Smart Watch and Human-to-Computer Interface for Monitoring Food Consumption

• US 20140349256A1
• Filed: 05/23/2013
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Connor
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,529,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/127
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

This invention is a device and system for monitoring a person'"'"'s food consumption comprising: a wearable sensor that automatically collects data to detect probable eating events; a voluntary human-to-computer interface that is used by the person to enter food consumption data wherein the person is prompted to enter food consumption data when an eating event is detected by the wearable sensor; and a data analysis component that analyzes food consumption data to estimate the types and amounts of ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories that are consumed by the person. In an example, the wearable sensor can be part of a smart watch or smart bracelet. In an example, the voluntary human-to-computer interface can be part of a smart phone. The integrated operation of the wearable sensor and the voluntary human-to-computer interface disclosed in this invention offers accurate measurement of food consumption with low intrusion into the person'"'"'s privacy.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring food consumption comprising:

a wearable sensor that is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s body or clothing, wherein this wearable sensor automatically collects data that is used to detect probable eating events without requiring action by the person in association with a probable eating event apart from the act of eating, and wherein a probable eating event is a period of time during which the person is probably eating;

a voluntary human-to-computer interface, wherein this interface receives data from the person concerning the food that the person eats, wherein receipt of this data requires voluntary action by the person apart from the act of eating, and wherein the person is prompted to enter data using this interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event; and

a data analysis component, wherein this component analyzes data received from the human-to-computer interface to estimate the types and amounts of foods, ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories that are consumed by the person.

2. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor is worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, hand, finger, or arm.

3. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor is part of an electronically-functional wrist band.

4. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor is part of a smart watch.

5. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor is part of an electronically-functional adhesive patch that is worn on a person'"'"'s skin.

6. The device in claim 1 wherein the human-to-computer interface is part of a mobile phone or mobile phone application.

7. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor and the human-to-computer interface are in wireless communication with each other.

8. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning motion of the person'"'"'s body.

9. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning electromagnetic energy emitted from the person'"'"'s body or transmitted through the person'"'"'s body.

10. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning thermal energy emitted from the person'"'"'s body.

11. The device in claim 1 wherein the wearable sensor automatically collects data concerning light energy reflected from the person'"'"'s body or absorbed by the person'"'"'s body.

12. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to enter data using the human-to-computer interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not enter data for this probable eating event before or at the start of the probable eating event.

13. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to enter data using the human-to-computer interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not enter data for this probable eating event before a selected length of time after the start of the probable eating event.

14. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to enter data using the human-to-computer interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not enter data for this probable eating event before a selected quantity of eating-related actions occurs during the probable eating event.

15. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to enter data using the human-to-computer interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not enter data for this probable eating event before the end of the probable eating event.

16. The device in claim 1 wherein the person is prompted to enter data using the human-to-computer interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event and the person does not enter data for this probable eating event before a selected length of time after the end of the probable eating event.

17. The device in claim 1 wherein the data analysis component analyzes data received from both the wearable sensor and the human-to-computer interface to evaluate the completeness of data received through the interface for tracking the person'"'"'s total food consumption.

18. The device in claim 1 wherein the data analysis component analyzes data received from both the wearable sensor and the human-to-computer interface to evaluate the accuracy of data received through the interface for tracking the person'"'"'s total food consumption.

19. A device for monitoring food consumption comprising:

a wearable sensor that is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, hand, finger, or arm, wherein this wearable sensor automatically collects data that is used to detect probable eating events without requiring action by the person in association with a probable eating event apart from the act of eating, and wherein a probable eating event is a period of time during which the person is probably eating;

a voluntary human-to-computer interface, wherein this interface receives data from the person concerning the food that the person eats, wherein receipt of this data requires voluntary action by the person apart from the act of eating, and wherein the person is prompted to enter data using this interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event; and

a data analysis component, wherein this component analyzes data received from the human-to-computer interface to estimate the types and amounts of foods, ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories that are consumed by the person.

20. A device for monitoring food consumption comprising:

a wearable sensor that is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, hand, finger, or arm, wherein this wearable sensor automatically collects data that is used to detect probable eating events without requiring action by the person in association with a probable eating event apart from the act of eating, wherein a probable eating event is a period of time during which the person is probably eating, and wherein this data is selected from the group consisting of data concerning motion of the person'"'"'s body, data concerning electromagnetic energy emitted from or transmitted through the person'"'"'s body, data concerning thermal energy emitted from the person'"'"'s body, and light energy reflected from or absorbed by the person'"'"'s body;

a voluntary human-to-computer interface, wherein this interface receives data from the person concerning the food that the person eats, wherein receipt of this data requires voluntary action by the person apart from the act of eating, wherein the person is prompted to enter data using this interface when data collected by the wearable sensor indicates a probable eating event; and

wherein this interface receives data from the person through touch, voice, gesture, keys, and/or buttons; and

a data analysis component, wherein this component analyzes data received from the human-to-computer interface to estimate the types and amounts of foods, ingredients, nutrients, and/or calories that are consumed by the person, and wherein this component analyzes data received from both the sensor and the interface to evaluate the completeness of data received through the interface for tracking the person'"'"'s total food consumption.