Patent Publication Number: US-2021177558-A1

Title: Oral Care Personal Challenges System and Method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/946,574 filed Dec. 11, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Suggested toothbrushing routines can help a person improve his or her brushing effectiveness. But existing systems do not allow the user of the toothbrush to set a personal challenge based on specific, user-selected parameters. Further, existing systems do not allow the user to receive points based on the user&#39;s success in completing such a personal challenge. What is needed is a system that allows a user to create a personal challenge, defining parameters such as the challenge period of time and the intensity level, tracks progress, and awards the user when the challenge is met. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure may be directed, in one aspect, to a method for providing a personal toothbrushing challenge via an application of an electronic device, the method including displaying to a user of an electronic device, via a user interface, challenge parameters for creating a personal toothbrushing challenge, the challenge parameters including a type of challenge and a challenge period; receiving from the user, via the user interface, a parameter selection for each of the challenge parameters, each combination of parameter selections having a corresponding brushing expectation and point value; receiving, at the electronic device, brushing data from a user toothbrush indicative of user brushing activity; determining, at the electronic device, based on the brushing data, whether the user satisfied the brushing expectation corresponding with the combination of parameter selections; and upon determining that the user satisfied the brushing expectation, displaying to the user, via the user interface, that the corresponding point value has been awarded to the user. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure may be directed to a system for providing a personal brushing challenge, the system including a toothbrush comprising at least one tooth cleaning element; and a processor for generating brushing data indicative of user brushing activity; and an electronic device comprising a processor configured to perform the steps of displaying to a user of an electronic device, via a user interface, challenge parameters for creating a personal toothbrushing challenge, the challenge parameters including a type of challenge and a challenge period; receiving from the user, via the user interface, a parameter selection for each of the challenge parameters, each combination of parameter selections having a corresponding brushing expectation and point value; receiving the brushing data from the toothbrush; determining based on the brushing data, whether the user satisfied the brushing expectation corresponding with the combination of parameter selections; and upon determining that the user satisfied the brushing expectation, displaying to the user, via the user interface, that the corresponding point value has been awarded to the user. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure may be directed to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions which, when executed on a processor, perform a method of displaying to a user of an electronic device, via a user interface, challenge parameters for creating a personal oral care challenge, the challenge parameters including a type of challenge and a challenge period; receiving from the user, via the user interface, a parameter selection for each of the challenge parameters, each combination of parameter selections having a corresponding oral care expectation and point value; receiving, at the electronic device, oral care data indicative of user oral care activity; determining, at the electronic device, based on the oral care data, whether the user satisfied the oral care expectation corresponding with the combination of parameter selections; and upon determining that the user satisfied the oral expectation, displaying to the user, via the user interface, that the corresponding point value has been awarded to the user. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure may be directed to a method for providing an oral care challenge via an application of an electronic device, the method including displaying to a user of an electronic device, via a user interface, challenge parameters for creating a personal oral care challenge, the challenge parameters including a type of challenge and a challenge period; receiving from the user, via the user interface, a parameter selection for each of the challenge parameters, each combination of parameter selections having a corresponding oral care expectation and point value; receiving, at the electronic device, oral care data indicative of user oral care activity; determining, at the electronic device, based on the oral care data, whether the user satisfied the oral care expectation corresponding with the combination of parameter selections; and upon determining that the user satisfied the oral expectation, displaying to the user, via the user interface, that the corresponding point value has been awarded to the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a challenges user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a personal challenges user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a type of challenge user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an intensity level user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a challenge period user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is the personal challenge user interface of  FIG. 2  where a brushing expectation has been generated based on selected challenge parameters. 
         FIG. 7A  is a system for providing a brushing challenge according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a block diagram of the components of the electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart for a method of providing a brushing challenge according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention or inventions. The description of illustrative embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present inventions. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front” and “rear” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. The discussion herein describes and illustrates some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “or” is to be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. Furthermore, as used herein, the phrase “based on” is to be interpreted as meaning “based at least in part on,” and therefore is not limited to an interpretation of “based entirely on.” 
     As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
     Features of the present inventions may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or combinations thereof. The computer programs described herein are not limited to any particular embodiment, and may be implemented in an operating system, application program, foreground or background processes, driver, or any combination thereof. The computer programs may be executed on a single computer or server processor or multiple computer or server processors. 
     Processors described herein may be any central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, micro-controller, computational, or programmable device or circuit configured for executing computer program instructions (e.g., code). Various processors may be embodied in computer and/or server hardware of any suitable type (e.g., desktop, laptop, notebook, tablets, cellular phones, etc.) and may include all the usual ancillary components necessary to form a functional data processing device including without limitation a bus, software and data storage such as volatile and non-volatile memory, input/output devices, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), removable data storage, and wired and/or wireless communication interface devices including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LAN, etc. 
     Computer-executable instructions or programs (e.g., software or code) and data described herein may be programmed into and tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium that is accessible to and retrievable by a respective processor as described herein which configures and directs the processor to perform the desired functions and processes by executing the instructions encoded in the medium. A device embodying a programmable processor configured to such non-transitory computer-executable instructions or programs may be referred to as a “programmable device”, or “device”, and multiple programmable devices in mutual communication may be referred to as a “programmable system.” It should be noted that non-transitory “computer-readable medium” as described herein may include, without limitation, any suitable volatile or non-volatile memory including random access memory (RAM) and various types thereof, read-only memory (ROM) and various types thereof, USB flash memory, and magnetic or optical data storage devices (e.g., internal/external hard disks, floppy discs, magnetic tape CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, optical disk, ZIP™ drive, Blu-ray disk, and others), which may be written to and/or read by a processor operably connected to the medium. 
     In certain embodiments, the present inventions may be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses such as processor-based data processing and communication systems or computer systems for practicing those processes. The present inventions may also be embodied in the form of software or computer program code embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which when loaded into and executed by the data processing and communications systems or computer systems, the computer program code segments configure the processor to create specific logic circuits configured for implementing the processes. 
     Referring now to the figures,  FIGS. 1-6  show a method for providing a personal challenge according to one embodiment.  FIG. 1  shows a challenges user interface  10 . In the exemplified embodiment, the user interface forms part of an electronic device, and the electronic device is a mobile smartphone. In other embodiments, the electronic device may be any computer device capable of carrying out programs in accordance with the functions described herein (including a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet, or a smartwatch). At the exemplified interface  10 , a user  18  may receive a prompt  14  for a creating a new personal challenge. This prompt can be provided as part of a first instance of an application  14  for the electronic device. The invention is not limited to the exemplified method of initiating a personal challenge. For example, a user may initiate a personal challenge through a settings page or a personal statistics screen. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the application  14  is a smartphone application (or “app”). In other embodiments, the application  14  can be any program for carrying out the functions described herein. Further, the exemplified user interface utilizes a touch screen provided by the smartphone, though in other embodiments the user interface can be any user interface capable of enabling a user to communicate with and carry out the functions described herein, including an interface utilizing a computer monitor, mouse, and/or keyboard. 
     The user interface  10  further shows the user&#39;s current points  13 . The exemplified Smile Points are a digital currency and can be used for various purposes, such as special effects in games available through the app  12 , discounts on products (oral care products and otherwise), and gift cards. In other embodiments, the points can be used for different purposes. Further, points may be replaced with any other measure of performance, including virtual money or a letter grade. 
       FIG. 2  is a personal challenges user interface  15  according to one embodiment of the present invention. At this screen, the user creates his or her personalized challenge. The exemplified parameters  20  are a type of challenge  21 , an intensity level  22 , and a challenge period  23 . For each parameter  20 , there is a prompt  17  to make a parameter selection from among different options. It is noted that these are only examples of challenge parameters, and other challenge parameters may be added, and any of the exemplified parameters may be omitted. 
       FIG. 3  is a type of challenge user interface  21 - 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. At this screen, the user has selected the type of challenge parameter  21  from the personal challenge screen  15  of  FIG. 2 , and now chooses the type of challenge. In the exemplified embodiment, three options  21  are provided: a duration option  21 A, a coverage option  21 B, and a streak option  21 C. Duration refers to a challenge regarding the length of time of each brushing session. Coverage refers to how thoroughly the user is brushing each portion of his or her teeth. Streak refers to how many days in a row a user has brushed according to a particular standard (e.g., a predetermined number of brushing sessions each day). It is understood that these are only example types and other types of challenges may be utilized. In  FIG. 3 , coverage option  21 B is shown as selected. 
       FIG. 4  is an intensity level user interface  22 - 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. At this screen, the user has selected the intensity level parameter  22  from the personal challenge screen  15  of  FIG. 2 , and now chooses the intensity level. In the exemplified embodiment, two intensity levels are provided. Selecting the easy option  22 A will cause the resulting challenge to be less intense than if the hard option  22 B is selected. It is understood that these are only example intensity levels and other types of intensity levels may be used, such as easy, medium, and hard, or numeric options (e.g., from 1 to 10). In  FIG. 4 , the easy option  22 A is shown as selected. 
       FIG. 5  is a challenge period user interface  23 - 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. At this screen, the user has selected the challenge period parameter  23  from the personal challenge screen  15  of  FIG. 2 , and now chooses the challenge period. In the exemplified embodiment, three challenge period are provided, namely, a 7-day option  23 A, a 14-day option  23 B, and a 30-day option  23 C. This selection will determine how many days the challenge will last. It is understood that these are only example time periods and any other time periods (or other periods of measure) may be used. In  FIG. 5 , the 14-day option  23 B is shown as selected. 
       FIG. 6  is the personal challenge user interface  15  of  FIG. 2  where a brushing expectation  32  has been generated based on the selected challenge parameters  28 . In the exemplified embodiment, each combination of parameters selections  28  has a corresponding brushing expectation  32  and point value  34 . An example of the different combinations of parameter selections and resulting brushing expectations is shown in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Brushing Expectations and Corresponding Point Values 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 7 Day 
                 14 day 
                 30 day 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Streak— 
                 1 brush a  
                 1 brush a  
                 1 brush a  
               
               
                 Easy 
                 day for 7 days 
                 day for 14 days 
                 day for 30 days 
               
               
                   
                 (50 points) 
                 (100 points) 
                 (200 points) 
               
               
                 Streak— 
                 2 brushes a  
                 2 brushes a  
                 2 brushes a  
               
               
                 Hard 
                 day for 7 days  
                 day for 14 days  
                 day for 30 days  
               
               
                   
                 (100 points) 
                 (200 points) 
                 (400 points) 
               
               
                 Coverage— 
                 Coverage above  
                 Coverage above  
                 Coverage above  
               
               
                 Easy 
                 80% once a  
                 80% once a  
                 80% once a  
               
               
                   
                 day for 7 days 
                 day for 14 days 
                 day for 30 days 
               
               
                   
                 (50 points) 
                 (100 points) 
                 (200 points) 
               
               
                 Coverage— 
                 Coverage above  
                 Coverage above  
                 Coverage above  
               
               
                 Hard 
                 90% twice a  
                 90% twice a  
                 90% twice a  
               
               
                   
                 day for 7 days 
                 day for 14 days 
                 day for 30 days 
               
               
                   
                 (100 points) 
                 (200 points) 
                 (400 points) 
               
               
                 Duration— 
                 Brush for 2 mins  
                 Brush for 2 mins  
                 Brush for 2 mins  
               
               
                 Easy 
                 once a 
                 once a 
                 once a 
               
               
                   
                 day for 7 days  
                 day for 14 days  
                 day for 30 days  
               
               
                   
                 (50 points) 
                 (100 points) 
                 (200 points) 
               
               
                 Duration— 
                 Brush for 2 mins  
                 Brush for 2 mins 
                 Brush for 2 mins  
               
               
                 Hard 
                 twice a 
                 twice a 
                 twice a 
               
               
                   
                 day for 7 days  
                 day for 14 days  
                 day for 30 days  
               
               
                   
                 (100 points) 
                 (200 points) 
                 (400 points) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It is understood that the invention is not so limited, and that any variety of selected parameter options, brushing expectations, and corresponding point values may be used. In the exemplified embodiment, the resulting brushing expectation  32  is at least 80% coverage once a day for 14 days, with 100 Smile Points being awarded if the expectation is successfully completed. 
     It is further understood that any variety of parameters may be suggested to the user, and these suggested parameters can be provided at various screens, such as at a challenge screen or at a personal statistics screen of the app. The personal stats screen may tell you areas that require improvement (e.g., longer brushing sessions, better coverage, and/or higher frequency per day). Further, the challenge screen may be accessed at various screens, such as the personal statistics screen or the home screen of the app. The app can further allow sharing features, such as pushing challenges to others, or sharing progress with others. Such sharing can be performed through the app and/or other social media platforms. It is further noted that the app may be programmed to track the progress of the user as he or she attempts to complete the challenge. For example, a screen may display how many days of the challenge have been completed and how many days are left. Further, the app may be programmed to provide reminders to the user to carry out the brushing session(s) necessary for continuing the challenge. The app may also provide encouragement to the user through push notifications, text messages, or other means. 
       FIG. 7A  is a system  40  for providing a brushing challenge according to one embodiment of the present invention. The exemplified system includes an electronic device  44  receiving brushing data  46  from toothbrush  45 . The exemplified electronic device is a smartphone, though the invention is not so limited. The exemplified system  40  includes server  41  and router  43  connected to the internet  42 . The server  41  (and other servers discussed herein) may be any computer or processor (or collection thereof) for carrying out programs in accordance with the functions described herein. In the exemplified embodiment, the server  41  communicates with the electronic device  44  through an internet connection, the router  43  providing wireless internet connection to the electronic device  44 . In other embodiments, the server  12  can communicate with the respondent devices electronic device  44  through any standard communication means, including through use of a telecommunication network (e.g., 3G or 4G) or a wired internet connection (e.g., wired Ethernet cables). In yet other embodiments, different sets of discrete units of text are obtained by alternative means. 
     The exemplified toothbrush  45  includes a tooth cleaning element  110  and a handle  111 . The handle  111  is a housing for containing an electronic circuit  151  and a power source  152 . The handle  111  is a hollow structure in which the cavity  141  is formed. More specifically, in the exemplified embodiment, the cavity  141  is formed in the elongated gripping portion  123  of the handle  111 . In the exemplary embodiment, the power source  152  is shown as two batteries located within the cavity  141 . Of course, the invention is not so limited and more or fewer than two batteries may be used, or alternatively, other types of power sources may be used. A removable end cap  139  forms the proximal end of the handle  111  by engagement with the gripping portion  123  of the handle  111 . 
     The exemplified brush  45  includes an electronic circuit  151 . The electronic circuit  151  includes a processor  153  communicably coupled to sensors  155 , a memory  157 , and a communication module  159 . The number of sensors  155  included as part of the electronic circuit  151  depends upon the types of properties to be detected and the functionality of each type of sensor employed. Properties may include, for example, position, motion, acceleration, frequency, and pressure against the surface of the teeth. Other types of properties associated with a brushing routine may also be detected, and those listed herein are not to be limiting of the invention unless otherwise indicated in the claims. In certain embodiments, only one sensor  155  may be included as part of the electronic circuit  151 , and in other embodiments, two or more sensors  155  may be included. By way of example, the at least one sensor  155  may be any one or more of the following: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a pressure sensor, among other types of sensors. In general, each sensor  155  included as part of the electronic circuit  151  generates a sensor signal which includes sensor data that corresponds to the brushing activity of the user. Sensor data may form part of brushing data indicative of brushing activity. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term “sensor data” is any type of information which may be extracted or derived from the sensor or sensor signal, regardless of the form of the extracted information. By way of example, sensor data may be in the form of mathematical data (such as a formula which mathematically represents at least part of the sensor signal), analog data (such as the waveform of the sensor signal), and/or digital data (such as a representation of at least part of the sensor signal in a digital format). In addition to sensor data, brushing data may include any data related to or indicative of brushing activity, including data indicative of how often the toothbrush was turned on, and/or how long it was turned on. In certain embodiments, the processor  153  and the memory  157  may be omitted from the electronic circuit  151  of the toothbrush  103 . In such embodiments, sensor data and other brushing data may be communicated directly to the communication module for transmission. 
     The memory  157  may be any appropriate type of memory or storage which enables the processor  153  to perform the desired programming, such as volatile and/or non-volatile random access memory, or any other type of storage. The particular type of storage used for the memory  157  is not to be limiting of the invention. The communication module  159  may include an antenna for wireless communication. The communication module  159  may be configured and/or programmed to communicate using a wireless technology standard such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, and the like, or it may communicate using any type of proprietary wireless transmission protocol. In certain embodiments, the communication module  159  may include a port to enable communications using wires and wired protocols, such as USB and the like. The particular mode of communication used by the communication module is not limiting of the invention unless specifically set forth in a claim. 
     It is understood that there are various “smart” toothbrushes for tracking brushing activity. This application incorporates by reference its entirety each of the following commonly-owned applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/350,223, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/350,254, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/350,266, U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/350,285, and 15/350,298. It is understood that any of the technologies disclosed in these applications may be used with the toothbrushes and electronic devices discussed herein. 
       FIG. 7B  is a block diagram of components of the electronic device  44  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device  44  includes an electronic circuit  165  coupled to a power source  167 , shown as a battery in the exemplary embodiment. Of course, the invention is not so limited, and other types of power sources may be used. The electronic circuit  165  includes a processor  169  communicably coupled to a memory  171 , a communication module  173 , and a display  175 . In certain embodiments, the electronic circuit  165  may include other components, such as a speaker to provide audible feedback to the user, one or more buttons to receive input from the user, and one or more ports for making a wired connection between the electronic circuit  165  and other circuit external to the electronic device  44 . In the exemplified embodiment the electronic device  44  is a smartphone, but in other embodiments it may be, for example, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer. 
     The exemplified memory  171  may be any appropriate type of memory or storage which enables the processor  169  to perform the desired programming, such as volatile and/or non-volatile random access memory. The particular type of storage used for the memory  171  is not to be limiting of the invention. 
     The exemplified display  175  may be any type of light emitting display, and as shown in the exemplary embodiment, the display  175  may be an LED panel. In certain other embodiments, the display  175  may be an LCD panel, an OLED panel, or any other type of display which is electronically controllable by the processor  169  to provide visual feedback to the user. In certain embodiments, the display  175  may be a touch sensitive display which accepts input from the user directly on the display surface. The type and configuration of the display  175  is not limiting of the invention unless specifically set forth in a claim. 
     The exemplified communication module  173  includes an antenna  179  to enable wireless transmission. The communication module  173  may be configured and/or programmed to communicate using a wireless technology standard such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, and the like, or it may communicate using any type of proprietary wireless transmission protocol. The mode of communication for which the communication module  173  is configured is not limiting of the invention unless specifically set forth in a claim. In certain embodiments, the communication module  173  may include a port to enable communications using wires and wired protocols, such as USB and the like. For proper functioning of the exemplary embodiment, the communication module  159  of the toothbrush  45  and the communication module  173  of the electronic device  44  communicate with each other, whether such communications are wireless or wired, using the same communication protocol. 
     The communication module  173  of the electronic device  44  may also be configured and/or programmed to communicate with the server  41 . The communication module  173  may communicate with the server  41  over any combination of public and/or private network, and the communications may be wired, wireless, or a combination of the two. In certain embodiments, the communication module  173  may communicate with the server  41  over the Internet using one or more types of communication protocols. In certain embodiments, the server  41  may be programmed with an application programming interface (API) which provides server-side functionality to the electronic device  44 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the processor  153  of the toothbrush  103  may be programmed with functionality to analyze the sensor data generated by the sensors  155  or other brushing data. Similarly, the processor  169  of the electronic device  44  may be programmed with functionality to analyze the sensor data generated by the sensors  155  or other brushing data. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart for a method  50  of providing a brushing challenge according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the exemplified method, a user interface displays to a user of an electronic device challenge parameters for creating a personal brushing challenge (operation  51 ), the challenge parameters including a type of challenge and a challenge period. The user inputs, via the user interface, a parameter selection for each of the challenge parameters (e.g., coverage for the type of challenge, and 14 days for the challenge period) (operation  52 ). Each combination of parameter selections has a corresponding brushing expectation and point value. The electronic device then receives brushing data indicative of user brushing activity (operation  53 ). In one embodiment, the electronic device receives the brushing data from an electronic toothbrush configured to track brushing activity, though the invention is not so limited. In other embodiments, for example, the user may input his brushing data into the electronic device using the user interface. The electronic device determines, based on the brushing data, whether the user satisfied the brushing expectation corresponding with the combination of parameter selections (operation  54 ). If the user satisfied the oral expectation, the user interface displays that the corresponding point value has been awarded to the user (operation  55 ). 
     It is noted that while the above embodiments discuss providing a brushing challenge, the invention is not limited to brushing challenges. For example, another oral care challenge (such as a flossing challenge) may be provided. Similar to a brushing challenge, a flossing challenge may be based on flossing coverage, duration, or streak, have differing intensity levels (e.g., easy and hard), and having challenge periods of different lengths, each combination having a corresponding point value. Other oral care challenges could be related to whitening treatments, breath treatments, or any other type of oral care practice. It is further noted that the methods described above may be carried out using a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions which, when executed on a processor, perform one of the disclosed methods. 
     The disclosed systems and methods provide several advantages. For example, the disclosed method allows a user to set a personal challenge based on specific, user-selected parameters. In one embodiment, in addition to being able to select the type of challenge, the user can select how long the challenge lasts and an intensity level, and thereby affect the amount of points that can be awarded. Such options provide added personalization, which users increasingly desire. Further, the disclosed system can use a compatible electronic toothbrush for tracking brushing activity, enabling the toothbrush to automatically track brushing performance, thereby providing added convenience and data accuracy. 
     While the inventions have been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the inventions, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present inventions. Thus, the spirit and scope of the inventions should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.