SMART SENSOR BASED ENVIRONMENT FOR OPTIMIZING A SELECTION OF MEAL PLANS

• US 20090234839A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraemer, James R., Angell, Robert Lee, Friedlander, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US12/049,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20090234839A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for selection of meal plans. In one embodiment, a set of prospective guests are identified from at least one of a set of sensors collecting historical attendance data and a calendaring application. A set of nutritional requirements is then identified for the set of prospective guests. Thereafter, a set of meal plans is selected on an availability of ingredients and the nutritional requirements of the set of prospective guests, wherein the availability of ingredients is determined by sensors from the set of sensors monitoring the ingredients.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for selection of meal plans, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying a set of prospective guests from at least one of a set of sensors collecting historical attendance data and a calendaring application;

identifying nutritional requirements of the set of prospective guests; and

selecting a set of meal plans based on an availability of ingredients and the nutritional requirements of the set of prospective guests, wherein the availability of ingredients is determined by sensors from the set of sensors monitoring the availability of ingredients.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of meal plans is further selected using a set of meal plan policies.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the set of meal plan policies comprises a budgetary limitation.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the set of prospective guests comprises:

parsing calendaring application data to identify participants attending an event to form the set of prospective guests, wherein the set of prospective guests are identified from at least one of a calendar entry and a message accepting an invitation.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the set of prospective guests comprises:

parsing a database storing historical attendance data to identify dates of past attendance by a set of guests, wherein the historical attendance data is collected by the set of sensors from capturing input data describing past events; and

associating a guest identifier with each guest from the set of guests to form the set of prospective guests.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the nutritional requirements are identified from at least one of a set of profiles and input data from the set of sensors.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user feedback for modifying a selection of the set of meal plans.

8. A computer program product for selection of meal plans, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to identify a set of prospective guests from at least one of a set of sensors collecting historical attendance data and a calendaring application;

second program instructions to identify nutritional requirements of the set of prospective guests;

third program instructions to select a set of meal plans based on an availability of ingredients and the nutritional requirements of the set of prospective guests, wherein the availability of ingredients is determined by sensors from the set of sensors monitoring the availability of ingredients; and

wherein the first program instructions, the second program instructions, and the third program instructions are stored on the computer readable medium.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the third program instructions selects the set of meal plans using a set of meal plan policies.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the set of meal plan policies comprises a budgetary limitation.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first program instructions for identifying the set of prospective guests further comprises:

fourth program instructions for parsing calendaring application data to identify participants attending an event to form the set of prospective guests, wherein the set of prospective guests are identified from at least one of a calendar entry and a message accepting an invitation.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first program instructions for identifying the set of prospective guests comprises:

fifth program instructions for parsing a database storing historical attendance data to identify dates of past attendance by a set of guests, wherein the historical attendance data is collected by the set of sensors from capturing input data describing past events; and

sixth program instructions for associating a guest identifier with each guest from the set of guests to form the set of prospective guests.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the nutritional requirements are identified from at least one of a set of profiles and input data from the set of sensors.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

seventh program instructions for receiving user feedback for modifying a selection of the set of meal plans.

15. A system for selection of meal plans, the system comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to identify a set of prospective guests from at least one of a set of sensors collecting historical attendance data and a calendaring application;

identify nutritional requirements of the set of prospective guests; and

select a set of meal plans based on an availability of ingredients and the nutritional requirements of the set of prospective guests, wherein the availability of ingredients is determined by sensors from the set of sensors monitoring the availability of ingredients.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the set of meal plans is further selected using a set of meal plan policies.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to parse calendaring application data to identify participants attending an event to form the set of prospective guests, wherein the set of prospective guests are identified from at least one of a calendar entry and a message accepting an invitation.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to parse a database storing historical attendance data to identify dates of past attendance by a set of guests, wherein the historical attendance data is collected by the set of sensors from capturing input data describing past events;

and associate a guest identifier with each guest from the set of guests to form the set of prospective guests.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the nutritional requirements are identified from at least one of a set of profiles and input data from the set of sensors.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to receive user feedback for modifying a selection of the set of meal plans.