WO2021150949A1

WO2021150949A1 - Zero-step authentication of transactions using passive biometrics

Info

Publication number: WO2021150949A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/014703
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nagib Georges MIMASSI
Original assignee: Rockspoon, Inc.
Priority date: 2020-01-22
Filing date: 2021-01-22
Publication date: 2021-07-29

Abstract

A zero-step authentication system and method which uses wireless mobile devices to automatically make payments in a secure manner without requiring the customer to handle his or her mobile device. The system and method use a payment facilitation device at the business location which automatically detects and recognizes registered mobile devices, displays a photo of the customer to a business employee for identity confirmation, and automatically deducts payments for purchases from a pre-authorized customer account. A user health profile is created at a personal food item customization system. The personal food item customization system receives a food item recipe, identifies at least one ingredient, identifies at least one ingredient outside a user's health settings, modifies one or more identified ingredients in the food item recipe to bring the nutritional value of the nutrient in the food item within the nutritional parameter range, and generates a user specific food item recipe.

Description

ZERO-STEP AUTHENTICATION OF TRANSACTIONS USING

PASSIVE BIOMETRICS

BACKGROUND

Field o f the Art

[001] The disclosure relates to the field of payment systems, and more particularly to the field of automated payment systems using wireless-enabled mobile devices.

Discussion of the State of the Art [002] Wireless mobile computing devices (e.g., smartphones) have enabled wireless payment technologies wherein the consumer makes a payment by receiving a payment request on the customer’s mobile device and authorizing the payment by tapping an icon on the screen. However, such technologies require the customer to remove his or her mobile device from a pocket or bag, turn on the device, enter a passcode to open the device, and tap on the screen

to approve payment or scan a QR code shown on the screen. These steps are inefficient and interfere with the business/ customer interaction, as the customer’s attention is focused on his or her mobile device instead of the interaction with the business environment or the business’ employees. These systems do not provide touchless payments with sufficient security, are not compatible with existing business methodologies and cultures, and interfere with the business/ customer interaction. Further, biometric security in the field of mobile devices frequently relies on fingerprint analysis or, again, requires a user to pull out their phone to scan their face, further interfering with the business/ customer interaction.

[003] What is needed is a system and method for touchless payments that does not require the customer to handle his or her mobile device, which provides sufficient security, which is compatible with existing business methodologies and cultures, which integrates seamless biometric verifications, and which does not interfere with the business/ customer interaction.

[004] Many individuals suffer from health conditions that may benefit from dietary changes. Different health conditions often have recommended nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with different nutrients. For example, if an individual suffers from a health condition of heart disease, the recommended nutritional parameter range for a nutrient, cholesterol, may be 0 mg to 200 mg.

[005] Food item recipes for food items include one or more different ingredients. Each of the ingredients typically includes one or more different nutrients having associated nutritional values. In many cases, the food item recipes include ingredients with nutrients having nutritional values that place the food item outside of the recommended nutritional parameter range for nutrients that may adversely impact a health condition of an individual.

SUMMARY

[006] Accordingly, the inventor has conceived and reduced to practice, a system and method zero-step authentication of transactions using biometrics which uses wireless mobile devices and biometric scanning to automatically make payments in a secure manner without requiring the customer to handle his or her mobile device. The system and method use passive biometrics and a payment facilitation device at the business location which automatically detects and recognizes registered mobile devices, displays a photo of the customer to a business employee for identity confirmation, verifies the customer with a biometrics verification database, and automatically deducts payments for purchases from a pre-authorized customer account. The customer account is managed by a payment processing server, which stores the customer account data, makes appropriate deductions, sends confirmation of deductions to the customer’s mobile device, and automatically refills the customer’s account by making pre-authorized charges to the customer’s banking institution. Biometric data is handled by a biometrics verification server which handles storage and comparison of basic biometric data such as voice files and facial data.

[007] According to a preferred embodiment, a system for zero-step authentication of transactions is disclosed, comprising: a database comprising customer information, the customer information comprising: a list of registered wireless mobile devices; a device identifier for each registered wireless mobile device; a photograph of a customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; a pre-paid account balance for each registered wireless mobile device; and payment details for the customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; and a payment facilitation device comprising a first memory, a first processor, and a first plurality of programming instructions stored in the first memory, and operating on the first processor, wherein the first plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the payment facilitation device to: detect a registered wireless mobile device; establish a wireless connection with the registered wireless mobile device; obtain a device identifier for the registered wireless mobile device; send the device identifier to a payment facilitation server; receive customer information for the registered wireless mobile device from the payment facilitation server; display the photograph of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device for confirmation of the identity of the customer; transmit transaction details to the registered wireless mobile device for approval, the transaction details comprising a transaction amount; receive authentication of the transaction details from the customer mobile device; and send the transaction details to a payment facilitation server for processing of the transaction; a payment facilitation server comprising a second memory, a second processor, and a second plurality of programming instructions stored in the second memory, and operating on the second processor, wherein the second plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the second processor, cause the payment facilitation server to: receive the device identifier from the payment facilitation device; retrieve the customer information associated with the registered wireless mobile device from the database; send the customer information to the payment facilitation device; receive the transaction details from the payment facilitation device; check the pre-paid account balance of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device; if the account balance exceeds transaction amount, deduct the transaction amount from the account balance; or if the transaction amount exceeds the account balance, send the transaction details to a payment processor for processing; at least one of either or both of an audio or video input device; and a biometrics verification server comprising a third memory, a third processor, and a third plurality of programming instructions stored in the third memory, and operating on the third processor, wherein the third plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the third processor, cause the biometrics verification server to: receive either or both audio or video data from an input source over a network; process the received data as either or both voice or facial biometric data; match received data with stored data; and respond with a positive or negative match to the input source.

[008] According to another preferred embodiment, a method for zero-step authentication of transactions is disclosed, comprising the steps of: storing customer information in a database, the customer information comprising: a fist of registered wireless mobile devices; a device identifier for each registered wireless mobile device; a photograph of a customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; a pre-paid account balance for each registered wireless mobile device; and payment details for the customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; and performing the following steps using a payment facilitation device, the payment facilitation device comprising a first memory, a first processor, and a first plurality of programming instructions: detecting a registered wireless mobile device; establishing a wireless connection with the registered wireless mobile device; obtaining a device identifier for the registered wireless mobile device; sending the device identifier to a payment facilitation server; receiving customer information for the registered wireless mobile device from the payment facilitation server; displaying the photograph of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device for confirmation of the identity of the customer; transmitting transaction details to the registered wireless mobile device for approval, the transaction details comprising a transaction amount; receiving authentication of the transaction details from the customer mobile device; and sending the transaction details to a payment facilitation server for processing of the transaction; and performing the following steps using a payment facilitation server, the payment facilitation server comprising a second memory, a second processor, and a second plurality of programming instructions: receiving the device identifier from the payment facilitation device; retrieving the customer information associated with the registered wireless mobile device from the database; sending the customer information to the payment facilitation device; receiving the transaction details from the payment facilitation device; checking the pre-paid account balance of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device; if the account balance exceeds transaction amount, deducting the transaction amount from the account balance; or if the transaction amount exceeds the account balance, sending the transaction details to a payment processor for processing; receiving audio or video input, from at least one of either or both of an audio or video input device; receiving audio or video data from an input source over a network, using a biometrics verification server; processing the received data as voice or facial biometric data, using a biometrics verification server; matching received data with stored data, using a biometrics verification server; and responding with a positive or negative match to the input source, using a biometrics verification server.

[009] According to an aspect of an embodiment, a unified communications system is used as a common intermediary device through which the payment facilitation device, the payment facilitation server, and registered wireless mobile device communicate.

[010] According to an aspect of an embodiment, the at least one audio or video input device and biometrics verification server are all located on at least one computer device that is connected to a local network.

[Oil] According to an aspect of an embodiment, the biometrics verification server receives input and sends output over the Internet.

[012] Accordingly, the inventor has conceived and reduced to practice in preferred embodiments of the present invention, a system and methods for personal food item customization that enable patrons at a restaurant to easily tailor menu items or custom orders to suit their personal dietary, nutrition, or health requirements.

[013] According to a preferred embodiment, one or more computer storage media include computer-executable instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause the processor to: create a user health profile comprising a user health condition and a nutritional parameter range for nutritional values of a nutrient associated with the user health condition at a personal food item customization system, receive a food item recipe associated with a food item at the personal food item customization system, the food item recipe including a plurality of ingredients, identify at least one ingredient from the plurality of ingredients in the food item recipe that includes a nutritional value for the nutrient that places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range at the personal food item customization system, modify one of more of the at least one identified ingredient in the food item recipe to bring the nutritional value of the nutrient in the food item within the nutritional parameter range at the personal food item customization system, and generate a user specific food item recipe associated with the food item based including the modified ingredients at the personal food item customization system.

[014] According to another preferred embodiment, a computerized method includes creating a user health profile comprising a user health condition and a nutritional parameter range for nutritional values of a nutrient associated with the user health condition at a personal food item customization system, receiving a food item recipe associated with a food item at the personal food item customization system, the food item recipe including a plurality of ingredients, identifying at least one ingredient from the plurality of ingredients in the food item recipe that includes a nutritional value for the nutrient that places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range at the personal food item customization system, modifying one of more of the at least one identified ingredient in the food item recipe to bring the nutritional value of the nutrient in the food item within the nutritional parameter range at the personal food item customization system, and generating a user specific food item recipe associated with the food item based including the modified ingredients at the personal food item customization system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[015] The accompanying drawings illustrate several aspects and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention according to the aspects. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the particular arrangements illustrated in the drawings are merely exemplary, and are not to be considered as limiting of the scope of the invention or the claims herein in any way.

[016] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system architecture for a zero-step authentication system.

[017] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture for an aspect of zero- step authentication system, the payment facilitation server.

[018] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary flow of payments in an embodiment.

[019] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary business/ customer interaction and showing an exemplary screenshot. [020] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary bill splitting feature and showing an exemplary screenshot.

[021] Fig. 6 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for registration of a customer’s mobile device and order placement. [022] Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for zero-step authentication and completion of a transaction.

[023] Fig. 8 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for establishment of an account and pre-authorization of payments.

[024] Fig. 9 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for bill splitting among customers.

[025] Fig. 10 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for funds transfer among customers.

[026] Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware architecture of a computing device. [027] Fig. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary logical architecture for a client device.

[028] Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing an exemplary architectural arrangement of clients, servers, and external services.

[029] Fig. 1 is another block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware architecture of a computing device.

[030] Fig. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system architecture for a zero- step authentication system using biometric authentication.

[031] Fig. 16 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for zero-step authentication using biometrics and completion of a transaction. [015] Fig. 17 is a block diagram representation of an exemplary architecture including an embodiment of a personal food item customization system;

[016] Fig. 18 is a block diagram representation of an example of a user computing device including an embodiment of a personal food item customization system; [017] Fig. 19 is a block diagram representation of an embodiment of a restaurant customer food item customization system;

[032] Fig. 20 is a flow diagram representation of an example of a method of customizing a food item recipe using an embodiment of a personal food item customization system;

[033] Fig. 21 is a flow diagram representation of an example of a method of using an embodiment of a personal food item customization system to coordinate with an embodiment of a restaurant food item customization system;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[034] The inventor has conceived, and reduced to practice, a system and method zero-step authentication of transactions using biometrics which uses wireless mobile devices and biometric scanning to automatically make payments in a secure manner without requiring the customer to handle his or her mobile device. The system and method use passive biometrics and a payment facilitation device at the business location which automatically detects and recognizes registered mobile devices, displays a photo of the customer to a business employee for identity confirmation, verifies the customer with a biometrics verification database, and automatically deducts payments for purchases from a pre authorized customer account. The customer account is managed by a payment processing server, which stores the customer account data, makes appropriate deductions, sends confirmation of deductions to the customer’s mobile device, and automatically refills the customer’s account by making pre-authorized charges to the customer’s banking institution. Biometric data is handled by a biometrics verification server which handles storage and comparison of basic biometric data such as voice files and facial data.

[035] Because the customer does not have to focus on his or her mobile device, the customer is free to interact naturally with the business environment and with employees of the business. For example, the customer is free to look around to experience the store’s ambiance, which will tend to create a positive impression on the customer, and increase the likelihood that the customer will wish to return. Further, the customer is free to look at and speak with the business’ employees, which facilitates personal interactions and relationships, making the customer feel more welcome and also increasing the likelihood that the customer will wish to return. These natural interactions are hindered by the handling and use of mobile phones, where the customer’s attention is drawn away from the business environment and its employees in order to focus on the details of making or approving the transaction using his or her mobile device.

[036] While the examples herein primarily discuss authorization of payments, the invention is not limited to authorization of monetary transactions, and can be used for authorization and transfer of any asset, or representation of an asset, that can be transferred electronically, for example: electronic transfers of real currency (credit card charges, bank transfers and payments, etc.), transfers of blockchain-based currencies such as Bitcoin, and transfers of digitized contracts or promises to pay or transfer physical assets (including, but not limited to, IOUs, certificates of ownership of stocks or other securities, and deeds for real estate).

[037] One or more different aspects may be described in the present application. Further, for one or more of the aspects described herein, numerous alternative arrangements may be described; it should be appreciated that these are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting of the aspects contained herein or the claims presented herein in any way. One or more of the arrangements may be widely applicable to numerous aspects, as may be readily apparent from the disclosure. In general, arrangements are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice one or more of the aspects, and it should be appreciated that other arrangements may be utilized and that structural, logical, software, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the particular aspects. Particular features of one or more of the aspects described herein may be described with reference to one or more particular aspects or figures that form a part of the present disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific arrangements of one or more of the aspects. It should be appreciated, however, that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular aspects or figures with reference to which they are described. The present disclosure is neither a literal description of all arrangements of one or more of the aspects nor a listing of features of one or more of the aspects that must be present in all arrangements.

[038] Headings of sections provided in this patent application and the title of this patent application are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[039] Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more communication means or intermediaries, logical or physical. [040] A description of an aspect with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. To the contrary, a variety of optional components may be described to illustrate a wide variety of possible aspects and in order to more fully illustrate one or more aspects. Similarly, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may generally be configured to work in alternate orders, unless specifically stated to the contrary. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in this patent application does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of described processes may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to one or more of the aspects, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred. Also, steps are generally described once per aspect, but this does not mean they must occur once, or that they may only occur once each time a process, method, or algorithm is carried out or executed. Some steps may be omitted in some aspects or some occurrences, or some steps may be executed more than once in a given aspect or occurrence.

[0 1] When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device or article may be used in place of a single device or article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a single device or article may be used in place of the more than one device or article.

[042] The functionality or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices that are not explicitly described as having such functionality or features. Thus, other aspects need not include the device itself.

[043] Techniques and mechanisms described or referenced herein will sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, it should be appreciated that particular aspects may include multiple iterations of a technique or multiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted otherwise. Process descriptions or blocks in figures should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Alternate implementations are included within the scope of various aspects in which, for example, functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

Definitions

[044] “Business establishment” or “place of business” as used herein mean the location of any business entity with which customers may transact business. Typically, this will be a physical location where customers may enter the location and transact business directly with employees of the business, but may also be a business without a physical location such as an online or telephone order retailer. Many examples herein use a restaurant as the business establishment, but the invention is not limited to use in restaurants, and is applicable to any business establishment.

[045] The term “network” as used herein means any communication connection between two or more computing devices, whether such connection is made directly (e.g., from one device containing a Bluetooth radio to another device containing a Bluetooth radio) or through an intermediary device such as a router, where a number of devices connected to the router may all communicate with one another.

[046] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system architecture 100 for a zero- step authentication system. The primary components of the system are a payment facilitation device 103, a unified communications device or telephony exchange system (UC system) 101, and a payment facilitation server 200. Components or services that may connect to or be accessed by the system include wireless customer mobile devices 102, and payment processors 109. The payment facilitation device 103 is a computing device located at a business establishment that is connected (wired or wirelessly) to a UC system 101. The payment facilitation device 103 may be wired, or wireless, or both, depending on the implementation of a given embodiment. While a payment facilitation device 103 and UC system 101 are specified in this embodiment, it is not required that they be precisely in this configuration, and other configurations are possible, including a non-SIP computing device connected to a network without a US system 101. The payment facilitation device 103 comprises a screen (not shown) and applications for a customer information entry portal 104 and a customer identification confirmation application 105. The payment facilitation device 103 may be a mobile computing device like a mobile phone or tablet computer or may be a desktop or tabletop computing device.

[047] The customer information entry portal 104 is an application on the payment facilitation device 103 that allows an employee of the business to enter customer details such as name, telephone number, device identifier, bank, debit, or credit card details, payment preferences, and, if necessary, customer account refill limits and customer account refill amounts. The device identifier may be any information that allows the system to identify the customer mobile device 102, including, but not limited to, a mobile access control (MAC) address (e.g., a MAC address for the device’s WiFi radio, a MAC address for the device’s Bluetooth radio, etc.), the device’s 102 serial number, the device’s mobile equipment identifier (MEID) or international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, the integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) of the subscriber identity module (SIM) card inserted into the customer mobile device 102, and the device’s 102 secure element identification (SEID) number.

[048] The customer identification and confirmation application 105 is an application that provides security in financial transactions by allowing the employee of the business to visually confirm the identity of the customer making a transaction. For example, the payment facilitation device at a particular business location may be connected to multiple customer devices simultaneously. The customer identification and confirmation application 105 may display a photo of the user (customer) of each such connected customer device, and the employee may select the device of the customer making the transaction by clicking on the customer’s photo as displayed by the customer identification and confirmation application 105 on the payment facilitation device 103.

[049] The UC system 101 is a device or service (e.g., online service) that integrates different methods of communication (e.g., phone calls, video calls, short message service (SMS), instant messaging (chat), email) and allows for all of those different methods of communication to be accessed through a computing device such as a mobile phone or tablet computer. A UC system 101 is the modern, and much more flexible and powerful, form of a private branch exchange (PBX) telephone equipment system that allowed businesses to connect multiple internal telephones to a single incoming telephone fine. In this example, the UC system 101 acts as the interface between the payment facilitation device 103, the customer mobile devices 102, and the payment facilitation server 200. [050] A customer mobile device 102 may be connected to the system via any wireless network connection, for example through the Internet 106, a mobile (cellular) network 107, or through a local wireless network 108 such as WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. In the case of remote connections such as those made through the Internet 106 or mobile service 107, the location of a customer mobile device 102 and its location relative to the payment facilitation device 103 or other customer mobile devices 102 may be established through use of the device’s satellite positioning system hardware (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, Galileo), by identifying the location of an intermediary device to which the device is connected (e.g., a WiFi router, etc.

In the case of local connections, which typically use short range wireless transmissions, it may not be necessary to determine the location of the mobile customer device 102 because the short range of wireless communications establishes that the payment facilitation device 103 or other mobile customer devices are nearby. For example, when using a Bluetooth Class 2 connection to connect to other devices, it will be apparent that the other devices are nearby because Bluetooth Class 2 has an effective range on the order of 10 meters.

[051] In a typical scenario, the first time a customer enters a business establishment with a customer mobile device 102, an employee of the business establishment will enter the customer’s information using the customer information entry portal 104 and register the customer mobile device 102 using the customer mobile device’s 102 identification. When a customer mobile device 102 enters a business establishment, the payment facilitation device 103 and customer mobile device 102 will automatically detect each other and establish a network connection. The payment facilitation device 103 will recognize the customer mobile device 102 using the customer mobile device’s identifier. As the customer makes an order, the business’s employee will confirm the identity of the customer using the customer identification confirmation application 105. The payment facilitation device connects to the payment facilitation server 200, either directly or through the UC system 101, forwards the customer information and order information to the payment facilitation server 200. The payment facilitation server 200, checks the customer’s account and either deducts and appropriate amount from the customer’s prepaid account or sends the payment details to a payment processor 109 for processing. Once the payment is processed, the payment facilitation server 200 sends a confirmation of the payment either to the payment facilitation device 103, the customer mobile device 102, or both. In a scenario where the customer is in a remote location from the business establishment (e.g., a phone order or online order), the process is much the same except that the first time customer information entry and mobile device registration occurs remotely, and the employee does not visually identify the customer (although other methods of identifying the customer may apply, such as personal identification number (PIN) codes, voice print identification, telephone number identification, or customer mobile device 102 identifiers).

[052] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture for an aspect of zero- step authentication system, the payment facilitation server 200. The payment facilitation server 200 manages customer information and payments from multiple customers. In this example, the payment facilitation server comprises a customer information database 201, a customer identification engine 202, a payment processing manager 209, and one or more applications for managing bill splitting, fund transfers, and account information. Note that, in some embodiments, the bill splitting and fund transfer applications may be applications on the customer mobile device 102 instead of on the payment facilitation server 200. As the payment facilitation server receives customer information and device registrations, it stores them in a customer information database. Such customer information may comprise customer details such as name, telephone number, device identifier, bank, debit, or credit card details, payment preferences, and, if necessary, customer account refill limits and customer account refill amounts. The device identifier may be any information that allows the system to identify the customer mobile device 102, including, but not limited to, a mobile access control (MAC) address (e.g., a MAC address for the device’s WiFi radio, a MAC address for the device’s Bluetooth radio, etc.), the device’s 102 serial number, the device’s mobile equipment identifier (MEID) or international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, the integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) of the subscriber identity module (SIM) card inserted into the customer mobile device 102, and the device’s 102 secure element identification (SEID) number.

[053] The customer identification engine 202 provides additional security by confirming the identity of the customer before processing payments. In this example, the customer identification engine 202 has three separate identification methods, a voiceprint identifier 203, a telephone number identifier 204, and a device ID identifier 205. The voiceprint identifier 203 can provide confirmations of customer identities either by matching voice samples of specific words and phrases provided by the customer as during account creation and device registration or, in a more sophisticated version, may match the customer’s voice to any spoken words and phrases using machine learning algorithms. The telephone number identifier 204 receives caller identification (caller ID) information from the UC system 101, and verifies that the phone number from which the order is being made matches the phone number in the customer account information. The device ID identifier 205 receives a device identifier from the UC system 101 and matches it to the device identifier in the customer database 201 to confirm that the device is registered. In some embodiments, other methods of identifying the customer may be used, for example, PIN codes. In some embodiments, two or more of these identifiers may be used together to confirm the customer’s identity.

[054] As customer information and order information is received, the payment facilitation server 200 checks the customer’s account using the customer account management application 208 and either deducts and appropriate amount from the customer’s prepaid account or sends the payment details to the payment processing manager 209, which forwards the payment request to a payment processor 109 for processing. Once the payment is processed, the payment facilitation server 200 sends a confirmation of the payment either to the payment facilitation device 103, the customer mobile device 102, or both.

[055] The bill splitting application 206 receives a bill that is to be shared by two or more customers (e.g., a restaurant dining bill), the device identifier of two or more customer mobile devices 102, and provides an interface for those customers to allocate items on the bill between the customers. Once each of the customers involved approves the allocation, the bill splitting application forwards each customer’s portion of the bill to the payment processing manager 209 The fund transfer application 207 operates in a similar manner for fund transfers between customers. Customers involved in the fund transfer specify amounts to be transferred to other customers, and once approved by all customers involved in the fund transfer, the fund transfer application for forwards the approved funds transfers to the payment processing manager 209 for execution.

[056] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary flow of payments 300 in an embodiment. When a customer 303 authorizes a transaction (which authorization may be pre-approved) through his or her customer mobile device 102, the payment authorization is sent to the business 302 at the business’ payment facilitation device 103. The payment facilitation device 103 of the business 302 sends a payment request to the payment facilitation server 200. The payment facilitation server 200 checks the customer’s pre-paid account 304 to determine whether pre-paid funds are available. If such funds are available, a deduction is made from the customer pre-paid account 304 in the amount of the authorized payment, and a confirmation is confirmed by the payment facilitation server 200. If sufficient funds are not available in the customer pre-paid account, the account is either refilled or a direct payment request is made. In either such case, the payment facilitation server 200 sends a payment request to a payment processor 109, which are financial intermediaries like Visa and Mastercard, who process transactions on behalf of financial institutions 301 (i.e., banks). The payment processor 109 sends the payment request to a financial institution 301 at which the customer 303 has an account. The financial institution 301 receives the payment request, and sends a payment to the payment processor 109, typically along with a transaction fee. The payment processor 109 receives the payment and transaction fee, and forwards the payment to the payment facilitation server along with a portion of the transaction fee. The payment facilitation server 200 forwards the payment to the business 302, which forwards a confirmation of payment 303 to the customer, completing the transaction.

[057] Referring to Fig. 17, a block diagram representation of an example of an architecture 1700 including an embodiment of a personal food item customization system 1702 is shown. The personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to operate on a user computing device 1704. Examples of user computing devices 1704 include, but are not limited to, a mobile computing device, a cell phone, a desktop computer, and a tablet. Personal food item customization system 1702 is configured to be communicatively coupled to one or more of a health care provider system 1706, a food recipe system 1708, and a nutrition system 1710, and a restaurant food item customization system 1712 via a network 1714. Examples of the network 1714 include, but are not limited to, the Internet and a local area network.

[058] Personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to maintain a user health profile. The user health profile may include a user identifier, one or more user specific parameters, one or more user health conditions, and a user nutritional profile. Examples of user specific parameters include, but are not limited to, a user height, a user weight, and a user activity level. According to the embodiment, the user provides the food personal food item customization system 1702 with the user specific parameters via an input of the user computing device 1704.

[059] According to an embodiment, the user health condition(s) is a current user health condition. Personal food item customization system 1702 is configured to be communicatively coupled to the health care provider system 1706 via the network 1714. Health care provider system 1706 may include a health care provider server 1716 and a health care provider database 1718. The health care provider database 1718 may include user specific health records associated with the user. The user specific health records include one or more current user health conditions associated with the user. Upon authorization by the user, the personal food item customization system 1702 is configured to retrieve the current user health conditions from the health care provider system 1706. The retrieved current user health conditions are added to the user health profile at the personal food item customization system 1702.

[060] According to another embodiment, the user health condition(s) is a potential user health condition. Personal food item customization system 1702 is configured to be communicatively coupled to health care provider system 1706 via the network 1714. Health care provider system 1706 may include a health care provider server 1716 and a health care provider database 1718. Health care provider database 1718 may include user specific health records associated with the user. User-specific health records include one or more potential user health conditions associated with the user. Upon authorization by the user, personal food item customization system 1702 is configured to retrieve the potential user health conditions from the health care provider system 1706. The retrieved potential user health conditions are added to the user health profile of the personal food item customization system 1702.

[061] According to another embodiment, the user health condition(s) is a user goal-based health condition. A user provides the personal food item customization system 1702 with one or more user goal-based health conditions. For example, a user may have a user goal-based health condition to increase muscle mass. The user goal-based health condition is added to the user health profile at the personal food item customization system 1702. According to the embodiment, the user health condition(s) in the user health profile may include one or more of a current user health condition(s), a potential user health condition(s), and a user goal- based health condition(s).

[062] Personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to maintain a user nutritional profile as a part of the user health profile. A food item recipe for a food item may include one or more ingredients. Each of the ingredients typically includes one or more different nutrients having associated nutritional values. The user nutritional profile may include one or more recommended nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with different nutrients that may be present in the ingredients of food item recipes. The recommended nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with the different nutrients are specific to the user health conditions in the user health profile. [063] According to an embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to be communicatively coupled to the health care provider system 1706 via the network 1714. Health care provider system 1706 may include a health care provider server 1716 and a health care provider database 1718. Health care provider database 1718 may include recommended nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with different nutrients for individuals having specific health conditions. For example, health care provider database 1718 may include a recommended nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, for individuals having a user health condition of heart disease. Upon receipt of a user health condition at the personal food item customization system 1702, personal food item customization system 1702 retrieves the recommended nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with the nutrients that may impact the received user health condition. Retrieved nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with the different nutrients are maintained in the user nutritional profile.

[064] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to be communicatively coupled to the food recipe system 1708 via network 1714. Food recipe system 1708 may include a food recipe server 1720 and a food recipe database 1722. Food recipe database 1720 may include food item recipes for different food items. Each food item recipe may include one or more ingredients and one or more food item preparation techniques to prepare the food item. A user is provided with the option of selecting one or more food item recipes from the food recipe system 1708 for processing by the personal food item customization system 1702.

[065] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to be communicatively coupled to a nutrition system 1710. Nutrition system 1710 may include a nutrition server 1724 and a nutrition database 1726. A food item recipe for a food item may include one or more ingredients. Each of the ingredients in a food item recipe typically includes one or more different nutrients. Nutrition database 1726 may include nutritional values for different nutrients that may be present in different ingredients. For example, a food item recipe may include an egg as an ingredient. Eggs include a nutrient cholesterol and the nutritional value for the nutrient, cholesterol, in an egg is 186 mg. Upon the selection of a food item recipe for a food item by a user, the personal food item customization system 1702 identifies the ingredients in the food item recipe and retrieves the nutritional values associated with the different nutrients present in the identified ingredients from the nutrition system 1710. Personal food item customization system 1702 extracts the nutrient values for the nutrients associated with the nutritional parameter ranges associated with the different nutrients that are maintained in the user nutritional profile.

[066] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to be communicatively coupled to a restaurant food item customization system 1712 via network 1714. Restaurant food item customization system 1712 may be associated with a restaurant and may include a restaurant server 1728 and a restaurant database 1730. Restaurant food item customization system 1712 maintains customer specific restaurant profiles for customers of the restaurant, the restaurant food items served at the restaurant, the restaurant food item recipes of each of the restaurant food items served at the restaurant, and the ingredients in each of the restaurant food item recipes. Upon authorization by a customer, the user computing device 1704 establishes a communication channel with restaurant food item customization system 1712 and provides restaurant food item customization system 1712 with one or more elements of the user health profile for addition to the customer specific restaurant profile for the user.

[067] According to another embodiment, restaurant food item customization system 1712 may utilize the received elements of the user health profile to provide the user with a restaurant food item list identifying the restaurant food items that fall within the nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with the nutrients defined in the user health profile via the personal food item customization system 1702. Restaurant food item customization system 1712 may utilize the received user health profile to provide the user with a restaurant food item fist identifying the restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant to place the restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with the nutrients defined in the user health profile via personal food item customization system 1702.

[068] According to another embodiment, each of the customer specific restaurant profiles at restaurant food item customization system 1712 may include a fist of previously ordered restaurant food item. Restaurant food item customization system 1712 utilizes the received elements of the user health profile to provide the user with the list of previously ordered restaurant food items identifying the specific previously ordered restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant to place the restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter range for the nutritional values associated with the nutrients defined in the user health profile via personal food item customization system 1702. [069] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to receive pre-meal user biometric data prior to the consumption of a food item prepared in accordance with a user specific food item recipe generated by personal food item customization system 1702 and receive a post-meal user biometric data following the consumption of the food item prepared in accordance with the user specific food item recipe. Personal food item customization system 1702 may provide feedback regarding changes in the user biometric data thereby enabling a user to determine whether the user specific food item recipe has accommodated the user health condition(s) detailed in the user health profile.

[070] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to receive user biometric data. Personal food item customization system 1702 determines whether the received user biometric data warrants updating one or more nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with the nutrients in the user health profile in order to better accommodate a user heath condition. Personal food item customization system 1702 updates one or more of the nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with the nutrients in the user health profile based on the determination.

[071] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to make recommendations to a user regarding food purchases based on the user health condition profile. Personal food item customization system 1702 may be configured to track food purchases and make recommendations regarding substitute food purchases based on a user provided food budget.

[072] While an architecture 1700 including an embodiment of a personal food item customization system 1702 including one or more of a health care provider system 1706, food recipe system 1708, and a nutrition system 1710, and a restaurant food item customization system 1712 has been described, the architecture 1700 may include additional components that facilitate the operation of the personal food item customization system

1702.

[073] Referring now to Fig. 18, an example of a user computing device 1704 including an embodiment of a personal food item customization system 1702 is shown. User computing device 1704 may include a processor 1800, a memory 1802, at least one input interface 1804, at least one network interface 1806, and at least one output interface 1808. Processor 1800 may be communicatively coupled to the memory 1802, the at least one input interface 1804, the at least one network interface 1806 and the at least one output interface 1808. According to an embodiment, the memory 1802 may include the personal food item customization system 1702 described previously (referring to Fig. 17). While a number of different components of a user computing device 1704 have been described, user computing device 1704 may include additional components that facilitate operation of user computing device 1704.

[074] Personal food item customization system 1702 may include one or more of a user health profile manager 1810, the user health profile 1812, a nutritional profile generator 1814, a food item recipe ingredient manager 1816, a food item preparation technique manager 1818, a user specific food item recipe repository 1820, a restaurant food item manager 1822, a biometric data manager 1824, a food purchase manager 1826, and a food budget manager 1828. In an embodiment, the personal food item customization system 1702 may include the user health profile manager 1810, the user health profile 1812, a nutritional profile generator 1814, the food item recipe ingredient manager 1816, the food item preparation technique manager 1818, the user specific food item recipe repository 1820, and the restaurant food item manager 1822. The personal food item customization system 1702 may include additional components that facilitate the operation of the personal food item customization system 1702.

[075] User health profile manager 1810 generates the user health profile 1812 and manages updates to the user health profile 1812. User health profile 1812 may include the user identifier, one or more user specific parameters, one or more user health conditions, and the user nutritional profile. Upon the initiation of personal food customization system 1702, user health profile manager 1810 prompts the user to enter a user identifier and user specific parameters. An example of a user identifier is a name of the user. Examples of user specific parameters include but are not limited to user height, user weight, and user activity level. The user health profile manager 1810 generates the user health profile using the user identifier and the user specific parameters.

[076] According to an embodiment, upon authorization by the user, user health profile manager 1810 may establish a communication channel with the health care provider system 1706. Health care provider database 1718 may include user specific health records associated with the user. The user specific health records include one or more user health conditions associated with the user. In an embodiment, the one or more user health conditions include one or more current user health conditions. Current user health conditions may, for example, be health conditions that have already been diagnosed by a health care professional. Examples of current user health conditions include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and allergies. User health profile manager 1810 retrieves the current user health conditions in the user specific health records from health care provider system 1706 and adds the retrieved current user health conditions to user health profile 1812 at the personal food item customization system 1702.

[077] According to another embodiment, one or more user health conditions may include potential user health conditions. Potential user health conditions may, for example, be health conditions that the user may have at some time in the future. Potential user health conditions may be based on a family history. Examples of potential user health conditions include, but are not limited to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. User health profile manager 1810 retrieves the potential user health conditions in the user specific health records from the health care provider system 1706 and adds the retrieved potential user health conditions to the user health profile 1812 at personal food item customization system 1702.

[078] According to another embodiment, one or more user health conditions may include user goal-based health conditions. User goal-based health conditions may, for example, be based on target health conditions that the user wishes to reach. For example, a user may have a user goal-based health condition to increase muscle mass. User health profile manager 1810 prompts the user to enter one or more user goal-based health conditions. The user provides one or more user goal-based health conditions. The user health profile manager 1810 adds the received one or more user goal-based health conditions to the user health profile 1812.

[079] User health profile 1810 may include a user nutritional profile. Nutritional profile generator 1814 generates user nutritional profile and manages updates to the user nutritional profile. A food item recipe for a food item may include one or more ingredients. Each of the ingredients typically includes one or more different nutrients having associated nutritional values. The user nutritional profile may include one or more recommended nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with different nutrients that may be present in the ingredients of food item recipes. The recommended nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with the different nutrients are specific to the user health conditions in the user health profile 1812. [080] According to another embodiment, health care provider database 1718 of the health care provider system 1706 may include recommended nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with different nutrients for individuals having specific health conditions. For example, the health care provider database 1718 may include a recommended nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, for individuals having a health condition of heart disease. Upon the receipt of a user health condition at the user health profile 1812, the nutritional profile generator 1814 establishes a communication channel with the health care provider system 1706 and retrieves the recommended nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with the nutrients that may impact the received user health condition from the health care provider system 1706. Nutritional profile generator 1814 adds the retrieved nutritional parameter ranges for the nutritional values associated with the different nutrients to the user nutritional profile. The user nutritional profile maintains a fisting of the nutrients that have been identified as potentially impacting the one or more user health conditions in the user health profile 1812.

[081] According to another embodiment, food recipe system 1708 may include the food recipe server 1720 and the food recipe database 1722. The food recipe database 1722 may include food item recipes for different food items. Each food item recipe may include one or more ingredients and one or more food item preparation techniques to prepare the food item. The user is provided with the option of selecting one or more food items from the food recipe system 1708 via the user computing device 1704. The food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 receives the food item recipe for the user selected food item.

[082] Upon receipt of a food item recipe associated with the user selected food item from food recipe system 1708, food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 retrieves the list of nutrients that may potentially impact the one or more health conditions from the user nutritional profile. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 determines whether any of the ingredients in the received food item recipe includes one of more of nutrients in the retrieved list of nutrients. If the food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 identifies one or more ingredients in the food item recipe that includes a nutrient from the list of nutrients, the food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 retrieves the nutritional parameter range for the nutrient from the user nutritional profile.

[083] For example, a user having a user health condition of heart disease in a user health profile 1812 may select a pan seared strip steak as a food item from food recipe system 1708. The ingredients in the food item recipe for the food item, pan seared strip steak, may include an 8 oz portion of strip steak, salt, pepper, and four tablespoons of butter. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 retrieves the list of nutrients from the user nutritional profile. The user nutritional profile may include cholesterol as a nutrient that may potentially impact the user health condition of heart disease and may include a recommended nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, for individuals having a health condition of heart disease. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 identifies ingredients, an 8 oz portion of strip steak and the four tablespoons of butter, as including the nutrient cholesterol. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 may determine that the 8 oz potion of strip steak has a nutritional value of 130 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, and that the four tablespoons of butter has a nutritional value of 124 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, thereby bringing the total nutritional value for the nutrient, cholesterol, for the food item recipe for the food item, pan seared strip steak to 254 mg. The food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 determines that the nutritional value of 254 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, falls outside of the retrieved nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg.

[084] Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 may then modify one or more of the ingredients in the food item recipe that includes the nutrient that places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient and generates a user specific food item recipe for the food item. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 replaces the one or more of the ingredients in the food item recipe that includes the nutrient that places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient with a substitute ingredient and generates a user specific food item recipe for the food item. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 stores the user specific food item recipe including the modified one or more ingredients in the user specific food item recipe repository 1820.

[085] As another example, with respect to the food item recipe for the food item, pan seared strip steak, food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 may replace the four tablespoons of butter with a substitute ingredient of four tablespoons of olive oil. The user specific food item recipe for the pan seared strip steak would have a nutritional value of 130 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, and fall within the nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg. The food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 stores the user specific food item recipe for the food item, pan seared strip steak, in the user specific food item recipe repository 1820. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 may reduce the amount of one or more of the ingredients in the food item recipe that includes the nutrient that places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient and generates a user specific food item recipe for the food item. The food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 stores the user specific food item recipe including the reduced amounts of the one or more ingredients in the user specific food item recipe repository 1820.

[086] As another example, with respect to a food item recipe for a food item, pan seared strip steak, food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 may reduce the portion of the strip steak from an 8 oz portion to 4 oz portion, thereby reducing the nutritional value for the nutrient, cholesterol, in the strip steak portion from 130 mg to 65 mg and generate a user specific food item recipe for the pan seared strip steak. The user specific food item recipe for the pan seared strip steak would have a nutritional value of 189 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, and fall within the nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 may store the user specific food item recipe for the food item, pan seared strip steak, in the user specific food item recipe repository 1820.

[087] According to another embodiment, food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 determines whether addition of a potential ingredient positively impacts a user health condition in the user health profile. If food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 determines that the addition of a specific ingredient may positively impacts the user health condition, food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 adds the potential ingredient to the ingredients in the food item recipe and generates a user specific food item recipe for the food item. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 stores the user specific food item recipe including the potential ingredient in a user specific food item recipe repository 1820.

[088] For example, consumption of avocados may lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and positively impact a user health condition of heath disease. With respect to the above example of a food item recipe for the food item, pan seared strip steak, Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 may add avocado as a potential ingredient to the food item recipe to be served as a topping for the pan seared strip steak and generate a user specific food item recipe. Food item recipe ingredient manager 1816 stores the user specific food item recipe including avocado as a potential ingredient in the user specific food item recipe repository 1820.

[089] According to another embodiment, upon the receipt of the food item recipe associated with the user selected food item from food recipe system 1708, food item preparation technique manager 1818 retrieves the fist of nutrients that may potentially impact the one or more user health conditions from the user nutritional profile. Food item preparation technique manager 1818 determines whether the food item preparation technique used to prepare the food item involves a nutrient on the retrieved list of nutrients. If food item preparation technique manager 1818 determines that the food item preparation technique used to prepare the food item involves a nutrient from the retrieved fist of nutrients, food item preparation technique manager 1818 retrieves the nutritional parameter range for the nutrient from the user nutritional profile. Food item preparation technique manager 1818 modifies the food item preparation technique for the food item to bring the nutrient in the food item within the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient and generates a user specific food item recipe incorporating the modified food item preparation technique. Food item preparation technique manager 1818 stores the user specific food item recipe including the modified food item preparation technique in a user specific food item recipe repository 1820.

[090] As another example, a user having a user health condition of heart disease in their respective user health profile 1812 may select a pan seared strip steak as a food item from the food recipe system 1708. Food item preparation technique manager 1818 may determine that the 8 oz potion of strip steak having a nutritional value of 130 mg for the nutrient cholesterol is seared in a pan with four tablespoons of butter having a nutritional value of 124 mg for the nutrient cholesterol thereby bringing the total nutritional value for the nutrient cholesterol for the food item, the pan seared strip steak to 254 mg. Food item preparation technique manager 218 may determine that the nutritional value of 254 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, falls outside of the retrieved nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg and may recommends a modified food item preparation technique of broiling the strip steak in the oven and generate a user specific food item recipe with the modified food item preparation technique for the pan seared strip steak. The user specific food item recipe for the broiled strip steak would have a nutritional value of 130 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol and fall within the nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg. Food item preparation technique manager 1818 stores the user specific food item recipe for the food item pan seared strip steak with the modified food item preparation technique, broiling, in the user specific food item recipe repository 1820.

[091] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may include a restaurant food item manager 1822. Restaurant food item manager 1822 enables a user to coordinate with a restaurant food item customization system 1712 via the user computing device 1704 to place an order for restaurant food items that accommodate the user health condition(s). Restaurant food item customization system 1712 is associated with a specific restaurant.

[092] Referring now to Fig. 19, an embodiment of a restaurant food item customization system 1712 is shown. Restaurant food item customization system 1712 may include a processor 1900, a memory 1902, at least one network interface 1904, and a restaurant database 1906. The processor 1900 is communicatively coupled to the memory 1902, the at least one network interface 1904 and the restaurant database 1906. Restaurant food item customization system 1712 may also include one or more of an at least one input interface 1908 and at least one output interface 1910. The processor 1900 is communicatively coupled to one or more of the at least one input interface 1908 and the at least one output interface 1910. According to a preferred embodiment, the memory 1902 may include a customer profile manager 1912 and a restaurant food item coordinator 1914. A listing of the restaurant food items available for order at the restaurant, the restaurant food item recipes for ach of the restaurant food items, the ingredients in each of the restaurant food item recipes and customer specific restaurant profiles for restaurant customers are stored in the restaurant database 1906. While a number of different components of the restaurant food item customization system 1712 have been described, the restaurant food item customization system 1712 may include additional components that facilitate the operation of the restaurant food item customization system 1712.

[093] Referring to Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, upon authorization by a user, restaurant food item manager 1822 of personal food item customization system 1702 may establish a communication channel with a restaurant food item customization system 1712. Restaurant food item manager 1822 transmits one or more elements of the user profile associated with the user to the restaurant food item customization system 1712. The user profile may include the user identifier, the one or more user specific parameters, one or more user health conditions and the user nutritional profile. In an embodiment, the restaurant food item manager 1822 transmits the user identifier and the user nutritional profile to restaurant food item customization system 1712. The customer profile manager 1912 at the restaurant food item customization system 1712 receives the user identifier and the user nutritional profile and creates a customer specific restaurant profile. The customer profile manager 1912 stores the user identifier and the user nutritional profile for the user in the customer specific profile associated with the user at the restaurant database 1906. [094] According to another embodiment, upon authorization by a user, when the user computing device 1704 detects that the user has entered the restaurant associated with the restaurant food item customization system 1712, personal food item customization system 1702 establishes a communication channel with the restaurant food item customization system 1712. Restaurant food item manager 1822 issues a request to the restaurant food item customization system 1712 for a list of the restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall within the nutritional parameter range defined in the previously submitted user nutritional profile. Restaurant food item coordinator 1914 of restaurant food item customization system 1712 receives the request and responsively accesses a customer specific restaurant profile for the user stored at the restaurant database 1906. The customer specific restaurant profile may include the user nutritional profile. Restaurant food item coordinator 1914 retrieves the list of restaurant food items from the restaurant database 1906 and identifies the restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall within the nutritional parameter ranges defined in the user nutritional profile. Restaurant customer food item customization system 1712 transmits the identified restaurant food items to the user computing device 1704. Restaurant food item manager 1822 of the personal food item customization system 1702 receives the identified restaurant food items and provides a listing of the identified restaurant food items via a display associated with the user computing device 1704.

[095] According to another embodiment, upon authorization by a user, when the user computing device 1704 detects that the user has entered the restaurant associated with a restaurant food item customization system 1712, personal food item customization system 1702 establishes a communication channel with restaurant food item customization system 1712. Restaurant food item manager 1822 issues a request to the food item customization system 1712 for a fist of the restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall outside of the nutritional parameter range defined in the previously submitted user nutritional profile that can be modified by the restaurant to place the restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter range. Restaurant food item coordinator 1914 of the restaurant food item customization system 1712 receives the request and responsively accesses the customer specific restaurant profile for the user stored at the restaurant database 1906. The customer specific restaurant profile for the user may include the user nutritional profile. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 retrieves the list of restaurant food items from the restaurant database 1906 and identifies the restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall outside the nutritional parameter ranges defined in the user nutritional profile. Restaurant food item coordinator 1914 identifies the restaurant food items from the retrieved fist of restaurant food items including one or more of the ingredients that can be modified to bring the restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter ranges defined in the user nutritional profile. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 modifies one or more of the ingredients that place the each of the identified food item outside of the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient and generates a modified restaurant food item recipe for each of the identified the restaurant food item. The restaurant food item customization system 1712 transmits the fist of the restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant to place the food item within the nutritional parameter range to the user computing device 1704. The restaurant food item manager 1822 of the personal food item customization system 1702 receives the list of the restaurant food items and provides a listing of the fisting of the restaurant food items via a display associated with the user computing device 1704.

[096] For example, a user health profile 1812 for a customer may include a user health condition of heart disease. The user nutritional profile may specify that the nutrient, cholesterol, may have a recommended nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg for individuals having a health condition of heart disease. Upon the transmission of the user identifier and the user nutritional profile from the restaurant food item manager 1822 of the personal food item customization system 1702 to restaurant food item customization system 1712, the customer profile manager 1912 at the restaurant food item customization system 1712 creates a customer specific restaurant profile for the user and stores the user identifier and the user nutritional profile specifying a recommended nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, for the user in the customer specific restaurant profile at the restaurant database 1906. One of the restaurant food items may be a pan seared strip steak. The ingredients in the food item recipe for the restaurant food item, pan seared strip steak, may include an 8 oz portion of strip steak, salt, pepper, and four tablespoons of butter. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 identifies the ingredients, the 8 oz portion of strip steak and the four tablespoons of butter as including the nutrient, cholesterol. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 determines that the 8 oz potion of strip steak has a nutritional value of 130 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, and that the four tablespoons of butter has a nutritional value of 124 mg for the nutrient cholesterol thereby bringing the total nutritional value for the nutrient, cholesterol, for the restaurant food item recipe for the restaurant food item, pan seared strip steak to 254 mg. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 determines that the nutritional value of 254 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol, falls outside of the retrieved nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg.

[097] According to another embodiment, restaurant food item coordinator 1914 may replace one or more of the ingredients in the restaurant food item recipe that includes the nutrient that places the restaurant food item outside of the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient and generates a modified restaurant food item recipe for the restaurant food item. For example, with respect to the exemplary restaurant food item recipe above for the restaurant food item, pan seared strip steak, restaurant food item coordinator 1914 may replace the four tablespoons of butter with a substitute ingredient of four tablespoons of olive oil. The modified restaurant food item recipe for the pan seared strip steak would have a nutritional value of 130 mg for the nutrient cholesterol and fall within the nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg.

[098] According to another embodiment, restaurant food item coordinator 1914 may reduce the amount of one or more of the ingredients in the restaurant food item recipe that includes the nutrient that places the restaurant food item outside of the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient and generates a modified restaurant food item recipe for the restaurant food item. For example, with respect to the exemplary restaurant food item recipe above for the restaurant food item, pan seared strip steak, restaurant food item coordinator 1914 may reduce the portion of the strip steak from an 8 oz portion to 4 oz portion, thereby reducing the nutritional value for the nutrient, cholesterol, in the strip steak portion from 130 mg to 65 mg and generate a modified restaurant food item recipe for the pan seared strip steak. The modified restaurant food item recipe for the pan seared strip steak would have a nutritional value of 189 mg for the nutrient, cholesterol and fall within the nutritional parameter range of 0 mg to 200 mg.

[099] According to another embodiment, upon authorization by a user, the customer profile manager 1912 may maintain a fist of previously ordered restaurant food items in the customer specific restaurant profile. When the user places an order for one or more restaurant food items at the restaurant, the user identifier and a fist of the ordered restaurant food items are entered into the restaurant food item customization system 1712. The list of ordered restaurant food items is entered by restaurant personnel via an input device that is communicatively coupled to the restaurant food item customization system 1712 via an input interface 1908. The user identifier and the fist of restaurant food items is received by the customer profile manager 1912. Customer profile manager 1912 uses the user identifier to locate the customer specific restaurant profile for the user and adds the list of restaurant food items to the list of previously ordered restaurant food items for the user.

[100] According to another embodiment, upon authorization by a user, when the user computing device 1704 detects that the user has entered the restaurant associated with the restaurant food item customization system 1712, personal food item customization system 1702 establishes a communication channel with restaurant food item customization system 1712. Restaurant food item manager 1822 issues a request to the restaurant customer food item customization system 1712 for a list of previously ordered the restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall outside of the nutritional parameter range defined in the previously submitted user nutritional profile that can be modified by the restaurant to place the restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter range. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 of the restaurant customer food item customization system 1712 receives the request and responsively accesses the customer specific restaurant profile for the user stored at the restaurant database 1906. The customer specific restaurant profile may include the user nutritional profile for the user. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 retrieves the list of previously ordered restaurant food items from the customer specific user profile stored at the restaurant database 1906 and identifies the previously ordered restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall outside the nutritional parameter ranges defined in the user nutritional profile. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 identifies the previously ordered restaurant food items from the retrieved list of restaurant food items including one or more of the ingredients that can be modified to bring the restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter ranges defined in the user nutritional profile. The restaurant food item coordinator 1914 modifies one or more of the ingredients that place the each of the identified food items outside of the nutritional parameter range for that nutrient and generates a modified restaurant food item recipe for each of the identified previously ordered restaurant food items. The restaurant food item customization system 1712 transmits the fist of the previously ordered restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant to place the restaurant food item within the nutritional parameter range to the user computing device 1704. The restaurant food item manager 1822 of the personal food item customization system 1702 receives the list of the modifiable previously ordered restaurant food items and provides the listing of the modifiable previously ordered restaurant food items via a display associated with the user computing device 1704.

[101] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may include a biometric data manager 1824. According to the embodiment, the user computing device 1704 is configured to be communicatively coupled to a biometric sensor.

In an embodiment the user computing device 1704 may include a biometric sensor. The biometric data manager 1824 receives user biometric data sensed by the biometric sensor. User biometric data may be entered by the user via an input device communicatively coupled to the input interface 1804. The entered user biometric data is received by the biometric data manager 1824.

[102] According to another embodiment, the user may initiate sensing of pre-meal user biometric data by the biometric sensor prior to consumption of a food item prepared in accordance with a user specific food item recipe generated by the personal food item customization system 1702. The user may use an external biometric data sensor to sense the pre-meal user biometric data and enters the sensed pre-meal user biometric data into the personal food item customization system 1702. Biometric data manager 1824 receives the pre-meal user biometric data.

[103] According to another embodiment, the user may initiate sensing of post-meal user biometric data by the biometric sensor following consumption of the food item prepared in accordance with the user specific food item recipe generated by the personal food item customization system 1702. The user may use an external biometric data sensor to sense the post-meal user biometric data and enters the post-meal user biometric data into the personal food item customization system 1702. Biometric data manager 1824 receives the post-meal user biometric data.

[104] Biometric data manager 1824 compares the pre-meal user biometric data with a pre meal biometric data threshold and compares the post-meal user biometric data with a post meal biometric data threshold. Biometric data manager 1824 provides feedback regarding the user biometric data thereby enabling a user to determine whether the user specific food item recipe has accommodated the user health condition(s) detailed in the user health profile. Biometric data manager 1824 provides the user with feedback via a display communicatively coupled to the input interface of the user computing device 1704. [105] For example, a user may have a user health condition of diabetes. The user biometric data may be blood glucose levels. The recommended pre-meal blood glucose levels may be between 80 and 130 mg/ dL (4.4 and 7.2 mmol/L). The recommended post-meal blood glucose levels may be less than 180 mg/ dL (10.0 mmol/L) two hours after the meal. Biometric data manager 1824 receive the pre-meal blood glucose level may perform a first comparison of the pre-meal blood glucose level to the recommended range of 80 and 130 mg/dL (4.4 and 7.2 mmol/L). Biometric data manager 1824 may receive the post-meal blood glucose level and may perform a second comparison of the post-meal blood glucose level to determine whether the post-meal blood glucose level is below the recommended level of 180 mg/ dL (10.0 mmol/L). Biometric data manager 1824 provides feedback regarding the pre-meal blood glucose level and the post-meal blood glucose level to the user based on the first and second comparisons thereby enabling the user to determine whether the user specific food item recipe has accommodated the user health condition of diabetes.

[106] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 is configured to receive user biometric data. Personal food item customization system 1702 determines whether the received user biometric data warrants updating one or more nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with the nutrients in the user health profile in order to better accommodate a user heath condition. Personal food item customization system 1702 updates one or more of the nutritional parameter ranges for nutritional values associated with the nutrients in the user health profile based on the determination.

[107] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may include a food purchase manager 1826. Food purchase manager 1826 maintains a user food purchase history. The user food purchase history may include a history of ingredients purchased by a user at, for example, a grocery store. According to the embodiment, upon authorization by the user, the user computing device 1704 detects when a user enters a grocery store. The personal food item customization system 1702 establishes a communication channel with a grocery store system and receives a list of ingredients purchased by the user upon completion of a food purchase transaction at the grocery store.

[108] When a user is shopping, the user may provide a main ingredient that the user wishes to use in a food item recipe to the personal food item customization system 1702 via the user computing device 1704. The main ingredient is received by the food purchase manager 1826. The food purchase manager 1826 retrieves the user specific food item recipes that includes the main ingredient from the user specific food item recipe repository 1820. The food purchase manager 1826 compares the ingredients in each of the retrieved user specific food item recipes with the ingredients in the user food purchase history. The food purchase manager 1826 identifies the user specific food item recipe that includes the highest percentage of ingredients in the user food purchase history. The food purchase manager 1826 recommends the purchase of the ingredients in the identified user specific food item recipe.

[109] According to another embodiment, personal food item customization system 1702 may include a food budget manager 1828. The user may provide a budget amount the user has budgeted for the purchase of grocery items for use as ingredients to prepare food items at, for example, a grocery store. Food budget manager 1828 enables a user to track ingredient purchases to ensure that the user stays within the budget amount. In an embodiment, upon authorization by a user, food purchase manager 1826 establishes a communication channel with the grocery store system. Grocery store system provides the food budget manager 1828 with a fist of the grocery items that are available for purchase at the grocery store and the grocery item price for each of the grocery items.

[110] According to another embodiment, as a user selects grocery items for purchase, the user provides a food budget manager 1828 with a grocery item identifier associated with the selected grocery item via the user computing device 1704. According to the embodiment, each of the grocery items may include bar code. The user computing device 1704 may include a bar code recognizer. The user scans the bar code for the grocery item using the user computing device 1704. The scanned bar code is received by the food budget manager 1828. The food budget manager 1828 maintains a running total of the sum of the grocery item prices associated with each of the grocery items selected by the user. The food budget manager 1828 compares the running total with the budget amount and provides an alert to the user via the user computing device 1704 when the running total reaches or exceeds the budget amount.

[111] According to another embodiment, a grocery store system provides a food budget manager 1828 with the nutrients and the values of the nutrients present in each of the fist of the grocery items that are available for purchase at the grocery store. The food budget manager 1828 retrieves the user nutritional profile from the user health profile 1812. The user nutritional profile may include the nutrient(s)s that may impact the user health condition(s). Upon the selection of a grocery item by a user, the food budget manager 1828 determines whether the selected grocery items include nutrient(s) that are detailed in the user nutritional profile. In an embodiment, if the food budget manager 1828 determines one or more of the nutrient(s) detailed in the nutritional profile is present in the selected grocery item, the food budget manager 1828 identifies substitute grocery items that do not include the nutrient(s) in the user nutritional profile or a relatively lower amount of the nutrient(s) in the use nutritional profile for purchase. In an embodiment, if the food budget manager 1828 identifies multiple substitute grocery items that that do not include the nutrient(s) in the user nutritional profile or a relatively lower amount of the nutrient(s) in the use nutritional profile, the food budget manager 1828 recommends the substitute grocery item from the identified multiple substitute grocery items having the lowest grocery item price.

Detailed Description of xemplary Aspects

[112] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary business/ customer interaction 400 and showing an exemplary screenshot. In this example, a customer 401 (who already has an account and registered device 402 at a business establishment) makes an order. The customer’s device 402 and the payment facilitation device 103 detect each other and establish a connection when the customer 401 enters the business establishment. The customer’s photograph 403 is displayed on the business’ payment facilitation device 103, along with the customer’s information 404 and order details 405. An employee of the business clicks on the customer photograph 403 to confirm the identity of the customer 401. Once confirmed, the customer device 402 automatically approves payment and receives confirmation of the payment without the customer having the handle the device 402. The customer device 402 may remain in the customer’s pocket, purse, backpack, etc., and does not have to be removed to complete the transaction.

[113] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary bill splitting feature 500 and showing an exemplary screenshot. In this example, three customers, Bob 501, Sally 503, andjoe 505, each with their respective mobile devices 502, 504, and 506, have a meal together at a restaurant and want to split the bill among themselves. Each customer’s mobile device has a bill splitting application installed on it, which shows a copy of the bill and the customers who dined together. For example, Bob’s 501 mobile device 502 shows the bill information 507 for the group on the left-hand side of his screen, and a window for himself 508, a window for Sally 509, and window for Joe 510 on the right side. The mobile devices 504, 506 of Sally 503 andjoe 505 show similar screens. The windows 508, 509, 510, each show a photo (or other representation) of the customer, a space for allocating items from the bill, and a total of the items allocated to that customer. As each customer, on his or her respective mobile device 502, 504, 506, allocates food and drink items from the bill information 507 by clicking on them and dragging them to the window of a person on the right, the allocation of those food and drink items appears in the window of the person to whom the item has been allocated, as indicated by the arrows. For example, the risotto Milanese and white wine have been allocated to Bob (either by Bob or by one of the other two customers), a total due from Bob of $26 is shown, and this information is updated on all three mobile devices 502, 504, 506. Once all three customers 501, 503, 505 approve the allocation, each person’s mobile device 502, 504, 506 processes the payment for the amount allocated to that customer. In some embodiments, unallocated items may be automatically split among the customers in the group.

[114] Fig. 6 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for registration of a customer’s mobile device and order placement. When a customer calls restaurant a first time to place an order 601, the customer’s telephone number is captured using UC telephony equipment, and additional customer information is gathered and entered into database by an employee of the business 602. The customer than makes his or her order and the order is completed 603. Each time the customer makes a subsequent call to same business to place an order 604, the customer’s telephone number is captured using UC telephone equipment, and the customer’s information is retrieved from a customer database using a customer identification application 605. The customer than makes his or her order and the order is completed 606 without the customer having to provide his or her information. The same procedure is used when a customer physically enters a business establishment, except that the registration is performed in person.

[115] Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for zero-step authentication and completion of a transaction. When a customer enters a business establishment 701, the customer's wireless device and business payment facilitation device detect each other and automatically establish connection 702. The business payment facilitation device retrieves the customer device identifier (ID) and uses the customer device ID to retrieve customer information from customer information database located on a payment facilitation server 703. The business payment facilitation device displays customer's photo and information to a restaurant employee, who confirms customer's identity by clicking on the photo of the customer 704. The customer the places an order 705. When the order is placed, the business payment facilitation devices ends payment details to payment facilitation server, which either deducts amount from customer's pre-paid account balance or sends charge to payment processors 706. Optionally, an additional security step may be inserted wherein the customer's wireless device receives and displays a request for confirmation of the order from the business CIP device and the customer clicks on the displayed request to confirm the order 707. Finally, the customer’s order is completed 708.

[116] Fig. 8 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for establishment of an account and pre-authorization of payments. First, a customer establishes and account using his or her customer mobile device and provides payment details (e.g., credit card, debit card, bank details for ACH, etc.) 801. The customer then sets automatic an account payment limit, a refill limit, and a refill amount 802. For example, the customer may set a payment limit for each transaction at $50, a refill limit (i.e., minimum account balance below which the account will be automatically refilled) of $10, and a refill amount of $100. The customer may choose to have such payments sent automatically without handling his or her mobile device (zero-step authentication) 803 or may choose to authorize each payment individually using his or her mobile device 804. A customer account management application funds the account in the amount of the refill amount using payment details 805. Thus, in this example, the customer has pre-authorized payments of up to $50 per transaction, and pre-authorized the system to automatically refill his account from the customer’s financial institution (or credit card) in the amount of $100 whenever the account balance falls below $10. When the customer places an order, the customer account management application checks account balance, deducts an amount equal to the order for the order (after confirmation, if required), and refills account balance using payment information if the account balance falls below the refill limit 806.

[117] Fig. 9 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for bill splitting among customers. Each customer mobile device runs an application that shows nearby customer devices also using the payment system 901. Customers dining together form a group by selecting one another (or accepting a group formation created by one or more of them) 902. Each customer's device displays a copy of the itemized bill on one side of the screen, and a photo (or other representational image) of each other customer in the group on the other side of the screen 903. One or more of the customers in the group assigns payment by clicking and dragging items from the itemized bill to the photo (or image) of the customer responsible for paying for that item 904. When the group is finished assigning payments, each customer approves his/her proposed payment assignments, with unassigned items being distributed equally among the customers in the group 905. After all customers in the group have approved their payment assignments, the payment system processes payments from each customer's account according to the approved payment assignments 906.

[118] Fig. 10 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for funds transfer among customers. Each customer mobile device runs an application that shows nearby customer devices also using the payment system 1001. Customers wishing to exchange funds form a group by selecting one another (or accepting a group formation created by one or more of them) 1002. Each customer's device displays a photo (or other representational image) of each other customer in the group 1003. One or more of the customers in the group proposes a fund transfer by clicking and dragging from one customer to another, creating an arrow between that pair of customers in the group indicating a direction of transfer, and enters an amount of funds to be transferred 1004. When the group is finished proposing fund transfers, each customer approves his/her proposed fund transfer(s) 1005. After all customers in the group have approved their proposed transfers, the payment system processes payments from each customer's account according to the approved fund transfers 1006.

[119] Fig. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system architecture for a zero- step authentication system using biometric authentication. A facial scanner 1510 such as a digital camera and Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”), or a digital camera connected to a personal computer, tablet, phone, or other computing device with appropriate software, may be connected to either or both of the internet 1530 or a local network 1540, sending authentication requests and video or image data, and receiving either a success or failure message, or a percentage similarity message regarding the match chance of a given customer to a stored set of data, from a biometrics verification server hosted over the internet 1531 or one hosted locally 1541. A voice scanner 1520 may operate similarly but rather than operating with a digital camera, the voice scanner 1520 operates with a microphone that may or may not be part of a digital camera (such as an embedded webcam that may be used for both the facial scanner 1510 as well as the voice scanner 1520), and may be connected to a separate ASIC or personal computer, tablet, phone, or other computing device, or may be connected to the same computing device that the facial scanner 1510 is connected to. The voice scanner 1520 may also, in a separate or in a joined network connection with the facial scanner 1510, be connected over either or both of the internet 1530 and a local network 1540 to a remote or local biometrics verification server 1531, 1541, for the purposes of sending received biometrics data including voice data to the servers, and receiving back a match to a user in the server’s datastores. A singular or plurality of payment processors 1550 are accessible by either or both of the biometrics scanners 1510, 1520 and accompanying computer systems as applicable, such as VISA™, MASTERCARD™, PAYPAL™, or others, to allow the verification and execution of customer purchases with a payment facilitation server 200 as described in Fig. 2. An authorization generator 1560 retreives customer account preferences, customer history, and restaurant sales information (e.g. restaurant average ticket amount) and determines the amount of money that should be pre-authorized for transactional purposes using subsets of the retrieved data as inputs into a machine learned predictive algotrithm.

[120] Fig. 16 is a flow diagram showing the steps of an exemplary method for zero-step authentication using biometrics and completion of a transaction. When a customer enters a business establishment 1605, the customer's wireless device and business payment facilitation device detect each other and automatically establish connection 1610. The business payment facilitation device retrieves the customer device identifier (ID) and uses the customer device ID to retrieve customer information from customer information database located on a payment facilitation server 1615. The customer may speak verbally upon entering the restaurant or otherwise coming within sufficient range of a voice detection system, whether it is passive and unintrusive or the customer is encouraged such as from a sign in the doorway saying “please speak,” either to themselves, to the host or hostess, to another member of their party, or to someone or something else 1615. This speech, or the customer’s face as scanned passively without the user initiating any step of authentication themselves from a facial scanner, or some combination of the two, may then be utilized to match the customer’s biometrics to data stored in a customer information database 1620 either locally or over the Internet. The customer the places an order 1625. When the order is placed, the business payment facilitation devices ends payment details to payment facilitation server, which either deducts amount from customer's pre-paid account balance or sends charge to payment processors 1630. Optionally, an additional security step may be inserted wherein the customer's wireless device receives and displays a request for confirmation of the order from the business CIP device and the customer clicks on the displayed request to confirm the order 1635. Finally, the customer’s order is completed 1640.

[121] Referring now to Fig. 20, a flow diagram representation of an example of a method 2000 of customizing a food item recipe for a food item using an embodiment of a personal food item customization system 1702 is shown. A personal food item customization system 1702 creates a user health profile 1812 at 2002. The user health profile 1812 may include a user identifier, user specific parameters, one or more user health conditions, and a user nutritional profile. The user provides the user identifier and the use specific parameters to the personal food item customization system 1702 via the user computing device 1704.

[122] The personal food item customization system 1702 retrieves the user health condition(s) and recommended nutritional parameters for nutritional values of nutrients that may impact the user health condition(s) from a health care provider system 1706 affiliated with a health care provider associated with the user. The personal food item customization system 1702 stores the user health condition(s) in the user health profile 1812 and the recommended nutritional parameters for nutritional values of nutrients that may impact the user health condition(s) in the user nutritional profile maintained at the user health profile 1812. The user nutritional profile may include a fist of the nutrients that may potentially impact the user health condition(s).

[123] The personal food item customization system 1702 receives a food item recipe for a food item selected by the user from a food recipe system 1708 at 2004. The food item recipe may include one or more ingredients used to prepare the food item. The personal food item customization system 1702 retrieves the list of nutrients that may potentially impact the user health condition(s) from the user nutritional profile at 2006, identifies one or more ingredients in the food item recipe that include a nutrient from the retrieved list of nutrients at 2008, and retrieves the nutritional parameter ranges for the nutrient(s) present in the identified ingredients from the user nutritional profile at 2010.

[124] The personal food item customization system 1702 modifies one or more of the identified ingredients in the food item recipe that include a nutritional value for a nutrient on the fist of nutrients that places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range for the nutrient at 2012. In an embodiment, the personal food item customization system 1702 replaces the one or more of the ingredients in the food item recipe that include the nutrient with a substitute ingredient. The substitute ingredient reduces the amount of the nutrient in the food item and brings the food item within the nutritional parameter range for the nutrient. According to an embodiment, the personal food item customization system 1702 reduces the amount of one or more of the ingredients in the food item recipe that includes the nutrient. The reduction of the amount of the one or more ingredients in the food item brings the food item within the nutritional parameter range for the nutrient. The personal food item customization system 1702 generates a user specific food item recipe for the food item including the modified ingredients at 2014 and stores the user specific food item recipe at the personal food item customization system 1702 at 2016.

[125] Referring to Fig. 21, a flow diagram representation of an example of a method 2100 of using an embodiment of a personal food item customization system 1702 to coordinate with an embodiment of a restaurant food item customization system 1712 is shown. The personal food item customization system 1702 transmits portions of the user health profile to the restaurant food item customization system 1712 at an initial step 2102. In an embodiment, the personal food item customization system 1702 transmits the user identifier and the user nutritional profile to the restaurant food item customization system 1712. The restaurant food item customization system 1712 creates a customer specific restaurant profile for the user based on the received user identifier and user nutritional profile at a next step 2104 and stores the customer specific restaurant profile at the restaurant database 1906 at next step 2106.

[126] At step 2108, the personal food item customization system 1702 issues a request to the restaurant food item customization system 1712 for a list of the restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall within the nutritional parameter range defined in the previously submitted user nutritional profile. The restaurant food item customization system 1712 retrieves list of restaurant food items and the restaurant food item recipes including the ingredients in the restaurant food items from the restaurant database 1906 at step 2110 and retrieves the user nutritional profile from the customer specific restaurant profile stored at the restaurant database 1906 at step 2112.

[127] The restaurant food item customization system 1702 generates the requested list of restaurant food items at step 2114. In an embodiment, the restaurant food item customization system 1712 generates a list of restaurant food items with ingredients including nutrients having nutritional values that fall within the nutritional parameter range defined in the user nutritional profile. In an embodiment, the restaurant food item customization system 1712 generates a list of restaurant food items with ingredients that can be modified by the restaurant to place the restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter range defined in the user nutritional profile. In an embodiment, the restaurant food item customization system 1712 generates a list of previously ordered restaurant food items with ingredients that can be modified by the restaurant to place the previously ordered restaurant food items within the nutritional parameter range defined in the user nutritional profile. The restaurant food item customization system 1712 then transmits the list of restaurant food items to the personal food item customization system 1702 at step 2116. The personal food item customization system 1702 may then issue a command to display the received list of restaurant food items on a display of the user computing device 1704 at a final step 2118.

Hardware Architecture

[128] Generally, the techniques disclosed herein may be implemented on hardware or a combination of software and hardware. For example, they may be implemented in an operating system kernel, in a separate user process, in a library package bound into network applications, on a specially constructed machine, on an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or on a network interface card.

[129] Software/hardware hybrid implementations of at least some of the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented on a programmable network-resident machine (which should be understood to include intermittently connected network-aware machines) selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in memory. Such network devices may have multiple network interfaces that may be configured or designed to utilize different types of network communication protocols. A general architecture for some of these machines may be described herein in order to illustrate one or more exemplary means by which a given unit of functionality may be implemented. According to specific aspects, at least some of the features or functionalities of the various aspects disclosed herein may be implemented on one or more general-purpose computers associated with one or more networks, such as for example an end-user computer system, a client computer, a network server or other server system, a mobile computing device (e.g., tablet computing device, mobile phone, smartphone, laptop, or other appropriate computing device), a consumer electronic device, a music player, or any other suitable electronic device, router, switch, or other suitable device, or any combination thereof. In at least some aspects, at least some of the features or functionalities of the various aspects disclosed herein may be implemented in one or more virtualized computing environments (e.g., network computing clouds, virtual machines hosted on one or more physical computing machines, or other appropriate virtual environments).

[130] Referring now to Fig. 11, there is shown a block diagram depicting an exemplary computing device 10 suitable for implementing at least a portion of the features or functionalities disclosed herein. Computing device 10 may be, for example, any one of the computing machines listed in the previous paragraph, or indeed any other electronic device capable of executing software- or hardware-based instructions according to one or more programs stored in memory. Computing device 10 may be configured to communicate with a plurality of other computing devices, such as clients or servers, over communications networks such as a wide area network a metropolitan area network, a local area network, a wireless network, the Internet, or any other network, using known protocols for such communication, whether wireless or wired.

[131] In one aspect, computing device 10 includes one or more central processing units (CPU) 12, one or more interfaces 15, and one or more busses 14 (such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus). When acting under the control of appropriate software or firmware, CPU 12 may be responsible for implementing specific functions associated with the functions of a specifically configured computing device or machine. For example, in at least one aspect, a computing device 10 may be configured or designed to function as a server system utilizing CPU 12, local memory 11 and/or remote memory 16, and interface(s) 15. In at least one aspect, CPU 12 may be caused to perform one or more of the different types of functions and/ or operations under the control of software modules or components, which for example, may include an operating system and any appropriate applications software, drivers, and the like.

[132] CPU 12 may include one or more processors 13 such as, for example, a processor from one of the Intel, ARM, Qualcomm, and AMD families of microprocessors. In some aspects, processors 13 may include specially designed hardware such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and so forth, for controlling operations of computing device 10. In a particular aspect, a local memory 11 (such as non volatile random access memory (RAM) and/ or read-only memory (ROM), including for example one or more levels of cached memory) may also form part of CPU 12. However, there are many different ways in which memory may be coupled to system 10. Memory 11 may be used for a variety of purposes such as, for example, caching and/ or storing data, programming instructions, and the like. It should be further appreciated that CPU 12 may be one of a variety of system-on-a-chip (SOC) type hardware that may include additional hardware such as memory or graphics processing chips, such as a QUALCOMM SNAPDRAGON™ or SAMSUNG EXYNOS™ CPU as are becoming increasingly common in the art, such as for use in mobile devices or integrated devices. [133] As used herein, the term “processor” is not limited merely to those integrated circuits referred to in the art as a processor, a mobile processor, or a microprocessor, but broadly refers to a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller, an application-specific integrated circuit, and any other programmable circuit.

[134] In one aspect, interfaces 15 are provided as network interface cards (NICs). Generally, NICs control the sending and receiving of data packets over a computer network; other types of interfaces 15 may for example support other peripherals used with computing device 10. Among the interfaces that may be provided are Ethernet interfaces, frame relay interfaces, cable interfaces, DSL interfaces, token ring interfaces, graphics interfaces, and the like. In addition, various types of interfaces may be provided such as, for example, universal serial bus (USB), Serial, Ethernet, FIREWIRE™, THUNDERBOLT™, PCI, parallel, radio frequency (RF), BLUETOOTH™, near-held communications (e.g., using near-held magnetics), 802.11 (WiFi), frame relay, TCP/IP, ISDN, fast Ethernet interfaces, Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, Serial ATA (SATA) or external SATA (ESATA) interfaces, high-dehnition multimedia interface (HDMI), digital visual interface (DVI), analog or digital audio interfaces, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interfaces, high-speed serial interface (HSSI) interfaces, Point of Sale (POS) interfaces, hber data distributed interfaces (FDDIs), and the like. Generally, such interfaces 15 may include physical ports appropriate for communication with appropriate media. In some cases, they may also include an independent processor (such as a dedicated audio or video processor, as is common in the art for high-hdelity A/V hardware interfaces) and, in some instances, volatile and/or non-volatile memory (e.g., RAM).

[135] Although the system shown in Fig. 11 illustrates one specihc architecture for a computing device 10 for implementing one or more of the aspects described herein, it is by no means the only device architecture on which at least a portion of the features and techniques described herein may be implemented. For example, architectures having one or any number of processors 13 may be used, and such processors 13 may be present in a single device or distributed among any number of devices. In one aspect, a single processor 13 handles communications as well as routing computations, while in other aspects a separate dedicated communications processor may be provided. In various aspects, different types of features or functionalities may be implemented in a system according to the aspect that includes a client device (such as a tablet device or smartphone running client software) and server systems (such as a server system described in more detail below). [136] Regardless of network device configuration, the system of an aspect may employ one or more memories or memory modules (such as, for example, remote memory block 16 and local memory 11) configured to store data, program instructions for the general-purpose network operations, or other information relating to the functionality of the aspects described herein (or any combinations of the above). Program instructions may control execution of or comprise an operating system and/or one or more applications, for example. Memory 16 or memories 11, 16 may also be configured to store data structures, configuration data, encryption data, historical system operations information, or any other specific or generic non-program information described herein.

[137] Because such information and program instructions may be employed to implement one or more systems or methods described herein, at least some network device aspects may include nontransitory machine-readable storage media, which, for example, may be configured or designed to store program instructions, state information, and the like for performing various operations described herein. Examples of such nontransitory machine- readable storage media include, but are not limited to, magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROM disks; magneto-optical media such as optical disks, and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory devices (ROM), flash memory (as is common in mobile devices and integrated systems), solid state drives (SSD) and “hybrid SSD” storage drives that may combine physical components of solid state and hard disk drives in a single hardware device (as are becoming increasingly common in the art with regard to personal computers), memristor memory, random access memory (RAM), and the like. It should be appreciated that such storage means may be integral and non-removable (such as RAM hardware modules that may be soldered onto a motherboard or otherwise integrated into an electronic device), or they may be removable such as swappable flash memory modules (such as “thumb drives” or other removable media designed for rapidly exchanging physical storage devices), “hot-swappable” hard disk drives or solid state drives, removable optical storage discs, or other such removable media, and that such integral and removable storage media may be utilized interchangeably. Examples of program instructions include both object code, such as may be produced by a compiler, machine code, such as may be produced by an assembler or a linker, byte code, such as may be generated by for example a JAVA™ compiler and may be executed using a Java virtual machine or equivalent, or files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter (for example, scripts written in Python, Perl, Ruby, Groovy, or any other scripting language).

[138] In some aspects, systems may be implemented on a standalone computing system. Referring now to Fig. 12, there is shown a block diagram depicting a typical exemplary architecture of one or more aspects or components thereof on a standalone computing system. Computing device 20 includes processors 21 that may run software that carry out one or more functions or applications of aspects, such as for example a client application 24. Processors 21 may carry out computing instructions under control of an operating system 22 such as, for example, a version of MICROSOFT WINDOWS™ operating system, APPLE macOS™ or iOS™ operating systems, some variety of the Linux operating system, ANDROID™ operating system, or the like. In many cases, one or more shared services 23 may be operable in system 20, and may be useful for providing common services to client applications 24. Services 23 may for example be WINDOWS™ services, user-space common services in a Linux environment, or any other type of common service architecture used with operating system 21. Input devices 28 may be of any type suitable for receiving user input, including for example a keyboard, touchscreen, microphone (for example, for voice input), mouse, touchpad, trackball, or any combination thereof. Output devices 27 may be of any type suitable for providing output to one or more users, whether remote or local to system 20, and may include for example one or more screens for visual output, speakers, printers, or any combination thereof. Memory 25 may be random-access memory having any structure and architecture known in the art, for use by processors 21, for example to run software. Storage devices 26 may be any magnetic, optical, mechanical, memristor, or electrical storage device for storage of data in digital form (such as those described above, referring to Fig. 11). Examples of storage devices 26 include flash memory, magnetic hard drive, CD-ROM, and/ or the like.

[139] In some aspects, systems may be implemented on a distributed computing network, such as one having any number of clients and/ or servers. Referring now to Fig. 13, there is shown a block diagram depicting an exemplary architecture 30 for implementing at least a portion of a system according to one aspect on a distributed computing network. According to the aspect, any number of clients 33 may be provided. Each client 33 may run software for implementing client-side portions of a system; clients may comprise a system 20 such as that illustrated in Fig. 12. In addition, any number of servers 32 may be provided for handling requests received from one or more clients 33. Clients 33 and servers 32 may communicate with one another via one or more electronic networks 31 , which may be in various aspects any of the Internet, a wide area network, a mobile telephony network (such as CDMA or GSM cellular networks), a wireless network (such as WiFi, WiMAX, LTE, and so forth), or a local area network (or indeed any network topology known in the art; the aspect does not prefer any one network topology over any other). Networks 31 may be implemented using any known network protocols, including for example wired and/ or wireless protocols.

[140] In addition, in some aspects, servers 32 may call external services 37 when needed to obtain additional information, or to refer to additional data concerning a particular call. Communications with external services 37 may take place, for example, via one or more networks 31. In various aspects, external services 37 may comprise web-enabled services or functionality related to or installed on the hardware device itself. For example, in one aspect where client applications 24 are implemented on a smartphone or other electronic device, client applications 24 may obtain information stored in a server system 32 in the cloud or on an external service 37 deployed on one or more of a particular enterprise’s or user’s premises. In addition to local storage on servers 32, remote storage 38 may be accessible through the network(s) 31.

[141] In some aspects, clients 33 or servers 32 (or both) may make use of one or more specialized services or appliances that may be deployed locally or remotely across one or more networks 31. For example, one or more databases 34 in either local or remote storage 38 may be used or referred to by one or more aspects. It should be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that databases in storage 34 may be arranged in a wide variety of architectures and using a wide variety of data access and manipulation means. For example, in various aspects one or more databases in storage 34 may comprise a relational database system using a structured query language (SQL), while others may comprise an alternative data storage technology such as those referred to in the art as “NoSQL” (for example, HADOOP CASSANDRA™, GOOGLE BIGTABLE™, and so forth). In some aspects, variant database architectures such as column-oriented databases, in-memory databases, clustered databases, distributed databases, or even flat file data repositories may be used according to the aspect. It will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that any combination of known or future database technologies may be used as appropriate, unless a specific database technology or a specific arrangement of components is specified for a particular aspect described herein. Moreover, it should be appreciated that the term “database” as used herein may refer to a physical database machine, a cluster of machines acting as a single database system, or a logical database within an overall database management system. Unless a specific meaning is specified for a given use of the term “database”, it should be construed to mean any of these senses of the word, all of which are understood as a plain meaning of the term “database” by those having ordinary skill in the art.

[142] Similarly, some aspects may make use of one or more security systems 36 and configuration systems 35. Security and configuration management are common information technology (IT) and web functions, and some amount of each are generally associated with any IT or web systems. It should be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that any configuration or security subsystems known in the art now or in the future may be used in conjunction with aspects without limitation, unless a specific security 36 or configuration system 35 or approach is specifically required by the description of any specific aspect.

[1 3] Fig. 14 shows an exemplary overview of a computer system 40 as may be used in any of the various locations throughout the system. It is exemplary of any computer that may execute code to process data. Various modifications and changes may be made to computer system 40 without departing from the broader scope of the system and method disclosed herein. Central processor unit (CPU) 41 is connected to bus 42, to which bus is also connected memory 43, nonvolatile memory 44, display 47, input/output (I/O) unit 48, and network interface card (NIC) 53. I/O unit 48 may, typically, be connected to peripherals such as a keyboard 49, pointing device 50, hard disk 52, real-time clock 51, a camera 57, and other peripheral devices. NIC 53 connects to network 54, which may be the Internet or a local network, which local network may or may not have connections to the Internet. The system may be connected to other computing devices through the network via a router 55, wireless local area network 56, or any other network connection. Also shown as part of system 40 is power supply unit 45 connected, in this example, to a main alternating current (AC) supply 46. Not shown are batteries that could be present, and many other devices and modifications that are well known but are not applicable to the specific novel functions of the current system and method disclosed herein. It should be appreciated that some or all components illustrated may be combined, such as in various integrated applications, for example Qpalcomm or Samsung system-on-a-chip (SOC) devices, or whenever it may be appropriate to combine multiple capabilities or functions into a single hardware device (for instance, in mobile devices such as smartphones, video game consoles, in-vehicle computer systems such as navigation or multimedia systems in automobiles, or other integrated hardware devices).

[144] In various aspects, functionality for implementing systems or methods of various aspects may be distributed among any number of client and/ or server components. For example, various software modules may be implemented for performing various functions in connection with the system of any particular aspect, and such modules may be variously implemented to run on server and/ or client components.

[145] The skilled person will be aware of a range of possible modifications of the various aspects described above. Accordingly, the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for zero-step authentication of transactions using biometrics, comprising: a database comprising customer information, the customer information comprising: a list of registered wireless mobile devices; a device identifier for each registered wireless mobile device; a photograph of a customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; a pre-paid account balance for each registered wireless mobile device; and payment details for the customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; and a payment facilitation device comprising a first memory, a first processor, and a first plurality of programming instructions stored in the first memory, and operating on the first processor, wherein the first plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the payment facilitation device to: detect a registered wireless mobile device; establish a wireless connection with the registered wireless mobile device; obtain a device identifier for the registered wireless mobile device; send the device identifier to a payment facilitation server; receive customer information for the registered wireless mobile device from the payment facilitation server; display the photograph of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device for confirmation of the identity of the customer; transmit transaction details to the registered wireless mobile device for approval, the transaction details comprising a transaction amount; receive authentication of the transaction details from the customer mobile device; and send the transaction details to a payment facilitation server for processing of the transaction; a payment facilitation server comprising a second memory, a second processor, and a second plurality of programming instructions stored in the second memory, and operating on the second processor, wherein the second plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the second processor, cause the payment facilitation server to: receive the device identifier from the payment facilitation device; retrieve the customer information associated with the registered wireless mobile device from the database; send the customer information to the payment facilitation device; receive the transaction details from the payment facilitation device; check the pre-paid account balance of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device; if the account balance exceeds transaction amount, deduct the transaction amount from the account balance; or if the transaction amount exceeds the account balance, send the transaction details to a payment processor for processing; at least one of either or both of an audio or video input device; and a biometrics verification server comprising a third memory, a third processor, and a third plurality of programming instructions stored in the third memory, and operating on the third processor, wherein the third plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the third processor, cause the biometrics verification server to: receive either or both audio or video data from an input source over a network; process the received data as either or both voice or facial biometric data; match received data with stored data; and respond with a positive or negative match to the input source.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a unified communications system which acts as a common intermediary device through which the payment facilitation device, the payment facilitation server, and registered wireless mobile device communicate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio or video input device and biometrics verification server are all located on at least one computer device that is connected to a local network.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the biometrics verification server receives input and sends output over the Internet.

5. A method for zero-step authentication of transactions using biometrics, comprising the steps of: storing customer information in a database, the customer information comprising: a fist of registered wireless mobile devices; a device identifier for each registered wireless mobile device; a photograph of a customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; a pre-paid account balance for each registered wireless mobile device; and payment details for the customer associated with each registered wireless mobile device; and performing the following steps using a payment facilitation device, the payment facilitation device comprising a first memory, a first processor, and a first plurality of programming instructions: detecting a registered wireless mobile device; establishing a wireless connection with the registered wireless mobile device; obtaining a device identifier for the registered wireless mobile device; sending the device identifier to a payment facilitation server; receiving customer information for the registered wireless mobile device from the payment facilitation server; displaying the photograph of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device for confirmation of the identity of the customer; transmitting transaction details to the registered wireless mobile device for approval, the transaction details comprising a transaction amount; receiving authentication of the transaction details from the customer mobile device; and sending the transaction details to a payment facilitation server for processing of the transaction; and performing the following steps using a payment facilitation server, the payment facilitation server comprising a second memory, a second processor, and a second plurality of programming instructions: receiving the device identifier from the payment facilitation device; retrieving the customer information associated with the registered wireless mobile device from the database; sending the customer information to the payment facilitation device; receiving the transaction details from the payment facilitation device; checking the pre-paid account balance of the customer associated with the registered wireless mobile device; if the account balance exceeds transaction amount, deducting the transaction amount from the account balance; or if the transaction amount exceeds the account balance, sending the transaction details to a payment processor for processing; receiving audio or video input, from at least one of either or both of an audio or video input device; receiving audio or video data from an input source over a network, using a biometrics verification server; processing the received data as voice or facial biometric data, using a biometrics verification server; matching received data with stored data, using a biometrics verification server; and responding with a positive or negative match to the input source, using a biometrics verification server.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of using a unified communications system as a common intermediary device through which the payment facilitation device, the payment facilitation server, and registered wireless mobile device communicate.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one audio or video input device and biometrics verification server are all located on at least one computer device that is connected to a local network.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the biometrics verification server receives input and sends output over the Internet.

9. A personal food item customization system, comprising: a user health profile manager comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory of, and operable on a processor of, a computing device, wherein the plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to: create a user health profile comprising a user health condition and a nutritional parameter range, wherein the nutritional parameter range comprises a range of nutritional values for a particular nutrient defined by the user health condition; a food item recipe ingredient manager comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory of, and operable on a processor of, a computing device, wherein the plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to: receive a food item recipe associated with a food item, the food item recipe comprising a plurality of ingredients; identify at least one ingredient from the plurality of ingredients in the food item recipe that includes a nutritional value for the particular nutrient defined by the user health condition, wherein the at least one identified ingredient places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range; modify one or more of the at least one identified ingredient to bring the nutritional value within the nutritional parameter range; and generate a user specific food item recipe comprising the at least one modified ingredients.

10. The system of claim 9, further wherein the food item recipe ingredient manager modifies one of the at least one identified ingredients by replacing with a substitute ingredient.

11. The system of claim 9, further wherein the food item recipe ingredient manager modifies the at least one identified ingredient by reducing an amount of the at least one identified ingredient.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a food item preparation technique manager comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory of, and operable on a processor of, a computing device, wherein the plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to: identify a food item preparation technique; determine whether the food item preparation technique places the nutritional value of the nutrient in the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range; and modify the food item preparation technique based on the determination.

13. The system of claim 9, further wherein the food item recipe ingredient manager: determines whether addition of a potential ingredient will positively impact the user health condition; and adds the potential ingredient to the plurality of food ingredients based on the determination.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a biometric data manager comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory of, and operable on a processor of, a computing device, wherein the plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to: receive user biometric data; determine whether the received user biometric data impacts the nutritional parameter range in the user health profile; and update the nutritional parameter range in accordance with the received biometric data based on the determination.

15. The system of claim 14, further wherein the biometric data manager: receives pre-meal user biometric data prior to a user’s consumption of a food item prepared in accordance with a user specific food item recipe; receives a post-meal user biometric data following the user’s consumption of the food item prepared in accordance with the user specific food item recipe; performs a first comparison of the pre-meal user biometric data with a pre-meal biometric data threshold; performs a second comparison of the post-meal user biometric data with a post-meal biometric data threshold; and provides biometric feedback data based on the first and second comparisons.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising a restaurant food item manager comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory of, and operable on a processor of, a computing device, wherein the plurality of programming instructions, when operating on the processor, cause the computing device to: establish a communication channel between the personal food item customization system and a restaurant customer food item customization system, the restaurant customer food item customization system comprising a plurality of restaurant food items; transmit at least a portion of the user health profile from the personal food item customization system to the restaurant customer food item customization system; and receive, from the restaurant food item customization system, a restaurant food item fist identifying a plurality of restaurant food items that include a nutritional value for a nutrient within the nutritional parameter range.

17. The system of claim 16, further wherein the restaurant food item manager: transmits at least a portion of the user health profile to the restaurant customer food item customization system for addition to a customer specific restaurant profile at the restaurant food item customization system; and receives a restaurant food item list identifying a plurality of restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant such that the modified restaurant food items include a nutritional value for a nutrient within the nutritional parameter range.

18. The system of claim 16, further wherein the restaurant food item manager: transmits at least a portion of the user health profile to the restaurant customer food item customization system for addition to a customer specific restaurant profile at the restaurant food item customization system, the customer specific restaurant profile including a fist of previously ordered food items; and receives the fist of the previously ordered food items identifying the previously ordered restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant such that the modified restaurant food items include a nutritional value for a nutrient within the nutritional parameter range.

19. A method for utilizing a personal food item customization system, comprising the steps of: creating, at a user health profile manager, a user health profile comprising a user health condition and a nutritional parameter range, wherein the nutritional parameter range comprises a range of nutritional values for a particular nutrient defined by the user health condition; receiving, at a food item recipe ingredient manager, a food item recipe associated with a food item, the food item recipe comprising a plurality of ingredients; identifying at least one ingredient from the plurality of ingredients in the food item recipe that includes a nutritional value for the particular nutrient defined by the user health condition, wherein the at least one identified ingredient places the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range; modifying one or more of the at least one identified ingredient to bring the nutritional value within the nutritional parameter range; and generating a user specific food item recipe comprising the at least one modified ingredients.

20. The method of claim 19, further wherein the food item recipe ingredient manager modifies one of the at least one identified ingredients by replacing with a substitute ingredient.

21. The method of claim 19, further wherein the food item recipe ingredient manager modifies the at least one identified ingredient by reducing an amount of the at least one identified ingredient.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: identifying, at a food item preparation technique manager, a food item preparation technique; determining whether the food item preparation technique places the nutritional value of the nutrient in the food item outside of the nutritional parameter range; and modifying the food item preparation technique based on the determination.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: determining whether addition of a potential ingredient will positively impact the user health condition; and adding the potential ingredient to the plurality of food ingredients based on the determination.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: receiving, at a biometric data manager, user biometric data; determining whether the received user biometric data impacts the nutritional parameter range in the user health profile; and updating the nutritional parameter range in accordance with the received biometric data based on the determination.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of: receiving pre-meal user biometric data prior to a user’s consumption of a food item prepared in accordance with a user specific food item recipe; receiving a post-meal user biometric data following the user’s consumption of the food item prepared in accordance with the user specific food item recipe; performing a first comparison of the pre-meal user biometric data with a pre-meal biometric data threshold; performing a second comparison of the post-meal user biometric data with a post-meal biometric data threshold; and providing biometric feedback data based on the first and second comparisons.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: establishing, at a restaurant food item manager, a communication channel between the personal food item customization system and a restaurant customer food item customization system, the restaurant customer food item customization system comprising a plurality of restaurant food items; transmitting at least a portion of the user health profile from the personal food item customization system to the restaurant customer food item customization system; and receiving, from the restaurant food item customization system, a restaurant food item fist identifying a plurality of restaurant food items that include a nutritional value for a nutrient within the nutritional parameter range.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: transmitting at least a portion of the user health profile to the restaurant customer food item customization system for addition to a customer specific restaurant profile at the restaurant food item customization system; and receiving a restaurant food item list identifying a plurality of restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant such that the modified restaurant food items include a nutritional value for a nutrient within the nutritional parameter range.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: transmitting at least a portion of the user health profile to the restaurant customer food item customization system for addition to a customer specific restaurant profile at the restaurant food item customization system, the customer specific restaurant profile including a fist of previously ordered food items; and receiving the fist of the previously ordered food items identifying the previously ordered restaurant food items that can be modified by the restaurant such that the modified restaurant food items include a nutritional value for a nutrient within the nutritional parameter range.