Software and hardware system for enabling weight control

• US 20030187683A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WW.com LLC (WW International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Weight Watchers International Incorporated (Artal Group SA), Weightwatchers.com Incorporated (WW International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller-Kovach, Karen, Sheppard, Amy, Kirchhoff, David, Kelly, Sheila, Crook, Anna, Connelly, Lisa, Semmelbauer, Thilo, Perl, Amie, Posillico, Palma
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3742 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 70/60 relating to pathologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

A weight control software system and method may provide an interactive software environment to a user via a network to enhance the ability of users to follow a weight control program. The weight control software system may generate meal plans that are automatically updated based on an updated weight of the user following the weight control program. A variety of tools may be integrated into the weight control software system and be interoperable to utilize information entered by the user or generated by the system in controlling body weight of the user.

Claims

1. A system for controlling body weight of a person, said system comprising:

a processor operable to execute software that maintains a meal plan for the person;

a memory unit operable to store data associated with the meal plan;

an input/output device operable to provide an interface for the person to operate the software and receive an updated body weight from the person; and

a display operable to present the meal plan to the person, the meal plan being automatically altered by the processor based on the updated body weight.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a network coupled to the system; and

input/output unit operable to communicate the data associated with the meal plan across the network.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the software being executed by the processor is further operable to generate the meal plan based on characteristics associated with the person.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the characteristics include demographics.

6. A method for controlling body weight of a person, said method comprising:

receiving an initial body weight of the person;

determining a target food consumption plan for the person based on the initial body weight;

receiving an updated weight of the person; and

automatically altering the target food consumption plan for the person based on the updated weight of the person.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said determining a target food consumption plan includes:

determining a range of values based on the initial body weight of the person; and

selecting food for the person to consume on a daily basis based on the range of values.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising selecting a meal plan from a predetermined set of foods.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined set of foods is composed of a pre-established set of foods and a user supplied set of foods.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pre-established set of foods include foods prepared by consumer restaurants.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined set of foods are meals.

12. The method according to claim 6, further comprising communicating a message to the user based on the updated weight of the person.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the message provides at least one of the following:

congratulations, encouragement, suggestions, warnings, and feedback information.

14. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing a user selectable indicia operable to be utilized by the person in times of weight control difficulty;

receiving a notification upon the user selectable indicia being selected by the person; and

providing the person at least one selectable element indicative of underlying information.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the user selectable indicia is a panic button.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one selectable element is a hyperlink.

17. The method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving at least one of height and age of the person.

18. The method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving demographical information associated with the person.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising altering the target food consumption plan of the person based on the demographical information of the person.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the demographical information includes at least one of the following:

gender, race, and ethnicity.

21. The method according to claim 6, wherein said determining of the target food consumption plan is based on decreasing weight of the person.

22. The method according to claim 6, wherein said determining of the target food consumption plan is based on maintaining weight of the person.

23. The method according to claim 6, wherein said determining of the target food consumption plan is based on increasing weight of the person.

24. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing indicia of selectable activities for the person to engage; and

receiving a selection of at least one selectable activity from the user.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising utilizing the selection to alter the amount of consumable food to satisfy the target consumption plan.

26. The method according to claim 6, wherein said automatically altering the target food consumption plan is performed by a computing device.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the computing device is a hand-held computing device.

28. The method according to claim 6, further comprising communicating the altered food consumption plan across a network.

29. The method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving at least one other characteristic of the person.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said determining of the target food consumption plan for the person is additionally based on the at least one other characteristic.

31. A system for controlling body weight of a person, said method comprising:

means for receiving an initial body weight of the person;

means for determining a target food consumption plan for the person based on the initial body weight;

means for receiving an updated weight of the person; and

means for automatically altering the target food consumption plan for the person based on the updated weight of the person.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising means for selecting a meal plan from a predetermined set of foods.

33. The system according to claim 31, further comprising means for communicating a message to the user based on the updated weight of the person.

34. The system according to claim 31, further comprising:

means for providing a user selectable indicia operable to be utilized by the person in times of weight control difficulty;

means for receiving a notification upon the user selectable indicia being selected by the person; and

means for providing the person at least one selectable element indicative of underlying information, suggestions, and commentary.

35. The system according to claim 31, further comprising means for receiving demographical information associated with the person.

36. The system according to claim 35, further comprising means for altering the target food consumption plan of the person based on the demographical information of the person.

37. The system according to claim 31, further comprising:

means for providing indicia of selectable activities for the person to engage; and

means for receiving a selection of at least one selectable activity from the user.

38. The system according to claim 37, further comprising means for utilizing the selection to alter the amount of consumable food to satisfy the target consumption plan.

39. The system according to claim 31, further comprising means for receiving at least one other characteristic of the person, said means for determining the target food consumption plan further basing the target food consumption plan on the at least one other characteristic.

40. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive an initial body weight of the person;

determine a target food consumption plan for the person based on the initial body weight;

receive an updated weight of the person; and

automatically alter the target food consumption plan for the person based on the updated weight of the person.

41. A method for managing data utilized by an online personalized weight control program, said method comprising:

receiving identification of a user;

receiving an initial profile representative of characteristics of a user;

forming a dataset based on the initial profile associated with the user;

providing a plurality of interoperable selectable weight control elements for access by the user to personalize the dataset;

receiving data associated with the weight control elements;

updating the dataset in accordance with the received data; and

storing the updated dataset, the updated dataset being utilized by the user to follow a personalized weight control program.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the interoperable selectable weight control elements include at least one of food and exercise items.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein said forming of the dataset is a function of a predetermined set of rules operable to control weight.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein the dataset includes predetermined meals each having a total food value associated therewith.

45. The method according to claim 41, wherein said updating is performed automatically.

46. The method according to claim 41, wherein the interoperable selectable weight control elements include a journal interface operable to provide a daily listing of foods for consumption in accordance with the personalized weight control program.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the foods are selectably alterable to establish a different daily listing of foods for consumption.

48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising crediting future daily listings based on a total food value of the daily listing being below a target value.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the target value is a maximum number of values as a function of food consumption and activities allotted by the weight control program.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein said crediting is performed for a predetermined number of days.

51. The method according to claim 41, wherein said updating of the dataset is performed by a computing device in communication with a network.

52. A system for managing data utilized by an online personalized weight control program, said system comprising:

a memory for storing the data utilized by the online personalized weight control program; and

a processor coupled to said memory and operable to execute instructions of the personalized weight control program to;

receive identification of a user;

provide a plurality of interoperable selectable weight control elements for access by the user to personalize the dataset;

receive data associated with the weight control elements;

update the dataset in accordance with the received data; and

store the updated dataset, the updated dataset being utilized by the user to follow a personalized weight control program.

53. The system according to claim 52, wherein the interoperable selectable weight control elements include at least one of food and exercise items.

54. The system according to claim 52, wherein the formed dataset is a function of a predetermined set of rules operable to control weight.

55. The system according to claim 52, wherein the dataset includes predetermined meals each having a total food value associated therewith.

56. The system according to claim 52, wherein the interoperable selectable weight control elements include a journal interface operable to provide a daily listing of foods for consumption in accordance with the personalized weight-control program.

57. The system according to claim 56, wherein the foods are selectably alterable to establish a different daily listing of foods for consumption.

58. The system according to claim 56, wherein the processor is further operable to execute instructions to credit future daily listings based on a total food value of the daily listing being below a target value.

59. The system according to claim 58, wherein the target value is a maximum number of values as a function of food consumption and activities allotted by the weight control program.

60. The system according to claim 58, wherein the credited future daily listings are provided for a predetermined number of days.

61. A method for forming a meal plan based on a weight control program for a participant, said method comprising:

receiving an initial personal profile indicative of characteristics of the participant;

establishing a daily food consumption goal for the participant based on the initial personal profile;

forming an alterable meal plan schedule based on at least one component of the initial personal profile, the alterable meal plan schedule being consistent with the daily food consumption goal and utilizing pre-established food combinations having predetermined values associated therewith;

providing the alterable meal plan schedule to the participant; and

generating a journal operable to maintain data in response to the participant acknowledging consumption of at least a portion of the pre-established food combinations.

62. The method according to claim 61, further comprising:

providing access to the journal to the participant; and

receiving alterations to the data being maintained by the journal.

63. The method according to claim 61, further comprising:

receiving a modification to the alterable meal plan schedule; and

applying the modification to the alterable meal plan schedule.

64. The method according to claim 61, further comprising:

receiving an activity performed by the participant having an activity value associated therewith; and

associating the activity to the alterable meal plan schedule.

65. The method according to claim 64, further comprising:

totaling the predetermined values associated with the pre-established food combinations;

applying the activity value to the total of the predetermined food values to form a net total value; and

providing the net total value to the participant.

66. The method according to claim 61, further comprising:

receiving an updated characteristic associated with the participant; and

automatically altering the meal plan schedule based on the updated characteristic.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein the updated characteristic includes the current weight of the participant.

68. The method according to claim 61, further comprising:

computing a total food value based on the predetermined values associated with the pre-established food combinations;

receiving an activity performed by the participant;

determining an activity value based on the received activity;

computing a net total value based on the total food value and activity value; and

computing a difference value between the net total value and the daily food consumption goal.

69. The method according to claim 68, further comprising:

crediting the participant with the difference value for utilization of adjusting the daily food consumption goal of a future day.

70. The method according to claim 61, wherein said receiving and providing are performed over a network.

71. The method according to claim 70, wherein the network is the Internet.

72. The method according to claim 61, further comprising generating a shopping list based on the alterable meal plan schedule.

73. A method for providing control of body weight, said method comprising:

receiving a profile from a user, the profile including initial body weight;

determining an initial time-based plan as a function of the profile received from the user to control body weight;

selectably providing to the user the time-based plan for controlling body weight; and

modifying the initial time-based plan, in response to user input, to accommodate a user type of the user.

74. The method according to claim 73, wherein the user type is at least one of a structured and a non-structured user type.

75. The method according to claim 73, further comprising receiving cultural background of the user.

76. The method according to claim 73, further comprising receiving at least one characteristic associated with the user.

77. The method according to claim 76, wherein the characteristics include at least one of the following:

health status, gender, height, age, health restrictions, religion, ethnicity, and blood type.

78. The method according to claim 77, where the health status includes at least one of diabetes and depression.

79. The method according to claim 76, wherein the characteristics include demographics.

80. The method according to claim 73, wherein the modified initial time-based plan is a function of heterogeneous data associated with the user.

81. The method according to claim 80, wherein the heterogeneous data includes user input and predetermined parameters associated with the time-based plan.

82. The method according to claim 80, wherein the user input includes at least one user-defined meal.

83. The method according to claim 73, wherein said selectably providing includes displaying the time-based plan for the user to view.

84. The method according to claim 83, wherein the time-based plan is displayed in a calendar related format.

85. The method according to claim 83, wherein the method is performed on a computing device.

86. The method according to claim 85, wherein the computing device is a hand-held computing device.

87. The method according to claim 73, wherein the profile is received over a network.

88. A method for operating a weight control program on a network, said method comprising:

providing access to a user across a network to a central repository of weight control data associated with the user;

receiving a request via the network for the weight control data associated with the user;

communicating the weight control data to the user;

receiving updated weight control data in response to a user selectively completing an update to the weight control data; and

storing the updated weight control data.

89. The method according to claim 88, wherein the selectively completing is initiated by the user logging off.

90. The method according to claim 88, wherein the central repository is at least one database.

91. The method according to claim 90, wherein the database is a relational database.

92. The method according to claim 88, wherein said receiving of the request is initiated by the user logging on.

93. A system for operating a weight control program on a network, said method comprising:

means for providing access to a user across a network to a central repository of weight control data associated with the user;

means for receiving a request via the network for the weight control data associated with the user;

means for communicating the weight control data to the user;

means for receiving updated weight control data in response to a user selectively completing an update to the weight control data; and

means for storing the updated weight control data.

94. A system for operating a weight control program on a network, said method comprising:

a computing system coupled to the network;

a processor operating within said computing system;

a storage unit coupled to said processor, and operable to store a dataset associated with an individual user and in accordance with the weight control program; and

an input/output device operating between said processor and the network, and operable to receive a request from the network for communication of the dataset, said input/output device further operable to communicate the dataset across the network and to receive an updated dataset, said storage unit being operable to store the updated dataset.

95. The system according to claim 94, wherein the request is related to a login of a user of the system.

96. The system according to claim 94, wherein said input/output device is operable to receive the updated dataset in response to a user logging out of the system.

97. The system according to claim 94, wherein the dataset includes at least one of the following characteristics of a user:

body height, body weight, age, and gender.

98. A method for a user to utilize a weight control program operating on a network, said method comprising:

accessing a central repository of weight control data associated with the user via a network;

requesting via the network the weight control data associated with the user;

receiving the weight control data; and

transmitting updated weight control data in response to an update of the weight control data being completed.

99. The method according to claim 98, wherein the selectively completing is initiated by logging off.

100. The method according to claim 98, wherein the central repository includes at least one database.

101. The method according to claim 98, wherein the database is a relational database.

102. The method according to claim 98, wherein said requesting is initiated by the user logging on.

103. A system for providing a weight control program to a user of a weight control software system, said system comprising:

means for forming a graphical user interface including multiple pages and links therebetween;

means for providing a plurality of components operable to enable the user to engage the weight control software system, each component providing a distinct function utilized in executing the graphical user interface; and

means for integrating the components to provide interoperability between the components, the interoperability enabling the data affected by one component to be utilized by each other component to provide the user with a fully integrated weight control system.

104. The system according to claim 103, further comprising:

means for receiving characteristics of the user via the graphical user interface;

means for applying the characteristics of the user in accordance with the weight control program; and

means for updating the data associated with the user in conjunction with said means for applying the characteristics of the user.

105. The system according to claim 103, wherein each component is directly communicable with each other component.

106. The system according to claim 103, wherein the components include at least two of the following:

journal, user profiler, weight tracker, meal planner, and targeted message generator.

107. The system according to claim 103, wherein the components consist of a journal, user profiler, and weight tracker.

108. The system according to claim 103, wherein said means for integrating includes means for forming data sharing links between the components.

109. The system according to claim 103, wherein the components include a journal and meal planner.

110. A method for providing a weight control program to a user of a weight control software system, said method comprising:

forming a graphical user interface including multiple pages and links therebetween;

providing a plurality of components operable to enable the user to engage the weight control software system, each component providing a distinct function utilized in executing the weight control program; and

integrating the components to provide interoperability between the components, the interoperability enabling the data affected by one component to be utilized by each other component to provide the user with a fully integrated weight control system.

111. The method according to claim 110, further comprising:

receiving characteristics of the user via the graphical user interface;

applying the characteristics of the user in accordance with the weight control program; and

updating the data associated with the user in response to said applying the characteristics of the user in accordance with the weight control program.

112. The method according to claim 110, wherein the data includes at least one of the following:

food, meals, exercise, and weight of the user.

113. The method according to claim 110, wherein each component is directly communicable with each other component.

114. The method according to claim 110, wherein the components include at least two of the following:

journal, user profiler, weight tracker, meal planner, and targeted message generator.

115. The method according to claim 110, wherein the components consist of a journal, user profiler, and weight tracker.

116. The method according to claim 110, wherein said integrating includes forming data sharing links between the components.

117. A database operable to maintain data associated with a weight control program operated by a weight control software system, said database comprising:

a plurality of datasets, each dataset being uniquely associated with individual users of the weight control program, a dataset including identification of the user, characteristics of the user, demographics of the user, and an alterable list of meals established for the user to consume in accordance with the weight control program, the alterable list of meals being established as a function of at least one of the characteristics and demographics of the user.

118. The database according to claim 117, wherein the alterable list of meals is organized in a time-based manner.

119. The database according to claim 117, wherein the alterable list of meals includes food items and associated food values.

120. The database according to claim 117, wherein each dataset includes a desired range of food consumption.

121. The database according to claim 120, wherein a summation of the food values for a given day is within the desired range.

122. A method for sharing recipes of a user of a weight control program with a community of users on a network, said method comprising:

receiving at least one recipe from the user to be shared with other users on the network;

presenting a selectable list of data items, including body weight, to the user;

receiving the list of data having a corresponding indication of data items selected therefrom;

determining the selected data items; and

storing the at least one recipe and selected data items on an address located on the network to be accessible to the community.

123. The method according to claim 122, further comprising receiving at least one of the following from the selectable list of data items:

user name, birthdate, gender, marital status, number of children, profession, start weight, current weight, and weight goal.

124. The method according to claim 122, wherein each data item has an associated selectable element for selection of the data item.

125. The method according to claim 122, further comprising distributing the selected data items to the community.

126. The method according to claim 122, wherein said receiving of the at least one recipe includes receiving food items having associated food values from the user to form the ingredients of the recipe.

127. The method according to claim 126, further comprising posting the recipe to a message board.

128. The method according to claim 126, further comprising:

accessing a database having the associated food values with the food items; and

storing the associated food values in association with the food values at the address located on the network.

129. The method according to claim 128, wherein the recipe is user-defined.

130. The method according to claim 122, wherein said storing of the at least one recipe includes storing of a food value for the recipe calculated by a processor on the network using nutritional data for the ingredients of the recipe, the nutritional data being stored on the network.

131. A system for generating and displaying a single, composite nutritional indicator for a serving of a multiple ingredient recipe, the recipe being supplied by the user of the system, said system comprising:

a user interface for receiving from the user the identity and amount of the ingredients of the recipe and serving size information;

a database containing nutritional data for common recipe ingredients including the recipe ingredients identified by the user;

a processor for calculating the single, composite nutritional indicator for a serving of the recipe from the user information and the database data; and

a display field for displaying the calculated composite nutritional indicator for a serving of the recipe.

132. The system according to claim 131, wherein the calculation of the composite nutritional indicator takes into account plural nutritional parameters for each ingredient and wherein the composite nutritional indicator is utilized in planning daily food intake to achieve weight control.

133. The system according to claim 131, further comprising a computational software element operable to compute the single, composite nutritional indicator.

134. The system according to claim 133, wherein the user interface further includes individual nutritional indicator display fields operable to display the nutritional indicators associated with each ingredient of the recipe.

135. The system according to claim 133, wherein the user interface further includes selectable indicia operable to be selected to include or remove the ingredients of the recipe.

136. The system according to claim 131, wherein the user interface includes a selectable list of the ingredients associated with at least one of a food manufacturer and a restaurant.

137. The system according to claim 131, further comprising a second database operable to maintain a history of consumption of the multiple ingredient recipes and associated single, composite nutritional indicators.

138. A system for controlling body weight of a person, said system comprising a computing device operable to execute a software program having a plurality of software elements operable to control body weight of the person, the software elements operable to control body weight of the person utilizing at least two sources of input, a first input source being a planned set of food items to be consumed based on a current weight of the person and a second input source being an actual set of food items consumed by the person, the software elements further operable to receive updated weight of the person to alter the planned set of food items for future food item consumption.

139. The system according to claim 138, wherein the software elements are further operable to control body weight of the person utilizing a third source of input being actual activities performed by the person.

140. The system according to claim 139, wherein one software element is a journal operable to maintain information associated with the input sources.

141. The system according to claim 138, wherein the software elements are operable to compute a food consumption value to be consumed based on food values associated with the actual food items consumed by the person.