MOBILE COMPUTING WEIGHT, DIET, NUTRITION, AND EXERCISE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED FEEDBACK AND GOAL ACHIEVING FUNCTIONALITY

• US 20140214446A1
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmarTEN LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Nusbaum, Vincent Pera Jr
• Inventors: Nusbaum, Mark E., Pera, Vincent Jr., Rhoads, Jan E., Nusbaum, Jennifer L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,280,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile
• 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 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An illustrative mobile computing device executing weight, nutrition, health, behavior and exercise application software serves as a simulated combination personal trainer and dietician/nutritionist for the user using comprehensive databases storing personalized health, nutrition and exercise information. A mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, executing such software monitors, tracks and/or adjusts caloric intake, energy expenditure taking into account nutritional information and behavioral factors. The mobile computing device receives food consumption, exercise-related, behavior and other input using speech input and the device'"'"'s GPS subsystem to ease data entry burden on users and to promote continued long-term usage. The system rewards user goal achievement in an automatic, seamless manner, through, for example, downloading music, books, or other media. In illustrative implementations, the system assists users to make healthy food and exercise choices by using a comprehensive color code system to identify good choices, bad choices and those in between.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:

storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including a weight loss-related goal;

receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, via said at least one input device, data from said user identifying a first food expected to be consumed by said user;

determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food;

associating, by said processing subsystem, a digital value indicative of a health-related color code rating for said first food, where the color code rating is one of a set of colors assigned to foods grouped into a corresponding set of hierarchical health-related food categories, wherein foods having a high nutrient-related rating are grouped in a healthy food category and foods having a nutrient-related rating lower than said high nutrient-related rating are grouped in a less healthy food category, such that said first food can be distinguished by color from a less healthy food in a lower category and from a more healthy food in a higher category;

determining, by said processing system, whether said first food expected to be consumed by the user has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy food category,

identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other food associated with a color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first food, if it is determined that said first food has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy food category;

receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, data from said user identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;

determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be burned as a result of performing said first exercise; and

communicating to said user, via said output subsystem,

     1) at least one of the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food or the calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise;

     2) said first food expected to be consumed by said user together with at least one color code identifying the associated health-related rating of said first food; and

     3) if it was determined that the color code of said first food indicated a category lower than the healthy food category, at least one other food that is in a healthier food category than said first food.

2. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, wherein the health related color code rating assigned to foods takes into account said health information about a user.

3. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, further including:

associating, by said processing subsystem, a digital value indicative of a health-related color code rating for said first exercise, where the color code rating is one of a set of colors assigned to exercises grouped into a corresponding set of hierarchical health-related exercise categories, wherein exercises having a high exercise-related rating are grouped in a healthy exercise category and exercises having an exercise-related rating lower than said high exercise-related rating are grouped in a less healthy exercise category, such that said first exercise can be distinguished by color from a less healthy exercise in a lower category and from a more healthy exercise in a higher category;

determining, by said processing system, whether said first exercise expected to be performed by the user has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy exercise category,

identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other exercise associated with a color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first exercise, if it is determined that said first exercise has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy exercise category; and

communicating to said user, via said output subsystem, if it is determined that said first exercise has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy exercise category, said at least one other exercise with the color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first exercise.

4. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 3, wherein said health related color code rate assigned to exercises takes into account said health information about said user and wherein said step of identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other exercise, utilizes information regarding at least one of a user'"'"'s goals or a user'"'"'s health issues.

5. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, further including:

inputting by said user, via said at least one input device, a first set of foods constituting a meal;

associating each food that has been input as part of a meal with a digital color code;

determining, by said processing subsystem, whether any of the foods expected to be consumed by the user as part of said meal has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy food category,

communicating to said user, via said output subsystem, at least one healthier alternative food, if it is determined that a food expected to be consumed as part of said meal has an associated color code indicative of a color code category lower than the healthy food category.

6. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, wherein the step of associating includes:

associating a first color code with said first food identified by said user in said healthy food category, if said first food identified is determined to be one of a small number of top foods having a superior nutrient-related rating; and

associating a different color code if said first food has a nutrient-related rating higher than other foods with a good nutrient-related rating but lower than the superior nutrient-related rating of said top foods.

7. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 1, further including the step of determining if a weight loss-related goal has been met by said user based at least in part on expected calories consumed and/or calories burned, wherein said mobile weight and exercise management computing system includes a processing subsystem having a reward generating subsystem, and wherein said method further includes automatically selecting, by said reward generating subsystem, digital entertainment content to be downloaded to said mobile computing device based on cumulative input data relating to expected calories consumed and/or calories burned.

8. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:

storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including the user'"'"'s starting weight and the user'"'"'s target weight loss-related goal;

generating, by said processing subsystem, a set of timespans including a first timespan covering a first period of time and a second timespan covering a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time, and a corresponding set of intermediate weight loss-related goals, including a first intermediate weight loss-related goal and a second weight loss-related goal, for monitoring progress of the user towards achieving said user'"'"'s target weight loss-related goal;

storing, in a first set of storage locations in said storage system, first timespan food and exercise data including said first intermediate weight loss-related goal for said first timespan;

storing, in a second set of storage locations in said storage system, second timespan food and exercise data including said second intermediate weight loss-related goal for said second timespan;

receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first food expected to be consumed by said user during said first timespan;

determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be consumed by said user and storing data reflecting said calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food in said first set of storage locations;

receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user during said first timespan;

determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be burned by said user, and storing data reflecting said calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise in said first set of storage locations;

receiving, by said processing subsystem, the user'"'"'s current weight at the end of the first timespan; and

determining, by said processing subsystem, if the user has met at least one of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal, said second intermediate weight loss-related goal, or said user'"'"'s target weight loss-related goal.

9. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including storing in said first set of storage locations data indicative of the user'"'"'s performance with respect to achievement of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal using food and exercise data stored in said first set of storage locations, accessing, by said processing subsystem, from said first set of storage locations, data indicative of the user'"'"'s performance with respect to achievement of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal, and changing said first intermediate weight loss-related goal depending on said achievement.

10. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including providing feedback to said user, via said output subsystem, relating to the user'"'"'s progress towards achieving at least one of said first weight loss-related goal, said second weight loss-related goal, or said third weight loss-related goal.

11. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including maintaining a daily record relating to calories burned during said first timespan.

12. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including maintaining a daily record of calories consumed by said user during said first timespan.

13. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, further including associating a digital value indicative of a first color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food and a second color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food, wherein said first color code and said second color code respectively relate to the amount of first and second nutrients contained in said first food expected to be consumed by said user.

14. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein the calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise is determined in part based upon device location data generated by said GPS receiver.

15. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein said audio input device includes a microphone and said data identifying said first exercise expected to be performed by said user is generated in part based upon an analysis of speech input provided by said microphone.

16. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein said processing subsystem includes a behavioral subsystem, said method including:

generating at least one question relating to at least one of the user'"'"'s diet, eating behavior, or health;

receiving input from said user in response to said at least one question; and

generating recommendations in response to the user'"'"'s input.

17. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 8, wherein said processing subsystem includes a reward generating subsystem, and wherein said method further includes automatically selecting, by said rewards generating subsystem, digital entertainment content to be downloaded to said mobile computing device based on whether at least one of said first intermediate weight loss-related goal, said second intermediate weight loss-related goal or said target weight loss-related goal has been met by said user.

18. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:

storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including a first weight loss-related goal for a first timespan covering a relatively short period of time and a second weight loss-related goal for a second timespan covering a relatively longer period of time than said first timespan;

receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first food consumed by said user during said first timespan in response to said user identifying said first food;

determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food;

receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, data identifying a first exercise performed by said user during said first timespan in response to said user specifying said first exercise;

determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise;

determining, by said processing subsystem, the amount of calories the user may still consume during the time remaining in the first timespan and still meet said first weight loss-related goal, based upon the cumulative calories consumed by the user during said first timespan and the cumulative calories burned by the user during said first timespan; and

communicating to said user, by said output subsystem, said amount of calories said user may still consume during the time remaining in the first timespan and still meet said first weight loss-related goal.

19. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, wherein said first weight loss-related goal is a daily goal for calories for the current day, and said communicating step includes displaying to the user the amount of calories that a user may consume at dinner and still meet said first weight loss-related goal, based upon the calories consumed at breakfast and lunch minus the calories burned as a result of exercise by the user during the current day.

20. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including accessing an ideal weight database to determine an ideal weight for said user;

and determining if at least one of said first weight loss-related goal or said second weight loss-related goal has been met, including the step of assessing the progress made by the user towards reaching said ideal weight over multiple timespans.

21. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including providing feedback, via said output subsystem, to the user relating to progress towards achieving each of said first weight loss-related goal and said second weight loss-related goal.

22. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including maintaining in said storage system a daily record of calories burned during said first timespan.

23. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including maintaining in said storage system a daily record of calories consumed by said user during said first timespan.

24. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including associating a digital value indicative of a first color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food and a second color code associated with a health-related rating of said first food, wherein said first color code and said second color code each respectively relate to the amount of first and second nutrients contained in said first food.

25. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including determining calories burned by said user in part based upon device location data generated by said GPS receiver.

26. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, wherein said audio input device includes a microphone and said data identifying said first exercise exercise performed by said user is generated in part based upon an analysis of speech input provided by said microphone.

27. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, wherein processing subsystem includes a behavioral subsystem, said method including:

generating at least one question relating to at least one of the user'"'"'s diet, eating behavior, or health;

receiving input from said user in response to said at least one question; and

generating recommendations in response to the user'"'"'s input.

28. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system according to claim 18, further including the step of determining if a food or exercise-related goal has been met by said user based at least in part on calories consumed and/or calories burned, wherein said processing subsystem includes a reward generating subsystem, and wherein said method further includes automatically selecting, by said rewards generating subsystem, digital entertainment content to be downloaded to said mobile computing device based on cumulative input data relating to calories consumed and/or calories burned.

29. A method of operating a mobile weight and exercise management computing system for enhancing user goal achievement, said computing system having at least one input device including an audio input device, a storage system, a GPS receiver, a processing subsystem including a food monitoring subsystem and an exercise monitoring subsystem, and an output subsystem, wherein said processing subsystem is operatively coupled to said at least one input device, said storage system, said GPS receiver and said output subsystem, said method of operating said mobile weight and exercise management computing system comprising:

storing, in said storage system, health information about a user including a weight loss-related goal;

receiving, by said exercise monitoring subsystem via said at least one input device, data from said user identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;

determining, by said exercise monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be burned as a result of performing said first exercise;

associating, by said processing subsystem, a digital value indicative of a health-related color code rating for said first exercise, where the color code rating is one of a set of colors assigned to exercises grouped into a corresponding set of hierarchical health-related exercise categories, wherein exercises having a high exercise-related rating are grouped in a healthy exercise category and exercises having an exercise-related rating lower than said high exercise-related rating are grouped in a less healthy exercise category, such that said first exercise can be distinguished by color from a less healthy exercise in a lower category and from a more healthy exercise in a higher category;

determining, by said processing system, whether said first exercise expected to be performed by the user has an associated color code for a category lower than said healthy exercise category,

identifying, by said processing subsystem, at least one other exercise associated with a color code that is in a healthier color code category than said first exercise, if it is determined that said first exercise has an associated color code indicative of a category lower than the healthy exercise category;

receiving, by said food monitoring subsystem, data from said user identifying, via said at least one input device, a first food expected to be consumed by said user;

determining, by said food monitoring subsystem, the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food; and

communicating to said user, via said output subsystem,

     1) at least one of the calories expected to be consumed by said user as a result of eating said first food or the calories expected to be burned by said user as a result of performing said first exercise;

     2) said first exercise expected to be performed by said user together with at least one color code identifying the associated exercise-related rating of said first exercise; and

     3) if it was determined that the color code of said first exercise indicated a category lower than the healthy exercise category, at least one other exercise that is in a healthier exercise category than said first exercise.