Apparatus and system for verifying accomplishment of an activity which utilitizes penalties or accountability fees to encourage performance of an activity

A computer implemented method of encouraging the accomplishment of a physical activity assigned to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning a physical activity of the user by a supervisor supervising physical activities of the user, wherein the assigned physical activity is remotely accomplished away from the supervisor and the assigned physical activity specifies a specific location and time window to accomplish the physical activity;
• accumulating information on the accomplishment of the physical activity assigned to the user by an interactive communication and verification (ICV) apparatus, the ICV apparatus gathering information relevant for verifying the accomplishment of the assigned physical activity, the ICV being used by the user and being located remotely away from the supervisor;
• wherein the ICV accumulates information from various sources to determine if the assigned physical activity is performed at the specific location and time window assigned by the supervisor;
• wherein the ICV apparatus utilizes a location services module for determining a location of the ICV when accomplishing the assigned task and a clock for determining a time when the assigned physical activity is accomplished;
• wherein the ICV apparatus includes programming instructions for communicating with an external monitoring device monitoring the user while performing the assigned exercise, the external monitoring device providing vital sign or performance data to the ICV apparatus:
• wherein the ICV apparatus evaluates the provided vital sign or performance data received from the external monitoring device to verify the accomplishment of the assigned activity;
• providing, by the ICV apparatus, the accumulated information and a predefined parameter on the assigned physical activity of the user to an activity monitoring system, the activity monitoring having a processor having program instructions for determining from the accumulated information if the assigned physical activity is accomplished;
• defining a penalty/accountability fee for failure to complete an activity within the predetermined activity parameter to the activity monitoring system;
• determining by the activity monitoring system if the assigned physical activity is accomplished within the predefined parameter;
• and
• upon determining that the activity is not accomplished in the predefined parameter, automatically assessing the defined penalty/accountability fee to the user by the activity monitoring system.

A system for monitoring the accomplishment of an activity of a user, the system comprising:

• a network;
• an activity monitoring system for monitoring the accomplishment of a physical activity of the user assigned by a supervisor supervising physical activities of the user;
• wherein the assigned physical activity is remotely accomplished away from the supervisor and the assigned physical activity specifies a specific location and time window to accomplish the physical activity;
• wherein the activity monitoring system includes data storage for storing information associated with the assigned physical activity for the user of the system;
• a server communicating with the network and the activity monitoring system;
• and
• an interactive communication and verification (ICV) apparatus connected to the network and includes a processor having program instructions for accumulating information related to the accomplishment of the assigned physical activity, the ICV used by the user and being located remotely away from the supervisor;
• wherein the ICV accumulates information from various sources to determine if the assigned physical activity is performed at the specific location and time window assigned by the supervisor;
• wherein the ICV apparatus utilizes a location services module for determining a location of the ICV when accomplishing the assigned task and a clock for determining a time when the assigned physical activity is accomplished;
• wherein the ICV apparatus includes programming instructions for communicating with an external monitoring device monitoring the user while performing the assigned exercise, the external monitoring device providing vital sign or performance data to the ICV apparatus;
• wherein the ICV apparatus evaluates the provided vital sign or performance data received from the external monitoring device to verify the accomplishment of the assigned activity;
• wherein the processor of the ICV apparatus includes programming instructions for sending accumulated information via the network to the activity monitoring system;
• wherein the activity monitoring system receives and stores a predefined activity parameter and penalty/accountability fee assessment for failure to complete the scheduled activity within the predefined activity parameter within the data storage;
• wherein the predefined activity parameter includes information on the assigned physical activity to include the specific location and time window;
• wherein the activity monitoring system includes programming instructions to determine if the assigned physical activity is performed based on the predefined activity parameter;
• wherein the activity monitoring system includes programming instructions to assess the penalty/accountability fee assessment to the user for failure to complete the scheduled activity within the predefined activity parameter.