HYDRATION LEVEL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160358507A1
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humana Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Humana Incorporated
• Inventors: Snyder, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 9,818,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 computer connected to said measuring device that;

(1) receives from said vessel identifier detecting device a vessel identifier of a liquid containing vessel;

(2) calculates a point value based on a difference between a first weight reading of said vessel identifier and a second weight reading of said vessel identifier;

(3) determines a challenge identifier associated with said vessel identifier previously stored at said computer;

(4) combines said point value with a previously stored total point value associated with said vessel identifier to calculate a new total point value for said vessel identifier;

(5) stores at said computer said new total point value for said vessel identifier;

(c) a display in electronic communication with said computer that displays;

(1) on a first screen;

(i) user identifiers for a 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 subsequent screen;

in response to receiving said new total point value for said vessel identifier, a user identifier associated with said vessel identifier and said new 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 first weight reading and said second weight reading is measured in units selected from the group consisting of ounces, cups, milligrams, and grams.

5. The hydration level measurement system of claim 1 wherein said computer displays a plurality of instruction screens.

6. The hydration level measurement system of claim 5 wherein one of said plurality of instruction screens indicates said computer is determining said user identifier associated with said vessel identifier.

7. The hydration level measurement system of claim 5 wherein one of said plurality of instruction screens indicates said computer is waiting for said measuring device to calculate said second weight reading.

8. The hydration level measurement system of claim 5 wherein one of said plurality of instruction screens instructs a user to remove said liquid containing vessel from said measuring device.

9. A hydration level measurement method comprising:

(a) receiving at a computer from a measuring device a first weight reading associated with a vessel identifier of a liquid containing device;

(b) receiving at said computer from said measuring device a second weight reading associated with said vessel identifier;

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

(d) combining at said computer said calculated point value with a previously stored total point value to calculate a new total point value;

(e) storing at said computer said new total point value;

(f) locating a user identifier associated with said vessel identifier;

(g) locating a challenge identifier identifying a group of participants associated with said user identifier;

(h) determining by said computer a plurality of user identifiers assigned to said challenge identifier;

(i) 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 subsequent screen;

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

10. The hydration level measurement method of claim 9 wherein said measuring device is a scale.

11. The hydration level measurement method of claim 9 wherein said vessel identifier is an RFID tag.

12. The hydration level measurement method of claim 9 wherein said first weight reading and said second weight reading are in units selected from the group consisting of ounces, cups, milligrams, and grams.

13. The hydration level measurement method of claim 9 wherein said computer further displays a plurality of instruction screens.

14. The hydration level measurement method of claim 13 wherein one of said plurality of instruction screens indicates said computer is determining said user identifier associated with said vessel identifier.

15. The hydration level measurement method of claim 13 wherein one of said plurality of instruction screens indicates said computer is waiting for said measuring device to calculate said second weight reading.

16. The hydration level measurement method of claim 13 wherein one of said plurality of instruction screens instructs a user to remove said liquid containing vessel from said measuring device.

17. A hydration level measurement system comprising:

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

(b) a computer connected to said measuring device that;

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

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

(i) receiving from said vessel identifier detecting device a vessel identifier for a liquid containing device;

(ii) calculating a point value based on a difference between a first weight reading of said vessel identifier and a second weight reading of said vessel identifier;

(iii) combining said point value with a previously stored total point value associated with said vessel identifier to calculate a new total point value for said vessel identifier;

(iv) repeating steps (i)-(iii) until said end 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

(4) generates a display with said winner user identifier.

18. The hydration level measurement system of claim 17 wherein said user identifiers associated with said at least one challenge identifier is displayed in a sorted order of user total point values.

19. The hydration level measurement system of claim 17 wherein said vessel identifier is an RFID tag.

20. The hydration level measurement system of claim 17 wherein said difference between said first weight reading and said second weight reading is measured in units selected from the group consisting of ounces, cups, milligrams, and grams.