Caloric management system and method with voice recognition

• US 20030152607A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microlife Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microlife Corporation
• Inventors: Mault, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/256,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20030152607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/439
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A caloric management system and method for assisting a plurality of users to implement a caloric management program personal to each user by providing a personal user device for each user, and a data processor at a remote location in communication with the personal user devices. Each personal user device includes a microphone, a personal identification device, a display, and a two-way communication system with respect to the data processor at the remote location. The data processor at the remote location includes a food lookup table containing data representing various quantified food items and the caloric intake value of each. A voice recognition circuit, preferably in the user data file for each personal user device in the data processor at the remote location, analyzes speech messages by the users to identify consumed food items. Each user data file at the remote location also includes a computer for computing the total caloric intake value of the consumed food items and other information for transmission to the respective personal user device for display thereon.

Claims

1. A caloric management system for assisting a plurality of users to implement a caloric management program personal to each user, comprising:

(a) a plurality of personal user devices each including;

(i) input means including a microphone for converting speech sounds by the respective user to electrical signals for outputting from the respective personal user device;

(ii) a personal identification device for applying a personal identification signal in the output of the respective personal user device;

(iii) a display for displaying information; and

(iv) a two-way communication system for transmitting the output of the personal user device to a remote location serving said plurality of personal user devices, and for receiving information from said remote location;

(b) a voice recognition circuit for analyzing the outputs of the microphones of the plurality of personal user devices to identify quantified food items represented thereby;

(c) and a data processor at said remote location including;

(i) a two-way communication system for receiving said output from each personal user device;

(ii) a food lookup table containing data representing a number of quantified food items and the caloric intake value of each such food item; and

(iii) a user data file for each personal user device, each of said user data files including a computer for computing the total caloric intake value of the quantified food items identified in a particular time period from the respective personal user device and for transmitting information regarding said total caloric intake value to the respective personal user device for display thereon.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition circuit is included in the data processor at said remote location.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition circuit is user-dependent and is included in each of said user data files in the data processor at said remote location.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said voice recognition circuit is included in each of said personal user devices.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said input means in each of said personal user devices also enables the respective user to input a caloric management program into its respective user data file in the data processor at the remote location;

and wherein the information transmitted by the computer in the respective user data file also includes information comparing the total caloric intake value for the respective time period with the caloric management program inputted into the respective user data file.

7. The system according to claim 5,

wherein at least some of said user data files in the data processor at the remote location also include an activity lookup table containing data representing a number of physical activities and the caloric expenditure value of each such physical activity when performed by the respective user per unit time;

wherein said voice recognition circuit in each user data file having an activity lookup table also analyzes said electrical speech signals received from the respective personal user device to identify physical activities represented thereby and the period of time thereof;

and wherein said computer in each user data file having an activity lookup table also computes the caloric expenditure value for the particular physical activity and time period, and includes the caloric expenditure value in the information transmitted to the respective personal user device.

8. The system according to claim 7,

wherein said input means of each personal user device also enables inputting resting metabolism rate information which is converted to electrical metabolism signals also transmitted to said data processor at the remote location;

and wherein said computer in each user data file having an activity lookup table also analyzes said electrical metabolism signals for computing the caloric expenditure value corresponding to the resting metabolism rate for the respective time period, and includes such information in computing the caloric expenditure value transmitted to the respective personal user device.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said input means includes a connector for an indirect calorimeter for inputting said resting metabolism rate information.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said input means enables inputting information regarding the sex, age and weight of the user;

and said computer in the user data file for the respective personal user device computes an estimate of the resting metabolism rate from said inputted information.

11. The system according to claim 7,

wherein said input means in each of said personal user devices also enables inputting a caloric management program into its respective user data file in the data processor at the remote location;

and wherein said computer in the respective user data file at the remote location also generates diet and/or activity recommendations which are included in the information transmitted to the respective personal user device to better enable the user to implement the inputted caloric management program.

15. A method of assisting a plurality of users to implement a caloric management program personal to each user by means of a caloric management system according to claim 1, said method comprising:

utilizing the personal user devices for inputting speech messages identifying various quantified food items consumed by the users and for producing outputs from said personal user devices identifying the quantified food items consumed by the respective users within a particular time period;

transmitting from each of said personal user devices to said data processor at the remote location the output, including the personal identification signal, of the respective personal user device;

computing in each user data file at the remote location the total caloric intake value of said quantified food items identified from the output of the respective personal user devices during a particular time period; and

transmitting information regarding said total caloric intake value to the respective personal user devices for display thereon.

16. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the users also input, via their respective personal user devices, a caloric management program into the respective user data file in the data processor at the remote location;

and wherein the computer in the respective user data file in the data processor at the remote location transmits information comparing the total caloric intake value for the respective time period with the caloric management program inputted into the respective user data file.

17. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the users also input, via their respective personal user devices, physical activities by the users and the time periods for each such physical activity;

wherein the user data file in the data processor at the remote location for the respective personal user device also includes an activity lookup table containing data representing a number of physical activities and the caloric expenditure value of each such physical activity when performed by the respective user per unit time;

wherein said voice recognition circuit also identifies physical activities inputted into the personal user device and the period of time thereof;

and wherein said computer in each of said user data files also computes the caloric expenditure value for the particular physical activity and time period, and provides the caloric expenditure value, in the information transmitted to the respective personal user device.

18. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the users also input, via their respective personal user devices, the resting metabolism rate of the respective user for the respective time period by inputting the age, sex and weight of the user;

and wherein the computer in each user data file computes the resting energy expenditure and utilizes such information in computing the caloric expenditure value transmitted to the respective personal user device.

19. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the users also input, via their respective personal user devices, the resting metabolism rate of the respective user for the respective time period by inputting into the respective personal user device the output of an indirect calorimeter;

and wherein the computer in each user data file computes the resting energy expenditure and utilizes such information in computing the caloric expenditure value transmitted to the respective personal user device.

20. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the users also input, via their respective personal user devices, a caloric management program into the respective user data file in the data processor at the remote location;

and wherein the computer in the respective user data file in the data processor at the remote location computer, and transmits to the respective personal user device, information comparing the total caloric intake value and caloric expenditure value for the respective time period with the caloric management program inputted into the respective user data file.

21. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the users also input, via their respective personal user devices, a caloric management program into the respective user data file at the remote location;

and wherein the computer in the respective user data file at the remote location also generates diet and/or activity recommendations which are included in the information transmitted to the respective personal user device to better enable the user to implement the inputted caloric management program.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein said data processor at the remote location also includes an audio prompt generator which, upon receiving a transmission from a personal user device, enables the data processor to transmit back to the respective personal user device an inquiry regarding the transmission by the personal user device, which inquiry requires a response from the respective personal user device.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least some of said personal user devices are coupleable to portable hand-carried recording devices which include audio recorders for recording the identification of the quantified food items as consumed by the user and for downloading into said personal user devices at convenient time intervals.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein said two-way communication system between the personal user devices and the data processor at the remote location is via the Internet.

6. A caloric management system for assisting a plurality of users to implement a caloric management program personal to each user, comprising:

(a) a personal user device for each user including;

(i) input means including a microphone for receiving speech sounds by the user and for converting such speech sounds to electrical speech signals;

(ii) a personal identification device for producing a personal identification signal for the respective personal user device;

(iii) a display for displaying information; and

(iv) a two-way communication system for transmitting said electrical speech signals and said personal identification signal to a remote location serving a plurality of personal user devices, and for receiving information from said remote location;

(b) and a data processor at said remote location including;

(i) a two-way communication system for receiving said electrical speech signals and personal identification signal from each personal user device;

(ii) a food lookup table containing data representing a number of quantified food items and the caloric intake value of each such food item; and

(iii) a user data file for each personal user device;

each of said user data files including;

(a) a voice recognition circuit for analyzing said electrical speech signals received from the respective personal user device to identify the quantified food item represented thereby; and

(b) a computer for computing the total caloric intake value of said quantified food items identified in a particular time period from the respective personal user device, and for transmitting information regarding said total caloric intake value to the respective personal user device for display thereon.

12. The system according to claim 6, wherein said data processor at the remote location also includes an audio prompt generator which, upon receiving a transmission from a personal user device, enables the data processor to transmit back to the respective personal user device an inquiry regarding the transmission by the personal user device, which inquiry requires a response from the respective personal user device.

13. The system according to claim 6, wherein at least some of said personal user devices are coupleable to portable hand-carried recording devices which include audio recorders for recording the identification of the quantified food items as consumed by the user and for downloading into said personal user devices at convenient time intervals.

14. The system according to claim 6, wherein said two-way communication system between the personal user devices and the data processor at the remote location is via the Internet.