Interactive body weight scale system and method

• US 9,909,917 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anshuman Sharma
• Original Assignee: Anshuman Sharma
• Inventors: Sharma, Anshuman
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy
• Application Number:
  US14/982,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20160109282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/045 Correction of measurements G01B9/02055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 using electronic computing means only
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/36 Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 9/00 Methods of, or apparatus for, the determination of weight, not provided for in groups G01G1/00 - G01G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

A method of using an interactive body weight scale is presented. The body weight scale may have computing and data communication ability to track a user'"'"'s weight by connecting to a number of different electronic devices. The body weight scale is capable of recording an audio message, converting the audio message to message text, and transmitting the message to a remote social network. The scale may also receive message responses from the remote network and play the messages back based on whether a particular message is a positive message. A scale use indicator provides a reminder for a user to use the body weight scale.

Claims

1. A method for operating a body weight scale, the method comprising:

i) downloading to a database a plurality of food images of foods eaten by an individual, the database residing on a physical, non-transient scale memory accessible by a computer processor in the weight scale;

ii) assigning a good for me tag to a first image in the database, the first image representing a first food eaten by the individual;

iii) defining a goal weight value for the individual;

iv) storing the goal weight value on the scale memory;

v) measuring a first body weight value for the individual at a first time using a weight sensor on the body weight scale;

vi) storing the first weight value in the scale memory;

vii) measuring a second body weight value for the individual at a second time;

viii) comparing the first weight value to the second weight value; and

ix) if the second weight value is between the first weight value and the goal weight value, displaying the first image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

j) assigning a unhealthy tag to a second food image in the database, the second image representing a second food eaten by the individual; and

k) if the second weight value is not between the first weight value and the goal weight value, displaying the second food image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second foods are foods eaten by the individual between the first and second times.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second food images are displayed when a difference between the first weight value and the second weight value surpasses a threshold value.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein if a difference between the first weight value and the second weight value does not surpass a threshold value, the first and second images are both displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step i) further comprises sequentially displaying a plurality of food images having the good for me tag.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the body weight scale is in communication with at least one mobile electronic device, the at least one mobile electronic device being associated with the individual.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first body weight value and the second body weight value are stored in the scale memory in at least one weight log, the at least one weight log comprising a plurality of body weight values over a period of time.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one weight log is also stored on the at least one mobile electronic device, the at least one weight log stored on the body scale and the at least one mobile electronic device being periodically synchronized.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one mobile electronic device and body weight scale are in communication with a food scale.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a first food log is comprised of the database of food images in the weight scale, the food scale includes a second food log comprising a second database of food images stored in the food scale;

the first food log and the second food log being periodically synchronized.