JP2004334629A

JP2004334629A - Eating habit information collecting method, eating habit information collecting/providing system , and terminal

Info

Publication number: JP2004334629A
Application number: JP2003131116A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwata; 克彦岩田
Original assignee: NEC Fielding Ltd
Current assignee: NEC Fielding Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-09
Filing date: 2003-05-09
Publication date: 2004-11-25

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an eating habit information collecting method capable of easily collecting information with respect to individual daily meal, thereby realizing a high-level analysis and advice. <P>SOLUTION: This eating habit information collecting/providing system and a terminal group including terminal having a card reader mechanism are connected through a network. This eating habit information collecting method comprises a step for making the terminal equipment accept the input of the identification information of the target person of the collection of heating habit information and eating habit information including the identification information of meal items, and transmit it to the eating habit information collecting/providing system, a step for making the eating habit information collecting/providing system estimate the contents of meals based on the identification information of the meal items, and store the eating habit information including the contents information of the meal items for each of the target persons of collection of the eating habit information and a step for making the eating habit information collecting/providing server select and transmit the eating habit information in response to a request from preliminarily decided terminal equipment. Thus, it is possible to suppress input omission, and to collect/provide eating habit information being the target of fine analysis while suppressing omission. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、食生活情報の収集提供方法及び食生活情報の収集提供システム及び端末装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
医食同源といわれるように、健康を維持するためには、日々摂取する食事の内容を管理し、生活習慣病等の予防や、不足している栄養素の摂取に努めることが、重要であると指摘されている。一方、情報技術の進展・普及によって、パーソナルコンピュータや携帯端末に日々摂取する食事の内容を入力し、専門的なアドバイス等を受けることのできる情報システムも、各種提案されるに到っている。
【０００３】
例えば、特開２００２−３５１９００号公報には、ユーザが、デジタルカメラを用いて、食事の画像を撮像し、健康管理システムに送信すると、健康管理システムが、その食事の画像を分析し、栄養値を求めて、これらに基いたアドバイスを生成・提供する技術が紹介されている。また例えば、特開２００３−４４５９５号公報には、ユーザが、携帯端末を用いて、健康支援システムの提供するＷＥＢページにアクセスし、毎日の食事の内容を入力すると、同様に、カロリーや栄養バランスについての評価結果を得ることのできる健康支援システムが紹介されている。
【０００４】
しかしながら、情報技術を駆使して、こうした有為な情報を提供しうる枠組みを提供したとしても、毎日の食事の内容を失念することなく、漏らさず入力することは、利用者にとって、相当の負担を強いる事態を生ずることとなる。
【０００５】
また、利用者が特定の病院や施設に滞在し続ける場合はともかくとして、生活の多様化が進んだ今日では、不定期に不特定の飲食店を利用する生活態様を取る者も少なくない。食堂等でのいわゆる外食や弁当・惣菜等を購入して自宅で食べるいわゆる中食といった、種々の形態でなされる日々の食事の内容を正確に捉え、これを上記した公報記載のシステムに入力・送信することの煩わしさは、想像に難くない。更には、各家庭で調理される料理は、同一の品目であっても、それぞれ個性・差異を有するのが通常である。これらを考慮すると、上記した各公報記載のシステムが、その予定する程度に有用なアドバイスを提供するための、データの収集能力は、依然不十分であるといえる。
【０００６】
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−３５１９００号公報
【特許文献２】
特開２００３−４４５９５号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は、上記した各事情に鑑みてなされたものであって、その目的とするところは、より簡便に個人の日々の食事に関する情報を収集し、もって、より適切な助言や有用な分析データの提供を可能とする食生活情報システムを提供することにある。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前記課題を解決するための手段を提供する本発明の第１の視点によれば、端末装置群から各個人の食事内容を含む食生活情報を収集して、予め定められた端末装置に提供する食生活情報の収集提供システムにおける食生活情報の収集方法であって、前記食生活情報の収集提供システムが、前記端末装置をして、食事品目の識別情報と該食事品目の内容情報とを関連付けてなる食事品目情報の入力を受け付けさせて、送信させるステップと、前記食事品目情報を、アクセス可能な第１の記憶手段に登録するステップと、前記端末装置をして、少なくとも個人の識別情報と、前記食事品目の識別情報の入力を受け付けさせて、送信させるステップと、前記食事品目情報に基いて、前記食事品目の識別情報を、前記食事品目の内容情報に変換するステップと、前記受信した個人の識別情報と前記食事品目の内容情報を含んだ前記食生活情報を、アクセス可能な第２の記憶手段に、所定の条件に適合したデータを選択して送信できるよう蓄積するステップと、を含むこと、を特徴とする食生活情報の収集方法、並びに、これに用いる機器及び前記方法を実現するためのコンピュータプログラムが提供される。
【０００９】
また、上記食生活情報の収集提供方法、並びに、これに用いる機器及び前記方法を実現するためのコンピュータプログラムにおいて、前記端末装置側において、前記入力された食事品目の識別情報に対応する食事品目の内容情報を、表示することとして、端末操作者による確認・修正処理を経た後に、前記食生活情報の収集提供システムでの食生活情報の登録を行うようにしてもよい。
【００１０】
また、本発明の第２の視点によれば、カード読取機構を備えた入力用の端末装置を含んだ端末装置群から各個人の食事内容を含む食生活情報を収集して、予め定められた端末装置に提供する食生活情報の収集提供システムにおける食生活情報の収集方法であって、前記食生活情報の収集提供システムが、前記いずれかの端末装置をして、食事品目の識別情報と該食事品目の内容情報とを関連付けてなる食事品目情報の入力を受け付けさせて、送信させるステップと、前記食事品目情報を、アクセス可能な第１の記憶手段に登録するステップと、前記入力用の端末装置からの要求に応じて、前記食事品目情報を送信して、前記入力用の端末装置をして、食事品目の選択メニューを表示させるステップと、前記入力用の端末装置をして、少なくとも食事した食事品目の選択を受け付けさせて、食事品目の識別情報を入力させるステップと、前記入力用の端末装置をして、個人の識別情報が記録されたカード媒体を読み込ませて、個人の識別情報を入力させるステップと、前記入力用の端末装置をして、少なくとも前記個人の識別情報と、前記食事品目の識別情報とを、前記食生活情報の収集提供システムに対して送信させるステップと、前記食事品目情報に基いて、前記食事品目の識別情報を、前記食事品目の内容情報に変換するステップと、前記受信した個人の識別情報と前記食事品目の内容情報を含んだ前記食生活情報を、アクセス可能な第２の記憶手段に、所定の条件に適合したデータを選択して送信できるよう蓄積するステップと、を含むこと、を特徴とする食生活情報の収集方法、並びに、これに用いる機器及び前記方法を実現するためのコンピュータプログラムが提供される。
【００１１】
また、バリエーションに富んだ食事の内容に対応すべく、入力用の端末装置側に、食事品目の識別情報と、該食事品目の内容情報とを予め記憶保持させる構成を採ることも好ましい。このようにすることで、該端末装置を利用する者固有の食事の内容を自由に定義（カスタマイズ）できることとなる。
【００１２】
また、入力用の端末装置は、飲食店、惣菜店等の会計端末機能、卓上端末機能やサービス端末機能を兼備させることも好ましい。このようにすることで、会計の際に、店舗の会計担当者に、入力を代行させることや、これらの店舗における待ち時間に利用者が直接入力させることができる。
【００１３】
【発明の実施の形態】
続いて、本発明の実施の形態について、図面を参照して詳細に説明する。図１は、本発明の一実施の形態に係るシステム構成を表わした図である。図１を参照すると、インターネット等のネットワーク１００を介して、食生活情報を登録するための入力側の個人や飲食店等の端末装置１０、２０と、個人毎の食生活を蓄積する食生活情報収集・提供システム３０と、食生活のコンサルティングを行うための端末装置（アドバイザー）４０と、端末装置（医療機関）５０と、が接続された構成となっている。
【００１４】
端末装置１０、２０のうち、端末装置（飲食店等）２０は、飲食店や惣菜の販売店等を含む各種飲食店、コンビニエンスストアの店内、卓上等に設置された専用（入力用）の端末装置、又は、ＰＯＳ（ＰｏｉｎｔＯｆＳａｌｅｓ）端末であって、磁気カード、ＩＣカードの各種カードに記録された、磁気情報、印刷バーコード等を読み取るためのカード読取機構（図示せず）が接続され、更に、その記憶手段に、食事品目の識別情報と、その内容情報とを関連付けて格納する食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１を有している。一方、端末装置（個人）１０は、これら専用の端末装置（飲食店等）２０がない飲食店や、個人が家庭で食事を行った時の食生活情報を入力・送信するためのパーソナルコンピュータ、携帯端末機器等である。
【００１５】
食生活情報収集・提供システム３０は、ＷＥＢコンテンツ等で作成された入出力インターフェースを介して、端末装置１０、２０から送信される食生活情報を、食生活データベース（食生活ＤＢ）３００に蓄積し、端末装置（アドバイザー）４０や端末装置（医療機関）５０に対して、食生活情報の送信要求や所定の時間の経過等の所定の実行／抽出条件に従って、食生活データベース（食生活ＤＢ）に蓄積された食生活情報を抽出・送信するサーバ装置等で構成される。また、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０は、食事品目の識別情報と、その内容情報とを関連付けて格納する食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）３０１を有している。
【００１６】
また、端末装置（アドバイザー）４０や端末装置（医療機関）５０は、食生活情報収集・提供サーバ３０から定期的に、或いは、必要に応じて、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０に対して、食生活データベース（食生活ＤＢ）３００に蓄積された情報を受信するためのパーソナルコンピュータ、ワークステーション等の端末装置であって、受信した食生活情報に基いて、個人に必要なアドバイスを行うことや、医療に役立てるための分析を行うために設置される。
【００１７】
図２は、店舗に設置された端末装置（飲食店）の記憶手段に格納される食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１を説明するための図である。図２に例示されるように、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１は、食事の食事品目ＩＤ、或いは、食事品目の名称等の識別情報と、食事品目の詳細な内容を格納できるよう構成されたデータベースであって、食事品目の識別情報によって、食事品目の内容を特定できるものとなっている。図２からも明らかなように、フランチャイズ制を取る、飲食店、コンビニエンスストア等では、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１の内容を共通化できる。もちろん、各店舗独自に提供する独自メニュー（食事品目）が存在する場合には、食事品目ＩＤ（ＩＤｅｎｔｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎ）の所定桁を店舗や個人固有の符号とする等によって、これに一意な識別情報を付与し、その詳細内容を定義することが可能である。図３は、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１、３０１の更新画面の一例であり、本実施の形態では、個人の利用者や、店舗等のメニュー管理者が、固有のレシピに基いた食事品目の詳細内容を更新（新規追加・修正・削除等）できるものとなっている。
【００１８】
図４は、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０に蓄積された、個人ＩＤ００００００００１で特定される個人の食生活情報の一部を図示したものである。図３に例示されるように、食生活データベース（食生活ＤＢ）３００は、個人毎の詳細な食事の内容その他を蓄積できるよう構成されたデータベースであって、ユーザＩＤ（個人の識別情報）や日時によって、所望の利用者の、食生活情報を選択できるものとなっている。
【００１９】
続いて、本実施の形態の動作について、図面を参照して詳細に説明する。図５は、端末装置（個人）１０からの入力・送信処理と、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０からの提供処理の流れを表わした図である。また、図６は、端末装置（飲食店等）２０からの入力・送信処理の流れと、端末装置（飲食店等）２０において登録した内容を修正するための食生活情報収集・提供システム３０側からの別の提供処理の流れを表わした図である。
【００２０】
まず、図５を参照して、本システムの利用者が、自宅で食事を行った場合や専用の端末装置（飲食店等）２０が設置されていない飲食店で食事を行った場合の端末装置（個人）１０による食生活情報の入力・送信処理の流れについて、説明する。
【００２１】
まず、本システムの利用者からの操作を受けた端末装置（個人）１０は、ネットワーク１００を介して食生活情報収集・提供システム３０に接続し、識別情報として、ユーザＩＤとパスワードを入力して食生活情報収集・提供システム３０にログインする（ステップＳ１００）。
【００２２】
食生活情報収集・提供システム３０は、所定の認証手続きを行ないログインが完了すると、端末装置（個人）１０に対して、本システムのメニュー画面を送出する（ステップＳ１０１）。図７は、本システムにおける端末装置（個人）１０向けのメニュー画面の一例を表わしたものであり、食生活情報を送信する側の利用者には、「我が家のレシピ登録」、「食生活情報登録」、「食生活情報確認修正」、「食生活情報転送依頼」の処理選択項目が用意されている。「我が家のレシピ登録」は、先に説明した図３に例示される食事品目毎の詳細内容を定義・修正するための項目である。また、「食生活情報登録」は、新たな食事内容を含む食生活情報を登録するための項目であり、「食生活情報確認修正」は、既に食生活情報収集・提供システム３０側に保存されている当該利用者に係る食生活情報等を確認・修正するための項目である。また、「食生活情報転送依頼」は、医療機関等に設置された端末装置に対して、自己に関する情報を提供するための項目である。以下、これらについては、順次詳述する。
【００２３】
続いて、端末装置（個人）１０において、図７に例示されるメニュー画面が表示され（ステップＳ１０２）、本システムの利用者が、「食生活情報登録」を選択すると（入力処理選択；ステップＳ１０３）、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０は、入力画面を送出する（ステップＳ１０４）。
【００２４】
続いて、端末装置（個人）１０において、入力画面が表示され（ステップＳ１０５）、端末装置（個人）１０と食生活情報収集・提供システム３０との間で食生活情報の登録のための対話型処理が開始される（ステップＳ１０６）。
【００２５】
図８、図９は、上記ステップＳ１０６における本システムの食生活情報の入力画面の一例を表わしたものである。図８を参照すると、食事品目欄のドロップダウンリストには、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）３０１から抽出した本システムの利用者共通の食事品目の候補及びユーザＩＤで特定される個人固有の食事品目の候補が提示されている。なお、図８では、利用者が、過去の食事内容を遡って登録できるよう日時を入力するものとしているが、端末装置（個人）１０に備えられたシステムタイマー等から、日時情報を自動入力するようにしてもよい。
【００２６】
図８において、利用者が、提示された候補の中から摂取した食事品目を選択し、「次へ」ボタンを起動すると、図９に例示される詳細入力画面によって、詳細内容を確認・修正することで、登録が完了する。図９を参照すると、画面確認・修正のための食事品目の内容情報が確認・修正のためのＧＵＩ部品とともに示されており、「ごはん」の「量」欄に示されるとおり、本システムの利用者が、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）３０１から取得された内容と実際に食事した内容に相違がある場合には、その旨の修正操作を行って、「登録」ボタンを起動すると、端末装置（個人）１０は、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０に対して、その利用者のユーザＩＤとともに、修正された食事の内容情報を送信する。これを受けた食生活情報収集・提供システム３０は、その利用者のユーザＩＤと、確認・修正された食事の内容情報を、食生活データベース（食生活ＤＢ）３００に蓄積（保存）する（ステップＳ１０７）。
【００２７】
この時点で食生活情報の登録処理が完了したこととなるが、入力・送信した食生活情報の確認・修正を行う場合は、図７に例示されるメインメニューから食生活情報確認・修正なる項目を選択して確認し（図６のステップＳ２０６乃至Ｓ２０８参照）、食生活情報と実際の食事内容に相違がある場合は、登録した食生活情報の修正を行うことも可能である。
【００２８】
続いて、図６を参照して、本システムの利用者が、上記した以外の方法によって食事情報を入力・送信する場合、即ち、専用の端末装置（飲食店等）を利用して行う、食生活情報の入力・送信処理の流れについて、説明する。
【００２９】
まず、専用の端末装置（飲食店等）２０は、ネットワーク１００を介して食生活情報収集・提供システム３０に接続されている状態となっており、その画面上に、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１から読み出してなる食事のメニューを表示する（ステップＳ２００）。本システムの利用者が、そのメニュー画面のタッチパネルやその他のポインティングデバイス等によって、摂取し、或いは、購入した食事品目を選択する（食事品目の識別情報の選択）と（ステップＳ２０１）、専用の端末装置（飲食店等）２０は、利用者によって選択された食事品目の識別情報に対応する食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１の内容情報を読み出して表示する（ステップＳ２０２；図９参照）。食事の内容情報を確認した本システムの利用者が、予め利用者に発行されたユーザＩＤカードを、端末装置（飲食店等）２０に接続されたカードリーダ機構に読み込ませると（ステップＳ２０３）、取得された当該利用者の識別情報と、食事の内容情報とが、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０に対して送信される（ステップＳ２０４）。そして、前記各情報を受信した食生活情報収集・提供システム３０は、食生活データベース（食生活ＤＢ３００）に、これら情報を蓄積（保存）する（ステップＳ２０５）。
【００３０】
以上説明したとおり、利用者は、専用の端末装置（飲食店等）２０が身近にある場合は、それぞれ独自の食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１を有する端末装置（飲食店等）２０を利用することで、簡便かつ正確に食事の内容を登録することができる。また、専用の端末装置（飲食店等）２０が身近にない場合であっても、自己の端末装置（個人）１０を利用することで、固有の食事内容を漏らさず登録することができ、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０側の食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）３０１を利用して、例えば、ある家庭ではカレーにジャガイモを入れるが、別の家庭では入れない等の各利用者個人の家庭のレシピの違いに起因する食事品目の内容の違いに反映した正確な食生活情報の登録が可能となる。
【００３１】
また、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１、３０１に、食事品目のカロリーや栄養成分等の栄養に関する各数値を予め入力しておくことで、利用者に入力の負担を強いることなく、定量化された食生活情報の収集・蓄積・提供も可能となる。更には、食事品目データベース（食事品目ＤＢ）２０１、３０１に、それぞれ、食事品目の画像を予め登録しておくことで、画像で食事品目を選択できる選択メニューの提供を行うことも可能となる。
【００３２】
このようにして、本システムによって、逐次正確に収集された食生活情報は、種々有用に活用され得る。その一例を挙げれば、図５のステップＳ１０８乃至ステップＳ１１０に示すように、予め契約した食事に関するアドバイザー（栄養士、医師等）が、予め定める食生活チェックのための時間間隔や、利用者の依頼、相談等に応じて、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０から、担当利用者に係る予め定める期間の食生活情報を受け取って（ステップＳ１０８）、これを参照・確認し（ステップＳ１０９）、食事に関するアドバイスを記載した電子メール等を、端末装置（アドバイザー）４０を介して、端末装置（個人）１０に対して送信する。この結果、本サービスの利用者は、日々登録した正確な食生活情報に基いた食生活に関するアドバイスを受け、食生活の偏りや栄養の偏りを啓発され、正すことができることとなる。もちろん、上記したアドバイザーに代えて、食生活情報収集・提供システム３０側に、特開２００２−３５１９００号公報や特開２００３−４４５９５号公報に記載された態様のエキスパートシステムを構築する等してもよい。
【００３３】
また、本システムによって収集された食生活情報の有用な活用例の別の一例を挙げれば、図５のステップＳ１１１乃至ステップＳ１１３に示すように、病気等により医療機関から食生活情報の要求を受けた場合に（ステップＳ１１１）、利用者は、端末装置（個人）１０から食生活情報収集・提供システム３０にログインして、図７に例示するメインメニューからデータ転送依頼なる項目を選択し、データの転送を依頼する（ステップＳ１１２）。データ転送依頼を受けた食生活情報収集・提供システム３０は、依頼先の端末装置（医療機関）５０に対して、当該利用者の食生活情報を、電子メール等によって、転送する（ステップＳ１１３）。このように本人の承諾を経て、医療機関に転送された各利用者の食生活情報は、食生活に起因するといわれる病気の統計的解析や有効な食事療法の究明等に役立てることが可能となる。
【００３４】
また、上記した実施の形態では、本システムの利用者自らが、端末装置（飲食店等）２０を操作するものとして説明したが、端末装置（飲食店等）２０が設置された店舗等の会計担当者が、食事の代金や弁当・惣菜等の購入代金の支払いの際に、利用者のカードの提示を受けて、併せて、食事品目の識別情報の入力・送信等を行うようにしてもよい。
【００３５】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、食生活情報の入力の遺漏を抑えるとともに、個人の日々の食事内容を正確に収集でき、また、これら収集された情報に基いた助言・分析結果の質の向上が期待される。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施の形態のシステム構成を表わした図である。
【図２】食事品目データベースに登録される項目の一例を説明するための図である。
【図３】食事品目データベースの更新画面の一例を表わした図である。
【図４】食生活情報データベースに登録される項目の一例を説明するための図である。
【図５】本発明の一実施の形態における情報の収集・提供の流れの一例を表わしたフローチャートである。
【図６】本発明の一実施の形態における情報の収集・提供の流れの他の一例を表わしたフローチャートである。
【図７】本発明の一実施の形態の食生活情報収集提供システムから提供される処理メニュー画面の一例である。
【図８】本発明の一実施の形態の食生活情報収集提供システムから提供される情報入力画面の一例である。
【図９】本発明の一実施の形態の食生活情報収集提供システムから提供される情報入力画面の一例である。
【符号の説明】
１０端末装置（個人）
２０端末装置（飲食店等）
３０食生活情報収集・提供システム
４０端末装置（アドバイザー）
５０端末装置（医療機関）
３００食生活データベース
２０１、３０１食事品目データベース[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for collecting and providing dietary information, a system for collecting and providing dietary information, and a terminal device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to maintain health, it is important to manage the contents of daily meals, prevent lifestyle-related diseases, etc., and try to take in insufficient nutrients, as is said to be the same source of medical and food resources. It has been pointed out. On the other hand, with the advancement and spread of information technology, various information systems have been proposed in which the contents of meals to be taken into a personal computer or a portable terminal can be input daily to receive specialized advice or the like.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-351900 discloses that when a user captures an image of a meal using a digital camera and transmits the image to a health management system, the health management system analyzes the image of the meal and calculates a nutritional value. A technology for generating and providing advice based on these is introduced. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-44595 discloses that when a user accesses a WEB page provided by a health support system using a portable terminal and inputs the contents of a daily meal, the calorie and nutrient balance are similarly reduced. A health support system that can obtain evaluation results for is introduced.
[0004]
However, even if information technology is used to provide a framework that can provide such valuable information, it is a considerable burden for users to enter the contents of daily meals without losing them. Will occur.
[0005]
Regardless of the case where the user keeps staying in a specific hospital or facility, many people take a lifestyle in which an unspecified restaurant is used irregularly today, as the life has diversified. It is possible to accurately capture the contents of daily meals made in various forms, such as so-called eating out at a cafeteria, so-called home-meal meals purchased at lunch and prepared at home, and entered into the system described in the above-mentioned publication. The hassle of sending is easy to imagine. Further, dishes cooked at homes usually have individuality and differences even if they are the same item. In view of the above, it can be said that the system described in each of the above publications still has insufficient data collection ability to provide useful advice to the extent that it is expected.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-351900 A [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2003-44595
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to collect information on an individual's daily diet more easily, thereby providing more appropriate advice and useful analysis data. An object of the present invention is to provide a dietary information system capable of providing food.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention that provides means for solving the above-described problems, dietary information including meal contents of each individual is collected from a terminal device group and provided to a predetermined terminal device. A method for collecting dietary information in a dietary information collection and provision system, wherein the dietary information collection and provision system uses the terminal device to associate identification information of a dietary item with content information of the dietary item. Receiving and transmitting the input of the meal item information, and registering the meal item information in the accessible first storage means; and performing at least the personal identification information by the terminal device. Accepting and transmitting input of the identification information of the meal item, and converting the identification information of the meal item into content information of the meal item based on the meal item information. And the dietary information including the received personal identification information and the content information of the meal item can be selected and transmitted to the accessible second storage means by selecting data that meets predetermined conditions. And a method of collecting dietary information, a device used therefor, and a computer program for realizing the method.
[0009]
Further, in the method for collecting and providing dietary information, and in a device and a computer program for realizing the method, in the terminal device side, a meal item corresponding to the input identification information of the meal item is provided. The content information may be displayed, and after the confirmation / correction process by the terminal operator, the dietary information may be registered in the dietary information collection and provision system.
[0010]
Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, dietary information including meal contents of each individual is collected from a terminal device group including an input terminal device provided with a card reading mechanism, and is determined in advance. A method of collecting dietary information in a system for collecting and providing dietary information to be provided to a terminal device, wherein the dietary information collection and provision system uses any of the terminal devices to identify meal item identification information and Accepting and transmitting input of meal item information associated with content information of the meal item, registering the meal item information in an accessible first storage unit, and the input terminal In response to a request from the device, transmitting the meal item information, causing the input terminal device to display a meal item selection menu, and Receiving a selection of a meal item that has eaten and inputting the identification information of the meal item; and causing the input terminal device to read a card medium on which the personal identification information is recorded, and The step of inputting information, the input terminal device, at least the personal identification information and the identification information of the meal item, the step of transmitting to the dietary information collection and provision system, Converting the identification information of the meal item into the content information of the meal item based on the meal item information; and converting the dietary life information including the received personal identification information and the content information of the meal item. And storing in the accessible second storage means data that meets predetermined conditions so that the data can be transmitted. Law, as well as a computer program for implementing the device and the method used for this is provided.
[0011]
In addition, in order to cope with a variety of meal contents, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the input terminal device stores in advance the identification information of the meal item and the content information of the meal item. By doing so, it is possible to freely define (customize) the contents of the meal specific to the person using the terminal device.
[0012]
In addition, it is preferable that the input terminal device also has an accounting terminal function of a restaurant, a side dish restaurant, and the like, a desktop terminal function, and a service terminal function. By doing so, at the time of accounting, the accounting clerk at the store can perform the input on behalf of the user or directly input the waiting time at these stores.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, terminal devices 10 and 20 on the input side for registering dietary information and restaurants, etc., via a network 100 such as the Internet, and dietary information for accumulating dietary information for each individual. A collection / providing system 30, a terminal device (advisor) 40 for consulting on eating habits, and a terminal device (medical institution) 50 are connected.
[0014]
Among the terminal devices 10 and 20, the terminal device (restaurant or the like) 20 is a dedicated (input) terminal installed in various restaurants including a restaurant or a side dish store, in a convenience store, on a table, or the like. A device or a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal to which a card reading mechanism (not shown) for reading magnetic information, a print barcode, and the like recorded on various cards such as a magnetic card and an IC card is connected. Further, the storage means has a meal item database (meal item DB) 201 for storing the identification information of the meal item and the content information in association with each other. On the other hand, the terminal device (individual) 10 is a restaurant without these dedicated terminal devices (restaurants or the like) 20, a personal computer for inputting and transmitting eating habits information when an individual eats at home, It is a portable terminal device or the like.
[0015]
The eating habits information collecting / providing system 30 accumulates eating habits information transmitted from the terminal devices 10 and 20 in an eating habits database (eating habits DB) 300 via an input / output interface created with WEB contents or the like. The dietary life database (dietary life DB) is sent to the terminal device (advisor) 40 or the terminal device (medical institution) 50 in accordance with predetermined execution / extraction conditions such as a request for transmission of dietary information and the passage of a predetermined time. It is composed of a server device and the like that extracts and transmits the stored dietary information. In addition, the eating habits information collection / providing system 30 has a meal item database (meal item DB) 301 that stores identification information of meal items in association with the content information.
[0016]
In addition, the terminal device (advisor) 40 and the terminal device (medical institution) 50 are provided from the dietary information collection and provision server 30 to the dietary information collection and provision system 30 periodically or as needed. A terminal device such as a personal computer or a workstation for receiving information stored in the diet database (diet database) 300, which can provide necessary advice to an individual based on the received diet information. , Installed to perform analysis for medical use.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a meal item database (meal item DB) 201 stored in a storage unit of a terminal device (restaurant) installed in a store. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the meal item database (meal item DB) 201 is configured to store the meal item ID of the meal or identification information such as the name of the meal item and the detailed contents of the meal item. The content of the meal item can be specified by the identification information of the meal item. As is clear from FIG. 2, the contents of the meal item database (meal item DB) 201 can be shared in restaurants, convenience stores, and the like that adopt a franchise system. Of course, if a unique menu (meal item) provided by each store exists, unique identification information is given to the item by using a predetermined digit of the meal item ID (IDentification) as a code unique to the store or individual. It is possible to define the details. FIG. 3 is an example of an update screen of the meal item databases (meal item DBs) 201 and 301. In the present embodiment, an individual user or a menu manager of a store or the like prepares a meal based on a unique recipe. Items can be updated (new addition / modification / deletion, etc.) in detail.
[0018]
FIG. 4 illustrates a part of the dietary information of the individual identified by the personal ID 000000001, which is stored in the dietary information collection and provision system 30. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the eating habits database (eating habits DB) 300 is a database configured to store detailed contents of meals and the like for each individual, and includes a user ID (individual identification information), Depending on the date and time, dietary information of a desired user can be selected.
[0019]
Subsequently, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of an input / transmission process from the terminal device (individual) 10 and a provision process from the dietary information collection / provision system 30. FIG. 6 shows the flow of input / transmission processing from the terminal device (restaurant etc.) 20 and the dietary information collection / providing system 30 side for correcting the contents registered in the terminal device (restaurant etc.) 20. It is a figure showing the flow of another provision processing from.
[0020]
First, referring to FIG. 5, a terminal device when a user of the present system has a meal at home or has a meal at a restaurant where a dedicated terminal device (eg, a restaurant) 20 is not installed. The flow of the input / transmission processing of dietary information by the (individual) 10 will be described.
[0021]
First, the terminal device (individual) 10 that has received an operation from the user of this system connects to the eating habits information collection and provision system 30 via the network 100, and inputs a user ID and a password as identification information. The user logs in to the dietary information collection and provision system 30 (step S100).
[0022]
Upon completing a predetermined authentication procedure and completing login, the eating habits information collection / providing system 30 sends a menu screen of the present system to the terminal device (individual) 10 (step S101). FIG. 7 shows an example of a menu screen for the terminal device (individual) 10 in the present system. For the user who sends the eating information, "Registration of my home", "Eating information" Processing selection items of “registration”, “eating information confirmation correction”, and “eating information transfer request” are prepared. “Registration at home” is an item for defining and correcting detailed contents for each meal item exemplified in FIG. 3 described above. The “dietary information registration” is an item for registering dietary information including new meal contents, and the “dietary information confirmation correction” is already stored in the dietary information collection / providing system 30 side. This item is for confirming and correcting the dietary information and the like relating to the user. The “dietary life information transfer request” is an item for providing information about the terminal device installed in a medical institution or the like. Hereinafter, these will be sequentially described in detail.
[0023]
Subsequently, a menu screen illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed on the terminal device (individual) 10 (step S102), and when the user of this system selects “register eating information” (input processing selection; step S103) ), The eating habits information collecting / providing system 30 sends out an input screen (step S104).
[0024]
Subsequently, an input screen is displayed on the terminal device (individual) 10 (step S105), and an interactive type for registering dietary information between the terminal device (individual) 10 and the dietary information collection and provision system 30 is displayed. The process is started (Step S106).
[0025]
FIGS. 8 and 9 show an example of an input screen for dietary information of the present system in step S106. Referring to FIG. 8, in the drop-down list in the meal item column, a meal item candidate extracted from the meal item database (meal item DB) 301 common to the users of the present system and an individual-specific meal specified by the user ID. Item candidates are presented. In FIG. 8, the user inputs the date and time so that the past meal contents can be registered retroactively. However, the date and time information is automatically input from a system timer or the like provided in the terminal device (individual) 10. You may do so.
[0026]
In FIG. 8, when the user selects a meal item ingested from the presented candidates and activates the “Next” button, the details are confirmed and corrected on the details input screen illustrated in FIG. The registration is completed. Referring to FIG. 9, the content information of the meal item for screen confirmation / correction is shown together with the GUI parts for confirmation / correction, and as shown in the “quantity” column of “rice”, the use of this system is described. If there is a difference between the content acquired from the meal item database (meal item DB) 301 and the content actually eaten, the user performs a correction operation to that effect and activates the “register” button. The (individual) 10 transmits the corrected meal contents information to the eating habits information collection and provision system 30 together with the user ID of the user. The eating habits information collection / providing system 30 receiving this accumulates (saves) the user ID of the user and the contents information of the checked and corrected meal in the eating habits database (eating habits DB) 300 (step). S107).
[0027]
At this point, the process of registering the eating habits information has been completed. However, when the input / transmitted eating habits information is to be confirmed / corrected, an item of the eating habits information confirming / modifying is selected from the main menu illustrated in FIG. Is selected and confirmed (see steps S206 to S208 in FIG. 6). If there is a difference between the dietary information and the actual dietary content, the registered dietary information can be corrected.
[0028]
Next, referring to FIG. 6, when a user of the present system inputs and transmits meal information by a method other than the method described above, that is, a meal performed using a dedicated terminal device (a restaurant or the like). The flow of the living information input / transmission process will be described.
[0029]
First, the dedicated terminal device (restaurant, etc.) 20 is connected to the eating habits information collection / providing system 30 via the network 100, and a meal item database (meal item DB) is displayed on the screen. ) The menu of the meal read from 201 is displayed (step S200). When the user of the system selects a meal item to be taken or purchased (selection of identification information of the meal item) by using a touch panel or other pointing device on the menu screen (step S201), a dedicated terminal is used. The device (restaurant etc.) 20 reads and displays the content information of the meal item database (meal item DB) 201 corresponding to the identification information of the meal item selected by the user (step S202; see FIG. 9). When the user of the system confirming the content information of the meal reads the user ID card issued to the user in advance into the card reader mechanism connected to the terminal device (restaurant or the like) 20 (step S203). The acquired identification information of the user and the content information of the meal are transmitted to the dietary information collection and provision system 30 (step S204). Then, the eating habits information collecting and providing system 30 that has received the information stores and stores the information in the eating habits database (eating habits DB 300) (step S205).
[0030]
As described above, when the dedicated terminal device (restaurant or the like) 20 is close to the user, the user uses the terminal device (restaurant or the like) 20 having its own meal item database (meal item DB) 201. By doing so, the contents of the meal can be registered simply and accurately. In addition, even when a dedicated terminal device (restaurant or the like) 20 is not close to the user, the user can use his / her own terminal device (individual) 10 to register the unique meal contents without leaking. Using the meal item database (meal item DB) 301 of the living information collecting / providing system 30, for example, potatoes are put into curry in one household but not in another household. It is possible to register accurate dietary information reflecting the difference in the content of the meal item caused by the difference in the recipe.
[0031]
In addition, by inputting in advance each numerical value related to nutrition such as calories and nutritional components of meal items in the meal item databases (meal item DBs) 201 and 301, quantification can be performed without imposing a burden on the user to input. It will also be possible to collect, accumulate, and provide information on dietary habits that have been provided. Furthermore, by registering the images of the meal items in the meal item databases (meal item DBs) 201 and 301 in advance, it is also possible to provide a selection menu that allows the user to select the meal items by the images.
[0032]
In this way, the eating habits information collected sequentially and accurately by the present system can be utilized in various useful ways. As an example, as shown in steps S108 to S110 in FIG. 5, an advisor (dietitian, doctor, etc.) on a pre-contracted meal is provided with a predetermined time interval for checking a dietary habit, a request from a user, In response to a consultation, etc., dietary information for the user in charge for a predetermined period is received from the dietary information collection / provision system 30 (step S108), and the dietary information is referred to and confirmed (step S109), and advice on diet is provided. Is transmitted to the terminal device (individual) 10 via the terminal device (advisor) 40. As a result, the user of the service receives advice on eating habits based on accurate registered eating habits information on a daily basis, and can be enlightened and corrected for uneven eating habits and nutrition. Of course, instead of the above-mentioned advisor, an expert system of the mode described in JP-A-2002-351900 or JP-A-2003-44595 may be constructed on the dietary information collection / providing system 30 side. Good.
[0033]
As another example of useful utilization of the dietary information collected by the present system, as shown in steps S111 to S113 in FIG. 5, a request for dietary information from a medical institution due to illness or the like is received. In this case (step S111), the user logs in to the eating habits information collection and provision system 30 from the terminal device (individual) 10, selects an item of a data transfer request from the main menu illustrated in FIG. Is requested (step S112). The dietary information collection / providing system 30 that has received the data transfer request transfers the dietary information of the user to the requesting terminal device (medical institution) 50 by e-mail or the like (step S113). . In this way, the dietary information of each user transferred to the medical institution with the consent of the individual can be used for statistical analysis of diseases said to be caused by dietary life and investigation of effective dietary treatment etc. Become.
[0034]
Also, in the above-described embodiment, the user of the present system operates the terminal device (restaurant or the like) 20 by himself / herself, but the account of the store or the like where the terminal device (restaurant or the like) 20 is installed is described. Even when the person in charge pays for the meal, purchases of lunch boxes and prepared dishes, etc., he / she receives the card of the user and also inputs / transmits identification information of the meal item. Good.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress omission of input of eating habits information, accurately collect individual daily meal contents, and improve the quality of advice and analysis results based on the collected information. You.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of items registered in a meal item database.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a meal item database update screen.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of items registered in a dietary information database.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of collecting and providing information according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a flow of collecting and providing information according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an example of a processing menu screen provided from the dietary information collection and provision system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an example of an information input screen provided from the dietary information collection and provision system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an example of an information input screen provided from the dietary information collection and provision system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Terminal device (individual)
20 Terminal devices (restaurants, etc.)
30 Dietary information collection and provision system 40 Terminal device (advisor)
50 Terminal device (medical institution)
300 Eating Habits Database 201, 301 Meal Item Database

Claims

A method of collecting dietary information in a dietary information collection and provision system that collects dietary information including meal content of each individual from a terminal device group and provides the terminal device to a predetermined terminal device,
The dietary information collection and provision system,
Causing the terminal device to accept and transmit input of meal item information in which the identification information of the meal item is associated with the content information of the meal item; and
Registering the meal item information in an accessible first storage unit;
The terminal device, at least the identification information of the individual, the input of the identification information of the meal item, the step of transmitting,
Converting the identification information of the meal item into content information of the meal item based on the meal item information;
Accumulating the received dietary information including the identification information of the individual and the content information of the meal item in an accessible second storage means so that data suitable for a predetermined condition can be selected and transmitted; When,
A method for collecting dietary information, comprising:

In a dietary information collection and provision system for collecting dietary information including a meal content of each individual from a terminal device group including an input terminal device having a card reading mechanism and providing the information to a predetermined terminal device A method of collecting dietary information,
The dietary information collection and provision system,
Causing any one of the terminal devices to receive input of meal item information in which the identification information of the meal item is associated with the content information of the meal item, and causing the terminal device to transmit the input;
Registering the meal item information in an accessible first storage unit;
In response to a request from the input terminal device, transmitting the meal item information, the input terminal device, a step of displaying a meal item selection menu,
The input terminal device, at least a selection of a meal item that has eaten is received, a step of inputting the identification information of the meal item,
The input terminal device, read the card medium on which the personal identification information is recorded, and input the personal identification information,
The input terminal device, at least the identification information of the individual, the identification information of the meal item, the step of transmitting to the dietary information collection and provision system,
Converting the identification information of the meal item into content information of the meal item based on the meal item information;
Accumulating the received dietary information including the identification information of the individual and the content information of the meal item in an accessible second storage means so that data suitable for a predetermined condition can be selected and transmitted; When,
A method for collecting dietary information, comprising:

The method for collecting dietary information according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
The dietary information collection and provision system,
Confirming whether or not the received identification information of the meal item is registered in the first storage means;
Transmitting, when the identification information of the meal item is registered in the first storage unit, content information of the meal item corresponding to the identification information of the meal item to a transmission source terminal device; ,
Causing the terminal device to display the content information of the meal item so that the content information of the meal item can be corrected,
A method for collecting dietary information characterized by:

In the method for collecting dietary information according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The input terminal device is a checkout terminal of a store,
The input / transmission processing of the identification information of the individual and the identification information of the meal item is executed in series with the accounting processing by the accountant of the store,
A method for collecting dietary information characterized by:

A method of collecting dietary information in an input terminal device connected to a dietary information collection and provision system that collects dietary information including meal content of each individual and provides the information to a predetermined terminal device. ,
The input terminal device,
Receiving input of meal item information in which the identification information of the meal item is associated with the content information of the meal item, and storing and storing the input in the own device;
Receiving at least input of personal identification information and identification information of the meal item;
Converting the input identification information of the meal item into content information of the meal item based on the meal item information of the own device;
Generating dietary information including the content information of the dietary item, and transmitting the dietary information to the dietary information collection and provision system together with the personal identification information;
A step of collecting and providing the dietary information and accumulating the dietary information so that the dietary information can be selected and transmitted based on at least the identification information of the individual,
A method for collecting dietary information, comprising:

Eating habits in an input terminal equipped with a card reading mechanism connected to an eating habits information collection and provision system that collects eating habits information including the contents of each individual's meal and provides it to a predetermined terminal device. A method of collecting information,
The input terminal device,
Receiving input of meal item information in which the identification information of the meal item is associated with the content information of the meal item, and storing and storing the input in the own device;
A step in which the input terminal device generates selection menu information based on the meal item information;
A step in which the input terminal device displays a selection menu, causes an operator of the terminal device to select at least a meal item that has been eaten, and inputs identification information of the meal item;
Reading a card medium on which personal identification information is recorded, and inputting personal identification information;
Converting the identification information of the meal item into content information of the meal item based on the meal item information;
Generating dietary information including the content information of the dietary item, and transmitting the dietary information to the dietary information collection and provision system together with the personal identification information;
A step of collecting and providing the dietary information and accumulating the dietary information so that the dietary information can be selected and transmitted based on at least the identification information of the individual,
A method for collecting dietary information characterized by:

The method for collecting dietary information according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising:
The input terminal device,
A step of confirming whether or not the input identification information of the meal item is registered in the storage unit of the own device;
When the identification information of the meal item is registered in the storage unit of the own device, displaying the content information of the meal item so that the content information of the meal item can be corrected.
A method for collecting dietary information characterized by:

The method of collecting dietary information according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The input terminal device is a checkout terminal of a store,
The input / transmission processing of the identification information of the individual and the identification information of the meal item is executed in series with the accounting processing by the accountant of the store,
A method for collecting dietary information characterized by:

A collection and provision system for dietary information connected to the terminal device group,
Means for receiving, from the terminal device, registration of meal item information in which the identification information of the meal item is associated with the content information of the meal item;
First storage means for storing and holding the meal item information;
Means for inviting and receiving input of personal identification information and dietary information including at least the identification information of the meal item from the terminal device,
Means for converting the identification information of the meal item to content information of the meal item, based on the meal item information;
Second storage means for storing dietary information including the received personal identification information and the content information of the meal item so that data matching predetermined conditions can be selected and transmitted; and
Means for selectively transmitting dietary information stored in the second storage means to a predetermined terminal device,
A collection and provision system for eating habits information.

A dietary information collection and provision system connected to a terminal device group including an input terminal device having a card reading mechanism,
Means for receiving, from any one of the terminal devices, registration of meal item information in which the identification information of the meal item is associated with the content information of the meal item;
First storage means for storing and holding the meal item information;
Means for generating selection menu information for the input terminal device from the meal item information in response to a request from the input terminal device, and transmitting the selection menu information;
Means for receiving identification information of a meal item selected on the input terminal device side,
A means for receiving the personal identification information by reading the card medium in which the personal identification information is written in advance by the input terminal device,
Means for converting the identification information of the meal item into content information of the meal item;
Second storage means for storing dietary information including the received personal identification information and the content information of the meal item so that data matching predetermined conditions can be selected and transmitted; and
Means for selectively transmitting dietary information stored in the second storage means to a predetermined terminal device,
A collection and provision system for eating habits information.

The dietary information collection and provision system according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising:
Means for confirming whether or not the received identification information of the meal item is registered in the first storage means;
When the identification information of the meal item is registered in the first storage unit, the content information of the meal item corresponding to the identification information of the meal item is transmitted to the transmission source terminal device, Means for displaying the content information of the meal item so that the content information can be corrected,
A collection and provision system for eating habits information.

Means for storing and holding meal item information in which the identification information of the meal item is associated with the content information of the meal item;
Means for generating and displaying a selection menu from the meal item information, allowing the operator to select a meal item, and input identification information of the meal item,
Means for entering personal identification information;
Means for displaying the content information of the selected meal item, allowing the terminal operator to make confirmation and correction,
Means for generating dietary information including the content information of the meal item that has been confirmed and corrected,
A means for transmitting identification information of the individual and dietary information including the content information of the meal item, to a dietary information collection and provision system for collecting dietary information for each individual; thing,
A terminal device for inputting eating habits information.

The input terminal device according to claim 12, further comprising:
As means for inputting the personal identification information,
Reading a card medium pre-written with personal identification information, and having means for inputting personal identification information,
A terminal device for inputting eating habits information.

A terminal device for inputting dietary information according to any one of claims 12 and 13,
Furthermore, it has accounting processing means,
It is possible to execute input / transmission processing of the identification information of the individual and the identification information of the meal item in series with the accounting processing,
A terminal device for inputting eating habits information.