Method and system for measurement of intake of foods, nutrients and other food components in the diet

• US 5,233,520 A
• Filed: 12/19/1990
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Inventors: Fong, Alice K., Gunn, Moira A., Kretsch, Mary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHINGALA, GITA
• Application Number:
  US07/631,011
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 364/413.29, 364/413.13
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

An interactive computerized dietary measurement system and process which can be used by lay people for accurate measurement of the intake of foods, nutrients, and other food components in the diet. The system includes a computer device coupled with an electronic balance, output/display device(s), user input element(s), a food codes database and a storage element. The system has the ability to provide a plurality of weigh-in measurement options with respect to different food service settings or habits and to respectively tag the measurement of each of the options selected by the user in the storage element so as to track the measurements. The system can instruct user on the next measurement action and required input so that users are not required to remember all of the measurement actions and sequences of the actions for the measurements. The system also provides a plurality of weigh-out measurement options in which the computer will track the measurement record and remind the user of what has been done and what should be done so that a complete and accurate collection of dietary intake data can be achieved. The system is further capable of signalling to the user any weighing errors for allowing user to correct the errors, and of permitting user to make comments or notes as to measurements.

Claims

1. An interactive dietary measurement system for measurement of dietary intake of individuals, comprising:

food weight input means for entering food weight data,

means for generating food-associated code data,

means for processing said food weight data,

means for providing user services including provisions of a plurality of options and directives for correct measurements of different foods without need of changing a user'"'"'s dietary habits,

user interactive means coupled to said processing means for permitting the user to communicate with the system,

storage means for storing said food weight data, said food-associated code data and processed data,

output means for advising the user of various information including said food weight data, said options and said directives, and prompting the user to take next measurement actions.

2. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1, wherein said food weight input means includes at least one electronic balance, and said food weight data includes weigh-in data and weigh-out data.

3. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1, wherein said means for generating food-associated code data includes a food code administration means for providing a proper food code for each food identified by a user, said administration means including at least one food-list database coupled to said computer means, said food-list being associated with food codes so that a user can enter a food description by said interactive means to match a food description in said database.

4. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 3, wherein said food-list database includes food group descriptions and food species descriptions under each food group description.

5. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 wherein said food coding means includes a food identification catalogue having a food list with associated barcodes thereon, and a barcode reader coupled to said processing means for reading barcodes into said processing means.

6. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1, wherein said user interactive means includes at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, and a voice recognition system.

7. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 wherein said output means includes at least one of a video display means and audio generation means for advising a user of various information and prompting a user to take next measurement actions.

8. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 or 2 wherein said options include a plurality of measurement options for entering food weigh-in data and a plurality of options for entering food weigh-out data, and at least one option for entering food-associated codes.

9. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of options for entering food weigh-in data includes a weigh-food option with sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives for measurements of an empty plate or container, food with a plate or container, and food only;

a weigh-drink option with sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives for measurements of a drink with bottle, can or carton, and drink with a cup or glass; and

second-helping option for providing methods and associated directives for measurements of second-helpings of the foods advised of by said output means.

10. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of options for entering food weigh-out data include a food and drink weigh-out option with sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives for measurements of a single food leftover and merged food leftovers;

a spill weigh-out option for providing a method and associated directives for entering spilled food data into the system; and

an option for providing a method and associated directives for allowing a user to enter data related to forgotten items.

11. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 8 wherein said option for entering food-associated codes includes utilization of barcodes and a food-list data-base for generating the food-associated codes.

12. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 wherein said user services further include questions and comments entering option for providing methods and associated directives for entering questions or comments into the system.

13. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 wherein said user services also include an immediate advisement service for advising a user of weighing errors through said output means and for allowing a user to correct errors stored in said storage means.

14. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of food weigh-in options further includes a recipe food weigh-in option for providing methods and associated directives for entering weight data of recipe food.

15. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 further including a system clock means for providing time data for each recorded food weight data.

16. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 further including video camera and recorder means for recording and storing video image data for later digital transmission to said storage means of the system.

17. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 further including at least one food nutrient or components database means for providing nutrient or component data for each said food code which is transferred from said storage means and associated with a food eaten by the user, and a calculation and analysis means for calculating and analyzing food nutrients or components for the food eaten by the user.

18. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 17, wherein said calculation and analysis means is incorporated in said processing means.

19. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 1 further including a modem means for coupling the system with a telephone line so that the system can communicate with separate food component databases and analysis systems.

20. An interactive dietary measurement system for measurement of dietary intake of users, comprising:

weight input means for entering weigh-in and weigh-out data,

display means for display of various information,

data collection means for collecting food intake data, said data collection means including;

user interactive means for permitting a user to communicate with the system,

database means for providing a food code for each recorded food response to food descriptions entered from said interactive means,

storage means for storing recorded weight data and associated food code data,

means for controlling operation and processing of entered data, said means for processing of entered data further providing a plurality of measurement options with respective directives for different food services through said display means, said weigh-in data being tagged according to food services in said storage means in order to track the measurements of each said option in use and to advise the user of the current entered data and the next action in the measurement.

21. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 wherein said means for processing of entered data also advises a user of weighing errors through said display means and allows a user to correct said weighing errors stored in said storage means.

22. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 wherein said weigh-in and weigh-out data includes food weight input data and food container weight input data.

23. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 wherein said display means includes video display means and audio display means.

24. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 further including a food identification catalogue having a food list with associated barcodes thereon, and at least one barcode reader coupled to said processing means for reading barcodes into said storage means.

25. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 wherein said measurement options include a plurality of weigh-in and weigh-out options for providing respective methods and associated directives for entering weigh-in and weigh-out data for said different food service situations.

26. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 or 25 wherein said different food services include at least a food-only service;

a food with container service;

a drink with container, bottle, carton or cup service;

a pre-packaged food service;

a drink with food or ice service; and

a recipe food service.

27. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 25, wherein said weigh-in options also include a second helping option for entering said weigh-in data of a second helping of foods listed on said display means.

28. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 wherein said processing means further allows a user to enter notes or comments into said storage means.

29. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 further including a food analysis means for providing a report on analyzed intake of nutrients or components, said analysis means including a nutrients or component database means for providing data of nutrients or components associated with eaten foods, and a processing means for processing said collected food intake data in combination with said nutrient or component database means to produce said report.

30. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20 further including a modem means for coupling said data collection means with a telephone line in order to allow communication with said food analysis means.

31. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20, wherein said processing means also includes a clock means for providing time data to each of said weigh-in and weigh-out data.

32. An interactive dietary measurement system of claim 20, wherein said database means includes food lists and associated food codes, each food name in each of said food lists including a food description so that a user can easily find words to match the food description in said food list.

33. A method for measurement of dietary intake by using a computer or microprocessor which includes a storage means for storing recorded data and processed data, said method comprising the steps of:

entering weigh-in and weigh-out data into said computer through an electronic balance connected to said computer,

displaying a variety of information on a display connected to said computer,

storing and displaying a plurality of weigh-in options for different food services or habits for allowing a user to make a weigh-in measurement selection,

advising a user of said weigh-in measurement in advance, through said display, for each of said weigh-in options selected by users through an input device,

tagging said weigh-in data with respect to said different weigh-in options in use,

storing and displaying a plurality of weigh-out options for different food leftover services or habits for allowing users to make a weigh-out measurement selection,

advising users of measurement actions in advance through said display means for each of said weigh-out options selected by users through said input device.

34. A method of claim 33 further including a step of tracking the measurement record so as to advise a user of the current measurement record through said display means.

35. A method of claim 33 further including a step of checking weight data changes under predetermined criteria to advise a user of any measurement errors and allow a user to make corrections.

36. A method of claim 33 wherein said step of storing and displaying a plurality weigh-in options further includes a step of providing a weigh-food option with sub-options for providing methods and associated directives for measurements of an empty plate or container, food with a plate or container, and food only;

a weigh-drink option with sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives for measurements of a drink with bottle, can or carton, and drink with a cup or glass; and

a second-helping option for providing methods and associated directives for measurements of second-helpings of the foods advised of by an output device.

37. A method of claim 33, wherein said step of storing and displaying a plurality of weigh-out options further includes a step of providing a food and drink weigh-out option with sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives for measurements of a single food leftover and merged food leftovers;

a spill weigh-out option for providing a method and associated directives for entering spilled food data into the system; and

an option for providing a method and associated directives for allowing users to enter data related to forgotten items.

38. A method of claim 33 further including a step of processing said weigh-in and weigh-out data for providing a complete food intake data record.

39. A method of claim 33 further including steps of coupling a food code administration database with said computer and allowing user interactions with said computer to search an appropriate food code for each recorded food.

40. A method of claim 33 further including a step of generating and storing time data associated with food measurement data stored in said storage means.

41. An interactive measurement apparatus for accurate measurement of dietary intake of users without need of assistance from dietary staff or changing a user'"'"'s dietary habits, comprising:

data input means for entering food weigh-in and weigh-out data, said data input means including weight input means and alphanumeric input means;

calculation and control means for producing correct dietary intake data by use of said weigh-in and weigh-out data and controlling operation of the apparatus;

food identification means for storing a plurality of food group names and food names including a plurality of combination food names, each of said food names being associated with a code or codes representing descriptions of said combination foods;

means for providing user services including provisions of a plurality of options and directives for correct measurement of different foods without need of changing a user'"'"'s dietary habits;

means for generating feedback signals of errors;

means for informing users of various information including said data entered by the users, said user measurement options and directives, said feedback signals and processed results.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said food identification means includes at least a computer database.

43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said means for informing users of various information includes at least a video display means and an audio generation means.

44. An interactive dietary measurement apparatus of claim 41 or 42 wherein said options include a plurality of measurement options for entering food weigh-in data and a plurality of options for entering food weigh-out data, and at least one option for entering food-associated codes.

45. An interactive dietary measurement apparatus of claim 44, wherein said plurality of options for entering food weigh-in data includes a weigh-food option and sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives for measurements of an empty plate or container, food with a plate or container, and food only;

a weigh-drink option with sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives and measurements of a drink with bottle, can or carton, and drink with a cup or glass; and

second-helping option for providing methods and associated directives for measurements of second-helpings of the foods advised of by said output means.

46. An interactive dietary measurement apparatus of claim 44, wherein said plurality of options for entering food weigh-out data include a food and drink weigh-out option with sub-options for providing respective methods and associated directives for measurements of a single food leftover and merged food leftovers;

a spill weigh-out option for providing a method and associated directives for entering spilled food data; and

an option for providing a method and associated directives for allowing a user to enter data related to forgotten items.