Providing consumers with incentives for healthy eating habits

• US 20030065561A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Smith, Newton James Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the personal health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.

Claims

1. A method for encouraging healthy habits by an individual, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual;

determining a health factor for said consumable item; and

selecting an electronic incentive for said individual according to said health factor, such that said individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items.

2. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said step of detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual further comprising the step of:

detecting at least one from among said consumable item eaten, purchased, or cooked by said individual.

3. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said step of detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual further comprising the step of:

receiving an identifier of said consumable item from a food purveyor.

4. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said step of detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual further comprising the step of:

receiving an identifier of said consumable item from a personal food monitoring system for said individual.

5. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said step of determining a health factor for said consumable item further comprising the steps of:

determining a plurality of health components of said consumable item; and

associating a health index value with each of said plurality of health components.

6. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said step of selecting an electronic incentive for said individual according to said health factor further comprising the step of:

assigning said electronic incentive of at least one from among an electronic coupon, a rebate, a tax incentive, a cumulative amount, and a cost reduction.

7. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said step of selecting an electronic incentive for said individual according to said health factor further comprising the step of:

assigning said electronic incentive from at least one authority from among a plurality of levels of government and a health care insurance provider.

8. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to at least one of a health history, an exercise routine, a current health condition, and prior food intake, by said individual.

9. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according a group identification, wherein said individual meets a characteristic of said group identification.

10. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to a time of day when said consumable item is consumed by said individual.

11. The method for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to a plurality of consumable items previously consumed by said individual over a period of time.

12. A system for encouraging healthy habits by an individual, said system comprising:

a server system communicatively connected to a network;

said server system further comprising;

means for detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual via said network;

means for determining a health factor for said consumable item; and

means for selecting an electronic incentive for said individual according to said health factor.

13. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said means for detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual further comprising:

means for detecting at least one from among said consumable item eaten, purchased, or cooked by said individual.

14. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said means for detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual further comprising:

means for receiving an identifier of said consumable item from a food purveyor.

15. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said means for detecting a consumable item consumed by an individual further comprising:

means for receiving an identifier of said consumable item from a personal food monitoring system for said individual.

16. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said means for determining a health factor for said consumable item further comprising:

means for determining a plurality of health components of said consumable item; and

means for associating a health index value with each of said plurality of health components.

17. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said means for selecting an electronic incentive for said individual according to said health factor further comprising:

means for assigning said electronic incentive of at least one from among an electronic coupon, a rebate, a tax incentive, a cumulative amount, and a cost reduction.

18. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said means for selecting an electronic incentive for said individual according to said health factor further comprising:

means for assigning said electronic incentive from at least one authority from among a plurality of levels of government and a health care insurance provider.

19. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to at least one of a health history, an exercise routine, a current health condition, and prior food intake, by said individual.

20. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according a group identification, wherein said individual meets a characteristic of said group identification.

21. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according t o a time of day when said consumable item is consumed by said individual.

22. The system for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to a plurality of consumable items previously consumed by said individual over a period of time.

23. A program for encouraging healthy habits by an individual, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for enabling detection of a consumable item consumed by an individual;

means for determining a health factor for said consumable item; and

means for selecting an electronic incentive for said individual according to said health factor.

24. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for enabling detection of at least one from among said consumable item eaten, purchased, or cooked by said individual.

25. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for enabling receipt of an identifier of said consumable item from a food purveyor.

26. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for enabling receipt of an identifier of said consumable item from a personal food monitoring system for said individual.

27. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for determining a plurality of health components of said consumable item; and

means for associating a health index value with each of said plurality of health components.

28. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for assigning said electronic incentive of at least one from among an electronic coupon, a rebate, a tax incentive, a cumulative amount, and a cost reduction.

29. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for assigning said electronic incentive from at least one authority from among a plurality of levels of government and a health care insurance provider.

30. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to at least one of a health history, an exercise routine, a current health condition, and prior food intake, by said individual.

31. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according a group identification, wherein said individual meets a characteristic of said group identification.

32. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to a time of day when said consumable item is consumed by said individual.

33. The program for encouraging healthy habits according to claim 23, said program further comprising:

means for specifying said electronic incentive for said individual according to a plurality of consumable items previously consumed by said individual over a period of time.