U.S. patent application number 10/597816 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-19 for digital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security feature.
This patent application is currently assigned to ICLINE TECHNOLOGY, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael A. Roes.
Application Number | 20070167286 10/597816 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34860369 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070167286 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roes; Michael A. |
July 19, 2007 |
Digital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security
feature
Abstract
A programmable microprocessor-controlled weight device capable
of storing a plurality of user profiles, each individual user
profile comprising, a biometric identifier used for secured access
to said individual user profile, measured information and,
optionally, custom data The biometric identifier is preferably
placed such that identification of the user is conveniently
performed while the user is positioned for measurement on the
weight device. The biometric identification data is used to scan
the plurality of user profiles, determine whether the current user
has a profile, or whether one must be created, and allows access to
the user profile associated with the current user. Measured
information and, optionally, custom data can then be loaded to and
from the current user's profile. The information in a user's
profile is, therefore, easily accessible by the proper user, and is
securely maintained to prevent unauthorized access by others.
Inventors: |
Roes; Michael A.; (San
Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CATALYST LAW GROUP, APC
9710 SCRANTON ROAD, SUITE S-170
SAN DIEGO
CA
92121
US
|
Assignee: |
ICLINE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
2828 UPSURE STREET, INIT 3A
SAN DIEGO
CA
92106
|
Family ID: |
34860369 |
Appl. No.: |
10/597816 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
January 27, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US05/02363 |
371 Date: |
August 8, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60543057 |
Feb 9, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/8 ;
482/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01G 19/50 20130101;
A61B 5/6829 20130101; G01G 23/3728 20130101; A61B 5/117 20130101;
A61B 5/1171 20160201; A61B 5/4872 20130101; G01G 19/4146 20130101;
G07C 9/37 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/008 ;
482/093 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00; A63B 21/06 20060101 A63B021/06 |
Claims
1. A weight device, comprising: a. a housing; b. a biometric input
device; c. an electronics component; and d. a communication
device.
2. The weight device of claim 1, wherein said housing is configured
such that both the measurement information and the biometric input
are obtained when said weight device is in use.
3. The weight device of claim 1, wherein said housing is configured
to further comprise a platform for obtaining measurement
information from a user and to obtain a biometric input from said
user when said user is in a position to deliver said measurement
information.
4. The weight device of claim 3, wherein said housing is configured
to form a bathroom scale further comprising a platform to accept
said user's feet for obtaining measured information and wherein
said biometric input is a toe print obtained from the user when
said user's feet are positioned on said scale for measuring.
5. The weight device of claim 1 wherein said biometric input device
further comprises a scanner component and wherein said scanner
component is located to obtain biometric input from a user of said
weight device.
6. The weight device of claim 1 wherein said biometric input device
is located on the weight device such that when a user is using said
weight device both the measured information and the biometric input
are obtained while the user is in a single position.
7. The weight device of claim 6, wherein said biometric input
device is located on the platform of said weight device allowing
said biometric input device to obtain biometric input from the same
user position as said weight device will obtain measured
information.
8. The weight device of claim 1, wherein said biometric input
device obtains biometric input and communicates said biometric
input to the electronics component for screening against a
plurality of user profiles stored on said electronics
component.
9. The weight device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of user
profiles are identified and secured using biometric input received
from said biometric input device.
10. The weight device of claim 1, wherein the electronics component
further comprises means for creating, accessing and editing a
plurality of user profiles further comprising measurement
information.
11. The weight device of claim 10, wherein said means for creating,
accessing and editing said plurality of user profiles includes
biometric input means.
12. The weight device of claim 1, wherein said communication device
is a visual indicator.
13. The weight device of claim 12, wherein said communication
device is an LCD.
14. A method of managing a plurality of user profiles in a weight
device wherein said plurality of user profiles comprise individual
user profiles identified and secured by the biometric input of an
associated individual user and measurement information relating to
said associated individual user, and comprising the steps of: a.
receiving biometric input from a current user; b. comparing said
biometric input to the biometric input belonging to said associated
individual user of said individual user profile of said plurality
of user profiles; c. determining based on said comparison of
biometric input received and biometric input belonging to said
associated individual user of said individual user, whether said
current user is an existing user; and d. updating said current
user's individual user profile with measured information.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of comparing
biometric input received to the biometric input belonging to said
associated individual user of said individual user profile of said
plurality of user profiles results in determining that said current
user is a new user.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein a new individual user profile
is created comprising, a biometric identifier for security and
measured information for the current user, and wherein said new and
updated individual user profile is included in said plurality of
user profiles.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of updating, further
comprises updating using a data entry module.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein said measured information is
communicated to said current user.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said measured information is
calculated along with custom data, and the combination thereof is
communicated to said current user.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein said individual user profile
can be transferred to a data entry module.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) is claimed herein
to U.S. Provisional Application No.: 60/543,057, filed Feb. 9,
2004. The disclosure of the above referenced application is
incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a device that is useful for
weighing objects, such as a bathroom scale; that is capable of
creating, storing, updating and communicating data within one of a
plurality of user profiles; that is easily programmable; and that
maintains the privacy and security of said data using biometric
identifiers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Weight control has become a modem obsession. It is virtually
a national pastime in the United States, where many tens of
millions of Americans struggle daily with diets and exercise
programs. Some are motivated by a desire to live a healthier
lifestyle. Others are driven by a need to alleviate anxiety about
personal appearance. All prefer that a weight control regimen is
easy to maintain. Though weight control is common to most of the
population, there is still a strong desire by individuals that
their weight control information is kept confidential.
[0004] Digital scales are an important tool used by many in a
program of weight control or management. Most digital scales known
in the art do little more than measure and display a user's current
weight. Some prior art digital scales may display additional
measurement information, such as recent weight loss or gain, body
mass, bioimpedance or a calorie counter. Still further, digital
scales in the prior art will display graphs of historical weight
measurements, thereby indicating a weight change trend.
Unfortunately, the digital scales known in the art are generally
ineffective in securely maintaining a plurality of users'
information stored within said digital scale, and are further
inefficient and laborious in accessing and updating the user's
profile and measurement information.
[0005] Data relating to a person's weight control regimen is
considered to be personal to the individual and thus individuals
desire to keep said information private. Using the record keeping
devices and measurements of the prior art, the individual's privacy
is easily breached. Printed and handwritten records of the prior
art offer little privacy, and are easily lost. Digital scales of
the prior art offering password protected user profiles attempt to
offer some level of privacy; however, said passwords are tedious
for the user and are easily accessed by others. Passwords can be
lost, they can be viewed by others, they can be randomly selected
by more than one user, or any of a variety of events may occur to
breach the security of a password protected user profile. In
addition, the use of a user code is tedious in that the user must
remember the code, manually enter the code and maintain the secrecy
of the code. These steps must be taken every time a user is simply
trying to get a weight measurement stored in said user's
profile.
[0006] Although several prior art digital scales have attempted to
offer a device that is capable of privately maintaining a variety
of weight management information, the devices of the prior art are
deficient is accomplishing this goal. Thus, there is a need in the
art for a device that is capable of securely maintaining a
plurality of user profiles, wherein said maintenance is easy to the
user, secured from others, and displays comprehensive and
informative data to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A programmable microprocessor-controlled weight device
capable of automatically determining whether a current user is a
new or existing user, and proceeding accordingly from said
determination. Depending on whether said user is new or existing,
the digital scale will either set up a new user profile or access a
user's stored records, respectively. The digital scale recognizes a
user based on a biometric input. If the biometric input is not
compatible with any profile currently stored in memory, the user
will be automatically prompted as to whether said user would like
to create a user profile. At this point, the user will review the
prompt, and, if the determination were incorrect, the user can step
off of the weight device and restart the process for a second read.
But, if the determination is correct, the user merely need remain
on the weight device until the preprogrammed time period lapses,
and the determination is then accepted by the user.
[0008] The user's profile, having been either created for a new
user or accessed for an existing user, is then updated with the
newly measured information, which is communicated to said user.
Biometric user identification is useful not only for ease of
profile access, but biometric access also allows the user
information to remain confidential. Whereas the digital scales of
the current art protect user profiles with passwords and other
access codes wherein the profile access code is easily obtained by
others, the current invention's biometric information is accessible
only using the user's unique biometric identifier. This is
advantageous over the prior art in numerous settings, such as in
the gymnasium, multiple person housing, doctor's offices, and other
settings wherein a weight device is accessible to more people that
just a single user. Information stored in a user's profile can
include, information measured by the device over a period of time,
as well as trend and projection data and target goal data. Such
data is either automatically acquired by the device or, as in the
case of custom information such as target goals, said data is
manually input into the weight device.
[0009] Measured information and, optionally, custom data, can then
be loaded to and from the current user's profile, allowing the user
to maintain a user profile comprising a comprehensive set of data
relating to current measurements, physical attributes, trends and
projections of measurement change, target goals and other similar
information. The information in a user's profile is easily
accessible by the proper user, and is securely maintained to
prevent unauthorized access by others.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the weight
device of the current invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the weight
device showing a user's foot positioned towards the weight device
platform
[0012] FIG. 3 is flow diagram of one method of use of the weight
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Various aspects of the system and method of the present
invention will be described, and for purposes of explanation,
specific configurations and details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However,
it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details.
Furthermore, well known features have been omitted or simplified in
order to prevent obscuring the present invention.
[0014] The device of the current invention can be any weighing
device, such as weight scales, body mass indicators, fat scales,
fat analyzers and combinations thereof; and, for this description
of the current invention, the term "weight device" will be used to
refer to these and other similar devices. The preferred embodiment
of the weight device, herein, is that of a bathroom scale for
obtaining the weight of a user. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will readily apply the current invention to a variety of similar
devices, and such applications are well within the spirit of the
current invention.
[0015] Similarly, a weight device can obtain a variety of
measurement information, including, but not limited to: weight,
body mass, fat percentage, bioimpedance, calorie count and other
similar information; and, for this description of the current
invention, the term "measurement information" will be used to refer
to these and other similar measurements. The preferred embodiment
is of a weight device that obtains the weight of a user. Those of
ordinary skill in the art will readily apply the current invention
to a weight device that is capable of obtaining a variety of
information, and such applications are well within the spirit of
the current invention.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the weight device of the current
invention is a biometrically operated weight scale useful for
obtaining weight measurements in humans. In the current art, weight
scales are available wherein a user sets-up, accesses, reviews and
alters a user profile by manually entering a user code. Such entry
is laborious and the user codes can be seen and copied by others,
thus destroying any degree of privacy these devices may offer. The
current invention uses a biometric identification system to
overcome this deficiency in the prior art, which only requires a
user's unique biometric identifier, e.g., fingerprint, iris scan,
toe print, etc, to automatically set-up, access, review and alter a
user profile. Biometric identifiers cannot be lost, copied or
stolen like user IDs and passwords are. Nor do they have to be
memorized. Thus, the current invention offers a high level of
privacy and security for the user's personal weight management
information.
[0017] Weighing scales are useful in many environments, including,
by way of example only and not limitation, private residences,
gymnasiums and other sporting facilities, automobile seats, and
medical offices. In the preferred embodiment, the weight device has
an electronics unit, wherein user profiles and, optionally, custom
data is stored. Custom data can include any data that a user
desires to store, including, but not limited to, custom user
identification, height, gender, age, current measurement
information, past measurement information, past measurement
information trends, trend based projected measurement information,
average measurement information, target measurement information,
comparison of target versus average measurement information,
measured information management information and measured
information goal information. It is obvious to those of ordinary
skill in the art that the invention of the current disclosure can
be applied in any environment wherein weight scales can be used.
Such applications are obvious in light of the current disclosure
and do not exceed the scope or spirit of the current invention.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 1, the weight device 2 of the current
invention is described. In a preferred embodiment, the weight
device 2 of the current invention is a digital bathroom weight
scale having a housing 4, an electronics component 6, a biometric
identification system 8, and a user communication device 10. In an
alternative embodiment, the weight device also includes a data
entry module 12.
[0019] In the preferred embodiment, the weight device 2 is
positioned on the floor, and housing 4 is substantially flat such
that housing 4 further comprises a platform allowing a user to
comfortably stand on said weight device in order to activate the
biometric system 8 and to allow the weight device to obtain current
measurement information. The platform of housing 4 can be
substantially flat, or can have contours to guide the user towards
proper positioning on said platform. Users generally position
themselves on a weight device, such as a bathroom scale, such that
the left and right feet are at a predictable location on the
housing 4 platform. For weight devices 2 having a substantially
flat housing 4 platform, this position is generally where a
comfortable stance position would be. For weight devices having a
contoured housing 4 platform, this position is where the feet are
placed comfortably within the contour cradles. Predictable user
positioning is possible with the other variety of weight devices
available on the market.
[0020] The biometric identification system 8 of the weight device 2
is preferably placed such that the scanner of said biometric
identification system 8 is in a position allowing easy access by
the user when weight device 2 is being used. Referring to FIG. 2,
the weight device 2 comprises a housing 4 with a substantially flat
platform for the user's feet. The biometric identification system 8
further comprises a scanner 14 exposed on the exterior of housing 4
and traversing housing 4 therein electrically connecting said
biometric identification system 8 to the electronics component 6.
Thus, scanner 14 is in a position whereby, when positioned on
housing 4 of weight device 2, the user's foot--more preferably the
user's toe--contacts said scanner 14 of the biometric
identification system 8. The biometric identification system 8
obtains the user's unique identifier, in this preferred embodiment
the user'toe print, digitizes said unique identifier, communicates
the digital information to the electronics component 6 where the
unique identifier is checked against a database of user identifiers
and the results of said user profile search are communicated to
communication device 10.
[0021] In an alternative embodiment, the biometric identifier
scanner is placed wherein a user's fingerprint is scanned. A
variety of weight scales include podiums and/or hand rails. (See
for example, SECA 645 Electronic Handrail Scale, SECA 954 Chair
Scale, SECA 664 Multifunction and Wheelchair Scale, SECA 767 Column
Scale, and SECA 882 Flat Scale with Remote Unit, all available from
SECA Corporation, Diamond Bar Calif.). Such weight scales are
designed such that a portion of the weight scale is at least waist
high or otherwise accessible to the user's hand while the user is
in position for weighing on said weight scale. These weight scales
can have the biometric identifier scanner positioned such that the
user can place their hand and/or finger on said biometric
identification scanner for identification.
[0022] Biometric identification technology has low to nil rates of
false recognition, false rejection and failure to enroll, and thus
is useful for creating and maintaining secure and private user
profiles. It is advantageous to the user of the current invention
that said user's weight management information--including measured
information and/or custom data--is kept secure using the biometric
identification system of the current invention. Such means of
maintaining user privacy is much easier and more secure than what
is available in the private art. It is further advantageous that
the weight device of the current invention can utilize said
biometric identification data to create and access user profiles
stored in said weight device, requiring nothing more from the user
than proper positioning on said weight device. Such creation and
accessing of user profiles without the need for tedious manual
inputs is a further advantage over the prior art.
[0023] In the current invention, a user is positioned on the weight
device 2 and biometrically identified as described immediately
above. The user profile search is performed and is communicated by
the electronics component 6 to the communication device 10. In a
preferred embodiment, communication device 10 is an LCD. The
electronics component 6 will first communicate whether the user has
been identified as an existing or a new user. Although error rates
for biometrics are very low, errors are possible. Should an
existing user be identified as a new user, communication device 10
will state such. The electronics component 6 offers a short period
of time before the new user profile is saved in memory, and, in
this situation, the user will step off of the weight device 2,
thereby not accepting creation of a new user profile, and will step
back on to the weight device 2 to receive a new identification
read. Other error correction methods are obvious to those of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0024] Once a user profile has been either created or accessed,
depending on whether the user is new or existing, respectively, the
user's profile data is presented by communication device 10. Data
presented on communication device 10 can include, but is not
limited any combination of measured information held in memory of
electronics component 6, or currently being received because of the
user's positioning on weight device 2. In a preferred embodiment,
communication device 10 is capable of displaying past trends for
the measured information. For example, the user's measured
information is acquired by the weight device 2 and is date stamped
and stored in electronics component's 6 memory. During subsequent
uses of the weight device 2 by the user, said user can look at past
trend measurement data. Said past measurement data can be presented
as measured values, average periodic change in values, or
comparison to goal readings. Communicated measurement data can
additionally appear as graph plots and trends wherein weight change
is displayed as a function of time for a defined period of time.
Similarly, this trend information can be projected forward to show
future weights as a function of future dates given the current rate
of change. In addition, trends and projections can be compared to
goals that are entered into a user profile (entry of custom data is
discussed directly below) in order to show a user, for example, how
said user is measuring in compare to a goal measurement or can show
time until a final goal is reached. Other measured data displays
are readily employed with the current invention by those of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0025] Custom data can be entered into weight device 2 through data
entry module 12. In one embodiment, data entry module 12 is an
alphanumeric keypad and data is manually entered using alpha
numeric keys. Such information includes that which the weight
device 2 cannot obtain via the biometric identification system 8 or
through the load sensors, strain gauges or other common measurement
devices. For example, the biometric identification system 8 will
scan a new user, and will create a new user profile; however, the
user will then be given a randomly generated user name. If the user
desires to customize his or her user name, then said user will
enter the custom name using the data entry module 12. Similarly,
the data entry module allows users to enter age, gender, height and
other similar information. Data entry modules 12 can communicate
with the weight device 2 using any of a variety of means well known
in the art, including, but not limited to wireless communication
and wired communication.
[0026] More complex custom data can be entered into the user
profile using a data entry module 12. For example, a user's health
care provider or personal trainer may prescribe a set of target
goals relating to a weight loss routine for the user. Because these
types of custom profile data may be detailed, and thus would be
time consuming to enter using an alphanumeric keypad, the data
entry module 12 can be a port for accepting removable media such as
floppy disks, CDs, memory cards and the like containing the custom
data. Here the custom data is already entered on to the removable
media and need only be transferred to the user profile of a user's
weight device(s) 2. In this example, the user inserts the removable
media into data entry module 12 and the information transfers into
and will update the user's profile. Similarly, should a user desire
to transfer information from said user's profile onto a removable
media source, such as when the user would like to take a progress
report to said user's healthcare provider or personal trainer, the
user inserts the removable media into the data entry module 12, and
the information loads onto said removable media. The user's health
care provider or personal trainer then, in turn, can review the
history of measured user data and trends as well as comparison of
actual to goal data. Said health care provider or personal trainer
can then comment and discuss the progress with the user and may
alter a regimen based on said reviewed data. In an alternative
embodiment, said custom data can be transmitted wirelessly when
data entry module 12 is equipped with wireless communication
capabilities. Further embodiments wherein complex data is
communicated to and from a weight device 2 using data entry module
12 are known by those of ordinary skill in the art
[0027] Turning now to FIG. 3, an exemplary method of using a weight
device comprising the current invention is illustrated. In this
example, a user is on weight device 2 in proper position 100 such
that the biometric scanner 14 can identify the user 220 and such
that the weight device 2 can obtain measurement information 240.
The biometric identification system 8 obtains and digitizes said
biometric identification information, and then transfers said
information to the electronics component 6. The electronics unit
compares the obtained information to the database of user profiles
to determine whether the current user is a new user or an existing
user 300. If it is determined that the current user is a new user
then a new user profile is created 320. If it is determined that
the current user is an existing user, then the existing user
profile is accessed 340. This determination is communicated to the
user 400 via a transfer of the determination from the electronics
component 6 to the communication device 10, and, if determination
300 is incorrect, the user can disengage from the weight device 2,
thereby deleting said determination 300. In this case, the user
will reposition on said weight device 2, and the process begins
from step 100. However, if the user determination 300 is correct,
the user stays in position for the short time period and
determination 300 is accepted, and steps 320 and 340 proceed.
[0028] Once determination 300 is accepted by the user and a user
profile is created 320 or accesses 340, the user profile can be
updated 500. Updated information can include measurement
information currently obtained by weight device 240 or can include
custom user data 600 entered using data entry module 12. Both
obtained measurement data 500 and custom user data 600 are
transferred to the electronics component 6 where the data is stored
in memory for that user's profile. In addition, the obtained
measurement data 500 and the custom user data 600 can be
communicated to the user 400, preferably, but not necessarily, via
an LCD communication device 10. Further, said measured data 500
and/or said custom data 600 can be communicated to a removable
media source, thus allowing the measured data 500 and/or said
custom data 600 to be transferred to other machines.
[0029] While the particular systems and methods shown and described
herein in detail are fully capable of attaining the above described
objects of the this invention, it is to be understood that the
description and drawings presented herein represent one embodiment
of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject
matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It
is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully
encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those
skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is
accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.
* * * * *