U.S. patent application number 13/613661 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-03 for guideline-based food purchase management.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kun Bai, Ming Li, Leslie S. Liu, Fan Ye, Liangzhao Zeng, Xinxin Zhu.
Application Number | 20130006807 13/613661 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47262388 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130006807 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bai; Kun ; et al. |
January 3, 2013 |
Guideline-Based Food Purchase Management
Abstract
Techniques for guideline-based food purchase management are
provided. The techniques include generating a personalized set of
nutrition guidelines for a user, generating a user profile for the
user, wherein the user profile comprises health information and
nutrition preferences, and using the personalized set of nutrition
guidelines and the user profile to generate a guideline-based
shopping list for the user. Techniques for generating
location-based food purchase guidance are also provided. The
techniques include obtaining a shopping list of food items and a
list of stores to be considered in connection with the food items
on the shopping list, using the shopping list, list of stores, a
store location map and inter-store routing guidance to generate an
inter-store shopping route, and generating an in-store shopping
route, for each of the stores in the inter-store shopping route,
based on the shopping list, intra-store routing guidance and a
floor plan for the store.
Inventors: |
Bai; Kun; (Elmsford, NY)
; Li; Ming; (Elmsford, NY) ; Liu; Leslie S.;
(White Plains, NY) ; Ye; Fan; (Ossining, NY)
; Zeng; Liangzhao; (Mohegan Lake, NY) ; Zhu;
Xinxin; (Croton on Hudson, NY) |
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
47262388 |
Appl. No.: |
13/613661 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13150350 |
Jun 1, 2011 |
|
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13613661 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 20/60 20180101;
G06Q 30/0205 20130101; G06Q 30/0633 20130101; G06Q 30/0601
20130101; G06Q 30/0643 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26.8 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20120101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method for guideline-based food purchase management, wherein
the method comprises: generating a personalized set of one or more
nutrition guidelines for a user; generating a user profile for the
user, wherein the user profile comprises health information and one
or more nutrition preferences; and using the personalized set of
one or more nutrition guidelines and the user profile to generate a
guideline-based shopping list for the user.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a personalized set of
one or more nutrition guidelines and generating a user profile
comprise using Web-enabled questionnaires to collect and assess
information pertaining to the user.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating a personalized set of
one or more nutrition guidelines further comprises using an
assessment of the information to select an appropriate set of one
or more nutrition guidelines from a nutrition guideline
repository.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein generating a user profile further
comprises using an assessment of the information and the
appropriate set of one or more nutrition guidelines to generate the
user profile.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein using the personalized set of one
or more nutrition guidelines and the user profile to generate a
guideline-based shopping list comprises using information
pertaining to availability of one or more selected food markets
based on the personalized set of one or more nutrition
guidelines.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein using the personalized set of one
or more nutrition guidelines and the user profile to generate a
guideline-based shopping list comprises accessing a food market
supply list repository and dividing candidate food into one or more
categories such that food in a same category is
interchangeable.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the guideline-based
shopping list further comprises using additional user input
pertaining to at least one of user budget, travel distance of one
or more stores, user preference of one or more stores, and
available coupons from one or more stores.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the guideline-based
shopping list further comprises facilitating a user to
interactively select one or more items to purchase, and updating a
food compliance report in real-time and providing one or more food
suggestions to the user based on the one or more selected
items.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein updating a food compliance report
in real-time comprises using a nutrition fact calculator to compute
a total nutrition fact based on the one or more selected items and
input from a nutrition fact database.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein using the personalized set of
one or more nutrition guidelines and the user profile to generate a
guideline-based shopping list comprises accessing a food market
supply list repository and filtering out one or more foods that are
not suitable for the user.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method for guideline-based
food purchase management is implemented on a handheld mobile
device.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a system,
wherein the system comprises one or more distinct software modules,
each of the one or more distinct software modules being embodied on
a tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium, and wherein
the one or more distinct software modules comprise a guideline
manager module, a profile manager module and a shopping list
manager module executing on a hardware processor.
13. A method for generating location-based food purchase guidance,
wherein the method comprises: obtaining a shopping list of one or
more food items and a list of one or more stores to be considered
in connection with the one or more food items on the shopping list;
using the shopping list, list of one or more stores, a store
location map and inter-store routing guidance to generate an
inter-store shopping route; and generating an in-store shopping
route, for each of the one or more stores in the inter-store
shopping route, based on the shopping list of one or more food
items, intra-store routing guidance and a floor plan for the
store.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising obtaining one or
more user preferences in connection with the one or more
stores.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein generating an in-store shopping
route further comprises using one or more user preferences in
connection with the intra-store guidance.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising alerting a user of
shopping information based on locations of the user.
17. The method of claim 13, further comprising using a user-scanned
barcode of an item during shopping, via a barcode-based shopping
cart tracker module, to check price and one or more nutrition facts
of the item.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein using a user-scanned barcode of
an item during shopping further comprises tracking a total cost of
one or more selected items.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the
barcode-based shopping cart tracker module during checkout to
provide a shopping cart list to a checkout assistant module along
with any coupons to be used to verify if the checkout is
correct.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein using a user-scanned barcode of
an item during shopping to check one or more nutrition facts of the
item comprises tracking real-time nutrition compliance for a
user.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein using a user-scanned barcode of
an item during shopping to check one or more nutrition facts of the
item comprises using the one or more nutrition facts of the item to
suggest a substitute item.
22. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a system,
wherein the system comprises one or more distinct software modules,
each of the one or more distinct software modules being embodied on
a tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium, and wherein
the one or more distinct software modules comprise an inter-store
planner module and an intra-store planner module executing on a
hardware processor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/150,350, filed Jun. 1, 2011, incorporated
by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Embodiments of the invention generally relate to information
technology, and, more particularly, to health management.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Existing nutrition control guidelines and management
approaches include challenges in being difficult to follow for
individuals. For example, many approaches are not personalized, and
can have difficulties in linking nutrition guidelines with a list
of food to purchase. Additionally, many existing approaches lack
dynamic re-planning of food list according to users' preference
(making it difficult, for example, to satisfy all members in a
family), and lack real-time guidance during shopping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Principles and embodiments of the invention provide
techniques for guideline-based food purchase management. An
exemplary method (which may be computer-implemented) for
guideline-based food purchase management, according to one aspect
of the invention, can include steps of generating a personalized
set of one or more nutrition guidelines for a user, generating a
user profile for the user, wherein the user profile comprises
health information and one or more nutrition preferences, and using
the personalized set of one or more nutrition guidelines and the
user profile to generate a guideline-based shopping list for the
user.
[0005] Also, an exemplary method (which may be
computer-implemented) for generating location-based food purchase
guidance, according to one aspect of the invention, can include
steps of obtaining a shopping list of one or more food items and a
list of one or more stores to be considered in connection with the
one or more food items on the shopping list, using the shopping
list, list of one or more stores, a store location map and
inter-store routing guidance to generate an inter-store shopping
route, and generating an in-store shopping route, for each of the
one or more stores in the inter-store shopping route, based on the
shopping list of one or more food items, intra-store routing
guidance and a floor plan for the store.
[0006] One or more embodiments of the invention or elements thereof
can be implemented in the form of a computer product including a
tangible computer readable storage medium with computer useable
program code for performing the method steps indicated.
Furthermore, one or more embodiments of the invention or elements
thereof can be implemented in the form of an apparatus including a
memory and at least one processor that is coupled to the memory and
operative to perform exemplary method steps. Yet further, in
another aspect, one or more embodiments of the invention or
elements thereof can be implemented in the form of means for
carrying out one or more of the method steps described herein; the
means can include (i) hardware module(s), (ii) software module(s),
or (iii) a combination of hardware and software modules; any of
(i)-(iii) implement the specific techniques set forth herein, and
the software modules are stored in a tangible computer-readable
storage medium (or multiple such media).
[0007] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be
read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques for
guideline-based food purchase management, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating system architecture for
guideline-based food purchase management, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a shopping list manager,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating location-based food
purchase route guidance, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating real-time nutrition
compliance tracking, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques for
guideline-based food purchase management, according to an
embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques for
generating location-based food purchase guidance, according to an
embodiment of the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a system diagram of an exemplary computer system
on which at least one embodiment of the invention can be
implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Principles of the invention include a system and techniques
for an evidence-based food purchase management mobile application.
As detailed herein, in one or more embodiments of the invention, a
guideline-based food purchase management mobile application can
include a personalized nutrition guideline, an evidence-based
shopping list creation, a location-based food purchase guidance, as
well as real-time nutrition compliance tracking.
[0017] Nutrition control can often start from food purchase. In
current nutrition control practice, users can be educated and
guided with healthy recipes. For example, users may receive
nutrition guidelines such as a suggested number of servings of
carbohydrates, vegetables, and fruit, as well suggested foods.
However, such guidelines are often not practicable, as difficulties
may arise, for example, when buying foods according to the
nutrition guideline, especially when food purchasing is occurring
for multiple people and/or members of a family.
[0018] One or more embodiments of the invention include a mobile
solution that can provide food purchase management on a handhold
device. With a mobile application such as detailed herein, users
can create a food shopping list according to the availability of
selected food markets based on personalized nutrition guidelines.
Further, during the shopping, one or more embodiments of the
invention include a graphic dashboard that indicates the progress
of confirmation on nutrition guidelines. Further yet, users can
dynamically adjust the shopping list while still conforming to
nutrition guidelines.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques for
guideline-based food purchase management, according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Step 102 includes nutrition
guideline personalization. Step 104 includes user profile creation.
Step 106 includes guideline-based shopping list creation. Step 108
includes location-based food purchase guidance. Further, step 110
includes real-time nutrition compliance tracking.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating system architecture for
guideline-based food purchase management, according to an
embodiment of the present invention. By way of illustration, FIG. 2
depicts nutrition guideline personalization and user profile
creation. Specifically, FIG. 2 depicts a user (and/or a user's
mobile device) 202, a user profile creation phase 204, a shopping
list creation phase 206, a real-time nutrition compliance tracking
phase 208 and a location-based food purchase route guidance phase
210.
[0021] In the user profile creation phase 204, through Web-enabled
questionnaires 212, the system will collect and assess the
information such as the following (for example) from users:
demographics, personal health status, family medical history, and
shopping preferences. In one or more embodiments of the invention,
the questionnaires can be conducted, for example, for first-time
users on a per family basis. Each family member can also give a
personal preference list about what food/drink/fruit/etc. he or she
likes/dislikes, regardless of nutrition constraints. The assessment
result 214 is used in two aspects. First, the assessment result 214
is used by guideline manager 220 to select an appropriate nutrition
guideline 222 from the repository 224. It should be noted that
nutrition selection can be evolved according to changes of person's
wellness condition. For example, based on progression of a person's
chronic disease, the nutrition guideline may need to be
adjusted.
[0022] Second, the assessment result 214 also provides a user's
personal preference 216 on her/his food intake.
[0023] The user profile is created based on selected nutrition
guideline 222 and preference 216. A user (for example, a family
member) can change original answers anytime in order to modify his
or her profile. Once the profiles are set up, their data will be
analyzed by a profile manager 218, an evidence-based decision
support system, to generate appropriate food recommendations for
each user (for example, family member) and to compile a shopping
list 234 for the users (for example, for an entire family) via a
shopping list manager 226. Also, profiles can be stored in a
personal profile repository 228.
[0024] With respect to the guideline-based shopping list
generation, one or more embodiments of the invention include using
a food list filter and categorization mechanism. This includes
accessing food market supply list repository 232 and personalized
guidelines, and divides candidate food into categories such that
food in the same category is interchangeable. Additionally, with
user input such as budget, driving distances, preferred stores,
available coupons from each store, etc., the shopping list manager
226 uses information in a personal profile (provided by profile
manager 218), and accesses a nutrition fact database 230 and a food
market supply list repository 232 to generate optimized shopping
list 234.
[0025] Additionally, as detailed herein, FIG. 2 depicts a real-time
nutrition compliance tracking phase 208, which includes the use of
a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nutrition database 236 to make
any desired nutrition adjustments 240, a customer review repository
238 used in conjunction with customer feedback 242 and a quick
checkout component 244. Also, as noted, FIG. 2 depicts a
location-based food purchase route guidance phase 210 which
includes a shopping route planning component 246 and a food
provider and store database 248.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a shopping list manager,
according to an embodiment of the present invention. By way of
illustration in FIG. 3, guideline-based shopping list generation
includes a user 302 interactively selecting items 304 to purchase,
with a food compliance report 336 updated in real time while the
shopping list manager 308 provides food suggestions 344 to the
user.
[0027] As depicted in FIG. 3, a food list filter and categorization
manager 322 accesses a food market supply list repository 316 and
uses personalized nutrition guidelines 326 and preference 324
specified in a user profile to filter out foods that are not
suitable for the user(s). For these good candidate items, the
system divides items into categories such that items within the
same category are replaceable (for example, the foods have similar
combination of nutrients but with different flavors/price). By way
of example, both milk and cheese are high in calcium, but their
fat/salt content might be different.
[0028] Based on candidate items and categorization 328, the users
can interactively select items. A user interface (UI) can show
multiple bars of multiple types, such as one for the minimum amount
of necessities (for example, folic acid for pregnant women) and one
for the maximum amount of avoidances (for example, sugar for
diabetes patients). Based on the constraints 306 on nutrition
and/or budget provided to the shopping list optimizer component
314, the user is asked to make selections 304 in each category from
a list of available items (for example, to select fruits from
apples, oranges, bananas, avocados, etc.). These items can be shown
partly based the preference list. Preferred items can be shown, for
example, with a highlighted color or ordered earlier so it is
easier for users to select them. Here, the system relies on a
nutrition fact calculator 338 (which receives input from a
nutrition fact database 320) that computes total nutrition fact 342
based on the provided food list 340. The total nutrition fact 342
is provided to the food selection manager 310, which interacts with
the nutrition guideline visualization manager 312 to create a
visualized report to indicate a healthy choice of food. The food
selection manager 310 also ultimately outputs the shopping list
346.
[0029] During the food list creation, the food selection manager
310 also sends total nutritional fact 332 and food list 334 to a
nutrition guideline engine 330 (which receives nutrition guidelines
318) to generate a compliance report 336, in order to give
awareness of compliance.
[0030] Each time a user makes a selection, measurements are updated
based on the nutrition in the chosen item. The changes in current
necessities and avoidances can help the user make further
selections, indicating how much necessities he or she still needs,
or if he or she has gone beyond the limit of avoidances. In such
cases, the UI can give suggestions about which items to
choose/remove.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating location-based food
purchase route guidance, according to an embodiment of the present
invention. Given a shopping list 404 and a list of stores in the
shopping list (as well as, in one or more embodiments of the
invention user preference 406), an inter-store planner 408 plans
the optimum shopping route based on additional input such as a
store location map 412 and other inter-store routing guidance 410.
Users 402 have multiple options in route planning, such as, for
example, the shortest path passing all stores, visiting favorite
stores first, and visiting stores with lower price first. Some
general guidelines (such as depicted via component 410) are applied
to all options (for example, always buy frozen/hot food at the end
of a shopping trip). Accordingly, the inter-store planner 408
outputs an inter-store routing plan 414.
[0032] The system can also alert users based on their locations.
For instance, when a user is passing by a store on the list,
his/her phone will remind him/her by audio/visual message.
[0033] Additionally, when a user enters a store, the intra-store
planner 416 plans his/her in-store route 422 based on the shopping
list 404 and the store's floor plan 420. There are also multiple
guidelines 418 for this route planning, such as, for example, the
shortest path passing all items on the shopping list, picking-up
frozen/hot food last, picking-up heavy items last, picking-up bulky
items first, exiting through the shortest checkout queue if the
store provides real-time information on the queue length, etc.
Users can give different preferences 406 to different
guidelines.
[0034] During the shopping process, users can scan barcodes of
items (for example, items from the shopping list 426) via a
barcode-based shopping cart tracker 424 (using, for example, a
mobile phone application) and check price and nutrition facts
(using information provided by a nutrition fact database 428). Such
a mobile phone application can also track the total cost, etc.
During checkout, the barcode-based shopping cart tracker 424 can
provide the shopping cart list 430 to a checkout assistant
component 432. Further, users can show coupons on smart phones to
cashiers, and the checkout assistant can help users to verify if
the checkout process is correct.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating real-time nutrition
compliance tracking, according to an embodiment of the present
invention. During a food purchase, one or more embodiments of the
invention can also help end-users to make ad-hoc decisions based on
nutrition compliance status. For example, a user may pickup an item
which is not in the generated shopping list. In such a case, the
system will generate new visualized compliance report and may
automatically adjust the item list with the item that is yet to be
picked-up.
[0036] Accordingly, as depicted in FIG. 5, one or more embodiments
of the invention include run-time nutrition adjustment by barcode
reading using a mobile device 504. When a user (family member) goes
shopping with a generated shopping list as detailed herein, he/she
might find some new products that are not on the shopping list, but
he/she would like to know if such a product could be a proper
substitution to one existing on the list. The barcode reader
component in the system can quickly scan the desired product,
obtain the barcode 502, and then query locally or remotely the
nutrition facts 506 about this product from a nutrition database
508. Based on the queried nutrition facts 506, a nutrition analysis
can be conducted and conclude if the new product is a proper
substitution. If not, a suggestion/recommendation can be made if
other items combined with this new product might be a good combined
nutrition solution.
[0037] Also, under some circumstances, a new (or a proper
substitution) product can match up to the nutrition requirements
calculated by the system, even though its custom review/feedback
may not as positive as expected. This information might be very
useful, but not always be available to the shopper when he/she is
shopping inside a store. As such, by reading the barcode 502, such
information can be queried locally or remotely by one or more
embodiments of the invention and be prompted to the shopper as
decision assistance.
[0038] Additionally, a barcode reader component can also help the
shopper to check-out. For example, as the shopper goes into a
store, the store's price database (DB) can be synced-up with the
shopper's local DB on his or her mobile device 504. Every time the
shopper scans a product (item) on the shopping list, the item will
be moved to a shopping-cart (on the mobile device), and the price
of the item will be queried locally and added to a total amount.
When the shopper finishes his/her task, he/she could self-check-out
and pay the amount via modern mobile payment system, such as near
field communication (NFC), etc.
[0039] Further, one or more embodiments of the invention includes
tracking users' running/walking distance based on global
positioning system (GPS) and accelerometer readings. Based on GPS,
a mobile phone application can detect if a user is moving or
stationary, how fast he/she is moving, and for how far a distance.
Based on accelerometer, the mobile phone application can detect if
the user is driving, walking, climbing stairs, or running. Then the
mobile phone application can calculate how much calories the user
consumes during these activities.
[0040] One or more embodiments of the invention (via a mobile phone
application, as detailed herein) can also track users' activities
in gyms or other exercise venues. For example, running/walking on
treadmills or eclipse machines, and climbing on stair machines can
be tracked by accelerometer via a body sensor 530 (as described
above). When users use weight machines, they can take pictures of
the machines' barcodes, labels, or just the machines. The mobile
phone application searches for the machines' profiles based on the
pictures. Also, users can easily enter the amount of exercise they
do on these machines, for instance, how many lifts or push-ups on
the machines. The mobile phone application can calculate users'
calorie consumption during these activities based on the collected
information.
[0041] Users can also use the mobile phone application to track
daily nutrition intake. Before each meal, the user can take
pictures of the food he or she will eat using a smart phone 504.
The mobile phone application then sends the pictures to backend
servers and gets back nutrition facts of the meals. Users can also
input this information manually any time on the mobile phone
application or to a web-based interface on computers. For example,
the mobile phone application can provide relevant input to a
monitoring module 510, which will utilize a nutrition database 512,
a critical body measurement database 514 and an exercise
measurement database 516 to provide pattern analysis 518, calories
nutrition measurement 520 and feedback analysis 522, as well as
ultimately provide feedback 524 to the mobile device.
[0042] Further, based on users' wellness status and nutrition
intake, one or more embodiments of the invention can also generate
and update systematic exercise plans for users. The mobile phone
application will remind users to do exercises based on the
plans.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques for
guideline-based food purchase management (for example, implemented
on a handheld mobile device), according to an embodiment of the
present invention. Step 602 includes generating a personalized set
of one or more nutrition guidelines for a user. This step can be
carried out, for example, using a guideline manager module. Step
604 includes generating a user profile for the user, wherein the
user profile comprises health information and one or more nutrition
preferences. This step can be carried out, for example, using a
profile manager module.
[0044] Generating a personalized set of nutrition guidelines and
generating a user profile include using Web-enabled questionnaires
to collect and assess information pertaining to the user (such as,
for example, demographics, personal health status, family medical
history, shopping preferences, etc.). Generating a personalized set
of nutrition guidelines further includes using an assessment of the
information to select an appropriate set of one or more nutrition
guidelines from a nutrition guideline repository. Additionally,
generating a user profile further includes using an assessment of
the information and the appropriate set of nutrition guidelines to
generate the user profile.
[0045] Step 606 includes using the personalized set of one or more
nutrition guidelines and the user profile to generate a
guideline-based shopping list for the user. This step can be
carried out, for example, using a shopping list manager module.
Using the personalized set of nutrition guidelines and the user
profile to generate a guideline-based shopping list includes using
information pertaining to availability of one or more selected food
markets based on the personalized set of nutrition guidelines.
Also, using the personalized set of nutrition guidelines and the
user profile to generate a guideline-based shopping list includes
accessing a food market supply list repository and dividing
candidate food into one or more categories such that food in a same
category is interchangeable.
[0046] Additionally generating the guideline-based shopping list
further includes using additional user input pertaining to user
budget, travel distance of one or more stores, user preference of
one or more stores, and available coupons from one or more stores,
etc. Generating the guideline-based shopping list further includes
facilitating a user to interactively select one or more items to
purchase, and updating a food compliance report in real-time and
providing one or more food suggestions to the user based on the
selected items. Updating a food compliance report in real-time can
include using a nutrition fact calculator to compute a total
nutrition fact based on the selected items and input from a
nutrition fact database.
[0047] Further, using the personalized set of nutrition guidelines
and the user profile to generate a guideline-based shopping list
can include accessing a food market supply list repository and
filtering out one or more foods that are not suitable for the
user.
[0048] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques for
generating location-based food purchase guidance, according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Step 702 includes obtaining a
shopping list of one or more food items and a list of one or more
stores to be considered in connection with the one or more food
items on the shopping list. Step 704 includes using the shopping
list, list of one or more stores, a store location map and
inter-store routing guidance to generate an inter-store shopping
route. This step can be carried out, for example, using an
inter-store planner module.
[0049] Step 706 includes generating an in-store shopping route, for
each of the one or more stores in the inter-store shopping route,
based on the shopping list of one or more food items, intra-store
routing guidance and a floor plan for the store. This step can be
carried out, for example, using an intra-store planner module.
Guidelines for intra-store route planning can include, for example,
the shortest path passing all items on the shopping list,
picking-up frozen/hot food last, picking-up heavy items last,
picking-up bulky items first, exiting through the shortest checkout
queue if the store provides real-time information on the queue
length, etc.
[0050] Generating an in-store shopping route further includes using
one or more user preferences in connection with the intra-store
guidance.
[0051] The techniques depicted in FIG. 7 can additionally include
obtaining one or more user preferences in connection with the one
or more stores. Additionally, one or more embodiments of the
invention can include alerting a user of shopping information based
on locations of the user.
[0052] Also, the techniques depicted in FIG. 7 can include using a
user-scanned barcode of an item during shopping, via a
barcode-based shopping cart tracker module, to check price and one
or more nutrition facts of the item. Using a user-scanned barcode
of an item during shopping to check one or more nutrition facts of
the item includes tracking real-time nutrition compliance for a
user, as well as using the nutrition facts of the item to suggest a
substitute item.
[0053] Using a user-scanned barcode of an item during shopping
further includes tracking a total cost of one or more selected
items. Also, one or more embodiments of the invention include using
the barcode-based shopping cart tracker module during checkout to
provide a shopping cart list to a checkout assistant module along
with any coupons to be used to verify if the checkout is
correct.
[0054] The techniques depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 can also, as
described herein, include providing a system, wherein the system
includes distinct software modules, each of the distinct software
modules being embodied on a tangible computer-readable recordable
storage medium. All the modules (or any subset thereof) can be on
the same medium, or each can be on a different medium, for example.
The modules can include any or all of the components shown in the
figures. In one or more embodiments, the modules include a
guideline manager module, a profile manager module, a shopping list
manager module, an inter-store planner module, and an intra-store
planner module that can run, for example on one or more hardware
processors. The method steps can then be carried out using the
distinct software modules of the system, as described above,
executing on the one or more hardware processors. Further, a
computer program product can include a tangible computer-readable
recordable storage medium with code adapted to be executed to carry
out one or more method steps described herein, including the
provision of the system with the distinct software modules.
[0055] Additionally, the techniques depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7
can be implemented via a computer program product that can include
computer useable program code that is stored in a computer readable
storage medium in a data processing system, and wherein the
computer useable program code was downloaded over a network from a
remote data processing system. Also, in one or more embodiments of
the invention, the computer program product can include computer
useable program code that is stored in a computer readable storage
medium in a server data processing system, and wherein the computer
useable program code are downloaded over a network to a remote data
processing system for use in a computer readable storage medium
with the remote system.
[0056] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of
the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or
computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present
invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an
entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident
software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and
hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a
"circuit," "module" or "system." Furthermore, aspects of the
present invention may take the form of a computer program product
embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer
readable program code embodied thereon.
[0057] One or more embodiments of the invention, or elements
thereof, can be implemented in the form of an apparatus including a
memory and at least one processor that is coupled to the memory and
operative to perform exemplary method steps.
[0058] One or more embodiments can make use of software running on
a general purpose computer or workstation. With reference to FIG.
8, such an implementation might employ, for example, a processor
802, a memory 804, and an input/output interface formed, for
example, by a display 806 and a keyboard 808. The term "processor"
as used herein is intended to include any processing device, such
as, for example, one that includes a CPU (central processing unit)
and/or other forms of processing circuitry. Further, the term
"processor" may refer to more than one individual processor. The
term "memory" is intended to include memory associated with a
processor or CPU, such as, for example, RAM (random access memory),
ROM (read only memory), a fixed memory device (for example, hard
drive), a removable memory device (for example, diskette), a flash
memory and the like. In addition, the phrase "input/output
interface" as used herein, is intended to include, for example, one
or more mechanisms for inputting data to the processing unit (for
example, mouse), and one or more mechanisms for providing results
associated with the processing unit (for example, printer). The
processor 802, memory 804, and input/output interface such as
display 806 and keyboard 808 can be interconnected, for example,
via bus 810 as part of a data processing unit 812. Suitable
interconnections, for example via bus 810, can also be provided to
a network interface 814, such as a network card, which can be
provided to interface with a computer network, and to a media
interface 816, such as a diskette or CD-ROM drive, which can be
provided to interface with media 818.
[0059] Accordingly, computer software including instructions or
code for performing the methodologies of the invention, as
described herein, may be stored in one or more of the associated
memory devices (for example, ROM, fixed or removable memory) and,
when ready to be utilized, loaded in part or in whole (for example,
into RAM) and implemented by a CPU. Such software could include,
but is not limited to, firmware, resident software, microcode, and
the like.
[0060] A data processing system suitable for storing and/or
executing program code will include at least one processor 802
coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements 804 through a
system bus 810. The memory elements can include local memory
employed during actual implementation of the program code, bulk
storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at
least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code
must be retrieved from bulk storage during implementation.
[0061] Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to
keyboards 808, displays 806, pointing devices, and the like) can be
coupled to the system either directly (such as via bus 810) or
through intervening I/O controllers (omitted for clarity).
[0062] Network adapters such as network interface 814 may also be
coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to
become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers
or storage devices through intervening private or public networks.
Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the
currently available types of network adapters.
[0063] As used herein, including the claims, a "server" includes a
physical data processing system (for example, system 812 as shown
in FIG. 8) running a server program. It will be understood that
such a physical server may or may not include a display and
keyboard.
[0064] As noted, aspects of the present invention may take the form
of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer
readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied
thereon. Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s)
may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer
readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A
computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not
limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing. Media block 818 is a
non-limiting example. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive
list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the
following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a
portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable
compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device,
a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the
foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable
storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or
store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0065] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated
data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein,
for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a
propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including,
but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable
combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any
computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage
medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program
for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,
apparatus, or device.
[0066] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be
transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited
to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency (RF),
etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
[0067] Computer program code for carrying out operations for
aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination
of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented
programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and
conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language or similar programming languages. The program
code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the
user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the
user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the
remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider).
[0068] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program
instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or
blocks.
[0069] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other
programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored
in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture
including instructions which implement the function/act specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0070] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other
devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on
the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to
produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions
which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus
provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in
the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0071] The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, component, segment, or portion of code, which comprises
one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some
alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may
occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two
blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially
concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the
reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will
also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or
flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block
diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by
special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified
functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and
computer instructions.
[0072] It should be noted that any of the methods described herein
can include an additional step of providing a system comprising
distinct software modules embodied on a computer readable storage
medium; the modules can include, for example, any or all of the
components shown in the figures detailed herein and corresponding
descriptions thereof. The method steps can then be carried out
using the distinct software modules and/or sub-modules of the
system, as described above, executing on one or more hardware
processors 802. Further, a computer program product can include a
computer-readable storage medium with code adapted to be
implemented to carry out one or more method steps described herein,
including the provision of the system with the distinct software
modules.
[0073] In any case, it should be understood that the components
illustrated herein may be implemented in various forms of hardware,
software, or combinations thereof; for example, application
specific integrated circuit(s) (ASICS), functional circuitry, one
or more appropriately programmed general purpose digital computers
with associated memory, and the like. Given the teachings of the
invention provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the related art
will be able to contemplate other implementations of the components
of the invention.
[0074] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0075] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0076] At least one embodiment of the invention may provide one or
more beneficial effects, such as, for example, evidence-based
shopping list creation and location-based food purchasing
guidance.
[0077] It will be appreciated and should be understood that the
exemplary embodiments of the invention described above can be
implemented in a number of different fashions. Given the teachings
of the invention provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the
related art will be able to contemplate other implementations of
the invention. Indeed, although illustrative embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other
changes and modifications may be made by one skilled in the
art.
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