Patents by Inventor Patrick Howell

Patrick Howell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260010572
    Abstract: A method of operating a health tracking system is disclosed herein. The health tracking system includes a processor and a database configured to store a plurality of data records, each of the plurality of data records comprising at least a descriptive string and nutritional data regarding a respective consumable item. The method includes receiving, with the processor, a query string. The method further includes searching, with the processor, based on the query string, the database to retrieve a list of data records in the plurality of data records from the database. The method also includes determining, with the processor, a ranked list of data records by ranking the list of data records using a machine learning-based ranking model, based on the descriptive string and the nutritional data of data records in the list of data records.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: Surender Reddy Yerva, Iman Barjasteh, Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Publication number: 20250335968
    Abstract: A method for operating a health tracking system, a health tracking system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for operating a health tracking system are disclosed. The method comprises receiving a data record comprising at least a descriptive string and nutritional data regarding a consumable item to which the data record corresponds; determining a taste associated to the consumable item based on an evaluation of at least one of: (i) the descriptive string, and (ii) the nutritional data; and associating the determined taste with the data record in a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Chul Lee, Kyler Eastman, Patrick Howell, Layla Martin, Hesamoddin Salehian, Joohyun Kim
  • Patent number: 12437004
    Abstract: A method and system for providing more relevant search results and recommendation from a food database is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query, a first candidate food, and a second candidate food. The method includes generating vectors based on the query and food names of the first and second candidate foods using at least one embedding function of a machine learning model. The method includes determining nutrition content vectors from the nutritional data of the first and second candidate foods. The method includes generating a nutrition content vector based on the query using another embedding function of the machine learning model. The method includes determining which of the first and second candidate food is more relevant to the query based at least in part on the nutrition content vectors. The method includes providing search results or recommendation based on the determined relevance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Surender Reddy Yerva, Iman Barjasteh, Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Publication number: 20250217643
    Abstract: A health tracking system and method of operation is disclosed herein. The method of operating the health tracking system comprises: receiving a first data record comprising at least a first descriptive string regarding a consumable item, the first descriptive string having at least one word thereof incorrectly spelled; generating a vector using the first descriptive string using a machine learning model; identifying a second descriptive string which corresponds to the consumable item and which has a correct spelling of the at least one incorrectly spelled word by applying the machine learning model to the generated vector; calculating a confidence factor regarding the identified second descriptive string using the machine learning model; and when it is determined that the confidence factor exceeds a predetermined threshold, (i) modifying the first data record by replacing the first descriptive string with the second descriptive string, and (ii) storing the modified first data record in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2024
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventors: Wenzhe Xue, Hesamoddin Salehian, Patrick Howell
  • Patent number: 12327275
    Abstract: A method for operating a health tracking system, a health tracking system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for operating a health tracking system are disclosed. The method comprises receiving a data record comprising at least a descriptive string and nutritional data regarding a consumable item to which the data record corresponds; determining a taste associated to the consumable item based on an evaluation of at least one of: (i) the descriptive string, and (ii) the nutritional data; and associating the determined taste with the data record in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Chul Lee, Kyler Eastman, Patrick Howell, Layla Martin, Hesamoddin Salehian, Joohyun Kim
  • Patent number: 12182706
    Abstract: A health tracking system and method of operation is disclosed herein. The method of operating the health tracking system comprises: receiving a first data record comprising at least a first descriptive string regarding a consumable item, the first descriptive string having at least one word thereof incorrectly spelled; generating a vector using the first descriptive string using a machine learning model; identifying a second descriptive string which corresponds to the consumable item and which has a correct spelling of the at least one incorrectly spelled word by applying the machine learning model to the generated vector; calculating a confidence factor regarding the identified second descriptive string using the machine learning model; and when it is determined that the confidence factor exceeds a predetermined threshold, (i) modifying the first data record by replacing the first descriptive string with the second descriptive string, and (ii) storing the modified first data record in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenzhe Xue, Hesamoddin Salehian, Patrick Howell
  • Publication number: 20240386022
    Abstract: System and method for associating user-entered consumable item description to an entry in a consumable item database. In one embodiment, formally structured restaurant menu item is matched to a large database of food items that has been constructed via crowd-sourcing. A novel, practical, and scalable machine learning solution architecture, consisting of two major steps is utilized. First a query generation approach is applied, based on a Markov Decision Process algorithm, to reduce the time complexity of searching for matching candidates. That is then followed by a re-ranking step, using deep learning techniques, to ensure matching quality goals are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Publication number: 20240232266
    Abstract: A method and system for providing more relevant search results and recommendation from a food database is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query, a first candidate food, and a second candidate food. The method includes generating vectors based on the query and food names of the first and second candidate foods using at least one embedding function of a machine learning model. The method includes determining nutrition content vectors from the nutritional data of the first and second candidate foods. The method includes generating a nutrition content vector based on the query using another embedding function of the machine learning model. The method includes determining which of the first and second candidate food is more relevant to the query based at least in part on the nutrition content vectors. The method includes providing search results or recommendation based on the determined relevance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Surender Reddy Yerva, Iman Barjasteh, Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Patent number: 12008002
    Abstract: System and method for associating user-entered consumable item description to an entry in a consumable item database. In one embodiment, formally structured restaurant menu item is matched to a large database of food items that has been constructed via crowd-sourcing. A novel, practical, and scalable machine learning solution architecture, consisting of two major steps is utilized. First a query generation approach is applied, based on a Markov Decision Process algorithm, to reduce the time complexity of searching for matching candidates. That is then followed by a re-ranking step, using deep learning techniques, to ensure matching quality goals are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Patent number: 11874879
    Abstract: A method and system for providing more relevant search results and recommendation from a food database is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query, a first candidate food, and a second candidate food. The method includes generating vectors based on the query and food names of the first and second candidate foods using at least one embedding function of a machine learning model. The method includes determining nutrition content vectors from the nutritional data of the first and second candidate foods. The method includes generating a nutrition content vector based on the query using another embedding function of the machine learning model. The method includes determining which of the first and second candidate food is more relevant to the query based at least in part on the nutrition content vectors. The method includes providing search results or recommendation based on the determined relevance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Surender Reddy Yerva, Iman Barjasteh, Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Publication number: 20230281446
    Abstract: A health tracking system and method of operation is disclosed herein. The method of operating the health tracking system comprises: receiving a first data record comprising at least a first descriptive string regarding a consumable item, the first descriptive string having at least one word thereof incorrectly spelled; generating a vector using the first descriptive string using a machine learning model; identifying a second descriptive string which corresponds to the consumable item and which has a correct spelling of the at least one incorrectly spelled word by applying the machine learning model to the generated vector; calculating a confidence factor regarding the identified second descriptive string using the machine learning model; and when it is determined that the confidence factor exceeds a predetermined threshold, (i) modifying the first data record by replacing the first descriptive string with the second descriptive string, and (ii) storing the modified first data record in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Wenzhe Xue, Hesamoddin Salehian, Patrick Howell
  • Patent number: 11610123
    Abstract: A method of operating a health tracking system is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a first data record comprising at least a first descriptive string regarding a consumable item, the first descriptive string having at least one word thereof incorrectly spelled; generating a vector using the first descriptive string using a machine learning model; identifying a second descriptive string which corresponds to the consumable item and which has a correct spelling of the at least one incorrectly spelled word by applying the machine learning model to the generated vector; calculating a confidence factor regarding the identified second descriptive string using the machine learning model; and when it is determined that the confidence factor exceeds a predetermined threshold, (i) modifying the first data record by replacing the first descriptive string with the second descriptive string, and (ii) storing the modified first data record in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenzhe Xue, Hesamoddin Salehian, Patrick Howell
  • Publication number: 20220292574
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are given for providing enhanced product recommendations. In one embodiment, products are recommended to a consumer based on information manually entered by the consumer and/or derived from data relating to the consumer obtained from a health-monitoring platform. The recommended products are provided from a recommendation engine to a human operator or curator at an item selection entity, the curator selects a predetermined number of the recommended products for delivery to the consumer. Such delivery is established by the consumer to occur periodically (such as monthly) as part of a subscription service. Product recommendations are adjusted over time to relate to customer activity and interest data accumulated from the health-monitoring platform. In one embodiment, a recommendation engine is configured to specifically tailor its recommendation algorithms based on feedback information received from the curator and/or the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Madeline Taylor Rose, Patrick Howell, Joohyun Kim, Murtaza Ali, Sid Jatia, Chul Lee
  • Publication number: 20220229844
    Abstract: System and method for associating user-entered consumable item description to an entry in a consumable item database. In one embodiment, formally structured restaurant menu item is matched to a large database of food items that has been constructed via crowd-sourcing. A novel, practical, and scalable machine learning solution architecture, consisting of two major steps is utilized. First a query generation approach is applied, based on a Markov Decision Process algorithm, to reduce the time complexity of searching for matching candidates. That is then followed by a re-ranking step, using deep learning techniques, to ensure matching quality goals are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Patent number: 11393007
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are given for providing enhanced product recommendations. In one embodiment, products are recommended to a consumer based on information manually entered by the consumer and/or derived from data relating to the consumer obtained from a health-monitoring platform. The recommended products are provided from a recommendation engine to a human operator or curator at an item selection entity, the curator selects a predetermined number of the recommended products for delivery to the consumer. Such delivery is established by the consumer to occur periodically (such as monthly) as part of a subscription service. Product recommendations are adjusted over time to relate to customer activity and interest data accumulated from the health-monitoring platform. In one embodiment, a recommendation engine is configured to specifically tailor its recommendation algorithms based on feedback information received from the curator and/or the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Madeline Taylor Rose, Patrick Howell, Joohyun Kim, Murtaza Ali, Sid Jatia, Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 11347751
    Abstract: System and method for associating user-entered consumable item description to an entry in a consumable item database. In one embodiment, formally structured restaurant menu item is matched to a large database of food items that has been constructed via crowd-sourcing. A novel, practical, and scalable machine learning solution architecture, consisting of two major steps is utilized. First a query generation approach is applied, based on a Markov Decision Process algorithm, to reduce the time complexity of searching for matching candidates. That is then followed by a re-ranking step, using deep learning techniques, to ensure matching quality goals are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Publication number: 20210390139
    Abstract: A method and system for providing more relevant search results and recommendation from a food database is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query, a first candidate food, and a second candidate food. The method includes generating vectors based on the query and food names of the first and second candidate foods using at least one embedding function of a machine learning model. The method includes determining nutrition content vectors from the nutritional data of the first and second candidate foods. The method includes generating a nutrition content vector based on the query using another embedding function of the machine learning model. The method includes determining which of the first and second candidate food is more relevant to the query based at least in part on the nutrition content vectors. The method includes providing search results or recommendation based on the determined relevance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Surender Reddy Yerva, Iman Barjasteh, Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Publication number: 20210342693
    Abstract: A method of operating a health tracking system is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a first data record comprising at least a first descriptive string regarding a consumable item, the first descriptive string having at least one word thereof incorrectly spelled; generating a vector using the first descriptive string using a machine learning model; identifying a second descriptive string which corresponds to the consumable item and which has a correct spelling of the at least one incorrectly spelled word by applying the machine learning model to the generated vector; calculating a confidence factor regarding the identified second descriptive string using the machine learning model; and when it is determined that the confidence factor exceeds a predetermined threshold, (i) modifying the first data record by replacing the first descriptive string with the second descriptive string, and (ii) storing the modified first data record in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Wenzhe Xue, Hesamoddin Salehian, Patrick Howell
  • Patent number: 11106742
    Abstract: A method and system for providing more relevant search results and recommendation from a food database is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query, a first candidate food, and a second candidate food. The method includes generating text feature vectors based on the query and food names of the first and second candidate foods using at least one first embedding function of a machine learning model. The method includes determining nutrition content vectors from the nutritional data of the first and second candidate foods. The method includes generating a nutrition content vector based on the query using a second embedding function of the machine learning model. The method includes determining which of the first and second candidate food is more relevant to the query based on the text feature vectors and the nutrition content vectors. The method includes providing search results or recommendation based on the determined relevance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Surender Reddy Yerva, Iman Barjasteh, Patrick Howell, Chul Lee, Hesamoddin Salehian
  • Patent number: 11087210
    Abstract: A method of operating a health tracking system is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a first data record comprising at least a first descriptive string regarding a consumable item, the first descriptive string having at least one word thereof incorrectly spelled; generating a vector using the first descriptive string using a machine learning model; identifying a second descriptive string which corresponds to the consumable item and which has a correct spelling of the at least one incorrectly spelled word by applying the machine learning model to the generated vector; calculating a confidence factor regarding the identified second descriptive string using the machine learning model; and when it is determined that the confidence factor exceeds a predetermined threshold, (i) modifying the first data record by replacing the first descriptive string with the second descriptive string, and (ii) storing the modified first data record in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MyFitnessPal, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenzhe Xue, Hesamoddin Salehian, Patrick Howell