Apparatus for capturing brushing habits

Abstract

An apparatus that monitors the brushing history of a user is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus, such as a toothbrush, may capture brushing data when a user is brushing teeth, and store the captured brushing data in a database of the apparatus.

1 . A method, comprising:
 capturing, by a toothbrush, brushing data when a user is brushing teeth; and   storing, in the toothbrush, the captured brushing data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 activating the toothbrush when the user presses a power switch on the toothbrush.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the toothbrush, a selection for a mode of operation.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 activating sensors in the toothbrush a predetermined period of time after the selection for the mode of operation is received.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storing of the captured brushing data comprises storing, in the toothbrush, the captured brushing data when the toothbrush detects that the user has stopped brushing his or her teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storing of the captured brushing data comprises storing, in the toothbrush, the captured brushing data after a predefined period of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by the toothbrush, the captured brushing data to a remote server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitting of the captured brushing data comprises transmitting the captured brushing data at predefined time intervals. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the brushing data comprises duration of brushing, quadrants brushed, rotation of brushing per quadrant, duration of brushing per quadrant, an amount of pressure applied to teeth, and a number of times brushed each day. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the toothbrush, recommendation information from a remote server or another device; and   configuring, by the toothbrush, settings in the toothbrush based on the recommendation information.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory comprising a computer program, wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are configured to cause the apparatus to:
 capture, via sensors, brushing data when a user is brushing teeth, and 
 store the captured brushing data in a database. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to activate the toothbrush when the user presses a power switch on the apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to receive a selection for a mode of operation after the toothbrush has been activated. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to activate sensors in the apparatus a predetermined period of time after the selection for the mode of operation is received. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to store the captured brushing data when the apparatus detects that the user has stopped brushing his or her teeth. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to store the captured brushing data after a predefined period of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to transmit the captured brushing data to a remote server. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to transmit the captured brushing data at predefined time intervals. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the brushing data comprises duration of brushing, quadrants brushed, rotation of brushing per quadrant, duration of brushing per quadrant, an amount of pressure applied to teeth, and a number of times brushed each day. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer program, together with the at least one processor, are further configured to cause the apparatus to
 receive recommendation information from another device; and   configure settings in the apparatus based on the recommendation information.