Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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KIOSK WITH BODY FAT ANALYZER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a kiosk with a body fat analyzer, and more
particularly to a kiosk that measures the body fat of a user and returns
information to the
user based on the body fat measurement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices for providing data such as visceral fat mass, subcutaneous-visceral
fat ratio
and other fitness indicators as a guide to health management are well-known.
Typically,
impedance values are measured across two or more limbs in contact with a set
of electrodes,
and the impedance values and previously input personal data are used to
calculate a fat mass
and fat ratio. Such devices can be hand-held and portable, or part of a
stationary machine;
e.g., orie using hand and foot electrode units.
Devices for evaluating the physical fitness of an individual are also well-
known. For
example, some conventional devices obtain personal data from the individual,
as through a
computer keyboard, and measure the cardiovascular fitness of the individual
based on at
least one of heart rate, blood pressure, treadmill energy expenditure, bicycle
energy
expenditure, strength fitness (e.g. hand strength or isometric measurements),
flexibility
fitness and body composition (body fat and/or weight measurements). Overall
fitness
indices are calculated and outputted, as on a computer display screen or
printer.
While the above conventional devices provide raw fitness statistics which may
be
useful to health care professionals, they do not provide follow-on information
directly
beneficial to the individual being evaluated, such as lifestyle, health or
commercial product
information. Therefore, their utility to the average individual is limited.
There exists a need for a simple-to-use apparatus for evaluating a user's
physical
fitness and providing useful health-related information based on the user's
fitness
statistics.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An advantage of the present invention is a simple-to-use apparatus for
measuring
the body fat of a user,after inputting personal information of the user, and
outputting a
fitness evaluation of the user along with lifestyle, health and product
recommendations.
Additional advantages and other features of the present invention will be set
forth
in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to
those having
ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned
from the
practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and
obtained
as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other advantages are
achieved in part by an apparatus comprising an input device for inputting
personal data of
a user; a body fat analyzer for measuring the body fat of the user; an output
device for
providing information to the user; and a processor for selecting the
information based on
the personal data and the body fat measurement of the user, and for providing
the
information to the output device. The outputted information comprises at least
one of
commercial information and health-related information.
Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to
those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein
only the preferred
embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, simply by way of
illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present
invention. As will
be realized, the present invention is capable of other and different
embodiments, and its
several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all
without
departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to
be
regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having the same
reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout, and
wherein:
Figures la-ld illustrate kiosks in accordance with embodiments ofthe present
invention.
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Figure 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 4a-4d are flow charts illustrating an embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a Recommendation Module and an Ad Targeting Module
according to the present invention.
Figures 6a-6e are examples of screens displayed according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Conventional devices for evaluating the fitness of an individual do not
provide
useful information such as lifestyle, health and product recommendations
corresponding
to the individual's fitness evaluation results. The present invention
addresses and solves
this problem of conventional fitness-measuring devices.
The present invention evaluates the physical condition of a user based on
personal
data provided by the user and measurements taken by the device. Results of the
evaluation
and health-related information that corresponds thereto are output for display
on a screen
and/or printed. The present invention can be embodied in a "kiosk", such as a
stand alone
structure or a sit down unit. The user either stands up or sits down at the
kiosk (depending
on its design) and faces a touch screen, which typically shows a series of
advertisements and
inducements. When the user touches the screen, the screen prompts the user to
enter
personal information, such as age, height, gender, and general physical
condition. The kiosk
then measures the user's weight with a built-in measuring device, and
instructs the user to
place his or her hands on a set of electrodes, either below the screen or
mounted elsewhere.
The kiosk then performs body fat composition measurement employing
conventional body
fat analysis techniques, such as boielectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
The kiosk outputs on the screen a body composition analysis (i.e:, body fat
percentage). The kiosk then prompts the user to enter their name and telephone
number, and
prints a detailed report of the results of its analysis including an
assessment of the user's
physical condition, recommendations, and special offers selected by the
kiosk's processor
based on the user's personal information and test results, such as product
coupons. The user
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can also request information relating to a variety of issues (e.g., fitness,
nutrition, weight
loss, etc.) and products (e.g., magazines, health clubs, etc.).
Figs. la-ld illustrate devices according to various embodiments of the present
invention in kiosk form. A stand alone kiosk 101 is shown in Fig. 1 a, having
a monitor 102
. for displaying information and inputting data via a touch-screen, electrodes
103 which are
gripped by a user to perform body .fat measurements, and a scale 104 for
measuring the
weight of the user. A counter kiosk 111 is shown in Fig. 1 a, having a monitor
112 for
displaying information and inputting data via a touch screen, electrodes 113
which are
gripped by a user to perform body fat measurements, and a scale 114 for
measuring the
weight of the user. An in-line kiosk 121 is shown in Fig. 1 a, having a
monitor 122 for
displaying information and inputting data via a touch screen, electrodes 123
which are
gripped by a user to perform body fat measurements, and and a scale 124 for
measuring the
weight of the user. A sit-down kiosk 131 is shown in Fig. 1 a, having a
monitor 132 for
displaying information and inputting data via a touch screen, electrodes 133
which are
gripped by a user to perform body fat measurements, and and a scale 134 for
measuring the
weight of the user.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus 200 according to the present
invention. An
input device 210 for inputting personal data of a user, such as a keyboard or
a touch screen,
is in communication with a processor 230, such as a computer, which preferably
performs
the operations described herein electronically. A set of electrodes 220, such
as for
contacting the fingers of the user, is also connected to processor 230, as
well as a scale 280,
such as a conventional electronic scale, for measuring the weight of the user.
Processor 230
includes circuitry for measuring body fat (e.g., body fat percentage, body fat
ratio, etc.) of
the user in a conventional manner. Those skilled in the art will recognize
that one well-
known body fat measuring technique that can be used in practicing the present
invention
involves the user contacting a set of electrodes, such as electrodes 220, with
their skin,
passing a current through the user, measuring the resulting impedance and
calculating the
user's body fat based on the impedance.
Apparatus 200 further includes a monitor 240 and a printer 250 connected to
processor 230 for providing information to the user. Monitor 240 can be
combined with
input device 210 if input device 210 is a touch screen. Memory 260 is provided
to store data
to be displayed or printed as selected by processor 230, and to store personal
information of
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the user. Processor 230 is also connected to an external network, such as via
the intemet
270.
Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an overview of an embodiment of the
present
invention. The user is presented a series of advertisements and inducements
called the
5 Shopper Cycle on a monitor, such as monitor 240, when the user approaches
the inventive
kiosk, such as a kiosk shown in Figs. la-ld (see step 310). One such screen is
illustrated at
Fig. 6a. At step 315, if the user does not touch the screen, the Shopper Cycle
continues.
However, if the user touches the screen when prompted (see Fig. 6a), another
screen, such as
shown in Fig. 6b, appears to prompt the user to begin a Test Cycle (step 320),
where
information is gathered about the user's health, identity, and body
composition, including
conducting a body fat analysis. At step 325, if the test is not complete, it
is determined at
step 330 whether the test can be completed. If not, the test is aborted and
the Shopper Cycle
resumes.
When the test is complete, a Recommendation Module within processor 230
utilizes
information inputted by the user and the user's body fat analysis to select
lifestyle, health and
product recommendations, such as are stored in memory 260 (see step 335).
Processor 230
also has an Ad Targeter Module 340 for choosing advertisements to present to
the user based
on the input user information and body fat analysis. At step 345, the Results
Cycle begins,
wherein recommendations are presented to the viewer with the option to keep
personal: data
off monitor 230. Fitness targets, lifestyle changes and useful products and
services are
listed, and advertisements and offers are displayed. An example of a body fat
analysis result
screen is shown in Fig. 6c, and an example of a recommendation, in the form of
an article, is
shown in Fig. 6d.
At step 350, the user has the option of requesting more information. If the
user
wants more information, the Request Cycle is begun at step 355, where the user
is provided
in-depth information regarding products, etc. A screen that allows the user to
access
additional information is shown in Fig. 6e. Whether or not the user requests
more
information, at step 360 the user can opt to have their test results and/or
any other
information printed. Results are stored at, for example, a central server that
comprises
memory 260 and is accessible via the Internet and kiosks (see step 365).
Figs. 4a-d and Fig. 5 are flow charts illustrating an embodiment of the
present
invention in greater detail. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4a, steps 401 and
402 correspond to
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the Shopper Cycle of steps 3I0 and 315. If the user touches the screen when
prompted at
step 402, a Welcome Screen appears on monitor 240 at step 403, offering the
user the option
at step 404 to quit, to obtain privacy information (step 405) or information
about the analysis
to be done by the kiosk (step 406), or to begin the test (step 407). The user
is then prompted
to enter their gender, age, height and body type at steps 408-411,
respectively, arid to
confirm the data at step 412. The user can terminate the session at any time
(see step 413).
At step 414, the user's weight is measured by scale 280, and at step 415 the
user is
instructed to place their fingers on electrodes 220. The resulting resistance
is measured, and
the user's body fat percentage and other well-known fitness statistics, such
as basal
metabolic rate (BMR), are calculated in a conventional manner.
Referring now to Fig. 4b, the user's name and phone number are entered, if the
user
wishes to do so, at steps 416 and 417. The user's conventional privacy issues
are addressed
at step 418, and other health questions are presented to the user at step 419.
At step 420, the user has the option of displaying the test results or only
printing the
results. If the user chooses to have the results displayed, the Recommendation
and Ad
Targeter Modules (described above with reference to steps 335 and 340) of
processor 230
select a predefined set of pages to display on monitor 240 based on the user's
gender, age,
body type and body fat results (see step 421). The Recommendation Module and
Ad
Targeter Module of processor 230 are shown in greater detail at Fig. 5.
At step 422, the Body Fat Percentage Results Page is displayed, which includes
a
description of the body fat analysis results as shown in Fig. 6c, a list of
recommended
products and programs, and a number of advertisements. At step 423, the user
can choose to
print the Results Page at step 424, wherein the selected items are added to a
print database.
When the user chooses "Next" at step 423, the BMR Results Page is displayed,
which
includes the results of the BMR calculation performed by processor 230, a list
of
recommended products and programs, and a number of advertisements. At step
426, the
user can choose to print the BMR Results Page at step 427, wherein the
selected items are
added to a print database. When the user chooses "Next" at step 426, the
Exercise/Diet Page
is displayed, which includes a description of exercise and diet analysis
results, a list of
recommended products and programs, and a number of advertisements. At step
429, the
user can choose to print the Exercise/Diet Page at step 430, wherein the
selected items are
added to a print database.
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If the user chooses, at step 420, to only print the test results, processor
230 executes
steps 421a-430a as shown in Fig. 4c. Steps 421a-430a correspond to steps 421-
430,
respectively, and are identical to steps 421-430 except that the user's test
results are not
displayed at steps 421a, 422a and 425a.
When the user chooses "Next" at step 429 or 429a, the Print Cycle begins at
step 431
(see Fig. 4d), wherein all documents in the print database are printed. While
the documents
are being printed, advertisements such as special offers, coupons, etc. are
displayed at
monitor 240 (step 432), and the user has the option of printing any of the
offers by touching
the screen at step 433. The selected items are added to the print database and
printed (step
434). When printing is complete at step 435, the Shopper Cycle (steps 401,
402) resumes.
The present invention can be practiced by employing conventional materials,
methodology and equipment. Accordingly, the details of such materials,
equipment and
methodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the previous descriptions,
numerous
specific details are set forth, such as specific materials, structures,
chemicals, processes,
etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
However, it
should be recognized that the present invention can be practiced without
resorting to the
details specifically set forth. In other instances, well known processing
structures have
not been described in detail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the
present invention.
Only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and but a few examples
of its versatility are shown and described in the present disclosure. It is to
be understood
that the present invention is capable of use in various other combinations and
environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of
the inventive
concept as expressed herein.
