Methods and apparatus for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness

• US 10,368,803 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dugan Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dugan Patents, LLC
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Andrew S
• Application Number:
  US15/992,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20180271433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• 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 configured to monitor biometric information of a user as the user exercises, wherein the wearable monitor is configured to transmit the biometric information wirelessly as the user exercises; and

a handheld electronic device associated with the user, the handheld electronic device being web-enabled, and having computer program code stored therein that, when executed by the handheld electronic device, causes the handheld electronic device to;

receive the biometric information transmitted by the wearable monitor as the user exercises;

determine exercise level information based on the received biometric information;

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

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

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

transmit 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 transmitted to the remotely-located server; and

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

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the handheld electronic device, when executed by the handheld electronic device, further causes the handheld electronic device to facilitate a purchase of the product by the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the handheld electronic device, when executed by the handheld electronic device, further causes the handheld electronic device to transmit food intake information to the remotely-located server.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer program code stored in the handheld electronic device, when executed by the handheld electronic device, further causes the handheld electronic device to monitor food intake information of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the handheld electronic device, when executed by the handheld electronic device, further causes the handheld electronic device to provide inspirational messages to the user during exercise.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the handheld electronic device, when executed by the handheld electronic device, further causes the handheld electronic device to provide inspirational messages to the user prior to at least one meal time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the handheld electronic device, when executed by the handheld electronic device, further causes the handheld electronic device to provide inspirational messages to the user automatically.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the handheld electronic device, when executed by the handheld electronic device, further causes the handheld electronic device to provide a video game, and use monitored exercise level information to affect the video game.