# US 10,482,780 B2 · Positive reinforcement based aid with visual, auditory and tactile rewards > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,780 B2 - Document ID: US10482780B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/958,524 - Filed: 2018-04-20 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-20 - Applicants: Plus Up, LLC - Inventors: Adam R. Ashley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482780B2 ## CPC - G09B 5/06: with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied - G04F 10/00: Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means - G06Q 20/3272: {using an audio code} - G06Q 20/4014: {Identity check for transactions} - G07F 1/06: Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms - G07F 9/001: {Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices} - G07F 9/02: Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus (alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10) - G07F 9/0235: {the arrangements being full-front touchscreens} - G07F 11/44: in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk - G07F 19/201: {Accessories of ATMs} - G09B 19/00: Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass (teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26) - G09B 19/0076: {Body hygiene; Dressing; Knot tying} - G09B 19/0084: {Dental hygiene} - G09B 19/0092: {Nutrition} - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - G04F: TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING (measuring pulse characteristics G01R, e.g. G01R29/02; in radar or like systems G01S) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A method and system for behavioral performance reinforcement is presented. A behavioral reinforcement device includes a housing with an electronic display, where the electronic display displays a user's behavioral performance both numerically and symbolically. The housing includes a sensor to detect a user input and a token dispenser to dispense tokens. When the sensor detects a pre-defined user input, a controller executes a device activation sequence to turn the device on or a device deactivation sequence to turn the device off. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A behavioral reinforcement device comprising: a housing comprising an electronic display, wherein the electronic display is configured to display a user's behavioral performance symbolically, wherein the housing comprises a portable body shape; a sensor configured to detect a user input; and a token dispenser incorporated into the housing configured to dispense a physical token, wherein upon the sensor detecting a user input comprising placing the behavioral reinforcement device into a first predefined positional orientation, a controller is configured to execute a device activation sequence in which the behavioral reinforcement device is activated and wherein upon the sensor detecting a user input comprising placing the behavioral reinforcement device into a second predefined positional orientation, the controller is configured to execute a device deactivation sequence in which the behavioral reinforcement device is deactivated, and wherein an activation of the behavioral reinforcement device starts an accrual of good time earned and a deactivation of the behavioral reinforcement device pauses the accrual of good time earned. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an hour-glass body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a handle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the user input further comprises a motion of the behavioral reinforcement device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises an inversion of the housing from the first predefined positional orientation to the second predefined positional orientation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the controller executes the device deactivation sequence if the behavioral reinforcement device is inverted from right side up to upside down. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, further comprising a light feature configured to illuminate a predetermined positive color or a negative color to visually indicate the user's behavioral performance to provide behavioral reinforcement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, further comprising a sound generator configured to generate a predetermined positive sound and a negative sound to auditorially indicate a user's positive or negative performance respectively to provide behavioral reinforcement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the token dispenser is removable from the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 9, wherein the removable token dispenser is wirelessly coupled to the behavioral reinforcement device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, further configured to wirelessly communicate with a wearable remote device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is further configured to display a persona comprising a plurality of positive and negative emoji-style expressive faces based on the user's behavioral performance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is further configured to simultaneously display behavioral performance of a plurality of users symbolically. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The behavioral reinforcement device of claim 1, wherein the activation of the behavioral reinforcement device and the deactivation of the behavioral reinforcement device constitutes an inversion of the behavioral reinforcement device, wherein the behavioral reinforcement device records a quantity of inversions during a given period of time as an indicator of behavioral performance. ### Claim 15 A behavioral reinforcement method comprising: using a behavioral reinforcement device comprising a portable cylindrical shaped housing configured for physical interaction with a user to reinforce positive behavioral performance of the user; and placing, by the user, the behavioral reinforcement device into an active state based on a physical movement of the behavioral reinforcement device into a first predefined positional orientation and placing, by the user, the behavioral reinforcement device into an inactive state based on a physical movement of the behavioral reinforcement device into a second predefined positional orientation; wherein the placing of the behavioral reinforcement device into an active state starts an accrual of good time earned and the placing of the behavioral reinforcement device into an inactive state pauses the accrual of good time earned; where upon placing the behavioral reinforcement device in an active state: a positive sound is generated by the behavioral reinforcement device; and a timer begins recording positive time earned by the user; where upon the timer reaching a preprogrammed milestone a persona reacts positively and a physical token is dispensed by the behavioral reinforcement device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The behavioral reinforcement method of claim 15, wherein if the user displays negative behavior the user is instructed to deactivate the behavioral reinforcement device wherein: a persona in the behavioral reinforcement device reacts negatively; a negative sound is generated by the behavioral reinforcement device; and a timer stops recording positive time earned by the user. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The behavioral reinforcement method of claim 15, wherein the first predefined positional orientation of the behavioral reinforcement device is an upright position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The behavioral reinforcement method of claim 15, wherein the second predefined positional orientation of the behavioral reinforcement device is an upside down position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The behavioral reinforcement method of claim 15, further comprising illuminating a light feature with a positive color when the behavioral reinforcement device is in an active state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The behavioral reinforcement method of claim 15, further comprising displaying behavioral performance of the user symbolically. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The behavioral reinforcement method of claim 15, wherein the placing of the behavioral reinforcement device into an active state and the placing of the behavioral reinforcement device into an inactive state constitutes an inversion of the behavioral reinforcement device, wherein the behavioral reinforcement device records a quantity of inversions during a given period of time as an indicator of behavioral performance.