FR3119032A1 - DEVICE FOR MEASURING HAIR EXPOSURE TO POLLUTANTS OR PROXIMITY TO SOURCES OF POLLUTANTS AND RECOMMENDING PERSONALIZED HAIR CARE PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Abstract

DEVICE FOR MEASURING HAIR EXPOSURE TO POLLUTANTS OR PROXIMITY TO POLLUTANT SOURCES AND RECOMMENDING PERSONALIZED HAIR CARE PRODUCTS A computer system and computer-implemented method for generating and producing product recommendations hair care to a subject. The method includes determining, by a computing device, an exposure amount of a pollutant impacting a subject's hair; determining, by the computing device, an assessment of damage to the subject's hair based on the type of pollutant and the amount of exposure to the pollutant; and providing, by the computing device, at least one hair care product recommendation to the subject, wherein the recommendation is focused on damage repair of the hair provided in the damage assessment. Figure for abstract: None

Description

DEVICE FOR MEASURING HAIR EXPOSURE TO POLLUTANTS OR PROXIMITY TO SOURCES OF POLLUTANTS AND RECOMMENDING PERSONALIZED HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

SUMMARY

A wearable sensor device and related computer-implemented method ("App") can measure and report exposures to airborne pollutants affecting hair and/or utilize known sources of the airborne pollutants air based on GPS proximity to such sources. The method can then recommend hair care products that are specifically tailored to deal with the effects of specific pollutants. In one embodiment, a database of "Tables" contains information about possible hair damage attributable to each airborne pollutant. Using charts or other databases helps to deal with hair and scalp damage caused by such pollutants and recommends a more personalized set of targeted hair care products to repair hair damage.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify any key features of claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to help determine the scope of claimed subject matter.

A computer-implemented method of generating and producing hair care product recommendations to a subject, the method comprising:

the determination, by a computer device, of a quantity of exposure of a pollutant having an impact on the hair of a subject;

determining, by the computing device, an assessment of damage to the subject's hair based on the type of pollutant and the amount of exposure to the pollutant; And

providing, by the computing device, at least one hair care product recommendation to the subject, wherein the recommendation is focused on damage repair of the hair provided in the damage assessment.

According to particular embodiments, the method implemented by computer also comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or according to any technically possible combination:

- the method further includes continuously integrating a total amount of exposure for each pollutant impacting the subject's hair, and updating the hair damage assessment based on increasing amounts of exposure to pollutants; And

- the method further comprises determining the limit of exposure to a pollutant based on the light interacting with the pollutant or determining the limit of exposure to a pollutant based on the light exposure of the subject or the determination of the exposure limit to a pollutant based on a sum total of exposure quantities of more than one pollutant.

The invention further relates to a computing device configured to:

- determine a quantity of exposure of a pollutant having an impact on the hair of a subject;

- determine an assessment of the subject's hair damage based on the type of pollutant and the amount of exposure to the pollutant; And

- provide at least one hair care product recommendation to the subject, in which the recommendation is focused on repairing hair damage provided in the damage assessment.

According to particular embodiments, the computer device also comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or according to any technically possible combination:

- the computing device is configured to continuously integrate a total amount of exposure for each pollutant impacting the subject's hair, and updating the hair damage assessment based on increasing amounts of exposure pollutants; And

- the computing device is further configured to determine a pollutant exposure limit based on the light interacting with the pollutant or to determine the pollutant exposure limit based on the light exposure of the subject or to determine the exposure limit to a pollutant based on a sum total of exposure quantities of more than one pollutant.

The invention further relates to a system, comprising:

- a pollutant engine including a computer circuit configured for:

determining an exposure amount of a pollutant impacting a subject's hair;

determining an assessment of damage to the subject's hair based on the type of pollutant and the amount of exposure to the pollutant; And

- a recommendation engine including a computer circuit configured for:

provide at least one hair care product recommendation to the subject, in which the recommendation is focused on repairing hair damage provided in the damage assessment.

According to particular embodiments, the system also comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or according to any technically possible combination:

- the pollutant includes particulate matter or volatile organic gases;

- the pollutant engine is configured to continuously integrate a total amount of exposure for each pollutant impacting the subject's hair, and update the hair damage assessment based on increasing amounts of exposure to the pollutants; And

- the pollutant engine is further configured to determine a pollutant exposure limit based on the light interacting with the pollutant or to determine the pollutant exposure limit based on the light exposure of the subject or to determine the exposure limit to a pollutant on the basis of a sum total of exposure quantities of more than one pollutant.

Description of the drawings

The foregoing aspects and many of the associated advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as these are better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

There is a schematic diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a system for generating and providing hair care recommendations to a subject;

There is a block diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a system that includes a mobile computing device and a server computing device;

There is a block diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a computing device suitable for use as a computing device with embodiments of the present disclosure; And

There is a flowchart that illustrates one embodiment of a method for generating and providing recommendations to a subject.

Detailed description

High levels of indoor or outdoor air pollutants can adversely affect hair and scalp. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method and the computer system for a subject to understand the hair and scalp damage that can be inflicted by the various pollutants, notifying the about when possible hair damage has occurred, and recommending one or more products to mitigate and remedy the hair damage.

As used herein, a “pollutant” refers to all elements, molecules, particles, environmental factors and the like. In one embodiment, a pollutant may have an adverse effect on a subject's hair or scalp or both hair and scalp. When a pollutant affects the scalp, it damages the hair follicles, which leads to hair damage, such as hair loss. Other hair damage can include loss of color, loss of strength through breakdown of hair proteins, for example.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a computer system and computer-implemented method or app for educating and alerting subjects about their exposure (real-time/hourly/daily/lifetime, etc. ) to the full range of indoor and outdoor pollutants that can damage their hair.

Airborne pollutants, such as particulate matter (e.g., soot and heavy metals) and volatile organic gases (VOCs), can make hair fragile and breakable. Certain hairsprays and other products, as well as the styling method (heat) can even exacerbate these conditions. Hair damage is not always the same for each person.

For example, studies have determined that prolonged exposure to pollution has several harmful effects, including scalp irritation and redness, scalp exfoliation, dandruff, and hair loss. Studies have determined that airborne particles can cause oxidative stress and biological interaction with scalp cells and hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Hair loss due to pollution has been correlated with exposure to free radicals in particulate matter (PM), namely PM10 and PM2.5. Particulate matter exists as dust, smoke, soot, liquid droplets, and organic and inorganic particles.

Scalp irritation from pollution can result from exposure to particulate matter, as well as arsenic, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

There are limits on the amount of exposure to each pollutant or aggregate of pollutants a subject can encounter before the subject exhibits hair damage, such as color change, hair brittleness, and hair loss. hair. These limits depend on the type of hair, the products used for the hair and the scalp, and the duration and frequency of exposure to certain pollutants. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method can recommend products and a treatment regimen to correct hair damage due to exposure to pollutants. In one embodiment, since pollutants do not affect people equally, products and treatment regimen can be tailored and recommended based on hair type, hair products used, and duration and the frequency of exposure to each type of pollutant. Existing studies that show the relationship between hair damage and exposure to pollutants can be used to set limits on the amount of exposure of each pollutant that triggers notification to the subject that hair damage is possible through exposure. prolonged. Additionally, new studies can be conducted to learn the effects that pollutants have on subjects based on hair type. Learning experiments can be conducted over a period of time by measuring exposure to pollutants and recording the effects on the hair given the levels of exposure to certain pollutants. Hair effects can then be stored in a subject's profile. In one embodiment, exposure is the measure of pollutant concentration over time.

Primary sources of particulate matter and other listed pollutants are industrial and automotive combustion, wood smoke, refining, industrial and automotive abrasion, road dust, quarrying, milling, and transfer on a large scale of dusty materials. The particulate matter itself can be composed of a multitude of the other listed pollutants, depending on environmental factors, such as ozone concentrations.

Accordingly, one embodiment of this disclosure is to quantify hair damage according to the amount of exposure to one or more pollutants based on a subject's profile.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a computer system and computer-implemented method for providing subjects with more information about their levels of exposure to harmful pollutants as they move through different environments in their daily lives. In one embodiment, subjects are informed of the adverse effects to allow the subject to purchase a broader range (set) of hair products specifically targeted to correct or protect against the various effects. In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a computer system and computer-implemented method for guiding the subject to hair care products that are suitable for their lifestyle, and in particular for correcting any hair damage. hair that has occurred or could occur depending on the pollutants to which they are most exposed.

There is a schematic diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a system 100 for tracking a subject's exposure time to one or more pollutants, evaluating damage to the subject's hair inflicted by the one or more pollutants, and recommending a personalized set of hair care products based on the damage caused by the pollutants, and recommending a hair care product and regimen to prevent or alleviate the damage caused by the one or more pollutants.

In system 100, subject 102 interacts with a mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, mobile computing device 104 is capable of performing the computer-implemented method denoted by Haircare App icon 108. The subject can start the computer-implemented method by touching the icon 108 on a touch screen of the mobile computing device 104. The computer-implemented method is further described in connection with the .

In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 may be used to receive exposure data of one or more pollutants from a wearable sensor 106 on the subject 102. Additionally or alternatively, the data may come from from one or more sources on the Internet, for example, online sources can indicate the air quality for a particular location, for example, online sites can provide the amount of ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for particular geographic locations. Mobile computing device 104 may retrieve pollutant concentrations from known sources of airborne pollutants based on GPS proximity to such sources.

A portable environmental sensor 106 is intended to measure the concentrations of different types of airborne pollutants (i.e., CO, CO2, NO2, NOx, SO2, O3, PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, heavy metals) as well as environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity. The amount of airborne pollutants at given locations is also available for download from various publicly available sources on the Internet. Mobile computing device 104 decides to use publicly available sources based on GPS on mobile computing device 104 detecting whether subject 102 is within range of a known source of pollutant concentration data. Once the concentrations are determined, the concentrations are integrated over the period of time the subject is exposed to that concentration. As Subject 102 moves from location to location, pollutant concentrations may change.

There are a variety of approaches to making the 106 sensor that detects pollutants that are harmful to hair. In one embodiment, sensor 106 is size and/or power and/or cost agnostic and is equipped with a comprehensive array of sensors that individually measure each of the pollutants mentioned above. In one embodiment, sensor 106 is size and/or power and/or cost aware and is equipped with a small array of sensors that individually measure a small subset of the pollutants mentioned above. In the latter case, determination of concentrations of undetected pollutants could be achieved by extrapolation through data collected by publicly available remote sensing devices (which are unaware in terms of size and/or power and /or cost). In one embodiment, the presence of particulate matter can be correlated with the presence of the other listed pollutants, and vice versa, eliminating the need to measure or obtain data for certain pollutants. In one embodiment, extrapolation can be used to determine pollutant concentrations through a combination of confirming a subject's position via GPS data and using a local weather station or satellite data including real-time or forecast weather situations such as wind speed, wind direction, and pollutant concentrations at a known location. For example, a subject 102 may be at a remote location from a publicly available source of pollutant data, the mobile computing device 104 may use the data from the publicly available source and apply a dispersion model to extrapolate concentration at the location of the subject. A pollutant dispersion model can be based on wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, weather patterns, meteorological data, and the like to extrapolate the pollutant concentration at the original source to the pollutant concentration at the subject's remote location.

In one embodiment, sensor 106 is designed to be portable and worn on or near the subject's body to continuously or periodically measure the subject's indoor and outdoor environment. In one embodiment, sensor 106 is designed to be portable and worn like a ring. In one embodiment, the construction or chemistry of the individual pollutant sensors may include metal-oxide, hybrid metal-oxide, electrochemical, MEM, LED scattering, laser scattering, or fuel cell sensors.

In one embodiment, the amount of pollutant in any environment is transmitted from sensor 106 via wireless technology to mobile computing device 104 running the Haircare App. The Haircare App receives these constantly changing values based on the subject's location and integrates them over time to calculate the type and amount of pollutants that have impacted the hair, determines whether or not the subject's hair has been damaged or are at risk of being damaged, and alerts the subject accordingly, and provides recommendations.

In one embodiment, mobile computing device 104 is connected to a remote server computing system 112 comprised of one or more server computers via a network, such as the Internet 110. The network may include any adequate network, including but not limited to wireless communication technology (including but not limited to Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and LTE), wired communication (including, but not limited to, Ethernet, USB, and FireWire), or combinations thereof.

There is a block diagram that illustrates a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a system that includes the mobile computing device 104 and a server computing system 112 according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, mobile computing device 104 may be a smart phone. In one embodiment, mobile computing device 104 can be any other type of computing device having the components shown, including, but not limited to, a tablet-like computing device or a laptop-like computing device. In one embodiment, mobile computing device 104 may not be mobile, but may instead be a stationary computing device, such as a desktop computing device. In one embodiment, the illustrated components of mobile computing device 104 may be inside a single enclosure. In one embodiment, the illustrated components of mobile computing device 104 may be in separate housings that are communicatively coupled through wired or wireless connections. Mobile computing device 104 also includes other components that are not shown, including, but not limited to, one or more processors, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, a power source, and one or more interfaces. Communication.

As shown, the mobile computing device 104 includes, at least, a display device 216, a Haircare Application engine 212 (Haircare App engine 212), and a user interface engine 214.

In one embodiment, display device 216 is an LED display, OLED display, or other type of display to present a user interface. In one embodiment, display device 216 may be combined with or include a touch layer, such that a subject 102 may interact with a user interface presented on display device 216 by touching the display. In one embodiment, a separate user interface device, including but not limited to a mouse, keyboard, or stylus, may be used to interact with a user interface presented on display device 216 .

In one embodiment, the UI engine 214 is configured to present a UI on the display device 216 upon opening the Haircare App engine 212. The Haircare App engine 212 will bring the UI engine 214 to display a plurality of user interfaces on display device 216 relating to a Haircare App computer-implemented method used for collecting and displaying information, including collecting subject-specific data, such as hair type, current hair care regimen used, and the like to create a subject's profile. The user interface engine 214 displays user interfaces for recommending a personalized set of hair care products based on an assessment of hair damage based on the subject's profile, including the subject's hair type and on the basis of the type and amount of pollutants to which the subject's hair was exposed.

In one embodiment, the UI engine 214 may present the subject with a questionnaire that is useful for gathering information to determine the subject's profile, such as, but not limited to, daily, weekly, and monthly schedules. , a hair type that can be selected from predetermined menu choices, currently used hair care products, currently used hair styling methods, but also provide other options and information.

In one embodiment, server computer system 112 includes one or more computing devices that each include one or more processors, non-transient computer-readable media, and network communication interfaces that are collectively configured to provide the components shown. In one embodiment, the one or more computing devices that constitute server computing system 112 may be chassis computing devices, desktop computing devices, or cloud computing service computing devices.

As shown, server computer system 112 includes user data store 202, pollutant engine 204, and recommendation engine 210. In one embodiment, server computer system 112 is configured to perform a analyzing data to determine pollutant concentration as a subject's position changes, integrating pollutant concentration over time to determine exposure, comparing pollutant exposure to target exposure levels, determining pollutants to which the subject has the highest exposure, determine an assessment of hair damage inflicted by the exposures, and make product recommendations. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is configured to connect to the server computing system 112 in a cloud computing environment to allow the mobile computing device 104 with the Haircare App engine 212 to use the computing resources of the server computing system. 112. In one embodiment, one, some, or all of the components of user data store 202, pollutant engine 204, and recommendation engine 210 may reside in mobile computing device 104.

In one embodiment, user data store 202 is configured to store records for each subject 102 that uses the system. Records may include the subject's profile including medical or personal records, such as age, weight, hair type, residence, occupation, sports activities, programs, past product recommendations, descriptions lifestyle, and/or other information collected or determined by the system. For example, a subject's profile may include daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, hair type that can be selected from pre-determined menu choices, hair care products currently used, hair styling methods, currently used hair.

In one embodiment, user data store 202 may also contain a database of hair care products, in which each hair care product is identified by or classified according to one or more attributes. For example, a hair care product may be classified as having one or more of the following attributes: a UV blocker, a moisturizer, a humectant, a source of antioxidants, a source of hyaluronic acid, a source of collagen. In this way, the recommendation engine 210 can recommend products that are more specifically focused on the type of damage caused by a particular pollutant.

In one embodiment, user data store 202 may also contain a database of hair types. Hair types can be grouped by color, composition, melanin types and content, or any combination of two or more factors. In one embodiment, hair care product recommendations are based on the subject's profile. In one embodiment, each subject may be assigned one or more hair types. Each hair type can be linked through a series of tables that relate the hair type to the damage that is inflicted by each pollutant and the amount of pollutant exposure. For example, a table can quantify the type and amount of damage caused by a certain pollutant based on the amount of exposure to such pollutant for each hair type or combination of hair types. A table presents the exposure limits at which a pollutant is capable of inflicting hair damage. The charts also quantify hair damage, so a hair care product can be recommended that is specifically targeted to repair damage. Additionally, hair type is a subject attribute by which hair damage can be categorized. In one embodiment, a combination of subject attributes are stored in arrays to create multi-dimensional relationships to assess hair damage based on hair type and one or more subject attributes. As can be appreciated, there may be a multiplicity of tables for each hair type and each additional subject attribute to cover each pollutant and the amount of pollutant to assess hair damage. In one embodiment, a weighting factor may be applied to the attributes of the subject to increase the weight of attributes of the subject that most affect a hair damage rating, and therefore hair care product recommendation.

In one embodiment, pollutant engine 204 may be configured to process data acquired by portable pollutant sensor 106 to determine pollutant levels and exposure times of the subject's hair to one or more pollutants. In one embodiment, pollutant engine 204 acquires pollutant concentrations from publicly available sources based on a subject's GPS location or extrapolates pollutant concentrations from publicly available sources based on of dispersion modelling. In one embodiment, the measured data from the device is transmitted to a connected app, which logs the data and performs time derivative calculations to determine if the subject has been exposed beyond safe hair and hair limits. the scalp scientifically proven or studied. Alternatively, the app can determine the subject's risk level by knowing the subject's GPS location over time relative to web-mapped sources of the pollutants mentioned above (i.e. highways, high traffic roads, industrial plants and construction sites). The app alerts the subject to their exposure levels relative to hair safety limits and recommends hair care products that are tailored to the different effects of the various pollutants encountered.

In one embodiment, pollutant engine 204 may be configured to process data acquired from publicly available online sources indicating the amount of airborne pollutants at the subject's given location. In one embodiment, pollutant engine 204 may be configured to process both data acquired by pollutant sensor 106 and data acquired through publicly available online sources. In one embodiment, pollutant engine 204 can be configured to calculate the amount of pollutant exposure on a minute, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or lifetime basis. In one embodiment, pollutant engine 204 calculates pollutant concentrations by tracking a subject's position by global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

In one embodiment, pollutant engine 206 is configured to calculate the subject's exposure to one or more pollutants and integrate the amount of exposure over time to determine a total exposure level. The total exposure level can then be compared to relational tables that describe the damage of each particular hair type by type and amount of pollutant. This comparison can be performed on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis to continuously update recommendations for hair care products as longer exposure time to pollutants leads to increasing hair damage.

In one embodiment, pollutant engine 206 does not use the same target exposure limits for each subject. In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 206 may adjust the target exposure limit based on each subject's profile, and in particular, the subject's hair type. Additionally, other attributes in a subject's profile can be used to raise or lower the target exposure limit for a pollutant to estimate when hair damage has occurred. In one embodiment, pollutant exposure limits are adjusted based on the interaction between the pollutants and UV or other light. For example, while a pollutant may lead to a hair damaging effect, such as hair loss, the effect may be multiplied through photoactivation by light of a certain length of wave. In addition, since light of a certain wavelength and pollutants can independently lead to similar hair-damaging effects, if the exposure limit to a pollutant is related to the occurrence of these effects, then prior exposure to light, such as UV, may reduce the exposure limit to the pollutant, and vice versa. That is, UV or other light can have the same hair-damaging effect as a pollutant, and the exposure limit for a pollutant should be determined based on the combined exposure of the pollutant and UV or from the other light. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limits are adjusted downward based on the amount of light exposure, such as UV, of the subject or the pollutant exposure limit is based on counting both the amount of exposure to the pollutant and the amount of exposure to UV or other light that has the same hair-damaging effect as the pollutant. The compound effect is not limited to UV or light, but can also include other pollutants that have the same hair damaging effect. In other words, exposure limits are based on counting exposure amounts of more than one pollutant. In this case, there is a total exposure limit for a group of pollutants that have the same hair-damaging effect. In one embodiment, the exposure limit of a pollutant or group of pollutants is a total sum based on counting the exposure amounts of the pollutants that have the same hair damaging effect. In one embodiment, the exposure amount of pollutants that contribute to the same hair-damaging effect can be weighted according to the proportional contribution each pollutant has to causing the hair-damaging effect. The pollutant engine 206 uses the subject's profile, including hair type, such as color and type of melanin and its content or other attributes to set the target exposure limit.

In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 210 is configured to generate hair care product recommendations for protection against one or more pollutants or for the care of hair damaged by pollutants. In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 210 provides a set of hair care product recommendations based on a hair damage rating. In one embodiment, the evaluation of the capillary damage is in particular based on the pollutants for which the subject has the highest exposure. In one embodiment, the hair damage assessment is based on determining when exposure levels to a pollutant are within a certain percentage of reaching or have reached a target limit set for that pollutant and based on of the subject's profile.

In one embodiment, recommendation engine 210 may further calculate recommendations based on the subject's profile, such as currently used products and styling methods. In this manner, the recommendation engine 210 is able to provide a personalized set of hair care products unique to the subject.

In one embodiment, the products for recommendations are stored in a manner that relates the qualities of the products to the hair damage that the product aims to repair or alleviate. In this way, once hair damage is calculated, an appropriate product can be recommended.

In one embodiment, the hair care products can include water-based shampoos or dry shampoos. Hair care products may also include other ingredients, such as UV blockers, moisturizers, humectants, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, collagen, EDTA, carriers such as oil and water, and others. In one embodiment, a hair care product is categorized according to the damage it is intended to help. Products can be associated with charts that show relationships between hair type or any attribute of the subject, pollutants, and hair damage inflicted by pollutants.

An "engine" refers to logic embedded in hardware or software instructions, which may be written in a programming language, such as C, C++, COBOL, JAVA™, PHP, Perl, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, VBScript, ASPX, Microsoft .NET™, Go, and/or others. An engine can be compiled into executable programs or written in interpreted programming languages. Software engines can be executable from other engines or from themselves. Generally, the engines described here refer to logic modules which can be merged with other engines, or can be divided into sub-engines. Engines may be stored in any type of computer readable medium or computer storage device and stored on and run by one or more general purpose computers, thereby creating a specialized computer configured to provide the engine or functionality thereof.

A "data store" means any suitable device configured to store data for access by any one or more computing devices. An example of a data store is a highly reliable, high-speed, relational database management system (DBMS) running on one or more computing devices and accessible over a high-speed network. Another example of a data store is a key value store. However, any other suitable technique and/or storage device capable of quickly and reliably providing the stored data in response to requests may be used, and the computing device may be accessible locally rather than on a network, or may be provided as a cloud-based service. A data store may also include data stored in an organized manner on a computer-readable storage medium, such as a hard disk drive, flash memory, RAM, ROM, or any other type of readable storage medium. by computer. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the separate datastores described herein may be combined into a single datastore, and/or a single datastore described herein may be separated into multiple datastores. In one embodiment, data store 202 is used to store relational tables that relate subject profiles, subject attributes, subject hair type, pollutant type, pollutant exposure level, exposure limits of pollutant that inflicts hair damage, type of hair damage, and hair care products, which are then used to make hair damage assessments and provide hair care product recommendations for hair focused on specific hair damage. In one embodiment, a benefit is provided when the hair damage assessment takes into consideration subject attributes from a subject's profile.

There is a block diagram that illustrates aspects of an exemplary computing device 300 suitable for use as the mobile computing device of the present disclosure. While multiple different types of computing devices have been discussed above, exemplary computing device 300 describes various elements that are common to many different types of computing devices. While is described with reference to a mobile computing device, the description below is applicable to servers, personal computers, mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, embedded computing devices, and other devices that may be used to implementing portions of embodiments of this disclosure. Further, those skilled in the art and others will recognize that computing device 300 may be any of any number of devices currently available or yet to be developed.

In its most basic configuration, computing device 300 includes at least one processor 302 and system memory 304 connected by communication bus 306. Depending on the exact configuration and device type, system memory 304 may be volatile or nonvolatile, such as read only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), EEPROM, flash memory, or similar memory technology. Those of skill in the art and others will recognize that system memory 304 typically stores data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or currently executing by processor 302. In this regard, processor 302 can serve as the computing center of computing device 300 by supporting the execution of instructions.

As further illustrated in the , computing device 300 may include a network interface 310 comprising one or more components for communicating with other devices on a network. Embodiments of the present disclosure can access basic services that use network interface 310 to perform communications using common network protocols. Network interface 310 may also include a wireless network interface configured to communicate via one or more wireless communication protocols, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, LTE, WiMAX, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, and/or others. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the network interface 310 illustrated in may represent one or more wireless interfaces or physical communication interfaces described and illustrated above with respect to particular components of computing device 300.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in , the computing device 300 also includes a storage medium 308. However, it is possible to access the services using a computing device that does not include a means of maintaining the data on a local storage medium. Therefore, the storage medium 308 shown in the is optional. In any event, storage medium 308 may be volatile or non-volatile, removable or non-removable, implemented using any technology capable of storing information such as, but not limited to, hard disk, solid state disk , CD ROM, DVD, or other storage disc, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic storage disc, and/or the like.

As used herein, the term "computer-readable medium" includes volatile and non-volatile and removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology capable of storing information, such as computer-readable instructions, data, program modules, or other data. In this regard, the system memory 304 and the storage medium 308 shown in the are merely examples of computer-readable media.

Suitable implementations of computing devices that include processor 302, system memory 304, communication bus 306, storage medium 308, and network interface 310 are known and commercially available. For ease of illustration and since it is not material to an understanding of the claimed subject matter, the does not show some of the typical components of many computing devices. In this regard, computing device 300 may include input devices, such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, microphone, touch input device, touch screen, tablet, and/or others. Such input devices can be coupled to the computing device 300 by wired or wireless connections including RF, infrared, serial, parallel, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, USB, or other suitable connection protocols using connections wireless or physical. Similarly, computing device 300 may also include output devices such as a display, speakers, printer, and the like. Since these devices are well known in the art, they are not further illustrated or described here.

There is a flow chart that illustrates a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a computer-implemented method of recording the type and amount of pollutant to which a subject with a particular attribute, such as hair type, has been exposed, assess the damage inflicted by the particular type and amount of pollutant, and then recommend a directly targeted hair care product to repair the specific hair damage. In one embodiment, a hair damage assessment takes into consideration the subject's profile, including, for example, hair type or other attributes in the subject's profile. The effects of various airborne pollutants on hair are described in published work or may be the subject of further study. Method 400 may be implemented, in one example, by mobile computing device 104 alone or in combination with one or more server computing devices 112. The computer-implemented method is performed by Haircare App Engine 212, the pollutant engine 204, recommendation engine 210, user interface engine 214 communicating with each other and with user data store 202.

In one embodiment, the method may be performed in part by mobile computing device 104 and in part by remote server computer system 112. In one embodiment, mobile computing device 104 is configured to download data relating to the subject to an external system or server (such as a cloud-based system). Such data may include the subject's profile. In one embodiment, a subject's profile includes the subject's hair type, such as color, composition, melanin types and content, and the like, and the hair care product currently used by the subject. the subject, and any current styling regimes used by the subject.

The computer-implemented method 400 may start with a click on the Haircare App icon 108 on the display of the mobile computing device 104 to open the Haircare App engine 212.

From the start block, Haircare App engine 212 proceeds to block 402, where Haircare App engine 212 receives the profile, position, and hair type of subject 102, for example.

If a profile has not been provided, the Haircare App engine 212 may use the user interface engine 214 to present the subject with a questionnaire with questions relating to all relevant information needed to complete the profile. The subject can input the information through the display device 216 through the use of menus having preselected lists of choices. In one embodiment, Haircare App Engine 212 accesses user data store 202 for profile and other information.

In one embodiment, the subject's location may be constantly determined via GPS in the mobile computing device 104. In this manner, the subject's location may be continuously monitored and updated in real time. In one embodiment, position is used to retrieve information about pollutant levels at the subject's current location or dispersion modeling can be used to calculate pollutant levels at the subject's GPS location from a known pollutant level at a remote location. The subject's current position may be continuously updated as the subject moves from location to location.

In block 404, pollutant engine 204 identifies the type of pollutants to which the subject's hair is currently exposed, the pollutant concentration, and begins recording the exposure time for each pollutant as the subject moves from one location to location to track a current total exposure amount to pollutants. More specifically, pollutant engine 204 identifies the types and amount of pollutants impacting a subject's hair. In order to obtain more accurate results, the sensor 106 can be worn on or closer to the head, such as on glasses, an earpiece, or clipped to clothing worn on or near the subject's hair. Additionally, if the subject is wearing a hat or otherwise protecting their hair from exposure, the pollutant engine 204 has a means of adjusting the amount of pollutant exposure taking into consideration the type of headgear being used or the sensor 106 is also protected by the headgear so that the sensor detects less exposure at the same time.

In one embodiment, pollutant concentrations may be retrieved from publicly available online air quality sources by receiving air pollutant information from known sources within a radius of the air quality. GPS position of the subject or the amount of pollutants may be determined by one or more sensors 106 worn by the subject 102 or placed on the mobile computing device 104. Depending on the sensor 106, the data may be processed by the sensor 106 or the device mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, subject 102 scans sensor 106 with mobile computing device 104 to establish a connection between sensor 106 and mobile computing device 104. A communication pairing is performed between sensor 106 and mobile computing device 104. mobile computing device 104 when the two devices are within acceptable wireless communication range of each other. In one embodiment, sensor 106 includes RF identification and an antenna for the subject to obtain the wireless data.

To illustrate how a pollutant sensor can operate, sensor 106 works by inducing an electronic current proportional to a certain concentration of pollutant. The amount of such a pollutant can then be converted and stored as a voltage, which is a measure of cumulative exposure to pollutants over time. Exposure to pollutants can be shown on a per unit time basis, such as daily, weekly, monthly, etc. The voltage is read each time the subject scans sensor 106. From block 404, the method proceeds to block 406.

In block 406, whether pollutant engine 204 receives pollutant levels from sensor 106 or from online sources, pollutant engine 204 tracks pollutant levels at subject location and time at of the location to integrate the pollutant level of each pollutant into a current exposure amount over time. In this manner, pollutant engine 204 can track the location of the subject and the levels of pollutants at each location throughout the subject's daily routine. This can be done automatically by the mobile computing device 104, or the subject can decide when to turn the Haircare App motor 212 on and off. The subject 102 can also track their level of exposure to pollutants over time. The pollutant engine 204 can keep a running total amount of pollutant exposure in any increment of time, such as per minute, hour, day, week, month, or year. From block 406, the method proceeds to block 408.

In block 408, pollutant engine 204 evaluates the damage inflicted on the subject's hair by considering the type and total amount of exposure for each pollutant. Damage assessment can be performed through the use of data tables that store the relationships of damage caused by each pollutant for each attribute of the subject, such as hair type. Hair types can be grouped by color, composition, melanin content, or any combination of two or more factors. Arrays can also store incremental damage caused by higher pollutant exposure. The tables contain target pollutant exposures that determine the limits at which hair damage is likely to occur or has occurred for each pollutant.

In one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limit is the amount of a given pollutant that, when considered alone, leads to hair damage. However, the effects of hair damage can be the result of more than one pollutant. The pollutant engine 206 may take other factors to derive pollutant exposure limits. In one embodiment, pollutant exposure limits are adjusted based on the interaction between the pollutants and light, such as UV. Additionally, since light and pollutants can independently lead to similar hair-damaging effects, if the exposure limit to a pollutant is related to the onset of these effects, then prior exposure to a light, such as UV, can reduce the exposure limit to the pollutant, and vice versa. Therefore, in one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limits are adjusted downward based on the subject's amount of light exposure or the pollutant exposure limit is based on counting at both from exposure to the pollutant and from exposure to UV or other light that has the same hair-damaging effect as the pollutant. In one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limit is a sum total of the exposure amounts of pollutants or light that have the same hair damaging effect.

Limits can be adjusted for each subject based on attributes in the subject's profile. For example, a table might have incremental limits for each pollutant to quantify greater damage based on greater pollutant exposures, and therefore recommend higher doses or increase the frequency of hair care product treatments. Tables can also store any damage that is caused by two or more pollutants. In performing a hair damage assessment, the pollutant engine 204 uses the subject's profile to assign hair damage, including the subject's hair type or other personal attributes, the type and amount of each pollutant, and then , uses the tables to find the type of hair damage inflicted by the pollutants. From block 408, the method enters block 410.

In block 410, recommendation engine 210 may display a notification to the subject detailing exposure to pollutants and damage being done to the hair. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may display recommended hair care products based on the hair damage rating. The hair damage rating can contain the type of damage, the amount of damage, and others. The hair damage assessment can be viewed by the subject on the mobile computing device. Tables storing hair damage related by type and amount of exposure to pollutants can also store the product or products that are intended to help repair hair damage. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may display the type of hair damage, its causes, useful information, and the like. In one embodiment, user interface engine 214 creates tutorials on how to use hair care products. The UI engine 214 can create and upload protocols for a regimen or routine on how to use hair care products. User interface engine 214 can track, track usage, and compare tracked usage to protocol, diet, and routine. Therefore, the Haircare App 212 can track each subject's profile and pollutant exposure levels and can provide recommendations on product selection, styling methods, hair care regimens that are based on levels of pollutants that can damage hair, an assessment of the damage done to particular hair types by type and amounts of exposure according to individual pollutants. Additionally, the user interface engine 214 can be used to make a purchase of any products related to the recommended hair care products. From block 410, the method proceeds to block 412.

In block 412, user interface engine 214 may display useful graphs, data, information, warnings, useful links, and help relating to hair damage and pollutants. In one embodiment, user interface engine 214 may create a display on mobile computing device 104 with an indication of the subject's risk of hair damage as a percentage, along with a category mark such as "low", "moderate" and "high". A graph can also be displayed that tracks pollutant exposure levels over time. The subject can recall any history of exposure levels to pollutants.

In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method 400 operates continuously to update the types of pollutants and the integrated amount of pollutant exposure over time to update its hair damage assessment and make new or updated recommendations.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

A computer-implemented method of generating and producing hair care product recommendations to a subject, the method comprising:
determining, by a computing device, an exposure amount of a pollutant impacting a subject's hair;
determining, by the computing device, an assessment of damage to the subject's hair based on the type of pollutant and the amount of exposure to the pollutant; And
providing, by the computing device, at least one hair care product recommendation to the subject, wherein the recommendation is focused on damage repair of the hair provided in the damage assessment. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising continuously integrating a total amount of exposure for each pollutant impacting the subject's hair, and updating the hair damage rating based on increasing amounts of exposure to pollutants. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the limit of exposure to a pollutant based on light interacting with the pollutant or determining the limit of exposure to a pollutant based on of the light exposure of the subject or determining the exposure limit to a pollutant based on a sum total of exposure amounts of more than one pollutant. Computing device configured for:
determining an exposure amount of a pollutant impacting a subject's hair;
determining a hair damage rating of the subject based on the type of pollutant and the amount of exposure to the pollutant; And
providing at least one hair care product recommendation to the subject, wherein the recommendation is focused on repairing hair damage provided in the damage assessment. A computing device according to claim 7, wherein the computing device is configured to continuously integrate a total amount of exposure for each pollutant impacting the subject's hair, and updating the hair damage assessment on the basis of increasing amounts of exposure to pollutants. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine a pollutant exposure limit based on light interacting with the pollutant or to determine the pollutant exposure limit based of the subject's light exposure or to determine the exposure limit for a pollutant based on a sum total of exposure amounts of more than one pollutant. System, comprising:
a pollutant engine including a computer circuit configured to:
determining an exposure amount of a pollutant impacting a subject's hair;
determining a hair damage rating of the subject based on the type of pollutant and the amount of exposure to the pollutant; And
a recommendation engine including a computer circuit configured to:
providing at least one hair care product recommendation to the subject, wherein the recommendation is focused on repairing hair damage provided in the damage assessment. A system according to claim 7, wherein the pollutant includes particulate matter or volatile organic gases. A system according to claim 7, wherein the pollutant engine is configured to continuously integrate a total amount of exposure for each pollutant impacting the subject's hair, and update the hair damage rating based on increasing amounts of exposure to pollutants. The system of claim 7, wherein the pollutant engine is further configured to determine a pollutant exposure limit based on light interacting with the pollutant or to determine the pollutant exposure limit based on of the subject's light exposure or to determine the exposure limit for a pollutant based on a sum total of exposure amounts of more than one pollutant.