System and method for measuring and distributing monetary incentives for weight loss

• US 20040131997A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Incentahealth, LLC
• Original Assignee: Incentahealth, LLC
• Inventors: McGuire, Todd J., Rule, Jack D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,541,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

An automated identification, weight measurement and data reporting system that allows users to have their weight measured at a remote location and sent electronically to a data center. The invention can use biometric identification technology to confirm the identity of the user at the time of the measurement of the user'"'"'s weight. The user'"'"'s body weight may be measured via an electronic scale connected to the biometric identification device. The measurement data is then sent via a network (such as the Internet) to a central database. This secure weight measurement data is then used to offer incentives to individuals to lose weight. The more weight an individual loses, the larger the earned incentives. The invention also includes programs to measure health functions and to provide incentives to improve their health including body fat reduction, quitting smoking, reducing their blood pressure, or other health function.

Claims

1. A method for providing incentive to one or more participants in a weight loss program to lose weight, the method comprising:

a. presenting the participant for a weight measurement;

b. obtaining a first weight measurement for a participant;

c. waiting a period of time;

d. obtaining a next weight measurement for the participant;

e. comparing the first weight measurement to the next weight measurement;

f. determining a monetary incentive for a difference between the first weight and the next weight; and

g. providing the monetary incentive to the participant.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the participant includes an organization enrolling in the weight loss program.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the participant includes an organization offers the weight loss program.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the participant includes the participant enrolling in the weight loss program.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein enrolling in the weight loss program includes providing personal data about the participant.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the personal data is one of eating habits, exercise habits, name, address, age, gender, education, social security number, or favorite activities.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein a participant profile is created from the personal data.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first weight measurement or the next weight measurement is obtained with an automated health monitoring station.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the first weight measurement is automated.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the first weight measurement is unsupervised.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is automated.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is unsupervised.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is voluntary.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is scheduled.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monetary incentive increases as the difference between a higher first weight measurement and a lower next weight measurement increases.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monetary incentive decreases as the difference between a higher first weight measurement and a lower next weight measurement decreases.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monetary incentive decreases as the difference between a lower first weight measurement and a higher next weight measurement increases.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein no monetary incentive is given if the next weight measurement is greater than the first weight measurement.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein no monetary incentive is given if the next weight measurement is the same as the first weight measurement.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein the period of time is greater than a day.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the weight measurement is one of a weight, a ratio of weight to height, a body mass index measurement, or a body fat measurement.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monetary incentive is a cash payment.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the monetary incentive includes giving a check to the participant, crediting a participant'"'"'s account, giving gifts or prizes, or giving the participant cash.

24. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing support to the participant.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein support information is sent to the participant.

26. A method for providing incentive to one or more participants in a weight management program to maintain a participant'"'"'s weight, the method comprising:

a. presenting the participant for a weight measurement;

b. obtaining a first weight measurement for a participant;

c. waiting a period of time;

d. obtaining a next weight measurement for the participant;

e. comparing the first weight measurement to the next weight measurement;

f. determining a monetary incentive for keeping the next weight measurement within a small deviation from the first weight measurement; and

g. providing the monetary incentive to the participant.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein presenting the participant includes an organization enrolling in the weight management program.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein presenting the participant includes an organization offers the weight loss program.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein presenting the participant includes the participant enrolling in the weight management program.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein enrolling in the weight management program includes providing personal data about the participant.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein the personal data is one of eating habits, exercise habits, name, address, age, gender, education, social security number, or favorite activities.

32. A method according to claim 29, wherein a participant profile is created from the personal data.

33. A method according to claim 26, wherein the first weight measurement or the next weight measurement is obtained with an automated health monitoring station.

34. A method according to claim 26, wherein obtaining the first weight measurement is automated.

35. A method according to claim 26, wherein obtaining the first weight measurement is unsupervised.

36. A method according to claim 26, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is automated.

37. A method according to claim 26, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is unsupervised.

38. A method according to claim 26, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is voluntary.

39. A method according to claim 26, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is scheduled.

40. A method according to claim 26, wherein no monetary incentive is given if the next weight measurement is greater than the small deviation from the first weight measurement.

41. A method according to claim 26, wherein the period of time is greater than a day.

42. A method according to claim 26, wherein the weight measurement is one of a weight, a ratio of weight to height, a body mass index measurement, or a body fat measurement.

43. A method according to claim 26, wherein the monetary incentive is a cash payment.

44. A method according to claim 26, wherein providing the monetary incentive includes giving a check to the participant, crediting a participant'"'"'s account, giving gifts or prizes, or giving the participant cash.

45. A method according to claim 26, further comprising providing support to the participant.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein support information is sent to the participant.

47. A method for providing incentive to one or more participants in a weight management program to lose weight or to maintain weight, the method comprising:

a. presenting the participant for a weight measurement;

b. obtaining a first weight measurement for a participant;

c. establishing one or more weight management goals for the participant;

d. assigning a monetary incentive to pay the participant for meeting or exceeding each of the one or more weight management goals;

e. waiting a period of time;

f. obtaining a next weight measurement for the participant;

g. comparing the next weight measurement to the one or more weight management goals;

h. determining if a monetary incentive should be paid because the next weight measurement meets or exceeds one or more of the one or more weight management goals; and

i. providing the monetary incentive to the participant.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein presenting the participant includes an organization enrolling in the weight management program.

49. A method according to claim 47, wherein presenting the participant includes an organization offers the weight loss program.

50. A method according to claim 47, wherein presenting the participant includes the participant enrolling in the weight management program.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein enrolling in the weight management program includes providing personal data about the participant.

52. A method according to claim 50, wherein the personal data is one of eating habits, exercise habits, name, address, age, gender, education, social security number, or favorite activities.

53. A method according to claim 50, wherein a participant profile is created from the personal data.

54. A method according to claim 47, wherein the first weight measurement or the next weight measurement is obtained with an automated health monitoring station.

55. A method according to claim 47, wherein obtaining the first weight measurement is automated.

56. A method according to claim 47, wherein obtaining the first weight measurement is unsupervised.

57. A method according to claim 47, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is automated.

58. A method according to claim 47, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is unsupervised.

59. A method according to claim 47, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is voluntary.

60. A method according to claim 47, wherein obtaining the next weight measurement is scheduled.

61. A method according to claim 47, wherein the period of time is greater than a day.

62. A method according to claim 47, wherein the weight measurement is one of a weight, a ratio of weight to height, a body mass index measurement, or a body fat measurement.

63. A method according to claim 47, wherein the monetary incentive is a cash payment.

64. A method according to claim 47, wherein providing the monetary incentive includes giving a check to the participant, crediting a participant'"'"'s account, giving gifts or prizes, or giving the participant cash.

65. A method according to claim 47, further comprising providing support to the participant.

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein support information is sent to the participant.

67. A method according to claim 47, wherein the monetary incentive increases for meeting or exceeding each of the successive weight management goals.

68. A method according to claim 47, wherein the monetary incentive decreases for not meeting or not exceeding a weight management goal that was previously met or exceeded.

69. A method according to claim 47, wherein the monetary incentive does not change if the participant neither meets nor exceeds a successive weight management goal nor neither fails to meet nor fails to exceed a previously achieved weight management goal.

70. An automated health monitoring station to obtain health data of a person, comprising:

a. a automated weighing device; and

b. a biometric identification device.

71. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 70, wherein the automated weighing device is a digital scale.

72. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 70, wherein the biometric identification device is one of a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a blood typing device, a DNA identification device, a handprint scanner, a footprint scanner, or voice recognition device.

73. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 70, further comprising a height measuring device.

74. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 73, wherein the height measuring device is a mechanical armature that lowers onto a person'"'"'s head.

75. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 73, wherein the height measuring device is an optical device that identifies a top of a person and determines a height of the person using the identification.

76. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 73, wherein the height measuring device is an electronic device that identifies a top of a person and determines a height of the person using the identification.

77. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 70, further comprising an image capture device.

78. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 77, wherein the image capture device is one of an automated camera system, a web camera, a digital camera, or a video camera.

79. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 70, further comprising a connection to a network.

80. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 79, wherein the network is one of a WAN, a LAN, an intranet, an internet, or a wireless system.

81. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 70, further comprising a computer.

82. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 81, wherein the computer includes one or more of a man machine interface, a processor, a memory, a printing device, or a display device.

83. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 81, wherein the computer receives data from the digital weighing device and the biometric identification device.

84. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 81, wherein the computer sends data onto a network.

85. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 81, wherein the computer receives data from the person.

86. An automated health monitoring station according to claim 81, wherein the computer stores data from the person, the digital weighing device, or the biometric identification device.

87. An method for automatically weighing a person, comprising

a. presenting the person for weighing;

b. verifying the identity of the person;

c. automatically weighing the person; and

d. transmitting a weight to a data center.

88. A method according to claim 87, wherein presenting the person includes one of the person entering a room or area, the person removing their shoes, the person arriving at a scheduled time, or the person stepping onto the automated weighing device.

89. A method according to claim 87, wherein verifying the identity of the person is done with a biometric identification device.

90. A method according to claim 87, wherein the biometric identification device is one of a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a blood typing device, a DNA identification device, a handprint scanner, or a footprint scanner.

91. A method according to claim 87, wherein verifying the identity of the person is done by the person entering an identifying log-in into a computer.

92. A method according to claim 91, wherein the identifying log-in includes a unique log-in name and a unique password.

93. A method according to claim 87, wherein automatically weighing a person is done using a digital scale.

94. A method according to claim 87, further comprising automatically measuring a height of the person.

95. A method according to claim 94, wherein the height of the person is measured with a height measuring device.

96. A method according to claim 95, wherein the height measuring device is a mechanical armature that lowers onto a person'"'"'s head.

97. A method according to claim 95, wherein the height measuring device is an optical device that identifies a top of a person and determines a height of the person using the identification.

98. A method according to claim 95, wherein the height measuring device is an electronic device that identifies a top of a person and determines a height of the person using the identification.

99. A method according to claim 87, further comprising automatically capturing an image of the person approximately when the person is being weighed

100. A method according to claim 99, wherein the image is captured with an image capture device.

101. A method according to claim 100, wherein the image capture device is one of an automated camera system, a web camera, a digital camera, or a video camera.

102. A method according to claim 87, wherein transmitting the data occurs over a connection to a network.

103. A method according to claim 102, wherein the network is one of a WAN, a LAN, an intranet, an internet, or a wireless system.

104. A method according to claim 87, further comprising storing the data on a computer.

105. A method according to claim 104, wherein the computer includes one or more of a man machine interface, a processor, a storage device, a printing device, or a display device.

106. A method according to claim 104, wherein the computer receives data from a digital weighing device and a biometric identification device.

107. A method according to claim 87, wherein a computer transmits the data to the data center.

108. A method according to claim 87, wherein a computer receives data from the person. A method according to claim 87, wherein automatically weighing the person and verifying the identity of the person occurs in temporal proximity.