WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USING ZERO-READOUT WEIGHT SENSOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20100049471A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Permanens LLC
• Original Assignee: Permanens LLC
• Inventors: ADELSON, Alex M, GAGE, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/173
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method of, and a system for, controlling, managing and maintaining a client'"'"'s weight are performed by placing a weight sensor device in a location that is convenient to the client, periodically generating weight signals at the sensor device, providing a computer system remote from the location of the sensor device, storing information associated with the client at the computer system, using a wired or wireless connection to connect the sensor device to the computer system, receiving and processing the weight signals in accordance with weight maintenance algorithms at the computer system, and reviewing the processed data by a professional manager to monitor the client'"'"'s progress. The weight sensor device is provided with no indicator of the client'"'"'s weight. The client is prompted to step on and off the sensor device. There is no visual display or other indication at the sensor device to indicate the client'"'"'s weight.

Claims

1. A weight management system, comprising:

a weight sensor device for generating an electrical weight signal indicative of a body weight of a user in a weighing state, the sensor device itself providing no indication of the user'"'"'s body weight to the user during the weighing state; and

a programmed controller for receiving and processing the weight signal from the sensor device, and for monitoring and managing the user'"'"'s body weight based on the weight signal processed by the controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor device has a platform for supporting the user during the weighing state, and a load cell operatively connected to the platform for generating the electrical weight signal when the platform supports the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor device has means for indicating when the device is ready to measure the user'"'"'s body weight, and when the user'"'"'s body weight has been successfully measured.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor device has means for distinguishing among a plurality of users when the users use the same sensor device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor device is remotely located relative to the controller, and wherein the weight signal is transmitted via one of a wireless and a wired link to the controller.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a manager terminal operated by a human weight manager, and wherein at least one of the terminal and the controller is operative for sending a communication indicative of the user'"'"'s body weight status to the user.

7. The system of claim 6, and a communications device operated by the user and remotely located relative to the controller, and wherein the communication is sent by one of the controller and the terminal via one of a wireless and a wired link to the communications device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller has a database customized for the user and includes personalized forms of the communication, and wherein the communication is at least one of the personalized forms.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a manager terminal operated by a human weight manager to supervise a plurality of users, wherein the controller has a database customized for each user, and wherein the terminal includes a display in which each user'"'"'s body weight status is displayed.

10. The system of claim 1, and a communications device having a display on which identifiers are displayed, and wherein the communications device is associated with the weight sensor device, and distinguishes among a plurality of users when the users use the same sensor device by selection of the identifiers.

11. A weight sensor device, comprising:

a platform for supporting a user during a weighing state; and

a load cell operatively connected to the platform for generating an electrical weight signal indicative of a body weight of the user during the weighing state, the sensor device itself providing no indication of the user'"'"'s body weight to the user during the weighing state.

12. A weight management method, comprising the steps of:

weighing a user by instructing the user to stand on a weight sensor device that generates an electrical weight signal indicative of a body weight of the user in a weighing state;

providing no indication of the user'"'"'s body weight to the user during the weighing state;

receiving and processing the weight signal from the sensor device by a programmed controller; and

monitoring and managing the user'"'"'s body weight based on the weight signal processed by the controller.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the weighing, monitoring and managing steps are each performed periodically.

14. The method of claim 12, and a step of indicating when the weighing step is ready to begin, and when the weighing step has been successfully concluded.

15. The method of claim 12, and a step of distinguishing among a plurality of users when the users use the same sensor device.

16. The method of claim 12, and a step of remotely locating the sensor device relative to the controller, and a step of transmitting the weight signal via one of a wireless and a wired link to the controller.

17. The method of claim 12, and a step of operatively connecting the controller to a manager terminal operated by a human weight manager, and a step of sending a communication indicative of the user'"'"'s body weight status to the user via at least one of the terminal and the controller.

18. The method of claim 17, and a step of remotely locating a communications device operated by the user relative to the controller, and wherein the sending step is performed by sending the communication via one of a wireless and a wired link to the communications device.

19. The method of claim 18, and a step of storing personalized forms of the communication in a database customized for the user, and wherein the sending step is performed by sending the communication in at least one of the personalized forms.

20. The method of claim 12, and a step of operatively connecting the controller to a manager terminal operated by a human weight manager to supervise a plurality of users, and a step of customizing a database for each user, and a step of displaying each user'"'"'s body weight status at the terminal.

21. The method of claim 12, and a step of storing the user'"'"'s weight history over time in a database accessible by the controller, and wherein the monitoring and managing steps are performed by tracking the user'"'"'s body weight against the user'"'"'s weight history.

22. The method of claim 12, and a step of associating a communications device with the weight sensor device, and distinguishing among a plurality of users when the users use the same sensor device by selecting a personalized identifier displayed on the communications device.