Patent Application
20190197278
The present invention relates to retrieving information from a label associated with, and/or affixed to, a food item. The label may be embedded with information regarding the food item and/or a link to information regarding the food item. Often times, the embedded information is readable to a machine but imperceptible to the human eye.
Today, consumers are becoming increasingly more curious and attentive when making their food choices as knowledge of the health benefits as well as the adverse effects of certain food choices and/or food processing methods is becoming more widespread. Traditional food labels, while beneficial, fail to capture much of the information that could potentially be presented to consumers.
Disclosed herein are systems, non-transitory machine-readable medium, and methods for retrieving information from an encoded food label. The systems may execute a method including receiving an image of a food label affixed to a food item. The food label may be encoded with a code that is associated with the food item. The code may be encoded into the food label via optical elements that are not visible to an unassisted human eye and the image may be of sufficient resolution to capture the optical elements. In some embodiments, the food label includes a graphic, a logo, text, and/or an image and the optical elements may be embedded within the a graphic, a logo, text, and/or an image.
The image may be analyzed to detect the optical elements and determine, or otherwise resolve, the code using the detected optical elements. The code may be, for example, a binary code or an alpha-numeric code. A query including the code may be generated.
Then, a database storing food information may be queried for information regarding the food item that is associated with the code using the generated query. In some instances, in the database is populated and maintained by a third party not associated with the sale, distribution, or manufacturing of the food item. The third party may also independently verify some, or all, of the information associated with the food item that is stored in the database.
Information regarding the food item associated with the code may then be received from the database responsively to the query. In some embodiments, the information regarding the food item includes information regarding an assessment of food item safety, a description of health impacts of the food item, a description of a production method of the food item, a description of a manufacturing process for the food item, and a description of a source of the food item. At times, a portion of the information stored in the database may pertain to the safety as may be determined by, for example, microbial testing, testing for contaminants, and/or allergen testing of the food item may be verified by a third-party entity that is not involved with the sale, distribution, or manufacturing of the food item such as a food safety testing facility, a certification agency, a food safety auditor, etc. The food safety information may pertain to a test for biological contamination of the food item and chemical contamination of the food item.
Then, the received information may be provided to a display device for display to a user. Often times, the display device is a display screen of a portable computing device like a smart phone or a tablet computer. The information may be displayed as one or more user interfaces that may include user-selectable elements (e.g., icons, dropdown menus, etc.).
In some embodiments, a user may select a category of information associated with the food item via, for example, selection of a graphic element or icon provided by a user interface. In these embodiments, the querying and the information provided to the user is responsive to the selected category of information. For example, if the user selects the category of traceability then, the query of the database may specifically request information regarding the traceability of the food item and/or ingredients included in the food item.
In one embodiment, the user may request information regarding a geographic location for a source of the food item and then the database may be queried for that information. The geographic location for the source and a geographic location of a user may be received. The geographic location of the user may be received via, for example, use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) component located within the portable computing device of the user and/or triangulation of the portable computing device using Wi-Fi or cell phone towers the portable computing device may be in communication with. Then, a distance between the geographic location for the source and the geographic location of the user may be determined and provided to the display device. Exemplary manners of providing the distance to the display device include provision of an alpha-numeric information (e.g., 27 miles) and/or display of a distance between two icons (one representing the geographic location of the user and one representing the geographic location of the source. When a food item includes multiple ingredients (e.g., strawberries and bananas), the geographic location for each of these sources may be determined and then a distance between the first and second sources may be determined.
Additionally, or alternatively, a map of geographic region (e.g., North America, North and South America, entire globe, etc.) may be received. In some instances, the map may be received responsively to a query of a map database including a plurality of geographic maps, the query including a geographic location of the source of the food item (or an ingredient included therein) and the geographic location of the user. Then, a first graphic element (e.g., icon) for display on the map showing the geographic location of the source of the food item and a second graphic element for display on the map showing the geographic location of the user may be generated and added to the map. Provision of a graphic display of the map to the display device may then be facilitated. In some embodiments, the icon may be user-selectable so that when selected (via, e.g., touching a location of a touch screen corresponding to where the icon is displayed), additional information about, for example, the food item, ingredient, production facility, manufacturing facility, process of manufacturing and/or process of distribution may be provided to the display device.
In some embodiments, a user may provide one or more user preferences, requirements, or limitations regarding the food he or she wants to consume. The user preference may be provided at any time (e.g., during set up of the software application that provides instructions for executing the method, when the user is using the software application to obtain information about a food item and/or food ingredient, etc.). In some instances, one or more instructions for how the user preference is to be applied may be received. For example, if a user does not like peanuts, then the user may communicate a preference not to eat peanuts when the flavor of peanuts may be detected (i.e., when the peanuts are not a relatively flavorless ingredient as may occur when machinery used to process peanuts is used to process something else). However, if a user has an allergy to peanuts, then the user may communicate a preference not to eat peanuts or any foods that may be contaminated by trace amounts of peanuts at any time. The user preference may also indicate how he or she wishes to be made aware of food items and/or ingredients that apply to the user preference. Then, it may be determined how the user preference applies to the information received from the database. This determination may be binary (e.g., the preference does or does not apply) and/or graduated on a scale of, for example, 1-10. Then, provision of the determination to the display device may be facilitated via, for example, providing information in a graphic user interface displayed by the display device.
In some cases, the user preference may pertain to a food allergy and provision of the determination may include provision of a warning responsively to a determination that the information received from the database indicates that the food item may include and/or be contaminated by the food allergen.
In another embodiment, a request for information regarding a set of multiple food items, wherein each food item in the set of food items is the same. Such a request may come from, for example, a bulk purchaser of food items, a food safety auditor, and/or a distributer. This step is not always performed. An image of a food label associated with a set of food items may be received. Each food item in the set of food items is the same. The food label may be encoded with a code that is associated with the set of food items, the code being encoded into the food label via optical elements that are not visible to an unassisted human eye. The image may be of sufficient resolution to capture the optical elements. At times, the food label may be attached to the set of food items (e.g., on the packaging for the set). The food label may be encoded with an optical code that is associated with the set of food items. The optical code may then be decoded.
A database may then be queried for information associated with at least one of the decoded optical code and the set of food items associated with the decoded optical code. The queried-for information regarding the set of food items from the database may then be received and provided to a display device so that they may be communicated to a user.
In some cases, the set of food items may be manufactured by a single manufacturer, packaged by a single packager, and/or distributed by a single distributer.
In some embodiments, the information queried for and received is scientific information compliant with various technical standards regarding, for example, specific testing protocols used and/or performed to assess the safety of the food items within the set of food items.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Description associated with any one of the figures may be applied to a different figure containing like or similar components/steps. While the flow diagrams each present a series of steps in a certain order, the order of the steps is for one embodiment and it is understood that the order of steps may be different for other embodiments.
Encoded within food label 118 may be a code (e.g., a binary digital number, an alphanumeric string, etc.). In one embodiment, food label 118 may include one or more graphic elements including, but not limited to, an image, a company logo, an alphanumeric string, and a phrase (e.g., “eat safe. verified.”) that are readable (or perceptible) to a human. In some instances, the contents of food label 118 may indicate compliance with one or more food safety, production protocols, and/or manufacturing protocols. For example, a seal of confidence such as “ESV” may convey to the user that the food item was made in accordance with strict guidelines regarding, for example, safety, health, facilities, and/or traceability.
The code encoded within food label 118 may be present as one or more optical elements printed and/or encoded (e.g., embedded as a bitmap or barcode) in a portion of the food label 118 (e.g., as part of the graphic content and/or white space of the label) in a fashion that is imperceptible, or nearly imperceptible, to the human (e.g., width of an optical encoded element of 1 mm-0.01 mm), but readable by computing device 106 provided that camera 114 captures an image of food label 118 that is of sufficient resolution. One example coding technique is DWCode™ from GS1™ of Brussels, Belgium. Another example coding technique is that from Digimarc Corporation™ of Beaverton, Oreg.
Among the benefits of a food label encoded in such a manner is that it may be more aesthetically pleasing than other forms of computer-readable codes, such as a conventional barcode or QR code. As such, food label 118 may be located in a highly visible location of food item 120 (e.g., next to brand name of food item), rather than in a less visible location (e.g., bottom side of container), as is often the case for a barcode or QR code.
In one embodiment, food label 118 may be adhered to, or affixed onto, food item 120 (e.g., food label 118 in the form of a sticker). For instance, food item 120 may be a piece of fruit, and food label 118 could be a sticker that is adhered onto the piece of fruit. Additionally, or alternatively, food label 118 may be directly printed onto food item 120 and/or positioned near a food item 120 (e.g., on a sign or catalog associated with the food item). For instance, food item 120 may be a package of spaghetti, and food label 118 may be printed onto the package of spaghetti. If not already apparent, it is noted that food item 120 may refer to an item that can be eaten or more generally, may refer to the combination of the food item together with its packaging (e.g., a cup of yogurt). Additionally, or alternatively, a food label 118 may refer to a plurality, or set, of food items 120.
An example of food label 118 and food item 120 is depicted in
System 100 may include a server 102 communicatively coupled to a database 135. Information included in database 135 may be sourced from a variety of entities and sources including, but not limited to, food manufactures, food distributers, food sellers, food testers, food safety auditors, trade publications, federal and state agencies (e.g., FDA), and independent third-party food quality and/or safety testing bodies to determine food items they meet safety and/or quality requirements. This information is aggregated by server 102 and may be served to computing device 106 via network 104. In some instances, a code and/or arrangement of optical elements which represent a code for a particular food item may be indexed to corresponding food information by server 102 and this index is also stored in database 135. In some embodiments, information, such as nutrition information, information about potential benefits of food items and/or ingredients may be stored in database 135.
Third-party information source 130 may be any source of information not directly related to the production, manufacturing, distribution, or sale of the food items (e.g., food testers, food safety auditors, trade publications, federal and state agencies (e.g., FDA).
Computing device 106 may further include a database 125 of food information that may be populated, updated, and/or maintained by, for example, server 102 and/or third-party information source 130. Database 125 may include, for example, the index of codes and associated food items as well as some, or all, of the food information stored in database 135. More specifics regarding information that may be stored in database 125 and/or database 135 may be found in the discussions provided herein. For example, all of the information displayed via the user interfaces discussed herein may be accessed and queried from database 125 and/or database 135.
Computing device 106 may also include an input/output device 112 (e.g., touch-screen display) configured to operate camera 114 and accept instructions from a user, and/or provide information (e.g., graphic elements, images, text, etc.) to the user. Upon an image of food label 118 being captured by camera 114, computing device 106 (specifically, processor 108 executing instructions stored on memory 110) may determine (e.g., extract) the code that is encoded within food label 118. One example decoding technique that may be used to extract the code from food label 118 is the DWCode™. Once the code has been determined, transceiver 116 may transmit a request to server 102 requesting the food information associated with the code. Alternatively, computing device 106 may query the user as to the type of food information that is desired before transmitting the request with the code to server 102. If not already apparent, computing device 106 may be communicatively coupled to server 102 via network 104, in which network 104 may be a wired and/or wireless network, a public and/or private network, LAN, MAN, WAN, etc. In another embodiment (not depicted), a database of food information may be locally stored on computing device 106, and in such a configuration, computing device may retrieve the food information associated with food label 118 without communicating with server 102.
Once the food information has been received from server 102 (or retrieved through other means), computing device 106 may communicate the food information to the user. In one embodiment, food information is visually communicated via a display of computing device (i.e., one embodiment of input/output device 112). In another embodiment, food information is aurally communicated (i.e., spoken) using speakers of computing device (i.e., another embodiment of input/output device 112). It is understood that while a single input/output device 112 is depicted in
The icons provided by user interface 303 (and other user interfaces disclosed herein) are safety icon 322, health icon 324, facility icon 328, and traceability icon 330. Upon selection one of these icons, relevant and/or associated information regarding the food item associated with the imaged food label 118 may be displayed. For example, when safety icon 322 is selected, the user may receive information (e.g., see user interfaces of
User interface 304 of FIG. D indicates whether any contaminants (such as heavy metals or pesticides) were detected in a batch containing food item 120 via list 334, which lists a variety of metal contaminants. In the instant example, lead was detected, while arsenic, cadmium and uranium were not detected. An analysis of other contaminants such a pesticides and chemicals may also be presented. An analysis of allergens (e.g., presence of peanuts for individual allergic to peanuts, presence of shellfish for individuals who may be allergic to shellfish, etc.) may also be presented. More generally, a user interface displaying the safety associated with a food item may highlight the testing performed on a food item (and/or the ingredients which are used to prepare the food item), incorporate the statistical significance associated with the testing on the food item, and describe the best practices in place to prevent the food item from becoming contaminated with harmful pathogens or substances.
In one embodiment when the user selects health icon 324 the user is directed to a screen that displays a contents list 336 and a certifications list 338 for a food item as displayed in user interface 305
For some ingredients, certifications associated with the ingredients may be displayed in certification list 338. in the present example, the “froozer blueberry burst” food item has been certified by the “NON-GMO project”, has been certified as “kosher”, and “gluten free” (not shown). Other certifications may include “Organic”, “sustainability farmed”, “wild caught”, or “locally farmed”.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention
The information depicted in user interfaces 315-317 may be responsive to selection of traceability icon 330.
The screenshots illustrate only some aspects of the functionality of the software application that may be installed on computing device 106. In other embodiments (not depicted), a user interface may be provided for sharing recipes which may include the food item as an ingredient (e.g., a recipe for a granola bar may be provided for the food item of almonds). In other embodiments (not depicted), a user interface may be provided to allow a user to ask a nutritionist and/or a dietician on whether a food item should be consumed or how the food item is best consumed. In other embodiments (not depicted), a user interface may be provided to track whether or not a food item has been purchased (and if so, when and by whom), whether or not a food item has been consumed (and if so, when and by whom) and whether or not a food item has been discarded (and if so, when and by whom). Such information may be used by a smart refrigerator to notify users whether a food item needs to be replenished, whether a food item is nearing an expiration date, etc. Additionally, such information may be used by a manufacturer to promptly inform a user about any product recall affecting a food item that the user has purchased. Additionally, such information could also be used by manufacturers to obtain analytics in real-time for product marketing and product development activities.
While the encoded food labels may primarily be used by individual users who seek to make a better, more informed decision about the food items they purchase and consume, the encoded food labels may likewise be used by wholesale users, such as airlines, schools and university cafeterias.
In one embodiment of the invention, the user could provide certain user-specific attributes (e.g., gender=male, age range=40-50, target weight range=150-170 lbs., cholesterol target range <200 mg/dL, peanut allergies=Yes, etc.) in order to create a user profile. Based on such a user profile (which may be stored in memory 110 or in server 102), computing device 106 may provide user-specific information and suggestions. For instance, upon a user (e.g., having a user profile that indicates the presence of peanut allergies) scanning a label on a granola bar that contains peanuts, computing device 106 may display a message warning the user of the presence of peanuts in the granola bar (e.g., “WARNING: contains peanuts!”). Such message would not be displayed for a different user (e.g., having a user profile that indicates no allergies to peanuts). As another example, upon a user (e.g., having a user profile that indicates a desire to lose 10 lbs.) scanning a container of yogurt containing reduced fat, computing device 106 may display a message encouraging the user to purchase the container of yogurt (e.g., “good choice for your weight goals!”). On the other hand, such message may not be displayed for a different user (e.g., having a user profile that indicates a desire to gain 10 lbs.).
In one embodiment of the invention, computing device 106 may help users to find what they would like to purchase and consume (e.g., based on calories, fat content, gluten-free, sodium, etc.). That is, instead of simply retrieving information about a food item, the database of information about each food item may also be used to help a user identify certain food items that satisfy certain requirements. For example, in response to a user's request for gluten-free pasta, computing device 106 may search through various possible choices of pasta (i.e., stored in a database at server 102) to locate those marked as “gluten-free”, and return the selection of “gluten-free” pasta to the user.
Initially, an image of a food label affixed to a food item may be received (step 402) by, for example, a processor like processor 108 and/or computing device 106. The image may be captured by a camera like camera 114 via use of a user interface like user interface 302 of
The food label may be encoded with a code that is associated with the food item via optical elements that are included in the label and the image may be of sufficient resolution to capture the optical elements. The optical elements may be so small (e.g., 1 mm-0.001 mm in width and/or length) that they are not visible to an unassisted human eye. Examples of optical elements are provided by
At step 404, computing device 106 and/or processor 108 may determine the code (e.g., “0001010” or “AXY0172”) from the image of the food label. The code may be determined using, for example, decoding techniques appropriate to the optical elements included in the food label. For example, when the food label incorporates optical elements consistent with DWCode™ from GS1™ of Brussels, Belgium, the decoding techniques may be those specifically provided by GS1™ for the purposes of decoding optical elements consistent with the DWCode™. Additionally, or alternatively, when the food label incorporates optical elements consistent with those of the Digimarc Corporation™, the decoding techniques may be those specifically provided by Digimarc Corporation™.
At step 406, a database like database 125 and/or 135 may be queried for information regarding the food item associated with the code determined in step 404. The queried database may be, for example, database 125, database 135, and/or third-party food information source 130. Querying of database 135 may be facilitated by transceiver 116 communicating the query to server 102 via network 104. Server 102 may then submit the query to database 135, receive a response to the query and communicate the response to transceiver. When the queried database is third-party food information source 130, then the query may be communicated by transceiver 116 to server 102 and/or third-party food information source 130 via network 104. Information stored in the queried database (i.e., database 125 and/or third-party food information source 130) may be populated into the database and maintained by a third party not associated with the sale, distribution, or manufacturing of the food item, such as a third-party food safety verification entity. In some instances, the information populated into the database may be independently verified by the third party that is not directly involved in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of the food item. Exemplary third parties include, but are not limited to, food safety verification and/or auditing entities or companies.
Next, in step 408, information may be received from the database responsively to the query. Exemplary information that may be received includes, but is not limited to, food safety information that may be similar to the food safety information displayed via user interfaces 303-304, food health information that may be similar to the food health information displayed via user interfaces 305-307, food production, manufacturing, and/or distribution facility information that may be similar to the food production, manufacturing, and/or distribution facility information displayed via user interfaces 308-314 and/or food sourcing or traceability information that may be similar to the food sourcing or traceability information displayed via user interfaces 315-317.
In step 410, provision of the information received in step 408 to a display device, like input/output 112 and/or a touch screen used to display one or more user interfaces like user interfaces 303-317 may be facilitated. The information regarding the food item may include information regarding, for example, one or more of an assessment of a safety of the food item, a description of health benefits of the food item, a description of a production of the food item and a description of a source of the food item.
Optionally, in step 412, it may be determined whether a user preference and/or a request for specific information has been received and, if so, the database may be queried for information regarding the food item that is associated with the code and the user preference (step 414). A user preference/request may be received via, for example, user selection of one or more graphic elements or icons provided by user interfaces 301-317. For example, if the query includes a user request for safety information (via, for example, selection of icon 322), information regarding the safety of a food item (e.g., microbial testing, contaminant testing) may be requested from the database.
In step 416, information regarding the food item and the user preference may be received. In some embodiments, a user preference may include a request to determine a measure of how well a food item satisfies a food preference. In these embodiments, a measure of how well a food item satisfies a food preference may be determined (step 418).
Exemplary food preferences include a food allergy, a preference for organic food, a sodium content for a food item, a level of spiciness or heat associated with a food item, etc. Additionally, or alternatively, in some instances, the user preference may be a dietary preference, such as a number of calories to be consumed within a day, a maximum level of saturated fat to be consumed with an individual food item, and/or a requirement for vegan food.
For example, if the user preferences received in step 412 are 1) an allergy to peanuts and 2) a preference for mild (i.e., not spicy) food, at step 408, information regarding an exemplary food item (in this instance, blueberry smoothie) may yield receipt of an ingredient list (e.g., lentils, water, onions, and carrots; spiciness=mild, etc.). At step 418, it may be determined, based on this information, a measure of how well the food item satisfies the food preference (e.g., preference “avoid spicy foods”=satisfied, preference for peanut-free food items=satisfied). While a measure could be a binary measure (e.g., satisfied/not satisfied), a measure can also be more granular (e.g., 0=terrible, 1=tolerable, 2=ok, 3=pretty good, 4=great, 5=fantastic) or a percentage (e.g., 85% organic or 12% daily sodium allowance). In this way, the determination of 418 may be tailored/individualized to each specific user.
At step 420, communication of information regarding the food item, the user preference, and/or the measure of how well the food item satisfies the food preference (e.g., communicate “You might want to avoid this soup. It is spicy!”) may be facilitated via, for example, preparation of a display for a display device like input/output device 112. Examples of how step 420 may be performed are provided by user interfaces 303-317.
In some embodiments, process 400 may be executed a set of multiple food items, wherein each food item in the set of food items is the same. Such a request may come from, for example, a bulk purchaser of food items, a food safety auditor, and/or a distributer. When process 400 is executed this way, an image of a food label associated with a set of food items may be received. The food label may be on, for example, packaging for the set of food items, a catalog, and/or manifest. Additionally, or alternatively, food labels for each food item within the set may be identical so that the capturing of an image of one food label may be representative of all of the food labels/food items included within the set.
The food label may be encoded with a code that is associated with the set of food items, the code being encoded into the food label via optical elements that are not visible to an unassisted human eye. The image may be of sufficient resolution to capture the optical elements. The food label may be encoded with an optical code that is associated with the set of food items. The optical code may then be decoded.
A database, like database 125 and/or 135 may then be queried for information associated with at least one of the decoded optical code and the set of food items associated with the decoded optical code using, for example, an index. The queried-for information regarding the set of food items from the database may then be received and provided to a display device so that they may be communicated to a user.
In some embodiments, the information queried for and received may be of a scientific nature that may be compliant with various technical standards regarding, for example, specific testing protocols used and/or performed to assess the safety of the food items within the set of food items.
In some instances, execution of process 400 may serve to independently verify that a food item complies with one or more user preferences. This is advantageous to the user because the user knows that an independent third party has verified that the food item is compliant with his or her preference and is not reliant on the food manufacturer to provide critical information about the food item that may impact his or her health. Additionally, or alternatively, execution of process 400, or a portion thereof, may help a business concern purchase food with greater confidence because the safety of the purchased food has been verified by one or more independent third parties. Consider, for example, a restaurant purchasing food items that carry a high risk of contamination (e.g., salad ingredients or red meat), this user would benefit greatly from being able to quickly access food information though execution of process 400 prior to purchasing food items.
Initially, steps 402 and 404, as described above with regard to process 400 may be executed. Then, a request for information regarding a geographic location for a source, producer, manufacturer, and/or distributer (which may be collectively referred to herein as a “food item source” or “source”), of the food item may be received via, for example, user input received via selection of the traceability icon 330 of any of user interfaces 303-317 (step 506). A source of a food item may be, for example, where the food item is grown, harvested, or manufactured (as may be the case with chemical ingredients for food, such as vitamins or preservatives). Exemplary producers and manufactures include, but are not limited to, mills, factories, storage facilities, etc.
A database like database 125 and/or 135 may then be queried for information regarding the geographic location for the source of the food item and/or geographic location of a manufacturer of the food item (step 508). Optionally, a geographic location a user may be received (step 510). Optionally, a distance between the geographic location for the source and the geographic location of the user (step 512).
Additionally, or alternatively, in step 514, a map such as the maps shown in user interfaces 315-317, may be received and/or accessed. The map may be stored in a database like database 135 and/or 125. Then, in step a first graphic element for display on the map showing the geographic location of the source of the food item may be generated (step 516). Optionally, execution of step 516 may include generation of a second graphic element for display on the map showing the geographic location of the user. The first and optionally the second graphic elements may then be added to the map (step 518).
In step 520, the distance between the user and the source may be provided to user via, for example, providing the user with a numerical value for the distance and/or showing the distance on a may. Additionally, or alternatively, the map with the first and optionally second graphic elements may be provided to a display device (step 520).
System 600 includes a bus 602 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 604 coupled with the bus 602 for processing information. System 600 also includes a main memory 606, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus 602 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 604. Main memory 606 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 604. System 600 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 608 or other static storage device coupled to the bus 602 for storing static information and instructions for the processor 604. A storage device 610, which may be one or more of a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, flash memory-based storage medium, magnetic tape or other magnetic storage medium, a compact disk (CD)-ROM, a digital versatile disk (DVD)-ROM, or other optical storage medium, or any other storage medium from which processor 604 can read, is provided and coupled to the bus 602 for storing information and instructions (e.g., operating systems, applications programs and the like).
System 600 may be coupled via the bus 602 to a display 612, such as a flat panel display, for displaying information to a user. An input device 614, such as a keyboard including alphanumeric and other keys, may be coupled to the bus 602 for communicating information and command selections to the processor 604. Another type of user input device is cursor control device 616, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 604 and for controlling cursor movement on the display 612. Other user interface devices, such as microphones, speakers, etc. are not shown in detail but may be involved with the receipt of user input and/or presentation of output.
The processes referred to herein may be implemented by processor 604 executing appropriate sequences of processor-readable instructions stored in main memory 606. Such instructions may be read into main memory 606 from another processor-readable medium, such as storage device 610, and execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the main memory 606 causes the processor 604 to perform the associated actions. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry or firmware-controlled processing units (e.g., field programmable gate arrays) may be used in place of or in combination with processor 604 and its associated computer software instructions to implement the invention. The processor-readable instructions may be rendered in any computer language.
System 600 may also include a communication interface 618 coupled to the bus 602. Communication interface 618 may provide a two-way data communication channel with a computer network, which provides connectivity to the plasma processing systems discussed above. For example, communication interface 618 may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN, which itself is communicatively coupled to other computer systems. The precise details of such communication paths are not critical to the present invention. What is important is that system 600 can send and receive messages and data through the communication interface 618 and in that way communicate with other controllers, etc.
Thus, methods and systems for retrieving food information from an encoded food label have been described. It is to be understood that the above-description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
This application is a NON-PROVISIONAL application of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/598,077 filed on Dec. 13, 2017 and entitled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RETRIEVING INFORMATION FROM AN ENCODED FOOD LABEL,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62598077 | Dec 2017 | US |
