Method and apparatus for tracking of food intake and other behaviors and providing relevant feedback

Abstract

A sensing device monitors and tracks food intake events and details. A processor, appropriately programmed, controls aspects of the sensing device to capture data, store data, analyze data and providesuitable feedback related to food intake. More generally, the methods might include detecting, identifying, analyzing, quantifying, tracking, processing and / or influencing, related to the intake of food, eating habits, eating patterns, and / or triggers for food intake events, eating habits, or eating patterns. Feedback might be targeted for influencing the intake of food, eating habits, or eatingpatterns, and / or triggers for those. The sensing device can also be used to track and provide feedback beyond food-related behaviors and more generally track behavior events, detect behavior event triggers and behavior event patterns and provide suitable feedback.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to electronic devices related to health technology, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for tracking an individual's food intake using sensors, a processor for analyzing food intake processes, and for providing feedback to individual electronic circuits. The methods and devices may involve more than just food intake. [0002] Cross References to Priority and Related Applications [0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 288,408, filed January 28, 2016, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Food Intake Tracking and Feedback" and as a non-provisional case of said provisional patent application. The entire disclosure of the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth in its entirety in this document. Background technique [0004] Diet-related health problems have become one of the most prominent global publ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

First, the accuracy of information entered by humans is often limited

Second, maintaining a journal is tedious and time-consuming, causing many users to give up after a short period of time

Third, there is no real-time feedback mechanism

Fourth, they do not provide any insight into important aspects of eating behavior such as eating speed

Since the light produced by such portable spectrometers can only penetrate food to a depth of a few centimeters, multiple measurements are required for food items that do not have a uniform composition, and therefore, portable spectrometers do not work well for sandwiches, layered cakes, mixed salads, etc. kick in

Such human intervention interferes with the dining experience and may not be acceptable in many dining situations

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