Behavior Monitoring and Reinforcement System and Method

Abstract

A system, method and computer software that provides for a computer implemented system and method for comprehensive reinforcement of human behavior by capturing environmental information for participants and reinforcing their daily choices in their environments. Unique applications of technology are used to record, reinforce and document the desired behavior activities of participants in order to track, promote, encourage and further reward the desired behavior.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for comprehensive reinforcement of human behavior, comprising:
 with a computing device, storing information to enroll a plurality of individuals such that the individuals become participants in a behavior reinforcement plan established by a sponsor entity, wherein the behavior reinforcement plan is designed to encourage one or more desired behaviors for the participants;   with a computing device, storing baseline data or measurements related to the one or more desired behaviors or its impact on the one or more desired behaviors for each participant;   capturing from one or more stations activity data describing a participant's engagement in an activity associated with the behavior reinforcement plan;   with a computing device, allocating points to a participant based on the activity data and according to the type of activity engaged;   with a computing device, further allocating points to the participant based on one or more other persons engaging in a particular activity with the participant; and   with a computing device, presenting to each participant performance measurement data indicating a participant's accumulation of points.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 with a computing device, computing one or more handicapping factors for a participant based on the baseline data or measurements for that participant and impact of certain activities by that participant on that participant and on others;   wherein allocating points is based further on the one or more handicapping factors for the participant.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the handicapping factor is based on the impact of the participant's activity on the participant's health status at the time of participation in the activity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the handicapping factor is based on the impact of the participant's activity on the health of others. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the handicapping factor is based on the location where the participant engages in the activity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein capturing comprises capturing activity data associated with a first participant and at least a second participant engaging in the particular activity, wherein further allocating comprises further allocating points to the first participant for engaging at least the second participant in the particular activity with the first participant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein capturing comprises capturing activity data indicating that a first participant and at least a second participant participated in the particular activity at the same station within a predetermined period of time, wherein further allocating points comprises further allocating points to the first participant for engaging at least the second participant in the particular activity with the first participant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising computing one or more incentives that are designed to encourage the participants to achieve the one or more desired behaviors of the comprehensive behavior reinforcement plan, and determining whether a participant has achieved the one more incentives based on the participant's performance measurement data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein capturing comprises capturing one or more of: data indicating a measure of physical activity of a participant related to the one or more desired behaviors; data from a point of transaction system that indicates proof of purchase of items or services associated with the one or more desired behaviors; data indicating presence of a participant at a facility relevant to the one or more desired behaviors; and data from a body-attachable activity monitor device on a participant that indicates a measure of an activity related to the one or more desired behaviors. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein capturing comprises capturing from equipment deployed in or near a facility where the participants frequent physical activity data that detect identity, time and location information of the participants in or near the facility, and further comprising analyzing the physical activity data to assign a measurement value thereto. 
     
     
         11 . A comprehensive behavior reinforcement system, comprising:
 a. one or more computing devices that receive, store and process data;   b. a plurality of activity data capture devices connected to the one or more computing devices by one or more: of a wired or wireless wide area and wired or wireless local area network;   c. wherein the one or more computing devices perform functions of:
 i. storing information to enroll a plurality of individuals such that the individuals become participants in a behavior reinforcement plan established by a sponsor entity, wherein the behavior reinforcement plan is designed to encourage one or more desired behaviors for the participants; 
 ii. storing baseline data or measurements related to the one or more desired behaviors or its impact on the one or more desired behaviors for each participant; 
 iii. capturing from one or more stations activity data describing a participant's engagement in an activity associated with the behavior reinforcement plan; 
 iv. allocating points to a participant based on the activity data and according to the type of activity engaged; 
 v. further allocating points to the participant based on one or more other persons engaging in a particular activity with the participant; and 
 vi. presenting to each participant performance measurement data indicating a participant's accumulation of points. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to:
 compute one or more handicapping factors for a participant based on the baseline data or measurements for that participant and impact of certain activities by that participant on that participant and on others;   allocate points is based further on the one or more handicapping factors for the participant.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the handicapping factor is based on the impact of the participant's activity on the participant's health status at the time of participation in the activity. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the handicapping factor is based on the impact of the participant's activity on the health of others. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the handicapping factor is based on the location where the participant engages in the activity. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to capture data associated with a first participant and at least a second participant engaging in the particular activity, and to further allocate points to the first participant for engaging at least the second participant in the particular activity with the first participant. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to capture activity data indicating that a first participant and at least a second participant participated in the particular activity at the same station within a predetermined period of time, and to further allocate points to the first participant in for engaging the second participant in the particular activity with the first participant. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to compute incentives that are designed to encourage the participants to achieve the one or more desired behaviors of the comprehensive behavior reinforcement plan, and to determine whether a participant has achieved the one more incentives based on the participant's performance measurement data. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to capture one or more of: data indicating a measure of physical activity of a participant related to the one or more desired behaviors; data from a point of transaction system that indicates proof of purchase of items or services associated with the one or more desired behaviors; data indicating presence of a participant at a facility relevant to the one or more desired behaviors; and data from a body-attachable activity monitor device on a participant that indicates a measure of an activity related to the one or more desired behaviors. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to capture from equipment deployed in or near a facility where the participants frequent physical activity data that detect identity, time and location information of the participants in or near the facility, and to analyze the physical activity data to assign a measurement value thereto.