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`(19) United States
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`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2001/0049470 A1
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`Mault et al.
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`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 6, 2001
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`US 20010049470A1
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`sional of provisional application No. 60/200,428,
`filed on Apr. 28, 2000. Non-provisional of provisional
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`application No. 60/201,902, filed on May 4, 2000.
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`Non-provisional of provisional
`application No.
`60/207,089, filed on May 25, 2000. Non-provisional
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`of provisional application No. 60/207,051, filed on
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`May 25, 2000. Non-provisional of provisional appli-
`cation No. 60/212,319, filed on Jun. 16, 2000. Non-
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`provisional of provisional application No. 60/234,
`filed on Sep. 22, 2000. Non-provisional of
`866,
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`provisional application No. 60/230,860, filed on Sep.
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`7, 2000. Non-provisional of provisional application
`No. 60/240,185, filed on Oct. 13, 2000. Non-provi-
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`sional of provisional application No. 60/251,179,
`filed on Dec. 5, 2000.
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`Publication Classification
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`........................... .. A61B 5/00
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`....................... .. 600/300; 600/483; 600/484;
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`600/595
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`(51)
`Int. Cl.7
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`(52) U.S. Cl.
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`(57)
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`ABSTRACT
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`Adiet and activity-monitoring device includes a timer which
`outputs a time-indicative signal. A body activity monitor
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`monitors the body activity of a subject and outputs a signal
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`indicative of the body activity. A consumption notation
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`control is provided which the subject may operate to indicate
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`when they consume food. An activity calculator receives the
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`body activity signal and determines a body activity level for
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`the subject. A consumption calculator communicates with
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`the consumption notation control and receives the time-
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`indicative signal. The consumption calculator determines
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`and stores the times when the consumption location control
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`is operated.
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`(54) DIET AND ACTIVITY MONITORING
`
`DEVICE
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`(79)
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`iI1VeIlt0rSI James R- Mallit, Evergreen, CO (US);
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`EdWiI1 Pearce, San FraI1CiSCO, CA
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`(US); D3Vid Giim0re, San FraI1CiSCO,
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`CA (US); R0Shi GiVeChi, Sail
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`Francisco, CA (US); Jeanne Ragan,
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`P1Ym011ih, Mi (US);A11drZe.l
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`Sk0SkieWiCZ, Mer1i0 Park, CA (US);
`
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`Neil Grimmer, San FraI1CiSCO, CA (US)
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`Correspondence Address:
`
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`Douglas L- Wathen
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`GIFFORD, KRASS, GROH, SPRINKLE,
`PATMORE,
`
`ANDERSON & CITKOWSKL P-C-
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`Suite 400 ,280 N. Old Woodward Ave.
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`Birmingham, MI 48009 (US)
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`(21) Appl. No.:
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`09/745,373
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`(22)
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`Filed:
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`Dec. 23, 2000
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`Related US, Application Data
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`application No.
`(63) Non-provisional of provisional
`60/177,016, filed on Jan. 19, 2000. Non-provisional
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`of provisional application No. 60/178,979, filed on
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`Jan. 28, 2000. Non-provisional of provisional appli-
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`cation No. 60/179,882, filed on Feb. 2, 2000. Non-
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`provisional of provisional application No. 60/195,
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`filed on Apr. 10, 2000. Non-provisional of
`779,
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`provisional application No. 60/194,126, filed on Apr.
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`3, 2000. Non-provisional of provisional application
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`No. 60/209,921, filed on Jun. 7, 2000. Non-provi-
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`GPS 3;
`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 6, 2001 Sheet 1 of 8
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`US 2001/0049470 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 6, 2001 Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 2001/0049470 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 6, 2001 Sheet 4 of 8
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`US 2001/0049470 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`entirely forget that they had a snack or two earlier in the day
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`or week, leading to undercounting of consumption.
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`[0006] Determining total energy expenditure is also diffi-
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`cult. The total energy expenditure of a person comprises a
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`resting metabolic component and a physical activity com-
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`ponent. Total energy expenditure (TEE) is the sum of resting
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`energy expenditure (REE) and activity energy expenditure
`(AEE),
`i.e. TEE=AEE+REE. Weight loss occurs if total
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`energy expenditure (TEE) exceeds total caloric intake over
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`a given time period. As discussed by Remmereit in U.S. Pat.
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`No. 6,034,132, 70 percent of total energy expenditure for a
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`typical person is due to their resting metabolic rate (RMR).
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`In a conventional diet program, RMR is estimated from the
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`height, weight, age, and gender of the person, for example
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`using the Harris-Benedict equation. This equation, well
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`known to those skilled in the nutritional arts, is given in U.S.
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`Pat. No. 5,839,901 to Karkanen, and in U.S. Pat. No.
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`5,639,471 to Chait et al. There are serious inadequacies in
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`using the Harris-Benedict equation (or any similar equation)
`in a weight loss program. The Harris-Benedict equation
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`provides only an estimated RMR, which is an average value
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`for people of similar height, weight, age, and gender. How-
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`ever, due to natural variations in physiology, the equation
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`may not be accurate for a specific individual.
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`[0007] Conventional weight loss programs use an esti-
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`mated total energy expenditure (TEE) based on estimates of
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`activity levels, and estimates of resting energy expenditure
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`(REE) from the Harris-Benedict equation. However, unless
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`the resting energy expenditure (REE) and the activity energy
`expenditure
`are estimated accurately,
`the person’s
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`caloric balance cannot be known accurately, and the out-
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`come of a weight loss program is likely to be unsatisfactory.
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`[0008] Some users attempt to track their activity energy
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`expenditure (AEE), either for weight loss or general fitness
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`purposes. In the simplest approach the individual maintains
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`an exercise log of activities conducted, such as distances
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`walked or jogged. Various graphs and tables can then
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`provide an estimate of the calories burned during these
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`activities. As with recording consumption, an individual
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`to accurately record the type and duration of
`may fail
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`activity undertaken leading to inaccurate recordation. Also,
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`an individual may not know how far or fast they ran or
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`walked. Avariety of pedometers are available to assist with
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`this task. Pedometers include some type of stride counter in
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`order to count the number of strides or paces taken by the
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`individual. The devices may be calibrated to allow them to
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`determine the distance traveled with reasonable accuracy.
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`Through the use of timers,
`they may also be able to
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`determine the speed and duration of activity. Pedometers
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`typically fail to take into consideration changes of elevation,
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`changes in length of stride and changes in intensity. For
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`example, a runner may combine slow walking with brisk
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`running during an exercise session. By combining total
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`number of strides and duration of activity, the pedometer
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`may only determine average speed, not instantaneous speed.
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`[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,002,982 and 6,148,262 to Fry;
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`U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,007 to Root et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,
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`138 to Slusky; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,108 to Seiple et al
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`each disclose improved activity monitors utilizing a global
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`positioning system (GPS). The devices track an individual’s
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`position over time, using the GPS network. By periodically
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`or instantaneously comparing position and time, such a
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`DIET AND ACTIVITY MONITORING DEVICE
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`REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provi-
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`sional patent application Ser. No. 60/177,016, filed Jan. 19,
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`2000; No. 60/178,979, filed Jan. 28, 2000; No. 60/179,882,
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`filed Feb. 2, 2000, No. 60/195,779, filed Apr. 10, 2000; No.
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`60/194,126, filed Apr. 3, 2000; No. 60/209,921, filed Jun. 7,
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`2000; No. 60/200,428, filed Apr. 28, 2000; No. 60/201,902,
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`filed May 4, 2000; No. 60/207,089, filed May 25, 2000; No.
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`60/207,051, filed May 25, 2000; No. 60/212,319, filed Jun.
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`16, 2000; No. 60/234,866, filed Sep. 22, 2000; No. 60/230,
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`860, filed Sep. 7, 2000; No. 60/240,185, filed Oct. 13, 2000;
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`No. 60/230,860, filed Oct. 26, 2000 and No. 60/251,179,
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`filed Dec. 5, 2000, all of which are incorporated herein in
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`their entirety by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
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`09/685,625, filed Oct. 10, 2000; Ser. No. 09/630,398, filed
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`Aug. 2, 2000; Ser. No. 09/669,125 filed Sep. 25, 2000; Ser.
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`No. 09/684,440 filed Oct. 10, 2000; and Ser. No. 09/721,382
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`filed Nov. 22, 2000, are also incorporated herein in their
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`entirety by reference.
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`[0002] The present invention relates generally to activity
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`monitors and diet monitors and, more specifically,
`to a
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`device that combines both diet and activity monitoring.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`[0003] Management of diet, health, and fitness has drawn
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`increasing amounts of attention as their importance has been
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`recognized, and as consumers around the world have
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`struggled to balance busy lives with fitness and proper diet.
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`Despite the recognized importance of good health, consum-
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`ers, on average, are becoming increasingly obese. This has
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`resulted in a strong demand for devices and methods that
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`assist individuals in setting and reaching dietary and fitness
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`goals. Currently available devices and methods fail to meet
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`the needs of average consumers.
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`[0004] There are serious problems with conventional
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`weight loss programs. Weight change is related to the user’s
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`net caloric balance, the difference between caloric intake and
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`caloric expenditure. However, determination of caloric
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`intake and caloric expenditure are both problematic.
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`[0005] There are numerous difficulties in accurately deter-
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`mining caloric intake. In some diet programs printed or
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`electronic lists are used that provide the nutrition content of
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`a wide variety of food. The consumer keeps a diet log of all
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`foods consumed each day in order to determine their total
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`nutritional intake. These systems typically are laborious to
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`use and only the most dedicated consumer will accurately
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`use these approaches. For example, a consumer must take
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`the time to accurately record the foods consumed each day.
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`Obviously, recognition of foods consumed is most accurate
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`if done at the time the foods are consumed. However, many
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`individuals feel too rushed to record the foods consumed at
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`the time and postpone recording for later in the day or week.
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`Also, some consumers are embarrassed to be observed
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`recording food intake during or following a meal. This also
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`motivates the user to wait to record their consumption until
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`later. Obviously, accuracy suffers the more time passes
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`between consumption and recordation. An individual may
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`US 2001/0049470 A1
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`Dec. 6, 2001
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`device is capable of determining a performance profile with
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`better accuracy than a typical pedometer.
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`[0010] Devices are also available for monitoring and
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`tracking heart rate. The most popular of these devices are
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`sold by Polar Electro Oy of Finland. These heart rate
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`monitors includes a wristwatch-style display unit and a chest
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`strap with a heart rate sensor. The chest strap and display
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`unit communicate wirelessly. The devices are capable of
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`accurately monitoring heart rate, which correlates reason-
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`ably well with exercise intensity. Advanced devices include
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`the ability to track heart rate over time so that a heart rate
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`profile may be produced.
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`[0011] Each of the above-discussed activity monitors fails
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`to consider the dietary intake portion of total health man-
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`agement. Instead, they are directed merely to activity moni-
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`toring. In light of this, there remains a need for a device that
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`combines activity monitoring and diet monitoring, that is
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`easy to use and provides accurate results.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`[0012] The present invention improves on the prior art by
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`providing a combination diet and activity monitoring device
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`for monitoring both the consumption and activity of the
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`subject. The effectiveness of weight management programs
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`may be improved through a more accurate determination of
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`caloric balance. Improved determination of caloric balance
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`may be obtained by more accurate determinations of total
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`energy expenditure, (the sum of resting energy expenditure
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`and activity energy expenditure) and caloric intake. The
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`present invention focuses on improving the determination of
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`activity energy expenditure and caloric intake. Resting
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`energy expenditure, the energy expended by an individual at
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`rest, may be accurately determined using an indirect calo-
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`rimeter, such as described in co-pending patent application
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`Ser. No. 09/630,398. As discussed in this application, resting
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`energy expenditure is based on resting metabolic rate. Rest-
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`ing metabolic rate changes over time, especially when the
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`subject changes their diet or exercise patterns. Therefore, it
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`is preferable to periodically measure resting metabolic rate
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`so that accurate determinations of resting energy expendi-
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`ture are available during a weight management program.
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`[0013] Determination of activity energy expenditure,
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`which combined with resting energy expenditure provides
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`total energy expenditure, may be obtained by monitoring a
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`subject’s activity on a regular basis. The monitoring device
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`according to the present invention includes a body activity
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`monitor for monitoring the body activity of the subject. The
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`body activity monitor is operable to output a signal indica-
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`tive of the subject’s body activity. An activity calculator may
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`also be provided, which receives the activity;
`indicative
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`signal and determines a body activity level and/or energy
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`expenditure for the subject. The body activity monitor may
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`be integral with the monitoring device, or may be part of an
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`auxiliary device. For example,
`the monitoring device
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`according to the present invention may take the form factor
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`of a wristwatch-style device or a belt or clothing-mounted
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`monitor. In a wristwatch-style device,
`the body activity
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`monitor may comprise a heart rate monitor, monitoring the
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`heart rate of the subject. The heart rate of the subject
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`increases with activity and decreases when the subject is
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`resting. By calibrating the activity monitor, the subject’s
`activity level and activity related energy expenditure may be
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`determined. The activity monitor may be calibrated using an
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`indirect calorimeter, as described in co-pending patent appli-
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`cation Ser. No. 09/684,440. The heart rate monitor may form
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`part of the wristwatch-style monitoring device and sense
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`heart rate in the subject’s wrist or other appendage. Alter-
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`natively, a separate heart rate sensor may be provided such
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`as a chest strap, that communicates with the monitoring
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`device, preferably using a wireless link. A belt or clothing
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`mounted monitoring device may also include a heart rate
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`monitor as the body activity monitoring portion.
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`[0014] The body activity monitor which forms part of the
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`monitoring device according to the present invention may
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`alternatively comprise a motion sensor such as a mechanical
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`pendulum or a single or multi axis accelerometer. An accel-
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`erometer is preferred as it may provide information on body
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`movement as well as the direction and intensity of the
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`movement. The motion sensor may form part of the wrist-
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`watch or belt or clothing mounted monitoring device or may
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`be part of a separate accessory that communicates with the
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`monitoring device. For example, if the monitoring device
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`according to the present invention takes the form of a belt or
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`clothing mounted housing, the accelerometer may be dis-
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`posed in the housing and sense motion of the housing.
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`Because the housing is attached to the subject’s belt or
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`clothing, motion of the housing correlates with movement of
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`the subject. Once again, the body activity monitor may be
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`calibrated to determine activity related energy expenditure
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`using an indirect calorimeter.
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`[0015] As another alternative, the body activity monitor
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`may include multiple modes for recording of variety of
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`activities, such as swimming, biking, and use of stationary
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`exercise equipment. The body activity monitor may then be
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`placed in the mode corresponding to an activity that the
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`subject undertakes. The subject presses a start button and the
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`body activity monitor will record the duration of the activity.
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`The monitoring device may then determine an activity level
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`based on the duration of the activity and the estimated
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`intensity. The activity level may be adjusted by the user to
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`increase the accuracy of the estimate. Alternatively, the body
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`activity monitor portion of the monitoring device may
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`communicate with the exercise equipment or system of
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`equipment being used by the subject to allow transfer of
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`accurate data related to exercise. As one simple alternative,
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`the body activity monitor may allow the subject to create
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`time-stamped exercise flags, corresponding to when exercise
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`is undertaken. To create an exercise flag, the subject manipu-
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`lates a control on the monitoring device at the time of the
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`activity. Later, the time or the duration of the activity may be
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`recalled and an actual activity level be entered for tracking
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`purposes.
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`[0016]
`It is preferred that the monitoring device according
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`to the present invention forms part of the system including
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`a local remote computing device to which data from the
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`monitoring device may be downloaded for further manipu-
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`lation. For example, at the end of the day, the subject may
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`download data from the monitoring device to a home PC.
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`The subject may then view the activity and consumption
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`data and have it during the day. The subject may then be
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`prompted to provide additional information about events
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`such as exercise and food flags. This data may be used as
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`part of a determination of total caloric balance and as part of
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`a weight loss program.
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`US 2001/0049470 A1
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`Dec. 6, 2001
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`[0019] The diet and activity monitoring device may com-
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`municate with local and remote computers using a wired or
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`wireless connection, as well as through transfer of memory
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`modules. The local or remote computers may allow addi-
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`tional or easier access to advance functions, such as diet and
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`activity tracking over longer periods of time.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0017] The monitoring device according to the present
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`invention also preferably includes a consumption notation
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`control for use by the subject to indicate when the subject
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`consumes food. This consumption notation control prefer-
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`ably provides a very simple means for the subject to note
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`when consumption occurs and avoids the embarrassment
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`and difliculty of recording the actual foods consumed during
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`or immediately following consumption of the foods. In one
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`embodiment of the present invention, the subject manipulate
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`a control on the monitoring device each time they consume
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`food, whether the food is a snack or a meal. The monitoring
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`device records the time the control was manipulated and
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`creates a “food flag”. Later, the subject may use the food
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`flags to help them recall what they ate. Software on the local
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`or remote computing device may assist in theses determi-
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`nations by presenting options on what was consumed based
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`on past behavior and software settings. Alternatively, food
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`flags may also have a duration component. For example, a
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`subject may manipulate the consumption notation control
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`once at the beginning of the consumption event and again at
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`the end of the consumption event. The duration of the event
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`provides additional data for use in determining what foods
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`were consumed. As another alternative,
`the consumption
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`notation control may include and audio and/or video record-
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`ing device, allowing the subject to make audio and/or video
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`notations as to what was consumed. For example,
`the
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`monitoring device may include a recording mechanism such
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`as a digital recording means. In addition to or alternatively
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`to the food flags,
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`recording as to what was consumed. Alternatively, or addi-
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`tionally the monitoring device may include a video record-
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`ing system such as a miniaturized camera. The subject may
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`then photograph what was consumed to allow an accurate
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`determination of consumption at a later time. The use of
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`audio or video recording allows additional functionality. For
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`example,
`the local or remote computing device may be
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`operable to provide voice recognition on downloaded audio
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`files from the monitoring device. Then, the subject’s audi-
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`tory notes may be transcribed into written text for later
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`reference by the user. Alternatively, the software may deter-
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`mine what foods were consumed based on the auditory
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`notation. Similar functionality may be provided with video
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`recordings such as digital pictures. The digital pictures may
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`be transmitted to a remote site where an administrative
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`person reviews the picture and records what was consumed
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`and transmits this recording back to the subject. This may be
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`provided on a subscription basis. Alternatively, software
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`could be provided which performs an image analysis on the
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`digital picture to assist in determining the foods consumed.
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`As another alternative, the monitoring device according to
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`the present invention may include a scanning device to allow
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`it to scan and record bar codes and similar coded markings.
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`This functionality may be incorporated into the digital
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`camera or may be separate. Also, the scanner may form a
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`separate unit from the remainder of the monitoring device
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`and communicate with the monitoring device through a wire
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`or wireless connection. The bar code scanning may be used
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`to scan foods to be consumed as well as other information
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`such as data concerning exercise.
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`[0018] The monitoring device according to the present
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`invention preferably also includes a timer that outputs a time
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`indicative signal for use in time stamping food flags and
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`exercise flags and for use in tracking activity during the day.
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`12 of2l
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`[0020] FIG. 1 is a view of a first embodiment of a diet and
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`activity monitoring device and system schematically illus-
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`trating communication between the device and local and
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`remote computers;
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`[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic for a diet and activity
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`monitoring device according to the present invention;
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`[0022] FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of a second
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`embodiment of a diet and activity monitoring device accord-
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`ing to the present invention;
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`[0023] FIG. 3B is a rear elevational view of the strap
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`portion of the diet and activity monitoring device of FIG.
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`3A;
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`[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic of another embodiment of a
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`monitoring device according to the present invention;
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`[0025] FIG. 5 is a sample screen view of a local or remote
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`computing device showing one version of a display of diet-
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`and activity-related data;
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`[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic of yet another embodiment
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`of a monitoring device according to the present invention;
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`[0027] FIG. 7 is a view of a street level map illustrating
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`a running route as tracked by the activity monitoring portion
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`of one embodiment of the present invention;
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`[0028] FIG. 8 is a view of a street level map illustrating
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`a location indicator to assist a subject in locating where
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`activity and/or consumption took place;
`[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an additional
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`embodiment of a diet activity monitoring device according
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`to the present invention mounted on the belt of a subject and
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`illustrating wireless communication with a personal digital
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`assistant; and
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`[0030] FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of an additional
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`embodiment of a monitoring device according to the present
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`invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
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`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a wrist-mounted embodiment of
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`a diet and activity monitoring device 10 according to the
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`present invention. Communication with remote and local
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`computing devices is also shown schematically. The mo