GB2450713A - Method of accommodating predispositions to substances - Google Patents

Abstract

A method by which a person may avoid the absorption (eg eating) of a harmful or undesirable substance or may be made aware of the presence of a desirable substance includes the steps of the collecting personal data (eg dietary requirements), creating a personal profile, profiling substances (e.g. food products) by listing of its components. Transmitting a signal containing the identification of a substance and then comparing of a person profile with a substance profile, and; the triggering of an alert when a match (as defined herein) is found between the person profile and the substance profile. The substance may be identified by way of scanning a barcode or reading a RFID-tag. In one embodiment a picture of a barcode is taken by a camera phone and then sent to a database wherein a list of ingredients associated with the substance is identified by the barcode. The list of ingredient is then compared with a personal profile associated with the phone. An alert message is communicated back to the phone. The method may be performed using a point of sales device.

Description

Compositional Alerting

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for accommodating predispositions to substances. In particular, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for preventing the ingestion of undesired substances and increasing the likelihood of ingesting desired substances. More specifically, it relates to methods and apparatus used in the identification of ingredients to be found in foodstuffs and drinks intended for either human or animal consumption or both and for medications such as tablets.

Background and Prior Art known to the applicant

To the unwary, food packaging is a minefield which can prove tough to negotiate.

Ostensibly simple methods of discerning the composition of a given foodstuff are complicated many times over by a multiplicity of different systems of providing nutritional and compositional identification. This is particularly the case with compound foods such as "ready meals", the packaging of which often has a long list of ingredients, listing a variety of unfamiliar substances.

People have become increasingly aware that their bodies and, as a result, their temperaments can be affected dramatically by the foods they eat. A person may now be tested for a range of different intolerances and allergies. One who undergoes such tests typically finds himself or herself allergic or intolerant to several substances, each of which may be found in a variety of foods. Whilst eating such foods and drinks may not make someone sick or send them into shock in the manner of, for example, a nut allergy, it may be the case that by avoiding a variety of mildly allergenic foods and drinks, the individual may feel more well and healthy.

Yet, in practice, checking everything one purchases during a visit to the supermarket is difficult and time consuming. Complex foods may have long lists of ingredients.

Moreover, the ingredients themselves may have a variety of aliases; E -numbers for example also have long form names (e.g. E131 is also known as "Patent Blue V", and could simply be viewed as "blue food colouring"), and one name may be substitutable for the other.

Moreover, whilst there may be standardisation in any given jurisdiction, consumers themselves may not be familiar with, or use, the standard nomenclature. It is thus of utility to have a service which "speaks the language" of the consumer.

Further, in some countries, labels may be somewhat vague as to exact composition, listing, for example "emulsifying agents", but not listing a specflc agent. Such labels are of no use if a specific agent is to be avoided.

Lists of ingredients can thus be beyond the understanding of a shopper in the domestic supermarket environment. It is clearly therefore considerably more difficult to ensure avoidance of ingredients in foreign countries where further complications are caused by variations in national labelling law and practice, and of course also the fact that the labelling is likely to be in a language which is not understood by the consumer.

Such difficulties in food avoidance are equally present for the person looking for foods rich in particular ingredients or those looking for a food with some "positive" qualities and some "negative" qualities, in order that they might enjoy a good diet.

With the growing obesity epidemic, it is clear that, at least in this country and more likely in the entire Western world, there is a need for devices that help people choose foods, as they are often faced with a profusion of systems of product information to traverse, some of which are informed by a particular agenda and therefore open to accusations of being misleading.

These difficulties extend beyond foodstuffs and the like to other substances such as cosmetics, medicines, cleaning products and other chemicals and compounds thereof, which one or more people may need to purchase and use.

What is needed is a method and system of checking the substances which comprise products against the predispositions of the subject and the people for whom he or she is buying quickly and efficiently. Further, this must be done while minimising the risk that a given substance is present under an unfamiliar name.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt a solution to these and other problems.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention provides a method by which one or more persons may avoid the absorption of a harmful substance (as defined herein), or by which said subject may be made aware of the presence of a desirable substance (as defined herein), comprising the steps of the collection of personal data and data regarding the predispositions of said subject to be harmed by or to desire a particular substance; the creation of a person profile of said subject based on the data so collected; the profiling of a substance comprising a listing of its components; the creation of a substance profile of said substance, based on the profiling of the substance; and subsequently: the transmission of a signal containing the identification of a substance; the selection of a corresponding substance profile; the comparing of a person profile with a substance profile, and; the triggering of an alert when a match (as defined herein) is found between the person profile and the substance profile.

The provision of such a method described above provides an effective way of identifying substances, matching them with the predispositions of one or more persons and alerting the user accordingly. It will help the user to avoid the selection of substances which are inappropriate to the person or persons profiled, and will therefore assist the person or persons in avoiding substances to which they are intolerant or allergic, or in the case of foodstuffs, breaks a diet, whether imposed for reasons of health or socially, as by a religion, or are otherwise negatively predisposed towards. Equally, positive predispositions towards substances -for example Omega 3 oils -may be satisfied through the use of this method.

As such, the method, when used in the any of the ways below, helps people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, without having to memorise vast amounts of general dietary and specific product information.

Advantageously the method further comprises the transmission of a signal comprising the identification data of a person profile.

This is particularly advantageous because it allows one or more persons the means by which they can protect their person profile from use by others. The quasi -medical nature of the information means that many people are likely to want to keep their information to themselves. By requiring identification data from a user in order to access the person profile, means are provided for keeping the The transmission of such identification data is of further advantage in that it allows the comparison to happen remotely, for example at the site of a remote database, and will therefore demand less in situ processing power at the demand site.

Advantageously the method further comprises the selection of a substance profile is instigated by the detection of a bar code.

Using bar code technology is advantageous in that it provides a way of using technology familiar both to consumers and institutions to achieve the desired effects. This will save costs and should therefore ensure a wider uptake of the system. A wider uptake would accordingly ensure that the consumer enjoyed a wider spread of protection.

Advantageously the method further comprises the selection of a substance profile is instigated by the detection of a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFIID).

In a second broad aspect, the invention provides a system for implementing a method according to any previous claim, comprising means for receiving substance identification data, means for transmitting said substance identification data to a database, a database comprising information about substances and information about the predispositions of one or more persons, means for relating the received substance identification data to corresponding information about a given substance, means for comparing the substance information with the information about the predispositions of one of more persons, wherein if an element or property of the substance corresponds with a predisposition of one or more persons, a match is formed, means for triggering an alert, actuated by the formation of a match, and means to display said alert to a user, in use.

The provision of a system for implementing the method described above provides an effective way of identifying substances and matching them with the predispositions of one or more persons by alerting the user accordingly. It will help the user to avoid the selection of substances which are inappropriate to the person or persons profiled, and will therefore assist the person or persons in avoiding substances to which they are intolerant or allergic, or in the case of foodstuffs, breaks a diet, whether imposed for reasons of health or socially, as by a religion, or are otherwise negatively predisposed towards.

Equally, positive predispositions towards substances -for example Omega 3 oils -may be satisfied through the use of this system.

As such, the system, when used in the any of the ways below helps people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, without having to memorise vast amounts of general dietary and specific product information.

In extremis, it could prove life-saving for someone with an acute allergy.

Advantageously, the reception of substance identification data is instigated by the detection of a bar code.

Using bar code technology is advantageous in that it provides a way of using technology familiar both to consumers and institutions to achieve the desired effects. This will save costs and should therefore ensure a wider uptake of the system. A wider uptake would accordingly ensure that the consumer enjoyed a wider spread of protection.

Advantageously, the reception of substance identification data is instigated by the detection of an RFIID.

This has very marked advantages over other systems of product identification which may be used, such as barcodes, in that one does not have to point a reader or scanner at a particular product in order to receive information about it. Instead, one merely has to pass the product with the RFIID near to detection means in order for it to be identified.

A further advantage is that a number of products with RFIIDs may be passed in front of RF/ID detection means at the same time, for example in the form of a trolley laden with shopping. The use of RFIID saves time, in that products do not have to undergo individual examination in order to be subjected to the identification and alert process.

The other advantage of using RFIIDs is that because products do not need individual scanning, no product will escape the attentions of the system. This is advantageous over a scanner and barcode configuration in that there is no need for the subject procuring the product to suspect that it might contain a given substance, before it is actually subjected to comparison. When, for example the allergy of a particularly person (to nuts for example) is so acute that exposure to the merest trace of a nut derived product may be life -threatening, the provision of such a service, supplementary to the attentions of a procuring subject, may prove vital and at the very least provides peace of mind for the person profiled.

Advantageously the system further comprises thesaurus means.

Clearly it is particularly useful to incorporate a thesaurus into this system. Particular substances and the elements thereof are referred to by various different words, phrases and codes and it is important to provide a facility which identifies these correctly and provides "translations", either figuratively or literally speaking, in order that a given predisposition or multiple thereof may be serviced.

This is useful not only to overcome the terminology inherent in a regulatory system as complex as that surrounding foodstuffs, but also to help the user to understand foreign ingredient labels which may be found not only in foreign countries, but increasingly on the premises of domestic suppliers.

A further feature, which may be incorporated into the thesaurus or may be located elsewhere, is one which identifies situations where things which are listed as single ingredients are in fact compounds, in order, as above, that predispositions may be taken fully into account.

Advantageously, the means provided within the system for receiving substance information data comprises a handheld scanning device.

The provision of a handheld scanning device gives the user a freedom to choose which objects to scan. With the portability of the device comes the ability for a user to take a person profile to any substance provider and apply it to their substances.

Alternatively, one or more handheld devices may form part of a closed system within one or more product outlets. The owners of said outlets could offer it as a supplementary service to their customers. Examples of such outlets would be supermarkets, markets, wholesalers and Internet shopping Sites, but any selling outlet may be equally appropriate.

Advantageously the system is characterised in that the database is held on the handheld scanning device.

This provides the advantage of quick access to data regarding person and substance profiles. A system is envisaged wherein data may be held by a particular shop or chain thereof, and may be accessed prior to or during a visit to the shop. This would be advantageous in that it would cut down the amount of data that a user would carry around.

An alternative advantage would be that a given institution could provide a handheld scanning device to the user.

Advantageously the system is characterised in that the transmission means comprises a mobile telephone.

One advantage of using the mobile telephone as transmission means is that the majority of people have one, and therefore the technology is familiar to them.

A second advantage is that since most people have them, a given retailer would not have to provide scanning means in its shop, thus keeping down the costs of implementing such a technology, and avoiding problems which may otherwise arise, such as that of theft of devices.

Advantageously, the system further comprises a point of sale device.

This would be particularly advantageous in that it would provide an alternative to carrying a handheld device for the customer. The onus would not, therefore, be on the customer to scan each product. Rather, it could be done as part of the checkout barcode or RFIff) scan.

Alternatively, all products could be subjected to a single RF/ID scan by passing through a gate or otherwise being brought into proximity with scanning means. Both of these systems would save the time which would otherwise be expended in a separate, individual scan.

Further, the fact that all of the objects are scanned means that no products containing substances to which the subject exhibits an allergy or intolerance will be missed and therefore the system maximises protection.

Brief description of the drawing

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the method.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the system.

Figure 3 shows an example of a handheld device, which may form an element of the system.

Figure 4 shows an example of a mobile telephone, which may form an element of the system.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

The method provided in figure 1 is intended to provide a way by which one or more persons can avoid the absorption of a harmful substance or substances, or by which said subject may be made aware of the presence of a desirable substance. The method will tend to be embodied in a system of the type found in figure 2 and it is one embodiment of this system which is set out below. In this embodiment, the harmful substances are foods to which the person, who in this case is a man, is intolerant or allergic. The desirable substances are foods which he likes, for example because they are high in fibre. In this embodiment, the man is also the user of the method.

First, personal data must be collected about the man. In this embodiment, he is required to give his name and telephone number, although the use of a variety of personal data is foreseen. The data is inputted into an online questionnaire via a keyboard.

Data regarding his predispositions to be intolerant or allergic to particular foods and drinks must also be inputted. They may be submitted contemporaneously with or separately from the personal data. In this embodiment, the personal data is submitted first, and is then processed to form a "person profile" which is subsequently populated with harmful and desirable substance information. Clearly this data need not be static; rather it could be altered to take into account changes in the subject to whom the profile refers.

Thus, if someone becomes more or less allergic to a substance, or wishes to change diet for another reason, the profile may be changed.

This embodiment further comprises a large number of "substance profiles", upon which structure is imposed by a database. There are a number of advantageous structures available to the man skilled in the art, and any of these will do, insofar as they fulfil the tasks required of a database, as discussed elsewhere in the specification. In this embodiment, the substance profiles contain a breakdown of the ingredients of all foods available for sale in the UK. Properties of particular interest to the consumer, such as the nutritional and calorific values of the foods are also included in this embodiment.

The database is so structured that one can set products according to the presence or absence of a particular ingredient, or according to selected nutritional values, or both. In this embodiment, the database is stored in a remote place -that is to say, it is not present in any device utilised by the user.

In use, this embodiment of the method will entail the user going into a retail outlet and selecting a food of which he wishes to know the composition. He uses his mobile phone, 40, at figure 4, to take a picture of the barcode of the product.

He then sends this picture using an MMS message to the site of the remote database, where it is received. This message will have been sent from a particular telephone, which will have its own unique number. The database will use this number to select a particular person profile. The picture will then be processed by image recognition software, which will be so calibrated as to recognise the barcode for what it is and will further be able to understand the identification information that the barcode carries. The software communicates this information to the database. The database uses this information to choose a data set corresponding to the food to which the bar code was attached.

The database then compares the person profile and the substance profile. If the substance profile contains data that matches the harmful and desirable substance information then the presence of such a match will trigger the transmission of a signal to the user's mobile telephone. This may take the form of a text message. The text message will indicate which of the harmful and/or desirable traits are present in the food. In this embodiment, even if the food contains neither harmful nor desirable traits, an "all -clear" text message will be sent.

In alternative embodiments, the means of creating this profile may be any known to the skilled man, and may include one or more of the following: a telephone call to a person or to an automated system or to a combination thereof, via letter, or face to face conversation.

In other embodiments, person profiles may be made for groups of people, such as families. In addition it may be possible to offer readymade profiles to individuals or groups -for example a profile that allows for the avoidance of non -kosher or non -halal foods for a person who follows a religion. Readymade profiles, alongside the usual individual profiles, may be offered to groups such as vegetarians, vegans, those who wish to buy only organic foods or those who wish to avoid genetically modified foods, to cite a

few examples.

In other embodiments, the barcode could be substituted for an RF/ID, a number, an image of the product itself, the name of the product or any other means of conveying product information known to the skilled man.

Other embodiments will use different means to scan the barcode. In embodiments where the content of a signal is governed by information created by a barcode, the means for generating said signal could be a bar code reader, a bar code reader attachment to a mobile phone, direct imaging means, such as a camera, and conversion of the resulting image into a bar code within the telephone using software in the telephone, the software being known to the skilled man, the inputting by the user of the number corresponding to the bar code into the phone via the microphone or via keying means, wherein the bar code is communicated either directly to a database on the phone, or via a telephone line or using SMS or other text message technology, or any other means known to the man skilled in the art.

These means may be equally useful for scanning an RFIID. In addition, the RFIID may be scanned by dedicated equipment. In some embodiments this equipment will form a stile through which a user may pass substances. In some other embodiments, the user will be able to walk or wheel his trolley through the stile, in such a way as to enable all of his substances to be scanned at once.

The means of the communication of identification data may be a beam, signal, or any other form of communication known to the skilled man.

In other embodiments, the database may have one or more of the following uses, amongst other things. It may, for example, be used to distribute information about new products which correspond with the particular dispositions of given consumers. Equally, it can be used by companies to deliver product recall advice, thereby facilitating a more efficient recall. More generally, it can be used as a tool to search for products with specific characteristics, or nutritional benefits, or dietary benefits, such as newly introduced products, those that contain a desirable level of content of a specified ingredient, or any other searchable parameter. Such a function could be used, for example, as a dietary planning facility, and could enable the operator to save time and effort looking for the right foods. It could further be integrated into an on-line shopping website.

In some embodiments, the substance profile data will be subject to filtration through a thesaurus, which in this embodiment is a computer programme. This will ensure that all alternatives to particular terms are recognised, as well as listing the e-number and any similar numerically encoded embodiments.

The thesaurus may also act as a translator, in order to ensure the recognition of substances in foreign countries.

In one embodiment, such a system could even be used to check that the ingredients of a given compound substance are listed accurately and in the correct form.

Alternative embodiments the database may be stored on the device rather than remotely.

Still further embodiments may advantageously feature fragmentation of the database, with part or all of either the person profile data, the substance profile data, or both is stored remotely, while another part is present on the handheld device.

In some embodiments, the database will be present on an intranet, Ethernet or other such network using technology known to the skilled man. In some embodiments the network, and the database accessible through the use of it, will relate only to the substances offered by a particular retail establishment. In other embodiments, the database will comprise the menu of a restaurant or multiple thereof.

The data may be conditioned so that the database only features products from a particular shop.

The person profile will comprise at least some of the following data, the name of one or more profiled persons, the address of one or more profiled persons, the mobile telephone number of a mobile telephone being used in the process, demographic data such as age, sex, marital status and weight), the allergy status, real or perceived, of the person profiled that is to say the foods to which one or more profiled persons are allergic, the intolerance status, real or perceived, of the person profiled that is to say the foods to which one or more profiled persons are intolerant, the foodstuffs that person wishes to avoid, the foodstuffs one or more profiled persons specifically seeking, for example because the product is fibre or starch rich, or because the profiled person likes the food, the contact details of the profiled person, which may include his or her email address and any other data which is necessary for the system to function properly. Optionally, some or all of this data may be checked for authenticity. The exact composition will vary between embodiments.

In other embodiments, the alert need not be an SMS message. The alert may take the form of text in any language, abbreviated or coded text, coloured shapes such as "traffic light" symbols, graphic shapes, symbols, numbers, numbers and text and graphics and colours in any combination, animated images, animated text, sound sequences, video sequences, single sounds, lights, one or more vibrations or any combination of these features or others available to the man skilled in the art.

The means by which the alert is displayed may also vary considerably, and include all those known to the skilled man, but particularly: computer screens, television screens, sound creation means and vibrating devices of the sort found in pagers.

It is envisaged that this method and system will form part of a service, which may offer conventional searching facilities to the user too. The service will offer regular updates to the database, whether it is remote, or incorporated into a handheld device.

It is envisaged that this method and system may be provided by retailers as a supplementary service to the use of a "club" or "loyalty" card, or similar. If one were to submit the card to the checkout before scanning goods, there would be an occasion to access a person profile, and substance profiles could be accessed by the scanning of goods across the checkout, providing a point of sale alert.

Such a system need not be dependent on a club card for activation. It may be activated by any means known to the man skilled in the art. I5

In still further embodiments, the database might include (or be linked to) data tracing the origin of ingredients back to their source. This information is often collected and collated to improve the traceability of ingredients -particularly in foods -through to consumer products. In this way, if information needs to be transmitted to consumers as a result of a change in status of an ingredient, the data may be used to route the information (such as a warning) direct to the consumer. For example, if a batch of eggs is found to be infected with Salmonella, and these eggs are then used to make mayonnaise, this information may be communicated to a consumer via the database, so that the consumer is alerted of the fact when scanning, e.g. a prepared salad containing the mayonnaise.

For the purposes of this invention, the word "food" also means drinks, and further covers any product which is commonly ingested.

The word "substance" means, but is not limited to, foods, cosmetics, medicines and chemicals or compounds thereof.

A "harmful substance" is a food, cosmetic, medicine, chemical, compoundthereof or other such substance to which, in whole or in part, a profiled subject has an allergy, intolerance or other aversion, which may be a personal preference or a religious belief.

A "desirable substance" is a food, cosmetic, medicine chemical, compound thereof or other such substance to which, in whole or in part, a profiled subject has a predilection or personal preference, be it for medical reasons, or for personal reasons, or for social reasons, such as religious beliefs.

The word "match" describes the result of an occasion when a person profile and substance profile are compared, and an element of a substance is found to correspond with a predisposition of one or more people.

Claims (1)

1 A method by which one or more persons may avoid the absorption of a harmful substance (as defined herein), or by which said subject may be made aware of the presence of a desirable substance (as defined herein), comprising the steps of: the collection of personal data and data regarding the predispositions of said subject to be harmed by or to desire a particular substance; the creation of a person profile of said subject based on the data so collected; the profiling of a substance comprising a listing of its components; the creation of a substance profile of said substance, based on the profiling of the substance; and subsequently: the transmission of a signal containing the identification of a substance; the selection of a corresponding substance profile; the comparing of a person profile with a substance profile, and; the triggering of an alert when a match (as defined herein) is found between the person profile and the substance profile.

2 A method according to claim 1, further comprising the transmission of a signal comprising the identification data of a person profile.

3 A method according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the generation of a signal is instigated by the detection of a barcode 4 A method according any of the previous claims, wherein the generation of a signal is instigated by the detection of a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RF/ID).

A method according to any of the previous claims, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate selection or combination of

the description or drawings.

6 A system for implementing a method according to any previous claim, comprising: means for receiving substance identification data; means for transmitting said substance identification data to a database; a database comprising information about substances and information about the predispositions of one or more persons; means for relating the received substance identification data to corresponding information about a given substance; means for comparing the substance information with the information about the predispositions of one of more persons, wherein if an element or property of the substance corresponds with a predisposition of one or more persons, a match is formed; means for triggering an alert, actuated by the formation of a match, and, means to display said alert to a user, in use.

7 A system according to claim 6, wherein the reception of substance identification data is instigated by the detection of a bar code.

8 A system according to either of claims 6 or 7, wherein the reception of substance identification data is instigated by the detection of an RF/ID.

9 A system according to any of claims 6-8 further comprising thesaurus means.

A system according to any of claims 6 -9 wherein the means for receiving substance information data comprises a handheld scanning device.

11 A system according to any of claims 6 -10 wherein the database is held on the handheld scanning device.

12 A system according to any of claims 6 -11 wherein the transmission means comprises a mobile telephone.

13 A system according to any of claims 6 -12 wherein the system further comprises a point of sale device.

14 A system substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate selection or combination of the description or drawings.