DIET CONTROL METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of controlling food purchases to oblige a person to conform to a predetermined dietary regimen, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining available to a person attempting to conform to the predetermined dietary regimen a control device having data processing capability including parameters of the predetermined dietary regimen and ability to accept and deny purchase authorization;
making a dietary selection at a commercial food establishment;
submitting the dietary selection to the control device; and
selectively issuing purchase authorizations when the dietary selection conforms to the predetermined dietary regimen and denying purchase authorizations when the dietary selection fails to conform to the predetermined dietary regimen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and system which have capability of inhibiting food purchases. The system analyzes proposed food purchases for adherence to a pre-established dietary regimen. If a proposed purchase fails to conform to the dietary regimen, the device may inhibit authorization of payment of funds for the proposed purchase. The device and system may comprise an electronic payment device such as a credit or debit card, or a portable image capture device such as a cellular telephone having camera capability for example. The device may be self-contained or alternatively, may work in conjunction with a remote station, such as a data processing station linked to the device by a communications channel.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling food purchases to oblige a person to conform to a predetermined dietary regimen, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining available to a person attempting to conform to the predetermined dietary regimen a control device having data processing capability including parameters of the predetermined dietary regimen and ability to accept and deny purchase authorization; making a dietary selection at a commercial food establishment; submitting the dietary selection to the control device; and selectively issuing purchase authorizations when the dietary selection conforms to the predetermined dietary regimen and denying purchase authorizations when the dietary selection fails to conform to the predetermined dietary regimen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A control device for controlling food purchases to oblige a person to conform to a predetermined dietary regimen, comprising a hand held data processing control device having apparatus and software which are operable to execute at least in part a process of controlling food purchases by analyzing proposed food purchases for conformity to at least one parameter of the predetermined dietary regimen and by issuing commands to accept and deny purchase authorization based on the analysis of proposed food purchases.
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19. A system device for controlling food purchases to oblige a person to conform to a predetermined dietary regimen, comprising:
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a hand held data processing control device having apparatus and software which are operable to execute at least in part a process of controlling food purchases by analyzing proposed food purchases for conformity to at least one parameter of the predetermined dietary regimen and by issuing commands to accept and deny purchase authorization based on the analysis of proposed food purchases; a central station for processing data and issuing commands, having apparatus and software which are operable to execute at least in part a process of controlling food purchases by analyzing proposed food purchases for conformity to at least one parameter of the predetermined dietary regimen and by issuing commands to accept and deny purchase authorization based on the analysis of proposed food purchases; and a personal communications device which is enabled to communicate over a communications channels, and which is disposed to communicate signals between said hand held data processing device and said central station so as to assist in implementing the a process of controlling food purchases.
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Specification