Method and apparatus for social network updates

Abstract

A method and apparatus for engaging consumers in the performance of predetermined action. The method comprises the steps of determining performance of a predetermined action, broadcasting confirmation of performance of the predetermined action, and providing incentive based upon the broadcasting. The predetermined action may include comprises consuming a consumable item. The broadcasting may be performed via a social networking site, and wherein the broadcasting further may include transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action. The incentive may comprise a monetary incentive to the performer of the action, to one or more peers of the performer of the action viewing the broadcast, or to one or more peers of the performer of the action upon performance of the predetermined action by the one or more peers.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for social network notification of performance of an action by a social network site, comprising the steps of:
 determining a sequence of steps to be performed by a performer indicative of proper performance of an action;   capturing by an image capture device one or more video sequences of the performer performing the sequence of steps;   determining performance of the sequence of steps by the performer by confirming each step in the one or more video sequences captured by the image capture device by a computer processor in accordance with machine vision activity recognition;   posting to a social network site confirmation of performance of the predetermined action; and   providing incentive to the performer based upon the broadcasting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined action comprises consuming a consumable item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of performance of the predetermined action is determined in accordance with machine vision activity recognition algorithm on a mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the posting is performed via a plurality of social networking sites. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the posting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the posting is performed via a publicly-viewable display. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incentive comprises a monetary incentive to the performer of the action. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incentive comprises an incentive to one or more peers of the performer of the action viewing the posting. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incentive 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. 
     
     
         10 . A computer program stored on a non-volatile computer readable medium, the computer program causing a computer including an image capture device camera, a display, and a machine vision activity recognition system to perform the steps of:
 determining a sequence of steps to be performed by a performer indicative of proper performance of an action;   capturing by the image capture device one or more images of the performer performing the sequence of steps;   determining performance of the sequence of steps by the performer by confirming each step in the one or more images in accordance with the machine vision activity recognition system;   posting to a social networking site confirmation of performance of the predetermined action; and   providing incentive to the performer based upon the broadcasting.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined action comprises consuming a consumable item. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the computer is a mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the posting is performed via a plurality of social networking sites. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program of  claim 13 , wherein the posting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined action. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the posting is performed on a publicly-viewable display. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the incentive comprises a monetary incentive to the performer of the action. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the incentive comprises an incentive to one or more peers of the performer of the action viewing the posting on the social network site. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the incentive 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. 
     
     
         19 . A system for social network notification of performance of an action by a performer to a social network site, comprising:
 an image acquisition system acquiring one or more images of a performer performing a predetermined sequence of steps indicative of proper performance of the action by the performer;   a processor analyzing the acquired one or more images to determine whether the performer has performed the predetermined sequence of steps by confirming each step in the sequence of steps from the one or more images indicative of proper performance of the action in accordance with machine vision activity recognition; and   a transmission system posting to a social network site confirmation of performance of the predetermined action;   the processor providing toperformer an incentive based upon the posting.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined action comprises consuming a consumable item. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the posting is performed via a plurality of social networking sites. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the posting further comprises transmitting a video of the performance of the predetermined sequence of steps. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a publicly-viewable display for displaying the posting of the confirmation of performance of the predetermined action. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the incentive comprises a monetary incentive to the performer of the action. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processor further determines one or more peers of the performer of the predetermined action viewing the posting via the social network site, and provides an incentive comprises thereto. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processor further determines performance of the predetermined sequence of steps by one or more peers of the performer of the action, and upon confirmation of performance of the predetermined sequence of steps, provide an incentive incentive to the one or more peers.