Computer program, method, and system for monitoring nutrition content of consumables and for facilitating menu planning

• US 6,817,863 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Nutrition Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Joseph J. Bisogno
• Inventors: Bisogno, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US09/878,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20030165799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/2, 705/15, 705/26, 705/27, 434/127, 434/238, 434/262, 128/897, 128/921, 235/375, 235/380, 235/383, 709/203, 709/217, 709/229, 707/1, 707/3, 707/104.1, 700/90, 700/213, 600/300, 345/810, 345/901, 345/902, 221/300, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 708/100
• US Class Current: 434/127
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/30 Dietetic or nutritional methods, e.g. for losing weight A23L33/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

A computer program, method, and system for dynamically and interactively providing nutrition content information for consumables such that a user may monitor, tailor, plan, and review their intake thereof in light of a health-related interest or concern, such as, for example, weight-loss, food allergies, or diabetes or other nutrition affected illnesses or disabilities. Consumables are categorized and displayed in lists associated with an appropriate color to draw attention to relative nutrition content and to facilitate quicker and easier evaluation of a consumable of interest. Summaries are provided of a user'"'"'s actual intake in light of a pre-established target intake for a particular day. Detailed reports may be generated showing consumption over a user-specifiable time period.

Claims

1. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a processor to provide nutrition content information related to consumables, the computer program comprising:

a code segment operable to receive and store an input related to consumption of consumables, and to associate the input with a calender date; and

a code segment operable to generate an interactive display screen, wherein the interactive display screen includes—

one or more lists of consumables and related nutrition content information, and

a summary section of past consumption of consumables.

2. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, further including a code segment operable to generate a report summarizing the input associated with the calender date.

3. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a processor to provide nutrition content information related to a consumable, the computer program comprising;

a code segment operable to receive and store an input related to consumption of consumables, and to associate the input with a calender date; and

a code segment operable to generate an interactive display screen, wherein the interactive display screen includes—

one or more lists of consumables and related nutrition content information, wherein each of the lists corresponds to a category of consumables and the categories are based upon consumables'"'"' relative effect with regard to health-related concern, and each of the lists is associated with a different color to aid a user in evaluating the relative effect of consumables in the list with regard to the health-related concern, and

a summary section of past consumption.

4. The computer program as set forth in claim 3, further including a code segment operable to generate a report summarizing the input associated with the calender date.

5. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a processor to provide nutrition content information related to a consumable, the computer program comprising:

a code segment operable to receive login information identifying a user, and recalling, based upon the login information, a user data set of specific user information;

a code segment operable to generate an interactive display screen, wherein the interactive display screen includes—

three scrollable lists of consumables and elated nutrition content information, wherein each of the lists corresponds to a different range of fat and calorie content, and the lists are colored, respectively, green, yellow, and red, and

a summary section of past consumption;

a code segment for allowing a user to edit the lists;

a code segment operable to accept one or more target values, wherein the summary section provides information related to past consumption in light of the target values;

a code segment operable to receive and store an input related to consumption of consumables, and to associate the input with a calender date; and

a code segment operable to generate a report summarizing the input associated with the calender date.

6. The computer program as set forth in claim 5, wherein the user data set includes display preferences.

7. The computer program as set forth in claim 5, further including a database of consumables and related nutrition content information.

8. The computer program as set forth in claim 5, further including a code segment operable to access via a network a database consumables and related nutrition content information.

9. A method of providing nutrition content information related to a plurality of consumables, wherein each consumable has a particular nutrition content, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) categorizing each consumable based upon the particular nutrition content;

(b) displaying the categorized consumables in a plurality of lists, wherein each list is associated with a different color to aid a user in evaluating the relative effect of the consumables in each list with regard to a health-related concern;

(c) permitting the user to set a calender date;

(d) permitting the user to select one or more consumables from the lists, thereby indicating consumption of the selected consumable, and associating the selected consumable with the calender date; and

(e) providing a summary of total consumption for the calender date.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, further including the step of (f) permitting the user to login with an identification, and recalling, based upon the identification, a user data set of specific user information.

11. The computer program as set forth in claim 10, wherein the user data set includes display preferences.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9, further including the step of (f) permitting the user to edit the lists.

13. A hand-held apparatus for providing nutrition content information related to consumables, the hand-held apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a computer-readable memory located within the housing and storing a combination of code segments;

a processor located within the housing and operable to execute the combination of code segments;

an output device incorporated into the housing and operable to display an interactive display screen generated by the combination of code segments, the interactive display screen presenting one or more lists of consumables and related nutrition content information; and

an input device coupled with the processor and operable to allow a user to select a particular consumable from the interactive display screen, whereupon the processor edits a date-associated data record stored in the computer-readable memory to reflect an action involving the consumable.