Abstract:
A method for a user to track nutrition information includes: scanning a plurality of nutrition codes corresponding to a plurality of respective food items via a scanning device, wherein each of said plurality of nutrition codes corresponds to nutrition information for each of said plurality of respective food items; consuming substantially all of said plurality of respective food items; and viewing aggregated nutrition information corresponding to said plurality of respective food items.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Existing systems and methods provide nutritional information on a food container which contains the food that is consumed. However, these systems and methods do not provide a way to conveniently and accurately track aggregate nutritional information of the food consumed. Therefore, there exists a need for systems and methods that address these and/or problems associated with existing nutrition tracking systems.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     Systems and methods for tracking nutrition information are provided. A method for a user to track nutrition information includes: scanning a plurality of nutrition codes corresponding to a plurality of respective food items via a scanning device, wherein each of said plurality of nutrition codes corresponds to nutrition information for each of said plurality of respective food items; consuming substantially all of said plurality of respective food items; and viewing aggregated nutrition information corresponding to said plurality of respective food items.  
         [0003]     A method for using a nutrition tracking device includes: scanning a plurality of nutrition codes corresponding to a plurality of respective food items via a scanning device, wherein each of said plurality of nutrition codes corresponds to nutrition information for each of said plurality of respective food items; aggregating nutrition information corresponding to said plurality of respective food items; and displaying aggregated nutrition information corresponding to said food items contained in said plurality of food containers.  
         [0004]     A nutrition tracking device includes: a scanning component configured to scan a plurality of nutrition codes corresponding to a plurality of respective food items, wherein each of said plurality of nutrition codes corresponds to nutrition information for each of said plurality of respective food items; memory configured to store said nutrition information corresponding to each of said plurality of nutrition codes responsive to said scanning component scanning said nutrition codes; logic configured to aggregate said nutrition information corresponding to each of said plurality of nutrition codes; and a display component configured to display said nutrition information aggregated by said logic.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1A  is a block diagram depicting a nutrition tracking system according to an embodiment of the invention, among others  
         [0007]      FIG. 1B  is a block diagram depicting a nutrition tracking device according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart depicting a method for using a nutrition tracking system according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart depicting a method that may be implemented by a nutrition tracking device according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram depicting a nutrition label according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are schematic diagrams depicting a nutrition tracking device according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram depicting nutrition information on an output display according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram depicting food items consumed on an output display according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart depicting a method implemented by a nutrition tracking system to alert a user when a predetermined calorie consumption is exceeded according to an embodiment of the invention, among others.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart depicting a method implemented by a nutrition tracking system to alert a user when a predetermined fat consumption is exceeded according to an embodiment of the invention, among others  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart depicting a method implemented by a nutrition tracking system to alert a user when a predetermined carbohydrate consumption is exceeded according to an embodiment of the invention, among others  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     According to an embodiment of the invention, a nutrition tracking device may comprise a case of varying sizes and shapes, a screen to display numbers and text, a scanner, a scanner activation button, logic to aggregate data, and memory to store data. Additionally, the nutrition tracking device may comprise a wireless interface to a remote server for storage. The screen may be similar to that of a wireless text pager or a cell phone. The scanner is configured to scan nutrition codes located on a food container, inside a food container, or on a food item itself. A user may activate the scanner by pressing the activation button and then the user may scan the nutrition code. The nutrition code may contain nutrition information of the food item such as, for example, calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, caffeine and/or vitamins (e.g., A, B, C, etc.). The nutrition information would be stored in the memory of the nutrition tracking device or remotely via a wireless interface to a remote server. The logic of the nutrition tracking device may aggregate the nutrition information over a predetermined time period (e.g., day, week, month, etc.). For example, one function of the nutrition tracking device may be to track the calories consumed over a day.  
         [0018]     Any food item may contain a nutrition code. For example, a fast food restaurant may provide food in an individualized one serving package containing a nutrition code on the package. The nutrition code would comprise all the nutrition information corresponding to the food contained in the package. For example, McDonald&#39;s may include a nutrition code on items it serves such as on a Big Mac wrapper, a French fry container, and a cola drink cup. A user may purchase these items, scan the nutrition codes on the food container, and consume the food items. The nutrition tracking device is configured to automatically store the nutrition information corresponding to the food items.  
         [0019]     The nutrition tracking device is configured to display nutrition information on a screen. The screen may continuously display nutrition information responsive to a user&#39;s input such as, for example, the overall calorie consumption for the current day. Additionally, other information may be displayed such as, for example, time, date, etc. The nutrition tracking device may allow a user to view stored nutrition information such as, for example, daily, weekly, and monthly nutrition information. The nutrition tracking device may comprise a scrolling wheel and/or alphanumeric keys for a user to access the nutrition information or it may comprise a voice activation and response system.  
         [0020]     The nutrition tracking device may be configured to allow a user to enter nutritional limits and to alert the user when the nutritional limits are approaching, reached, and exceeded. For example, a user may desire to limit daily caloric intake to 2,500 calories and fat intake to 20 grams per day. The nutrition tracking device may be configured to alert the user of these limits. An alert may be, for example, a sound or silent vibration. The alert could be set for any of the nutrition information tracked by the nutrition tracking device. Additionally, the nutrition tracking device may be configured to alert the user if a certain nutrition value is not reached. For example, a user may desire to consume 200 grams of protein by 4 pm each day. The device may alert the user as 4 pm approaches if the user is below 200 grams of protein for that day.  
         [0021]     The nutrition tracking device may also track nutrition codes from foods that come from a grocery store. For example, foods such as meat, poultry, bread, ice cream, etc. typically come in a package with several servings. The nutrition code on these food items may contain nutrition information corresponding to one serving size. For example, a user may have 2.5 cups of cereal, but the serving size may be 1 cup. The nutrition tracking device may be configured to allow a user to scan the nutrition code on the cereal corresponding to a serving size of 1 cup and then to use the input on the nutrition tracking device to enter 2.5 servings. Additionally, the nutrition tracking device may connect to an internal or external database either directly via a local connection (e.g., RS232, USB, and Ethernet) or via a wireless connection (e.g., WIFI). The database would allow for input of commonly eaten food items, odd sized food items, and food items without a nutrition code. A user may input a food without a nutrition code and connect to the database to download the corresponding nutrition information. For example, a user may input a banana into the nutrition tracking device and the device may connect to the database and download nutrition information corresponding to a banana. The database would also allow external storage of the nutrition information in the nutrition tracking device. For example, the nutrition tracking device may be synchronize with the user&#39;s personal computer with corresponding software to store, print, view, and analyze nutrition information.  
         [0022]     The nutrition tracking device may be contained in a case similar, for example, to a text pager. The case may be sized to fit on a key chain such as, for example, a key fob. Additionally, the functionality of the nutrition tracking device may be added to other devices such as a cell phone, a personal computer, or a PDA with the addition of a scanning device.  
         [0023]     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1A  is a block diagram depicting a nutrition tracking system  10  according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The nutrition tracking system  10  comprises a food container  11 , a nutrition code  12 , and a nutrition tracking device  13 . The nutrition-tracking device  13  is configured to store a plurality of nutrition codes  12  located on a plurality of food containers  11 . In one example, the nutrition code  12  may be contained on a bar code or another code suitable for scanning located on the food container  11 . In another example, the nutrition code  12  may be located inside the food container  11 . In a third example, the nutrition code  12  may be located in a table of nutrition information located on the food container  11 , and the nutrition information may be manually entered via a user on the nutrition tracking device  13 . The nutrition code  12  corresponds to nutrition information (e.g., calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, cholesterol, etc.) for food contained in the food container(s)  11 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a block diagram depicting a nutrition tracking device  13  according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The nutrition tracking device  13  comprises a processor  14 , memory  15 , an input device(s)  16 , and an output interface(s)  17 . These components ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 , and  17 ) are communicatively coupled via a local interface  19 . The local interface  19  can be, for example but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art. The local interface  19  may have additional elements, which are omitted for simplicity, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications. Further, the local interface may include address, control, and/or data connections to enable appropriate communications among the aforementioned components.  
         [0025]     The processor  14  can be any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), or generally any device for executing software instructions. When the nutrition tracking system  13  is in operation, the processor  14  is configured to execute software stored within the memory system  15 , to communicate data to and from the memory system  15 , and to generally control operations of the nutrition tracking system  13  pursuant to the software. For example, the processor  14  may be configured to aggregate nutrition information based on a user input.  
         [0026]     The memory  15  may comprise, for example, any one or combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, etc.). The memory  15  is configured to store the nutrition information in a nutrition database  18  and the executable instructions of the nutrition tracking device  13 . Additionally, the memory  15  may comprise external storage in a separate device such as a personal computer.  
         [0027]     The input interfaces(s)  16  may be used to receive user input and/or nutrition information. The input device(s)  16  may comprise, for example, a scanner configured to scan a nutrition code  12  and/or a keyboard for manual data input. The output interface(s)  17  may be used to display nutrition information and/or to provide data to an external device (e.g., computer, printer, etc.). The output device(s)  17  may comprise, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, a universal serial bus (USB) connection to a computer, or any other computer synchronization device, among others.  
         [0028]     The nutrition tracking device  13  may be contained as a stand alone device, personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), or cell phone, among others. The nutrition tracking device  13  in a stand alone device may comprise a portable case resembling a cell phone, pager, or PDA. Additionally, the nutrition tracking device  13  may be contained in a small case which may attach to a key chain such as, for example, a key chain fob. The nutrition tracking device  13  may be contained in an existing device such as a cell phone, pager, personal digital assistant (PDA), or computer.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart depicting a method  20  for using a nutrition tracking system  10  according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. A plurality of nutrition codes corresponding to a plurality of respective food items are scanned, as indicated in step  21 . The nutrition code comprises nutrition information for a respective food item such as, for example, calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, cholesterol, and sodium. The nutrition code may be contained on a food container, inside a food container, or on a food item itself. For example, a nutrition tracking device  13  may be configured to scan the respective nutrition code on a plurality of food items and to store the respective nutrition information corresponding to the nutrition code. A user consumes substantially all of the plurality of respective food items, as indicated in step  22 . The user views aggregated nutrition information corresponding to the plurality of respective food items, as indicated in step  23 . For example, the nutrition tracking device  13  may aggregate the nutrition information for a predetermined or user-specified time period. Additionally, the nutrition tracking device  13  may comprise a display to show the aggregated nutrition information.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart depicting a method  30  that may be implemented by a nutrition tracking device  13  according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. A plurality of nutrition codes corresponding to a plurality of respective food items are scanned, as indicated in step  31 . The nutrition code comprises nutrition information for a respective food item such as, for example, calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, cholesterol, and sodium. The nutrition code may be contained on a food container, inside a food container, or on a food item itself. For example, the nutrition tracking device  13  may be configured to scan the respective nutrition code on a plurality of food items and to store the respective nutrition information corresponding to the respective nutrition code. The nutrition information corresponding to each of the plurality of nutrition codes is aggregated, as indicated in step  32 . For example, the nutrition tracking device  13  may be configured to aggregate the nutrition information for a predetermined or user-specified time period. The aggregate nutrition information corresponding to the plurality of respective food items is displayed, as indicated in step  33 . Additionally, the nutrition tracking device may comprise a display to show the aggregated nutrition information.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram depicting a nutrition label  40  according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The nutrition label  40  may comprise a nutrition code  12 , nutrition categories  41 , calories  42 , a serving amount  43 , percent of daily value  44 , total calories  45 , and a serving size  46 . The serving size  46  provides the amount of food corresponding to the information provided in the nutrition label  40 . The nutrition categories  41  may comprise, for example, carbohydrates, fat, protein, and cholesterol. The calories  42  comprise the amount of calories in each nutrition category  41  included in the serving size  46  of the food. In this example, the listing of calories  42  provides the carbohydrate calories of  120  and the fat calories of  20  for the serving size  46 . The serving amount  43  comprises the amount of each nutrition category  41  included in the serving size  46  of the food. The percent of daily value  44  comprises the recommended amount of each nutrition category  41  per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. The nutrition label  40  may comprise a nutrition code  12  which may contain the nutrition information in the nutrition label  40 . The nutrition code  12  may be a bar code or any other code suitable for scanning. For example, the nutrition tracking device  13  may comprise a scanner to scan the nutrition code  12 . The total calories  45  comprises the aggregate calories for each nutrition category  41  in the serving size  46 .  
         [0032]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are schematic diagrams depicting a nutrition tracking device  13 - 1  according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The nutrition tracking device  13 - 1  may comprise a case  51 , an output display  17 , an input keyboard  16 - 1 , and a scanner  16 - 2 . The output display  17  is configured to display nutrition information. The output display  17  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). The input keyboard  16 - 1  is configured to input nutrition information and to allow the user to control the nutrition tracking device  13 - 1 . The scanner  16 - 2  is configured to scan a nutrition code  12 . The input scanner  16 - 2  is activated by pressing an activation button  52  which may be, for example, located on the case  51 . The scanner  16 - 2  may comprise, for example, a light emitter and a light receiver to scan the nutrition code  12 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram depicting an output display  17 - 1  that shows an example of nutrition information according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The output display  17 - 1  may be contained on a nutrition tracking device  13 . In this example, the output display  17 - 1  displays a time period  61 , nutrition categories  62 , a serving amount  63 , a percent of daily value  64 , and an alert banner  65 . The time period  61  indicates the time period (e.g., today, current week, etc.) corresponding to the nutrition information. The nutrition categories  62  may comprise, for example, calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, and cholesterol. The serving amount  63  corresponds to the amount of each item in the nutrition categories  62  contained in the food consumed in the time period  61 . The percent of daily value  64  corresponds to the recommended percentage of the nutrition categories  62  contained in the food consumed in the time period  61 . The alert banner  65  may be, for example, configured to display alerts responsive to a predetermined threshold for a particular nutrition category. For example, the alert banner  65  may alert a user when a certain carbohydrate threshold is met for a time period if the user is on a low carbohydrate diet. The nutrition-tracking device  13 - 1  may be configured to enable the display of other aggregated nutrition information (e.g., vitamins and minerals). Furthermore, the nutrition-tracking device  13 - 1  may be configured to display nutrition information corresponding to user-defined time periods (e.g. week, months, etc.) as well as displaying user-defined nutrition information.  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram depicting an output display  17 - 1  that shows an example list of food items according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The output display  17 - 1  may be contained on a nutrition tracking device  13 . In this example, the output display  17 - 1  displays a time period  71 , a food item list  72 , calories  73 , carbohydrates  74 , protein  75 , fat  76 , and an aggregate total  77 . The time period  71  indicates the time period (e.g., today, current week, etc.) in which the food item list  72  was consumed. The listings ( 73 ,  74 ,  75 , and  76 ) provide the values corresponding to the quantities in each of the food items in the food item list  72 . The aggregate total  77  sums each of the quantities in the listings ( 73 ,  74 ,  75 , and  76 ). The nutrition tracking device  13  may be configured to enable the display of other aggregated nutrition information (e.g., vitamins and minerals, calories, etc.) over set or user-defined time periods.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart depicting a method  80  implemented by a nutrition tracking system  13  to alert a user when a predetermined calorie consumption is exceeded according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The method  80  comprises starting (step  81 ); determining the total calorie consumption for the current day (step  82 ); and determining if the calorie consumption has exceeded the predetermined limit (step  83 ). A nutrition tracking device  13  determines if the consumption is exceeded (step  84 ). If the calorie consumption has been exceeded, then provide a warning (e.g., visible, audible, or tactile alert on the nutrition tracking device  13 ). If the calorie consumption has not been exceeded, then end (step  86 ).  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart depicting a method  80  implemented by a nutrition tracking system  13  to alert a user when a predetermined fat consumption is exceeded according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The method  90  comprises starting (step  91 ); determining the total fat consumption for the current day (step  92 ); and determining if the fat consumption has exceeded the predetermined limit (step  93 ). A nutrition tracking device  13  determines if the consumption is exceeded (step  94 ). If the fat consumption has been exceeded, then provide a warning (e.g., visible, audible, or tactile alert on the nutrition tracking device  13 ). If the fat consumption has not been exceeded, then end (step  96 ).  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart depicting a method  80  implemented by a nutrition tracking system  13  to alert a user when a predetermined carbohydrate consumption is exceeded according to an embodiment of the invention, among others. The method  100  comprises starting (step  101 ); determining the total carbohydrate consumption for the current day (step  102 ); and determining if the carbohydrate consumption has exceeded the predetermined limit (step  103 ). A nutrition tracking device  13  determines if the consumption is exceeded (step  104 ). If the carbohydrate consumption has been exceeded, then provide a warning (e.g., visible, audible, or tactile alert on the nutrition tracking device  13 ). If the carbohydrate consumption has not been exceeded, then end (step  106 ). The methods  80 ,  90 , and  100  may be implemented with other nutrition information (e.g., cholesterol, vitamins, and minerals) which is tracked by the nutrition tracking device  13 .  
         [0038]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples, among others, of the implementations, setting forth a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the disclosure and present invention.