Methods and apparatus for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness

• US 8,944,960 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dugan Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian M. Dugan
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US14/314,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20140308629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 705/1, 705/15, 705/26, 705/28, 600/300, 700/90, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• 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 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness. In accordance with a first aspect, an apparatus is provided that is adapted to assist in weight loss and exercise. The apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) having computer program code adapted to assist in at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. The PDA also includes computer program code adapted to display historical data regarding at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. Numerous other embodiments are provided, as are methods, systems and computer program products.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wearable monitor that monitors biometric information of a user as the user exercises; and

a web-enabled, handheld electronic device associated with the user, the web-enabled, handheld electronic device including computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to;

receive biometric information measured by the wearable monitor worn by the user as the user exercises;

communicate exercise level information determined from the received biometric information to a remotely-located server;

communicate geographic information about the user to the remotely-located server;

receive input from the user indicating a diet and exercise goal;

provide the diet and exercise goal to the remotely-located server;

obtain product information for a product determined by the remotely-located server to be consistent with the diet and exercise goal, such determination being based on the exercise level information provided to the remotely-located server; and

present the product information to the user on the web-enabled, handheld electronic device as being consistent with the diet and exercise goal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that facilitates purchase of the product by the user.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to communicate food intake information to the remotely-located server.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to monitor food intake information of the user.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to receive weight information about the user.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to monitor exercise level information of the user by monitoring a pulse of the user.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to monitor exercise level information of the user by monitoring calories burned by the user.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the product information comprises food information.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the product information relates to a product line.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device communicates with the remotely-located server using one or more HTTP transmissions.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a web-enabled, handheld electronic device; and

a display included as part of the web-enabled, handheld electronic device;

wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device is associated with a user and is configured to receive biometric information measured by a wearable monitor worn by the user as the user exercises, the web-enabled, handheld electronic device including computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to;

monitor exercise level information of the user based on biometric information measured by the wearable monitor and provided to the web-enabled, handheld electronic device;

communicate exercise level information determined from the received biometric information to a remotely-located server;

communicate geographic information about the user to the remotely-located server;

receive input from the user indicating a diet and exercise goal;

provide the diet and exercise goal to the remotely-located server;

obtain product information for a product determined by the remotely-located server to be consistent with the diet and exercise goal, such determination being based on the exercise level information provided to the remotely-located server; and

present the product information to the user on the web-enabled, handheld electronic device as being consistent with the diet and exercise goal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that facilitates purchase of the product by the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device includes computer program code that directs the web-enabled, handheld electronic device to communicate food intake information to the remotely-located server.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the web-enabled, handheld electronic device communicates with the remotely-located server using one or more HTTP transmissions.

15. A system comprising:

a server having one or more physical processors configured by computer program code to direct the server to;

communicate with a remotely-located, web-enabled, handheld electronic device of a user;

receive from the remotely-located, web-enabled, handheld electronic device biometric information measured by a wearable monitor worn by the user as the user exercises and communicated from the wearable monitor to the remotely-located, web-enabled, handheld electronic device;

receive from the remotely-located, web-enabled, handheld electronic device geographic information about the user;

monitor exercise level information of the user based on the received biometric information;

obtain stored goal information specifying a diet and exercise goal previously set by the user;

determine a product consistent with the diet and exercise goal based on the monitored exercise level information of the user; and

based on the determination of the product, effectuate presentation to the user of product information for the product on the remotely-located, web-enabled, handheld electronic device of the user.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the server is adapted to share the collected information with a third party.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the server is configured to receive from the remotely-located, web-enabled, handheld electronic device food intake information for the user.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the product information comprises food information.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the server is in communication with a restaurant.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the product information relates to a product line.