Hydration level measurement system and method

• US 8,979,539 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humana Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Humana Incorporated
• Inventors: Snyder, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUMPHREY, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/004,578
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 128/921, 235/94.R, 426/231, 426/232, 434/127, 434/236, 434/238, 600/307
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/00 Details of weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/10 all student stations being capable of presenting the same information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

A hydration level measurement system and method comprising a technology embedded scale that rewards individuals for drinking an appropriate amount of liquid throughout the day. In an example embodiment, a reusable water bottle is equipped with an RFID tag and assigned to an individual so that the user'"'"'s hydration level may be tracked. The RFID tag logs the individual'"'"'s access as well as “before-filling” and “after-filling” weights of the bottle when placed on the scale. A computer screen acknowledges the bottle'"'"'s owner, and then indicates the increased weight and how many points will be awarded to the user using an ounces-to-points conversion. Data may be transferred from the scale computer to a web server and aggregated at the server from multiple scales for multiple “hydration challenges.” A web application receives and processes user requests to display data related to each hydration challenge such as the current scores of the participants.

Claims

1. A hydration level measurement system comprising:

(a) a measuring device comprising a vessel identifier detecting device;

(b) a liquid containing vessel comprising a vessel identifier;

(c) a computer connected to said measuring device for;

(1) receiving a first reading of said vessel identifier from said vessel identifier detecting device;

(2) receiving a first weight for said vessel identifier registered by said measuring device when said liquid containing vessel is empty;

(3) storing said first weight in association with said vessel identifier;

(4) receiving a second reading of said vessel identifier from said vessel identifier detecting device;

(5) receiving a second weight for said vessel identifier registered by said measuring device when said liquid containing vessel is filled and is placed on said measuring device;

(6) calculating a point value based on a difference between said second weight and said first weight;

(7) receiving a user identifier associated with said vessel identifier;

(8) combining said calculated point value with a previously stored total point value associated with said user identifier to calculate a total point value for said user identifier;

(9) storing said total point value for said user identifier;

(d) a display in electronic communication with said computer for displaying;

(1) on a first screen;

(i) user identifiers for a group of participants assigned to a challenge identifier; and

(ii) a challenge point total for each participant assigned to said challenge identifier; and

(2) on a second screen;

in response to receiving said total point value for said user identifier, said user identifier and said total point value.

2. The hydration level measurement system of claim 1 wherein said measuring device is a scale.

3. The hydration level measurement system of claim 1 wherein said vessel identifier is an RFID tag.

4. The hydration level measurement system of claim 1 wherein said difference between said second weight and said first weight is measured in units selected from the group consisting of ounces, cups, milligrams, and grams.

9. The hydration level measurement system of claim 1 wherein said total point value associated with a user identifier comprises the sum of point values from a plurality of vessels associated with said user.

10. The hydration level measurement system of claim 1 wherein said users identifiers assigned to said challenge identifier are sorted according to challenge point totals for said challenge identifier.

11. The hydration level measurement system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said computer connected to said measuring device;

(1) receives a start date and an end date associated with said at least one challenge identifier;

(2) records total point values for users associated with said least one challenge identifier calculated on said start date;

(3) determines a winner user identifier associated with said at least one challenge identifier with a highest total point value as of said end date; and

(b) said display further displays said winner user identifier.

5. A hydration level measurement method comprising:

(a) receiving at a computer from a vessel identifier detecting device a first reading of a vessel identifier for an empty liquid containing vessel;

(b) receiving at said computer a first weight for said vessel identifier registered by a measuring device for said empty liquid containing vessel;

(c) storing at said computer said first weight in association with said vessel identifier;

(d) receiving at said computer a second reading of said vessel identifier from said vessel identifier detecting device;

(e) receiving at said computer a second weight for said vessel identifier registered by said measuring device when said liquid containing vessel is filled and is placed on said measuring device;

(f) calculating at said computer a point value based on a difference between said second weight and said first weight;

(g) receiving at said computer a user identifier associated with said vessel identifier;

(h) combining at said computer said calculated point value with a previously stored total point value associated with said user identifier to calculate a total point value for said user identifier;

(i) storing at said computer said total point value for said user identifier;

(j) receiving at said computer at least one challenge identifier identifying a group of participants;

(k) receiving at said computer a plurality of user identifiers assigned to said at least one challenge identifier;

(l) displaying at said computer;

(1) on a first screen;

(i) user identifiers for said group of participants assigned to said challenge identifier; and

(ii) a challenge point total for each participant assigned to said challenge identifier; and

(2) on a second screen;

in response to receiving said total point value for said user identifier, said user identifier and said total point value.

6. The hydration level measurement method of claim 5 wherein said measuring device is a scale.

7. The hydration level measurement method of claim 5 wherein said vessel identifier is an RFID tag.

8. The hydration level measurement method of claim 5 wherein said difference between said second weight and said first weight is measured in units selected from the group consisting of ounces, cups, milligrams, and grams.

12. The hydration level measurement method of claim 5 wherein said total point value associated with said user identifier comprises a sum of point values from a plurality of vessels associated with said user identifier.

13. The hydration level measurement method of claim 5 wherein said users identifiers assigned to said at least one challenge identifier are displayed in a sorted order of user total point values.

14. The hydration level measurement method of claim 5 further comprising:

(m) receiving at said computer a start date and an end date associated with said at least one challenge identifier;

(n) recording at said computer total point values for users associated with said at least one challenge identifier on said start date;

(o) determining at said computer a winner user identifier associated with said at least one challenge identifier a highest total point value recorded as of said end date; and

(p) displaying at said computer said winner user identifier.