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Digital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security featureRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Having Specific Electrical Feature, Monitors Exercise ParameterDigital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security feature description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070167286, Digital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security feature. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) is claimed herein to U.S. Provisional Application No.: 60/543,057, filed Feb. 9, 2004. The disclosure of the above referenced application is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a device that is useful for weighing objects, such as a bathroom scale; that is capable of creating, storing, updating and communicating data within one of a plurality of user profiles; that is easily programmable; and that maintains the privacy and security of said data using biometric identifiers. BACKGROUND [0003] Weight control has become a modem obsession. It is virtually a national pastime in the United States, where many tens of millions of Americans struggle daily with diets and exercise programs. Some are motivated by a desire to live a healthier lifestyle. Others are driven by a need to alleviate anxiety about personal appearance. All prefer that a weight control regimen is easy to maintain. Though weight control is common to most of the population, there is still a strong desire by individuals that their weight control information is kept confidential. [0004] Digital scales are an important tool used by many in a program of weight control or management. Most digital scales known in the art do little more than measure and display a user's current weight. Some prior art digital scales may display additional measurement information, such as recent weight loss or gain, body mass, bioimpedance or a calorie counter. Still further, digital scales in the prior art will display graphs of historical weight measurements, thereby indicating a weight change trend. Unfortunately, the digital scales known in the art are generally ineffective in securely maintaining a plurality of users' information stored within said digital scale, and are further inefficient and laborious in accessing and updating the user's profile and measurement information. [0005] Data relating to a person's weight control regimen is considered to be personal to the individual and thus individuals desire to keep said information private. Using the record keeping devices and measurements of the prior art, the individual's privacy is easily breached. Printed and handwritten records of the prior art offer little privacy, and are easily lost. Digital scales of the prior art offering password protected user profiles attempt to offer some level of privacy; however, said passwords are tedious for the user and are easily accessed by others. Passwords can be lost, they can be viewed by others, they can be randomly selected by more than one user, or any of a variety of events may occur to breach the security of a password protected user profile. In addition, the use of a user code is tedious in that the user must remember the code, manually enter the code and maintain the secrecy of the code. These steps must be taken every time a user is simply trying to get a weight measurement stored in said user's profile. [0006] Although several prior art digital scales have attempted to offer a device that is capable of privately maintaining a variety of weight management information, the devices of the prior art are deficient is accomplishing this goal. Thus, there is a need in the art for a device that is capable of securely maintaining a plurality of user profiles, wherein said maintenance is easy to the user, secured from others, and displays comprehensive and informative data to the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] A programmable microprocessor-controlled weight device capable of automatically determining whether a current user is a new or existing user, and proceeding accordingly from said determination. Depending on whether said user is new or existing, the digital scale will either set up a new user profile or access a user's stored records, respectively. The digital scale recognizes a user based on a biometric input. If the biometric input is not compatible with any profile currently stored in memory, the user will be automatically prompted as to whether said user would like to create a user profile. At this point, the user will review the prompt, and, if the determination were incorrect, the user can step off of the weight device and restart the process for a second read. But, if the determination is correct, the user merely need remain on the weight device until the preprogrammed time period lapses, and the determination is then accepted by the user. [0008] The user's profile, having been either created for a new user or accessed for an existing user, is then updated with the newly measured information, which is communicated to said user. Biometric user identification is useful not only for ease of profile access, but biometric access also allows the user information to remain confidential. Whereas the digital scales of the current art protect user profiles with passwords and other access codes wherein the profile access code is easily obtained by others, the current invention's biometric information is accessible only using the user's unique biometric identifier. This is advantageous over the prior art in numerous settings, such as in the gymnasium, multiple person housing, doctor's offices, and other settings wherein a weight device is accessible to more people that just a single user. Information stored in a user's profile can include, information measured by the device over a period of time, as well as trend and projection data and target goal data. Such data is either automatically acquired by the device or, as in the case of custom information such as target goals, said data is manually input into the weight device. [0009] Measured information and, optionally, custom data, can then be loaded to and from the current user's profile, allowing the user to maintain a user profile comprising a comprehensive set of data relating to current measurements, physical attributes, trends and projections of measurement change, target goals and other similar information. The information in a user's profile is easily accessible by the proper user, and is securely maintained to prevent unauthorized access by others. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the weight device of the current invention. [0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the weight device showing a user's foot positioned towards the weight device platform [0012] FIG. 3 is flow diagram of one method of use of the weight device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0013] Various aspects of the system and method of the present invention will be described, and for purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, well known features have been omitted or simplified in order to prevent obscuring the present invention. [0014] The device of the current invention can be any weighing device, such as weight scales, body mass indicators, fat scales, fat analyzers and combinations thereof; and, for this description of the current invention, the term "weight device" will be used to refer to these and other similar devices. The preferred embodiment of the weight device, herein, is that of a bathroom scale for obtaining the weight of a user. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily apply the current invention to a variety of similar devices, and such applications are well within the spirit of the current invention. [0015] Similarly, a weight device can obtain a variety of measurement information, including, but not limited to: weight, body mass, fat percentage, bioimpedance, calorie count and other similar information; and, for this description of the current invention, the term "measurement information" will be used to refer to these and other similar measurements. The preferred embodiment is of a weight device that obtains the weight of a user. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily apply the current invention to a weight device that is capable of obtaining a variety of information, and such applications are well within the spirit of the current invention. [0016] In a preferred embodiment, the weight device of the current invention is a biometrically operated weight scale useful for obtaining weight measurements in humans. In the current art, weight scales are available wherein a user sets-up, accesses, reviews and alters a user profile by manually entering a user code. Such entry is laborious and the user codes can be seen and copied by others, thus destroying any degree of privacy these devices may offer. The current invention uses a biometric identification system to overcome this deficiency in the prior art, which only requires a user's unique biometric identifier, e.g., fingerprint, iris scan, toe print, etc, to automatically set-up, access, review and alter a user profile. Biometric identifiers cannot be lost, copied or stolen like user IDs and passwords are. Nor do they have to be memorized. Thus, the current invention offers a high level of privacy and security for the user's personal weight management information. [0017] Weighing scales are useful in many environments, including, by way of example only and not limitation, private residences, gymnasiums and other sporting facilities, automobile seats, and medical offices. In the preferred embodiment, the weight device has an electronics unit, wherein user profiles and, optionally, custom data is stored. Custom data can include any data that a user desires to store, including, but not limited to, custom user identification, height, gender, age, current measurement information, past measurement information, past measurement information trends, trend based projected measurement information, average measurement information, target measurement information, comparison of target versus average measurement information, measured information management information and measured information goal information. It is obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention of the current disclosure can be applied in any environment wherein weight scales can be used. Such applications are obvious in light of the current disclosure and do not exceed the scope or spirit of the current invention. [0018] Referring now to FIG. 1, the weight device 2 of the current invention is described. In a preferred embodiment, the weight device 2 of the current invention is a digital bathroom weight scale having a housing 4, an electronics component 6, a biometric identification system 8, and a user communication device 10. In an alternative embodiment, the weight device also includes a data entry module 12. Continue reading about Digital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security feature... Full patent description for Digital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security feature Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Digital weight apparatus having a biometrics based security feature patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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