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the updating function allowing the user to update psychological state information of the user. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the psychological state information comprises a state selected from a list of predetermined emotional states or a list of emoticons. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the application server further implements a chart function providing to the viewers a graphical view of a progress of the user toward the behavior modification goal. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the graphical view shows behavioral actions or psychological states as a function of time.