DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING FOOD INTAKE

• US 20160132642A1
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raz Carmi
• Original Assignee: Raz Carmi
• Inventors: Carmi, Raz
• Application Number:
  US14/534,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132642A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A device for monitoring food intake by a user to whom the device is attached includes at least one camera to acquire a series of images of at least a partial view of a manipulable limb of the user. A processor is configured to apply a probabilistic model to determine based on the series of images if a motion of the limb corresponds to at least one predetermined gesture that is indicative of taking a bite. A recorded sequence of events is updated when the motion is determined to correspond to a predetermined gesture. A signaling unit is operable by the processor to produce a signal that is sensible by the user, the signal being indicative of the updating of the sequence of events.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring food intake by a user to whom the device is attached, the device comprising:

at least one camera to acquire a series of images of at least a partial view of a manipulable limb of the user;

a processor configured to apply a probabilistic model to determine based on the series of images if a motion of the limb corresponds to at least one predetermined gesture that is indicative of taking a bite, and to update a recorded sequence of events when the motion is determined to correspond to said at least one predetermined gesture; and

a signaling unit that is operable by the processor to produce a signal that is sensible by the user, wherein the signal is indicative of the updating of the sequence of events.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the signaling unit is operable to produce a haptic signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the haptic signal comprises a vibration or knocking.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the signaling unit is placed so as to contact the user'"'"'s skin when the device is attached to the user.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein, the processor is further configured to adjust operation of the signaling unit in accordance with a confidence level that is determined by the application of the probabilistic model.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a band for placement about the limb for attachment to the limb.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one camera comprises at least two cameras, such that the series of images comprises images of different sides of the limb.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further includes an audio device or a display device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the manipulable limb comprises a finger or hand.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to compare a counted number of bites with a recommended number of bites, or a rate of counting of bites with a recommended rate of taking bites.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to operate the signaling unit to generate a signal in accordance with a result of the comparison.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the application of the probabilistic model comprises:

identifying a feature in the acquired series of images;

comparing the identified feature with one or more gesture features that are retrieved from a database of gesture features; and

calculating a value that is indicative of a degree of correspondence between the identified feature and the gesture feature.

13. A method for monitoring food intake by a user, the method comprising:

acquiring using a camera that is attached to the user a series of images of a manipulable limb of the user;

analyzing the acquired images, using a processor, to identify a motion of the limb;

applying by the processor a probabilistic model to calculate a probability that the identified motion corresponds to at least one predetermined gesture that is indicative of taking a bite;

using the probability by the processor to determine if the identified motion is indicative of taking a bite during a time segment; and

when the identified motion is determined by the processor to be indicative of taking a bite, updating a sequence of events and generating a signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the limb comprises a finger or hand.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a reminder signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the signal comprises operating a haptic signaling unit to generate a haptic signal.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the signal comprises adjusting the generating of the signal in accordance with a confidence level that is determined by the applying of the probabilistic model.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the generating of the signal comprises decreasing a reinforcement level when application of the probabilistic model indicates an increase in the confidence level.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing the sequence of events with a recommended number of bites or with a recommended rate of taking bites, and generating a signal in accordance with a result of the comparison.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the acquired images comprise a partial view of the limb.