SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING HEALTH AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION WITH A HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20070088746A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epic Technology
• Original Assignee: Trent Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Trent
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for obtaining health and financial information with a handheld device. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for obtaining real time financial information utilizing a bar code or RF ID reader on a handheld device. A bar code or RF ID reader is used to obtain the product identity of a particular product in a retail environment. The product identity is correlated with the particular retailer'"'"'s product price. This information can then be analyzed versus current financial budgets or recorded as part of a financial plan. In addition, real time financial advice and information can be given on the product including whether a competitor offers a lower price on a similar product, consumer reviews of the product, value rating, etc. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for providing real time health information utilizing a bar code or RF ID reader on a handheld device. The bar code or RF ID reader could be used to obtain a product identity in a retail or home environment. Health information is correlated with the product based on the product'"'"'s identity. This information could then be used for a variety of health related purposes including ingredient alerts, high fat content, high calorie content, nutritional budgets, etc. Alternatively, products could be scanned before consumption in the home environment to assist in health budgets for particular nutritional values such as calories, fat, carbohydrate, or protein. The bar code or RF ID reader for both embodiments may be incorporated into any existing handheld device including a PDA, media player, cell phone, calculator, watch, or shopping device.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining financial information comprising the acts of:

scanning a product bar code and obtaining a product identity;

obtaining a product price corresponding to the product identity;

recording the product price and product identity; and

displaying a financial record over a particular time period including the recorded product price and product identity.

2. The method of claim 1 further includes matching the product identity with other product information including one of alternative retailer price, alternative brand price, available coupons, generic price, product reviews, and value rating.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of obtaining a product price corresponding to the product identity includes digitally capturing and textually recognizing the advertised price on the store display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of obtaining a product price corresponding to the product identity includes downloading a particular store'"'"'s price list and correlating the product identity with the corresponding product price.

5. The method of claim 1 further includes assigning the product price and product identity to a particular financial category.

6. The method of claim 1 further includes displaying current financial budget information including the product price.

7. The method of claim 1 further including:

assigning the product identity to a particular financial category; and

displaying current financial budget information for that particular category including the product price.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of scanning a product bar code and obtaining product price and product identity further includes disposing a bar code reader on a handheld device in close proximity to the product bar code.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of scanning a product bar code and obtaining a product identity includes receiving a RF ID code.

10. A method for obtaining health information comprising the acts of:

receiving a product bar code and obtaining a product identity;

correlating the product identity with corresponding health information; and

displaying the corresponding health information.

11. The method of claim 10 further including identifying at least one undesired ingredient in the corresponding health information and displaying a notification if the at least one undesired ingredient is contained in the product.

12. The method of claim 10 further including identifying at least one pre-programmed nutritional threshold value and displaying a notification if the product exceeds the at least one pre-programmed nutritional threshold value.

13. The method of claim 10 further including:

receiving a nutritional value budget;

adding a nutritional value from the corresponding health information of the scanned product to a tabulated budget value; and

displaying the budget value.

14. The method of claim 10 further including recording the corresponding health information and displaying a health record over a particular time period including the corresponding health information.

15. The method of claim 10 further includes downloading corresponding health information from a data network.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the act of receiving a product bar code and obtaining product identity further includes disposing a bar code reader on a handheld device in close proximity to the product bar code.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the act of correlating the product identity with corresponding health information includes correlating the product identity with corresponding health information for non-scanned product identities.

18. A handheld device comprising:

a scanning device capable of obtaining a product identity from a bar code;

a memory module configured to store information;

a correlation module that is configured to correlate the product identity with information about the product, wherein the information includes at least one of financial and health information; and

a display that is configured to visually display the information about the product.

20. The handheld device of claim 18, wherein the scanning device is configured to receive radio frequency transmissions.

19. The handheld device of claim 19, wherein the correlation module further includes a data communication system.