(en)A system and method for tracking and optimizing health indices is provided. In some embodiments the system provides for tracking and/or optimizing health indices of one or more individuals having a particular genetic profile and adaptively managing external factors the individual experiences so as to optimize a change in one or more health indices based on the individual's genetic profile.

1.ApplicationNumber: US-201414508913-A
1.PublishNumber: US-2015100350-A1
2.Date Publish: 20150409
3.Inventor: MINVIELLE EUGENIO

4.Inventor Harmonized: MINVIELLE EUGENIO(US)

5.Country: US
6.Claims:
(en)A system and method for tracking and optimizing health indices is provided. In some embodiments the system provides for tracking and/or optimizing health indices of one or more individuals having a particular genetic profile and adaptively managing external factors the individual experiences so as to optimize a change in one or more health indices based on the individual's genetic profile.

7.Description:
(en)RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/888,451 filed Oct. 8, 2013, titled “SYSTEM FOR TRACKING AND OPTIMIZING HEALTH INDICES,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for tracking and optimizing health indices. More specifically, in some embodiments the present invention relates to a system and method for tracking and optimizing health indices of one or more individuals having a particular genetic profile and adaptively managing external factors the individual experiences so as to optimize a change in one or more health indices based on the individual's genetic profile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The cells, organs, systems, and bodies of living organism change over time, growing, improving, or degrading throughout the organism's existence, from birth to death or expiration. The progression of these changes describes a traceable change pattern across time for various aspects of the organism's health and wellbeing.
Scientific advancements have made the ability to determine an individual organism's genetic code a reality, and such information is increasingly utilized. Individuals and their health providers are becoming increasingly aware of the potential impact external factors such as nutrition, lifestyle and medicines have on their health. More recently, scientists are starting to consider wherein individuals with similar genetic codes, experiencing similar external factors, will be predisposed to experience similar health outcomes.
While there has recently been greater attention by consumer organizations, health organizations and the public to the nutritional value of nutritional substances, and the efficacy value of consumables and cosmetic substances, and the impact on health, the industries that provide such products have been slow in responding to this attention. Further, the concept of one's genetic profile playing a role in the real benefit received to an individual from such products, is extremely new, and information available to inform an individual is nearly nonexistent.
An information system allowing an individual organism of a particular genetic profile to adaptively manage major external factors that it may experience, particularly its consumption of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances, so as to optimize its ΔHs over time, would offer great benefit.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to track and monitor the various aspects associated with the organism's health and wellbeing which can be qualitatively or quantitatively described by various health indices, wherein values associated with the state of each corresponding health index can be assigned. Such health index values can be tracked over time. Changes in these health index values are individually and collectively referred to herein as ΔH.
Is it another object of the present invention to track and monitor individuals with a particular genetic code, and individuals with similar genetic codes, experiencing similar external factors, will be predisposed to experience similar ΔHs. As referred to herein, individuals with genetic traits that predispose them to experience similar ΔHs to other individuals experiencing similar external factors are said to share a similar genetic profile.
In an object of the present invention, an information system is provided with a genetic profile database containing ΔH data for various genetic profiles, wherein each genetic profile includes ΔH data for organisms with genetic traits that predispose them to experience similar ΔHs when experiencing similar external factors.
In a further object of the present invention, an information system is provided with a genetic profile database containing ΔH data for various genetic profiles, wherein each genetic profile includes ΔH data for organisms with genetic traits that predispose them to experience similar ΔHs when consuming similar nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances.
In an object of the present invention, an information system and database are provided to track and store health index values and changes in the health index values (ΔH).
In an object of the present invention, an information system is provided to adaptively manage major external factors that an individual organism having a particular genetic profile may experience, so as to optimize various ΔHs of the individual organism over time.
In a further object of the present invention, an information system is provided to adaptively manage consumption of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances an individual organism having a particular genetic profile may consume or use, so as to optimize various ΔHs of the individual organism over time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a system and method for tracking and optimizing health indices.
In some embodiments a system for tracking and/or optimizing one or more health indices associated with an individual is provided comprising: a genetic profile database that collects genetic code data for individuals and identifies corresponding genetic profiles based on the genetic code data; a ΔH database that contains ΔH data associated with each of the genetic profiles, the ΔH data comprising changes in one or more health indices associated with an individuals' health; wherein an individual may track or adaptively manage external factors the individual experiences so as to optimize ΔH based on the individual's particular genetic profile.
The one or more health indices may be comprised of quantitative or qualitative values or scores associated with quality of life, disease state, disease resistance, vital signs, blood chemistry, strength, endurance, metal elasticity, or other factors associated with an individuals' health or wellbeing.
In some embodiments the ΔH database further contains information regarding nutritional values of nutritional substances and efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances, and combinations thereof, and such information is correlated to one or more of the health indices for a given genetic profile. Optionally, the ΔH database further contains at least one ΔN value, wherein ΔN is the actual residual nutritional value of the nutritional substance an individual plans to prepare or consume, or a change in the nutritional value of the nutritional substance over time. According to embodiments of the present invention, ΔN is a change in a nutritional, organoleptic, or aesthetic value of the nutritional substance and said change comprises any of a maintenance, improvement, or degradation.
In another embodiment, the ΔH database further contains at least one ΔE value, wherein ΔE is the actual residual efficacy value of the consumables or cosmetics substances an individual plans to consume or use, or a change in the efficacy value of the consumables or cosmetics substances over time.
In a further aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a system for tracking and optimizing health indices of one or more individuals, characterized in that: an individual having a particular genetic profile adaptively manages external factors the individual experiences so as to optimize a change in one or more health indices based on the individual's genetic profile.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, exemplify the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain and illustrate principles of the invention. The drawing is intended to illustrate major features of the exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawing is not intended to depict every feature of actual embodiments nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and is not drawn to scale.
FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating a particular health index of three individuals plotted against various changes in conditions to which the individuals may be exposed according to embodiments of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 shows a schematic functional block diagram of one example of a health index system 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of the present invention broadly provide a system and method for tracking and optimizing health indices. In some embodiments a system for tracking and/or optimizing one or more health indices associated with an individual is provided comprising: a genetic profile database that collects genetic code data for individuals and identifies corresponding genetic profiles based on the genetic code data; a ΔH database that contains ΔH data associated with each of the genetic profiles, the ΔH data comprising changes in one or more health indices associated with an individuals' health; wherein an individual may track or adaptively manage external factors the individual experiences so as to optimize ΔH based on the individual's particular genetic profile.
As described herein, various aspects associated with organism's or individual's health and wellbeing which can be qualitatively or quantitatively described by various health indices, is characterized as a health index, and wherein values associated with the state of each corresponding health index can be assigned. Such health index values can be tracked over time. Changes in these health index values are individually and collectively referred to herein as ΔH.
Moreover, individuals with a particular genetic code, and individuals with similar genetic codes, experiencing similar external factors, will be predisposed to experience similar ΔHs. As referred to herein, individuals with genetic traits that predispose them to experience similar ΔHs to other individuals experiencing similar external factors are said to share a similar genetic profile.
FIG. 1 shows a particular health index of three individuals plotted against various changes in conditions to which the individuals may be exposed. As used herein, the terms individual and individuals may also refer to individual organism and individual organisms, respectively. An individual's health indices may include quantitative or qualitative values, ratings, scores, and the like, assigned to various aspects associated with the individuals health and well being. Such health indices may include, but are not limited to, values associated with the quality of life, disease resitance, strength, endurance, mental elasticity, and any other factors associated with an individuals health and well being that can be quantitatively or qualitatively valued. Changes in such health indices are individually and collectively referred to herein as ΔH.
Changes in conditions individuals may experience, or to which individuals may be exposed include, but are not limited to, changes in elapsed time, diet, medication, exercise, surgery, and any other change in condition which an individual may experience. Such changes in conditions may concurrently include any combination of changes in conditions to which the individuals may be exposed. For example, in one embodiment, changes in conditions concurrently include elapsed time and diet. In another embodiment, changes in conditions concurrently include elapsed time and medication. In a further embodiment, changes in conditions concurrently include elapsed time, diet, and medication. In a preferred embodiment, changes in conditions concurrently include elapsed time, residual nutritional values of nutritional substances consumed (referred to herein as ΔN information) and residual efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances used, including medications (referred to herein as ΔE information).
In FIG. 1 , the line identified as “Individual A 1 ” represents a first individual having a particular genetic profile “A” and a corresponding initial particular health index value of “H 2 ”. The line identified as “Individual A 2 ” represents a second individual having a similar genetic profile “A” and accordingly the same initial particular health index value of “H 2 ”. The line identified as “Individual B 1 ” represents a third individual having a particular genetic profile “B” and a corresponding initial particular health index value of “H 1 ”. The line identified as “Individual B 2 ” represents a forth individual having a similar genetic profile “B” and accordingly the same initial particular health index value of “H 1 ”.
Individual A 1 has an initial particular health index value of H 2 at T 0 , for example at birth. Individual A 1 , which includes those caring for him, has knowledge of his genetic code, “a 1 ”, which may be determined in any fashion known to those skilled in the art, and can be stored in any format known to those skilled in the art. Individual A 1 has access to a database corresponding to individuals with various genetic profiles. He may determine and access the genetic profile corresponding to his genetic code a 1 by transmitting his genetic code a 1 to the database, wherein the database identifies the corresponding genetic profile A 1 . Each genetic profile contained within the database is referenced to information regarding nutritional values of nutritional substances and efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances, and combinations thereof, required to optimize various corresponding health indices for individuals with that genetic profile. Such a database is also referred to herein as a ΔH database. Individual A 1 additionally has access to information systems with databases containing information regarding the actual residual nutritional value of nutritional substances he plans to prepare or consume, also referred to herein as ΔN information, and the actual residual efficacy value of consumables and cosmetic substances he plans to consume or use, also referred to herein as ΔE information. Information systems and databases containing such ΔN and ΔE information are further described in detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851, the teaching and descriptions of all of which are incorpated herein by reference in their entirety.
The ΔH database containing information regarding nutritional values of nutritional substances and efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances, and combinations thereof, required to optimize a particular health index for individuals with known genetic profiles, can be utilized to adaptively recommend the consumption or use of particular nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances responsive to: an individual's genetic code; tracked information regarding actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used by an individual; and ΔN and ΔE information for nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances currently being considered by the individual.
In an example, individual A 1 utilizes information regarding his genetic code “a 1 ” to identify a corresponding genetic profile in the ΔH database, wherein the corresponding genetic profile “A” is referenced to information regarding nutritional values of nutritional substances and efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances, and combinations thereof, required to optimize particular health indices for individuals with genetic profile “A”. Input from individual A 1 may also include one or more particular health indices of interest, and may further include information regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used individual A 1 , wherein such information may have been acquired through his use of the information systems such as described in detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851, the teaching and descriptions of all of which are incorpated herein by reference in their entirety. Responsive to the input from individual A 1 , the ΔH database adaptively determines and provide recommendations regarding current needs for consumption or use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances so as to optimize corresponding health indices. The adaptive nature of such recommendations takes into account deficient, proper, or excesses levels of particular nutritional values and efficacy values. For example, the input regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used by individual A 1 may compared to, or otherwise evaluated against, the ΔH database for genetic profile “A”, in order to determine currently needed levels of corresponding nutritional and efficacy values. Using the adaptively determined recommendations from the ΔH database regarding needed nutritional and efficacy values, individual A 1 can further utilize the information systems described fully and in detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851 to accomplish conditioning, dispensing, consumption, and use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances to assure the consumption and use of required residual nutritional and efficacy values. In this way, individual A 1 is able to achieve the highest corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 , for example his birth, to time T 5 , for example his expiration or death.
As demonstrated by this example, individual A 1 's ultimate consumption and use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances has benefited from adaptively determined recommendations responsive to: input from individual A 1 regarding his genetic code “a 1 ”; input from individual A 1 regarding particular health indices of interest; input regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances individual A 1 has already consumed or used; and ΔN and ΔE information for nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances currently being considered for conditioning, consumption, dispensing, or use by individual A 1 . In this way, individual A 1 has optimized the particular health indices and achieved the highest corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 , for example his birth, to time T 5 , for example his expiration.
In a further example, individual A 2 has a unique genetic code “a 2 ”, but has the same genetic profile “A” as individual A 1 , and accordingly has an initial particular health index value of H 2 corresponding to the particular health index value at T 0 . However, individual A 2 does not utilize the ΔH database. Accordingly, individual A 2 is unable to obtain adaptively determined recommendations regarding nutritional and efficacy values needed to optimize the particular health index for individuals with his genetic profile “A”. Therefore, he is not able to achieve the highest corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 , for example his birth, to time T 2 , for example his expiration.
It is clear from FIG. 1 that individual A 1 's utilization of the ΔH database, along with input regarding his genetic code “a 1 ”; input regarding particular health indices of interest; input regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used; and ΔN and ΔE information for nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances he was currently considering for conditioning, consumption, dispensing, or use, enabled him to achieve a higher corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 to T 5 , than individual A 2 , who shares the same genetic profile “A” and initial health index value of H 2 , but does not utilize the ΔH database. It is also clear that individual A 1 's expiration occurs at a later time T 5 than individual A 2 ′s expiration at T 2 .
In an example, individual B 1 utilizes information regarding his genetic code “b 1 ” to identify a corresponding genetic profile in the ΔH database, wherein the corresponding genetic profile “B” is referenced to information regarding nutritional values of nutritional substances and efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances, and combinations thereof, required to optimize particular health indices for individuals with genetic profile “B”. Input from individual B 1 may also include one or more particular health indices of interest, and may further include information regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used individual B 1 , wherein such information may have been acquired through his use of the information systems described in detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851, the teaching and descriptions of all of which are incorpated herein by reference in their entirety. Responsive to the input from individual B 1 , the ΔH database adaptively determines and provide recommendations regarding current needs for consumption or use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances so as to optimize corresponding health indices. The adaptive nature of such recommendations takes into account deficient, proper, or excesses levels of particular nutritional values and efficacy values. For example, the input regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used by individual B 1 may compared to, or otherwise evaluated against, the ΔH database for genetic profile “B”, in order to determine currently needed levels of corresponding nutritional and efficacy values. Using the adaptively determined recommendations from the ΔH database regarding needed nutritional and efficacy values, individual B 1 can further utilize the information systems described fully and in detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851 to accomplish conditioning, dispensing, consumption, and use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances to assure the consumption and use of required residual nutritional and efficacy values. In this way, individual B 1 is able to achieve the highest corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 , for example his birth, to time T 4 , for example his expiration.
As demonstrated by this example, individual B 1 's ultimate consumption and use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances has benefited from adaptively determined recommendations responsive to: input from individual B 1 regarding his genetic code “b 1 ”; input from individual B 1 regarding particular health indices of interest; input regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances individual B 1 has already consumed or used; and ΔN and ΔE information for nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances currently being considered for conditioning, consumption, dispensing, or use by individual B 1 . In this way, individual B 1 has optimized the particular health indices and achieved the highest corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 , for example his birth, to time T 4 , for example his expiration.
In a further example, individual B 2 has a unique genetic code “b 2 ”, but has the same genetic profile “B” as individual B 1 , and accordingly has an initial particular health index value of H 1 corresponding to the particular health index value at T 0 . However, individual B 2 does not begin to utilize the ΔH database until T 1 . Accordingly, individual B 2 is unable to obtain adaptively determined recommendations regarding nutritional and efficacy values needed to optimize the particular health index for individuals with his genetic profile “B”. Therefore, he is not able to achieve the highest corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 , for example his birth, to time T 1 when he begins to utilize the ΔH database.
At time T 1 individual B 2 begins to utilize the information regarding his genetic code “b 2 ” to identify a corresponding genetic profile in the ΔH database, wherein the corresponding genetic profile “B” is referenced to information regarding nutritional values of nutritional substances and efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances, and combinations thereof, required to optimize particular health indices for individuals with genetic profile “B”. Input from individual B 2 may also include one or more particular health indices of interest, and may further include information regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used individual B 2 , wherein such information may have been acquired through his use of the information systems described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851, the teaching and descriptions of all of which are incorpated herein by reference in their entirety. Responsive to the input from individual B 2 , the ΔH database adaptively determines and provide recommendations regarding current needs for consumption or use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances so as to optimize corresponding health indices. The adaptive nature of such recommendations takes into account deficient, proper, or excesses levels of particular nutritional values and efficacy values. For example, the input regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used by individual B 2 may compared to, or otherwise evaluated against, the ΔH database for genetic profile “B”, in order to determine currently needed levels of corresponding nutritional and efficacy values. Using the adaptively determined recommendations from the ΔH database regarding needed nutritional and efficacy values, individual B 2 can further utilize the information systems described fully and in detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851 to accomplish conditioning, dispensing, consumption, and use of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances to assure the consumption and use of required residual nutritional and efficacy values. In this way, individual B 2 is able to achieve the highest corresponding health index at any given time from T 1 , when he begins utilizing the adaptively determined recommendations, to time T 3 , for example his expiration.
It is clear from FIG. 1 that individual B 1 's utilization of the ΔH database, along with input regarding his genetic code “b 1 ”; input regarding a particular health index of interest; input regarding the actual residual nutritional and efficacy values of nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances already consumed or used; and ΔN and ΔE information for nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances he was currently considering, enabled him to achieve a higher corresponding health index at any given time from T 0 to T 4 , than individual B 2 , who shares the same genetic profile “B” and initial health index value of H 1 , but does not begin to utilize the ΔH database until T 1 . While individual B 1 's expiration occurs at a later time T 4 than individual B 2 's expiration at T 3 , it is clear that individual B 2 was able to favorably affect the rate of change, in this case a decline, in the particular health index value by beginning to obtain adaptively determined recommendations regarding required residual nutritional and efficacy values from the ΔH database.
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an exemplary health index system 200 according to some embodiments of the present invention. In this example, health index system 200 includes ΔH database 220 , genetic profile database 230 , controller 240 and consumer interface 280 . The term “consumer” is used for convenience, however the consumer may be considered to be an individual, patient, health care provider, or any other person or entity that uses or accesses the system. Coupled to the controller 240 may be a nutritional substance/consumables and cosmetics database 270 as described in the co-pending applications cited herein. ΔH data 250 is read or inputted by consumer 260 into the system 200 . ΔH data 250 represents the various health index values over time of the individual and is tracked and stored over time in the ΔH database 220 .
The genetic profile database 230 may be created by: determining the genetic code of many individuals, and preferably, all individuals; tracking and storing their various health index values over time (ΔH data 250 ); referencing the tracked and stored data to its corresponding genetic code; and analyzing the data to identify distinct genetic profiles, wherein each genetic profile includes ΔH data for individuals with genetic traits that predispose them to experience similar ΔHs when consuming similar nutritional substances and consumables and cosmetic substances.
The data for each genetic profile may be further analyzed to identify information regarding nutritional values of nutritional substances and efficacy values of consumables and cosmetic substances, and combinations thereof, required to optimize various corresponding health indices for individuals with that genetic profile. Such information may comprise the ΔH database 220 .
By determining an individual's genetic code, the ΔH database 220 could be used in many ways to improve the health, wellbeing, and/or longevity of the individual. For example, if someone has a large tumor then his doctor can access the ΔH database 220 and determine the best course of action for individuals with the same genetic profile from the generic profile database 230 . In this case the ΔH database 220 and genetic profile database 230 may show that individuals sharing this genetic profile lived a long time without the need for the tumor to be removed simply by taking care to not consume particular nutritional values found in specific nutritional substances, for example, specific nutritional values found in milk that accelerate tumors in men but not in women. In contrast a doctor might identify another very small tumor that given the individuals genetic profile, had to be extracted with urgency as regardless of nutritional substance and consumables and cosmetic substances consumed or used, it has a devastating effect if it remained in his body.
Of particular advantage, controller 240 is configured or adapted to process and correlate the genetic profile data and ΔH data. Such processing and correlation may produce an output that is used to determine desired treatment to improve the health, wellbeing, and/or longevity of the individual. Optionally, nutritional substance information and/or consumable and cosmetics data 270 may also be correlated or processed by controller 240 to provide further output that is used to determine desired treatment to improve the health, wellbeing, and/or longevity.
In an alternate embodiment, controller 230 references nutritional substance information and/or consumables and cosmetics information from database 270 to genetic profile database 230 to inform the consumer 260 via consumer interface 280 what impact a particular nutritional substance and/or consumable or cosmetic may have on the consumer given a particular genetic profile.
The health index system 200 can be implemented with discreet devices. Data may be provided in a number of ways, such as by optical reader such as a barcode scanner or camera capable of discerning reference information, by reader such wireless signal reader, reading RFID labels, or near field IDs, by manual input via a keyboard or touch screen, and the like. Controller 240 can be a computer, microcontroller, personal computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, or smartphone. Consumer interface 280 can be a standalone touchpad display panel which allows interaction with the consumer, but is preferably integrated into controller 240 .
The utilization of the information systems comprising a ΔH database, in conjunction with the nutritional substance and consumables and cosmetic substance information systems described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/771,004, 13/888,353, 13/948,004, 13/948,078, 13/948,083, and 14/044,851, dynamically connects participants and stake holders across the nutritional substance/consumables and cosmetic substance ecosystem in order to improve individuals health, wellbeing, and quality of life.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense (i.e., to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”), as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense. As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements. Such a coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above Detailed Description of examples of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize While processes or blocks are presented in a given order in this application, alternative implementations may perform routines having steps performed in a different order, or employ systems having blocks in a different order. Some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or sub-combinations. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples. It is understood that alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.
The various illustrations and teachings provided herein can also be applied to systems other than the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the invention.
Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts included in such references to provide further implementations of the invention.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain examples of the invention, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the invention is recited as a means-plus-function claim under 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, other aspects may likewise be embodied as a means-plus-function claim, or in other forms, such as being embodied in a computer-readable medium. Any claims intended to be treated under 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6 will begin with the words “means for.” Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.