Object condition analysis and control techniques

• US 9,189,668 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mymee Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mymee LLC
• Inventors: Beckman, Christopher V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAMERT, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US13/830,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

New consumption and inventory recording, tracking, analysis and control techniques are provided. In some aspects of the invention, multiple master tags and signal control elements manage the communication of unique signals indicating and managing inventory status and consumption activity. A master tag may bridge communication from a computer hardware and software control system to smaller, more shielded inventory tags, to assess unique identifying information and control actuation of various functions. In other aspects, drugs and other agents may be variably released and/or applied by a new form of actuable, consumable tag with multiple signal elements.

A computer display with specialized software may comprise part of the control system, and may reflect, provide, and/or receive modified data signals to and from such tags and signal elements.

In other aspects of the invention, an administrative user may use a GUI to access information concerning, and control, consumption by a consumer user.

Claims

1. A system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer user, comprising:

(a) a master tag(s) within packaging for food or other agent-containing items, wherein the master tag(s) comprises hardware configured to communicate with a control system by receiving and transmitting signals;

(b) computer hardware and software configured to transmit to said master tag(s) a signal with embedded information concerning the food or other agent-containing items and said packaging;

(c) wherein said at least one of said master tag(s) is configured to communicate signals to and from other tag(s) and/or signal elements associated with individual food or other agent items, and to modify the course of said administration during said course of said consumption and administration.

2. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer user of claim 1, wherein at least one of said other tag(s) and/or signal elements is configured to responding to receiving an encoded signal with a signal uniquely identifying a particular food or other agent-containing item, wherein said signal uniquely identifying a particular food or other agent-containing item confirms:

(a) the presence or absence of the particular food or other agent-containing item; and

(b) a comprised food or other agent type within said particular food or other agent-containing item;

wherein confirmation of said presence or absence of the particular food or other agent-containing item and said comprised food or other agent type condition(s) efferent signal properties of the master tag in subsequent communication with a control system.

3. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer user of claim 2, wherein the system comprises:

at least one enhanced item of food and/or agent(s) containing a plurality of tags and/or signal elements embedded periodically throughout said at least one enhanced food and/or agent(s) such that, when said at least one enhanced item of food and/or agent(s) are partially consumed, any remaining tag and/or signal element in an un-consumed section of said at least one enhanced item of food and/or agent(s) is configured to be used by a control system to infer the amount and/or percentage of said enhanced item of food and/or agent(s) consumed.

4. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer user of claim 3, wherein a control system is configured to determine or infer the identity of a consumer user consuming said at least one enhanced item food and/or agent(s), or parts thereof, with tag(s) and/or signal elements on or about the consumer/user, and the collocation of said tag(s) and/or signal elements on or about the consumer/user with the tag(s) and/or signal elements in consumed and unconsumed sections of food and/or agent(s)-containing items.

5. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer user of claim 2, wherein said other tag(s) and/or signal elements are of specific types associated with and uniquely identifying types of food and/or agent with which they are associated.

6. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer user of claim 5, wherein said other tag(s) and/or signal elements of specific types are associated with and configured to uniquely identify types of food and/or agent within a single food and/or other agent item.

7. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 1, comprising:

(e) analytical and food- or other agent-releasing hardware within a consumable device,

(f) wherein said consumable device comprises said other tag(s) and/or signal elements associated with individual food or other agent items.

8. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 7, wherein:

(g) said analytical and releasing hardware within said consumable device;

(i) controls the administration of said food or other agents in an administration event;

(ii) based on blood or other bodily fluid analytics carried out by said device while immersed in said blood or other bodily fluid during said administration event.

9. A system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer, comprising:

(a) computer hardware and software for transmitting and receiving a uniquely identifiable signal to and from a consumable tag;

(b) a consumable tag comprising a main signal element configured to;

(i) communicate with a control system;

(ii) communicate with other signal elements;

(iii) monitor chemical reaction products in the blood stream or another bodily fluid; and

(iv) alter the dosage or other administration of said food or other agents based on monitoring said chemical reaction products;

wherein said other signal elements are configured to communicate exclusively with the main signal element.

10. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 9, wherein said other signal elements are configured to respond to signals from the main signal element with uniquely-identifiable signals which alter or otherwise condition signals from the main signal element to the control system;

and

the control system is configured to be modified in its transmission capabilities by said uniquely-identifiable signals from said other signal elements.

11. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 10, wherein a control system is configured to infer the presence of individual signal elements within said consumable tag.

12. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 11, wherein said individual signal elements are placed in separated chambers with separate payloads wherein said chambers and payloads are configured to be deployed separately.

13. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 12, wherein a control system is configured to infer at least one status of deployment of food or other agent(s) in a consumer user.

14. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 12, wherein a control system is configured to individually and selectively actuate the deployment of said food and/or agent(s) from said chambers, in any order and at a time of the control system or a user'"'"'s choosing.

15. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 14, wherein a control system is configured to individually and selectively control reaction energy or other catalysis of chemical reactions of, or create mechanical actuation within, said chambers.

16. A system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer, comprising:

a consumable tag;

a signal/response element;

a sensor array, pump and fluid conduit configured to sense, if immersed therein, the presence of food or another agent in a consumer user'"'"'s digestive tract or bloodstream;

computer hardware and software for configured to transmit and receive a uniquely identifiable signal to and from said consumable tag;

wherein said consumable tag comprises said signal/response element

and wherein said signal/response element is configured to selectively drive actuation of said sensor array, pump and fluid conduit, which control the administration of said food or other agents in real-time.

17. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 16, wherein said pump comprises an ion drive pump.

18. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 16, wherein said consumable tag comprises at least two sections.

19. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 18, wherein said two sections comprise a payload section and a sensory section.

20. The system for sensing, defining, recording, analyzing and controlling consumption and administration of food or other agents by a consumer of claim 16, wherein said pump and/or said sensor array are externally powered.