FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to determining Body Mass Index (BMI), and more particularly to determining BMI using a dot pattern.

BACKGROUND

BMI is an important parameter that is widely used to assess the well-being of a person or a subject, and therefore needs to be determined accurately. It is estimated from the measurement of height and weight of a subject. There are various known approaches to measure the height and weight. However, measuring the height of the subject accurately is challenging as compared to measuring the weight of the subject. This is due to the fact that the posture of the subject affects the measurement of the height.

Generally, the height of the subject for the purpose of determining the BMI is measured using measuring tape, laser or ultrasound or the like. Measuring the height using measuring tape is a direct approach. On the other hand, measuring height using laser or ultrasound beam is an indirect approach, wherein the height is estimated based on the beam reflected from the head of the subject. These approaches do not provide any indication regarding the posture of the subject which becomes imperative for accurate measurement of height.

Apparently, there is a need for an invention that provides measurement of height more accurately considering the posture of the subject and determines the BMI therefrom.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a system for determining the BMI that is simple, robust and more reliable.

It is another object of the invention to provide indication on the posture of the subject.

It is yet another object of the invention to determine the BMI using a hand held device.

It is further object of the invention is to provide a system wherein the weight measuring device and the height measuring device are communicatively connected to each other. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a system for determining the Body Mass Index (BMI) of a subject. The system in accordance with the invention comprises a weight measuring device for measuring the weight of the subject, a dot pattern having a plurality of dots arranged equidistantly across a plurality of rows and columns. A monitoring device is provided to monitor the occlusion of the dots in the dot pattern, and a processing device is communicatively connected to the weight measuring device, for processing the data relating to the occlusion of dots and the weight measurement, to provide the BMI of the subject.

The invention also provides a method for determining the Body Mass Index (BMI) of a subject by the system of the invention. The method in accordance with the invention comprises measuring the weight of the subject by a weight measuring device, monitoring the occlusion of the dots in a dot pattern having a plurality of dots arranged equidistantly across a plurality of rows and columns, by a monitoring device. The method includes processing the data relating to the occlusion of dots and the weight measurement to provide the BMI of the subject, by a processing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the system for determining the Body Mass Index (BMI), in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows the dot pattern;

Figure 3a shows the subject standing in the side orientation against the dot pattern;

Figure 3b shows the subject standing in the frontal orientation against the dot pattern; and

Figure 4 shows the method for determining the Body Mass Index (BMI), in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described further hereinafter with reference to exemplary non-exhaustive embodiments and with reference to figures 1 to 4.

In figure 1, a system (100) for determining the BMI is shown. Accordingly figure 4 shows the method (400) for determining the BMI using the system (100) of the invention. The system (100) comprises a weight measuring device (101) for measuring the weight (401) of the subject. A monitoring device (102) such as a camera but not limited to it is provided for monitoring (402) the occlusions of the dots (201) in the dot pattern (200) shown in Figure 2, when the subject stands in front of the dot pattern (200). The dot pattern (200) comprises a plurality of dots (201) that are arranged equidistantly across a plurality of rows and columns. The number of dots that are occluded by the subject standing in front of it could be a measure of the height of the subject, as the vertical distance between each of the dots across a column are known in real world coordinates and the number of dots that are occluded by the subject are identified. A processing device (103) is communicatively connected to the weight measuring device (101), and is provided to process (403) the data relating to the occlusion of the dots and the weight measurement, and determine the BMI therefrom.

The monitoring device (102) is provided to identify the column having the maximum number of occluded dots. The column with maximum number of occluded dots is used in the determination of the height of the subject.

The subject may stand in side orientation against the dot pattern having dots (201) as shown in figure 3a or stand in frontal orientation against the dot pattern as shown in figure 3b. In both the cases, the monitoring device (102) is provided to identify the column having the maximum number of occluded dots for the purpose of determining the height of the subject. In figure 3a, the posture of the subject can be identified based on the back contour of the subject, determined with respect to at least two of the points such as back of the head (300a), back of the shoulder region (300b), buttocks (300c) and back of the heels (300d), etc. Two or more points (300a, 300b, 300c and 300d) falling in a straight or a near straight line indicates that the back contour of the subject is correct and therefore the posture of the subject in the side orientation is also correct and is fit for determining the height of the subject based on the occlusion of the dots caused by the subject in such side orientation. In figure 3b, the posture of the subject standing in frontal orientation can be identified based on the number of visible dots (201a) appearing in between the occluded dots. Here, the incorrect posture causing inaccuracies in height measurement can be identified and corrected. Incorrect posture caused due to knees being apart, and hands kept apart influences the height measurement. In order to identify such incorrect postures, the number of visible dots between the occluded dots is required to be minimal as much as possible. This may be arrived at a predetermined number of visible dots or as a ratio corresponding to the occluded dots or in relation to the number of dots occluded in the column having maximum number of occluded dots, or in combination thereof.

The processing device (103) provides feedback to the subject regarding the posture and its correctness, in the side or frontal orientation. Accordingly, the subject can change the posture while standing based on the feedback. This enables the monitoring device to identify the column with maximum number of occluded dots more reliably and thereby determining the height of the subject more accurately.

The processing device (103) is communicatively connected to the weight measuring device (101). The connection referred herein may be wired or wireless such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi etc. The weight of the subject having been measured by the weight measuring device (101) is communicated to the processing device (103). The processing device (103) processes the data relating to the collusion and the weight, to determine the BMI of the subject based on the weight and height of the subject. The processing device (103) may be a device having processing capability and can include but not limited to processor, hand held devices, mobile phones etc. The monitoring device (102) such as camera may be comprised in the processing device (103) like the mobile phone. The data relating to the dots as referred herein before includes number of dots that are occluded in a column, posture of the subject, feedback on the posture, etc and corresponding information related thereto.

Only certain features of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, and many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is not restricted by the preferred embodiment described herein in the description. It is to be noted that the invention is explained by way of exemplary embodiment and is neither exhaustive nor limiting. Certain aspects of the invention that not been elaborated herein in the description are well understood by one skilled in the art. Also, the terms relating to singular form used herein in the description also include its plurality and vice versa, wherever applicable. Any relevant modification or variation, which is not described specifically in the specification are in fact to be construed of being well within the scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes which fall within the spirit of the invention.

Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.