System for incentivizing charitable giving based on physical activity and a method of using the same

Abstract

A system and method for incentivizing charitable giving based on physical activity includes a computer and a sports ball associated with a first participant identifier. The sports ball includes a sensor that detects and logs activity data. The activity data is received by the computer, and in further transmitted to a server. The server stores the received activity data in a participant record associated with the first participant identifier and assigns a plurality of credits to the participant record associated with the first participant identifier based on the activity data stored in the participant record. Software executing on the server generates a report based on the credits assigned to the participant record associated with the first participant identifier and transmits the report to a participant computer associated with the first participant identifier.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for incentivizing charitable giving based on physical activity by participants using sports equipment, comprising:
 a selected piece of sports equipment used by a first participant, the selected piece of sports equipment comprising a shell and a cavity, and disposed within the cavity:
 a sensor for detecting an acceleration of the selected piece of sports equipment; 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to (i) receive signals from the sensor and (ii) based at least on the signals, a timing of the signals received, and a predetermined rest threshold, determine activity data of the selected piece of sports equipment used by the first participant, 
 wherein the activity data distinguishes a lack of acceleration of the selected piece of sports equipment between when the selected piece of sports equipment is in physical use and when the selected piece of sports equipment is not in physical use by comparing the timing of the signals received to the predetermined rest threshold; 
   one or more computer processors; and   a memory including instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to:
 assign an identifier to identify the first participant from other participants; 
 receive the activity data of the first participant from the processor; and 
 assign a plurality of credits to the identifier based at least in part on the activity data, wherein a given credit of the plurality of credits corresponds to a predetermined monetary value that is applicable to a charity by the first participant. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a database, wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to store a participant record comprising the activity data for the first participant in the database, wherein the participant record is associated with the identifier of the first participant. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the participant record comprises at least one of the first participant's personal information, charitable goals, past charitable donations, and the duration of use of the selected piece of sports equipment. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to generate an activity report of the first participant based at least in part on the participant record and transmit the activity report to a computer associated with the identifier of the first participant. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of credits is assigned to the identifier of the first participant based at least in part on the type of physical use of the selected piece of sports equipment. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the type of physical use of the selected piece of sports equipment includes at least one of kicking, stopping, and bouncing. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the activity data corresponds to a duration of use of the selected piece of sports equipment. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the activity data corresponds to an amount of kinetic energy generated by the selected piece of sports equipment. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to receive the activity data from the selected piece of sports equipment without user intervention. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to rank a plurality of participants including the first participant based at least in part on the respective activity data of the plurality of participants. 
     
     
         31 . A system for incentivizing charitable giving based on physical activity by participants using sports equipment, comprising:
 a selected piece of sports equipment used by a first participant, the selected piece of sports equipment comprising a shell and a cavity, and disposed within the cavity:
 a sensor for detecting an acceleration of the selected piece of sports equipment; 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to receive signals from the sensor and based at least on the signals determine activity data of the selected piece of sports equipment; and 
 a generation module electrically coupled to the sensor and the processor, wherein the generation module is configured to generate electric power upon acceleration of the selected piece of sports equipment and provide the electric power to the sensor and the processor, 
 wherein the activity data corresponds to an amount of kinetic energy or power generated by the selected piece of sports equipment; 
   one or more computer processors; and   a memory including instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to:
 assign an identifier to identify the first participant from other participants; 
 receive the activity data of the first participant from the processor; and 
 assign a plurality of credits to the identifier based at least in part on the activity data, wherein a given credit of the plurality of credits corresponds to a predetermined monetary value that is applicable to a charity by the first participant. 
   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a database, wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to store a participant record comprising the activity data for the first participant in the database, wherein the participant record is associated with the identifier of the first participant. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the participant record comprises at least one of the first participant's personal information, charitable goals, past charitable donations, kinetic energy or power generated by the selected piece of sports equipment, and the duration of use of the selected piece of sports equipment. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to generate an activity report of the first participant based at least in part on the participant record and transmit the activity report to a computer associated with the identifier of the first participant. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of credits is assigned to the identifier of the first participant based at least in part on the type of physical use of the selected piece of sports equipment. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the type of physical use of the selected piece of sports equipment includes at least one of kicking, stopping, and bouncing. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the activity data is based at least in part on a duration of use of the selected piece of sports equipment. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the processor is configured to distinguish between a lack of acceleration of the selected piece of sports equipment while the selected piece of sports equipment is in physical use and a lack of acceleration of the selected piece of sports equipment when the selected piece of sports equipment is not in physical use. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to receive the activity data from the selected piece of sports equipment without user intervention. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the one or more computer processors to rank a plurality of participants including the first participant based at least in part on the respective activity data of the plurality of participants.