WO2007061835A2

WO2007061835A2 - Generating a request from a nutraceutical inventory

Info

Publication number: WO2007061835A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/044658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud; John D. Rinaldo, Jr.; Clarence T. Tegreene; Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
Original assignee: Searete Llc
Priority date: 2005-11-17
Filing date: 2006-11-15
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: WO2007061835A3

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are described for registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory and responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

Description

Generating

Request from

Nutraceutscal Inventory

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefits under 35 USC § 119(e) for provisional patent applications), and incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of the following listed application(s) (the "Related Applications") to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the present application also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,, etc. applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith. The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO 's computer programs require that patent applicants reference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation in part. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit of Prior-Filed Application, USPTO Electronic Official Gazette, March 18, 2003 at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/con-i/sol/og/2003/weekl l/patbene.htm. The present applicant entity has provided below a specific reference to the application(s)y?τ>m which priority is being claimed as recited by statute. Applicant entity understands that the statute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does not require either a serial number or any characterization such as "continuation" or "continuation-in-part." Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicant entity understands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, and hence applicant entity is designating the present application as a continuation in part of its parent applications, but expressly points out that such designations are not to be construed in any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether or not the present application contains any new matter in addition to the matter of its parent application(s). Related Applications:

1. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of United States Patent Application No. 11/283,548, entitled PROVIDING ASSISTANCE RELATED TO HEALTH, naming Edward K. Y. Jung, Joyce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D.

Clarence T.^'"Tegreene and Lowell L. Wood, Jr. as inventors, filed November 17, 2005, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

2. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of United States Patent Application No. 11/291,482, entitled TESTING-DEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION OF A NUTRACEUTICAL, naming Edward K. Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Clarence T. Tegreene and Lowell L. Wood, Jr. as inventors, filed November 30, 2005, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

3. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of United States Patent Application No.

11/291,532, entitled GENERATING A NUTRACEUTICAL REQUEST FROM AN INVENTORY, naming Edward K. Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Clarence T. Tegreene an dLowell L. Wood, Jr. as inventors, filed November 3O₅ 2005, which is currently co-pending, or is an application of which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

SUMMARY

[0001] An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the method includes but is not limited to registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory and responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen. In addition to the foregoing, other communication method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

[0002] In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

provides a system. In one implementation, the system ncludes but is not limited to circuitry for registering a nutraceutical-containing ϊispensation from an inventory and a module for responding to the registering by ndicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen. In addition to the foregoing, other computer program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present ϊisclosure.

[0004] An embodiment provides another system. In one implementation, the )ther system includes but is not limited to a computing device and one or more nstructions that when executed by the computing device cause the computing device to Perform at least one of registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an nventory and responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based )n the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen. In addition to the foregoing, other computer program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, ffld text forming a part of the present disclosure.

[0005] An embodiment provides a computer program product. In one .mplementation, the computer program product includes but is not limited to a signal- Dearing medium bearing at least one of (a) one or more instructions for registering a lutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory and (b) one or more instructions for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

[0006] In addition to the foregoing, various other embodiments are set forth and described in the text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawings of the present description.

[0007] The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes described herein, as defined by the claims, will become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein. βMW DYSCWT ION OF THE FIGURES

[0008] FIG. 1 shows an operational flow representing example operations that produce an indication of an amount.

[0009] FIG. 2 shows an example system in schematic form, a hardware implementation able to perform variants of the flow of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 3 shows another example system able to perform the flow of FIG. 1 and many similar variations.

[0011] FIG. 4 shows another example system able to perform the flow of FIG. 1 and many similar variations.

[0012] FIG. 5 shows various optional features of the flow of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 6 shows another example system able to perform many variants of the above-described flows.

[0014] FIG. 7 shows various optional features of the flow of FIG. 1 or 5.

[0015] FIG. 8 shows various optional features of the flow of FIG. 1, 5, or 7.

[0016] FIG. 9 shows further optional features of the system of FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 10 shows various optional features of the flow of FIG. 1, 5, 7 or 8.

[0018] FIG. 11 shows a system that includes a signal-bearing medium that can comprise or interact with a conduit, a disk, an integrated circuit, or a computing device.

[0019] FIG. 12 shows other optional features of the above-described flows.

[0020] FIG. 13 shows still more optional features of the above-described flows.

[0021] FIG. 14 shows another example system embodiment in schematic form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] FIG. 14 shows user system 1400 comprising one or more of registration logic 1440 or quantity determination logic 1490. Quantity determination logic 1490 optionally comprises one or more of storage logic 1450, user interface 1462, module update logic 1470, network interface 1492, or compound identification logic 1496. Registration logic 1440 can include one or more of dispensation confirmation logic 1443, user query logic 1446, inventory maintenance logic 1447, event predictor 1448, regimen implementation logic 1480, or scheduler 1483. Storage logic 1450 can include one or more of subject description 1453, user data 1454, regimen description 1455, and ellcSroM^'c¹' ϋivlnt^'o^'i^¹ ϊ^:45'6. User interface 1462 can include one or more of authentication logic 1466 or display 1467. Nutraceutical bin 1445 can contain one or more nutraceuticals (e.g., nutraceutical-containing compounds) as well as medications and the like. Nutraceutical bin may comprise part of inventory manager 1444, or may be situated in a stand-alone position accessible to user 1460 or one or more other users.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an operational flow 100 representing example operations that produce an indication of an amount of a request quantity, such as by indicating a rate or otherwise expressing a quantity that includes a nutraceutical. Flow 100 and other embodiments as described below systemize regimens that include one or more of these components, facilitating or enabling a user's implementation of a regimen.

[0024] After a start operation, operational flow 100 moves to operation 140, comprising registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory (e.g., registration logic 1440 receiving an indication that user 1460 has removed a certain quantity of nutraceutical from nutraceutrical bin 1445). The dispensation can be a completed dispensation, an in-progress dispensation, a tentative dispensation, a scheduled dispensation, or a canceled dispensation of one or more nutraceutical-containing materials, for example. Likewise the dispensation can relate to electronic inventory 1456 or any physical inventory. After operation 140, flow 100 then moves to operation 150, comprising responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen (e.g., quantity determination logic 1490 sending a request quantity via network interface 1492 - through network 1420 — to supplier system 1425, where the request is partly based on a past or present content of nutraceutical bin 1445 and a partly based on a past or present consumption regimen as indicated by regimen description 1455). The indication can be a display or other transmission, for example. The consumption regimen can optionally contain one or more regimens or regimen components, such as seasonal, interspersed, contingent, occasional, or other conditional regimen(s). Alternatively or additionally, the consumption regimen can comprise a component of a master regimen that also includes a non-consumption component. FIG. 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, and 13 below include many variations of operational flow 100. In various embodiments such as these, of course, flow 100 can include additional operations or variations in the sequence of operations. ['00^'25f Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an example system 200 in schematic form, a hardware implementation able to perform variants of flow 100 as _. described below. Primary module 210 includes circuitry 230 for receiving at least an indication of the registration (via linkage 232, e.g.) of a state of a subject (an animal or other organism, e.g.). Primary module 210 further includes logic 240 (such as a processor or programmable logic, e.g.) for indicating the request quantity (via interface 238, e.g.) partly based on the dispensation or other aspect of the inventory, and partly based on the consumption regimen. Primary module 210 can further include medium 250 accessible by at least logic 240, as described below. (The dashed outline of medium 250 signifies that some embodiments are specifically contemplated to exclude this feature, and others are contemplated to include it.)

[0026] Linkage 232 is similarly indicated as optional. Even if system 200 is merely a kit or physical structure with no communication linkage 232, for example, it can be advantageous for user 260 to access primary module 210 in proximity to inventory manager 280. Linkage 232 can include one or more of analog data, digital data, or a measurable physical property such as a distance or similar geometry. Alternatively or additionally, linkage 232 can comprise a conduit bearing one or more instructions that can be stored in medium 250, for example, or can be executed by logic 240 to perform one or more variations of flow 100 such as those shown in FIG. 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, or 13. Alternatively or additionally, information can be conveyed to primary module on a ticket or a similar printed record or memory device that can be deposited into primary module 210. Alternatively or additionally, circuitry 230 can receive information (such as the regimen, e.g.) remotely and/or from user 260,

[0027] Inventory manager 280 includes a medication or other prescribed component (Ci) 281, for example, and can include one or more nutraceutical-containing or other components (C₂) 282. Inventory manager 280 can be accessible to user 260 via optional interface 262, which can optionally be used for receiving user input in lieu of interface 238. Alternatively or additionally, interface 262 can comprise a vending- machine-style dispenser able to dispense one or more of the component(s) 281, 282 to user 260. Even in an embodiment in which dispensations are via a third party, and in lieu W'ϊήl&feeέ ^f'p^iSary module 210 can register the dispensation such as via linkage 232 or interface 238, and respond accordingly (by operation 150, e.g.).

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown another example system 300 able to perform operational flow 100 of FIG. 1 and many similar variations. System 300 includes circuitry 330 and logic 340 as described below, and can further include one or more of link 321, interface 338, or medium 350. Logic 340 can optionally receive input from a user (such as from user 360 via interface 338, e.g.) locally. Medium 350 can bear one or more instructions that can be executed by logic 340 (optionally a computing device, e.g.) for performing one or more of the flows of FIG. 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, or 13.

[0029] As shown, link 321 can operably couple system 300 with network 320. In some embodiments, network 320 can thus have access to online research resource 312 through linkage 322 or to server 313 through linkage 323. Alternatively or additionally, network 320 can have access to expert 314 through linkage 324 or to supplier 370 through linkage 327. ("Expert" 314 can actually be an herbalist, a pharmacist, a physician, a psychologist, a parent, an author, a document, a database, a blog, or any other source of opinion or information.) Research resource 312 can be remote from system 300 or from server 313, expert 314, or supplier 370. Expert 314 can optionally be located at a clinic or similar retail or healthcare facility that can advantageously include system 300 as well as one or more of online research resource 312, server 313, supplier 370, or user 360.

[0030] System 300 optionally includes circuitry (optionally circuitry 330 with link 321, e.g.) for communicating with supplier 370 via network 320, such as by electronic mail, facsimile, or a similar digital format. Alternatively or additionally, circuitry 330 can coordinate with link 321 for communicating with a regimen server (such as server 313, e.g.) or with a consultant (such as expert 314) remotely. Alternatively or additionally, supplier 370 can be configured to communicate with expert 314 via linkage 327 or with (another) user 360 via linkage 361. Alternatively or additionally, user 360 can access a component C| 381 (and optionally one or more additional components C₂382) in an inventory manager 380 via interface 362.

[0031] In some embodiments, system 300 is a computer or similar device with inventory maintenance capabilities. In performing operation 140 (of FIG. 1) or some

logic 340 can register a dispensation from an inventory, for example by receiving an indication of the dispensation via user interface 338. Circuitry 330 can respond as appropriate by indicating a request quantity (at operation 150, e.g.), such as by transmitting the request quantity via link 321 as an order (to supplier 370, e.g.) or as a validation request (to a physician or other expert 314, e.g.).

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown another example system 400 able to perform operational flow 100 of FIG. 1 and many similar variations such as those of FIG. 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, or 13. System 400 comprises circuitry 440 for registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory and module 470 for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen. Circuitry 440 can adjoin, overlap, or otherwise be operable to interact with module 470.

[0033] Module 470 optionally comprises circuitry 471 for determining the request quantity partly based on a user preference. Alternatively or additionally, module 470 can comprise one or more of circuitry 472 for implementing the consumption regimen, medium 473 for storing at least the request quantity, circuitry 474 for confirming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation, or medium 475 bearing one or more instructions for generating the request quantity.

[0034] Also as shown, alternatively or additionally, system 400 can further comprise circuitry 481 for receiving at least a portion of the consumption regimen remotely. Alternatively or additionally, system 400 can further comprise circuitry 482 for identifying a compound comprising the request quantity, circuitry 483 for receiving a user preference, circuitry 484 for authenticating a user input, circuitry 485 for receiving an update of the consumption regimen, or circuitry 486 for receiving an update of the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 5, there are shown various optional features of operational flow 100 of FIG. 1. Operation 140 — registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory — may include one or more operations such as operation 543, which depicts confirming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., dispensation confirmation logic 1443 confirming that a user 1460 has removed about 6 grams of St. John's wort from nutraceutical bin 1445 over the course of a week, such as, for-eximple, dispensation confirmation logic 1443 comparing starting and ending volumes of St. John's wort in nutraceutical bin 1445). Operation 543 can likewise be performed by dispensation confirmation logic 1443 receiving a user input affirming the dispensation, for example, or by a module 470 that includes circuitry 474 of FIG. 4.

[0036] In various implementations, user system 1400 of FIG. 14 or system 400 of FIG. 4 can alternatively or additionally be configured to perform operation 150 — responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen — by including one or more of operation 551, operation 552, operation 556, operation 557, operation 558, or operation 560. Operation 551 comprises receiving a user preference (e.g., user interface 1462 receiving a preference from user 1460 that user 1460 desires a high-energy formulation of his regimen), such as can be performed by a system 400 that includes circuitry 483 of FIG. 4.

[0037] Operation 552 comprises identifying a compound comprising the request quantity (e.g., compound identification logic 1496 identifying a nutraceutical such as bee pollen or ginkgo biloba). For example, if the electronic inventory 1456 indicates that the nutraceutical bin 1445 contains bee pollen and the user data 1454 indicates a preference for a high energy regimen, compound identification logic 1496 can identify bee pollen as a desirable nutraceutical by updating regimen description 1455. In other embodiments, operation 552 can be performed a variant of system 400 that includes circuitry 482.

[0038] Operation 556 comprises determining the request quantity partly based on a user preference (e.g., quantity determination logic 1490 determining that user 1460 has requested one pound of a protein supplement in response to a user preference for one- month-based purchases). The user data 1454 can also include one or more preferences relating to nutraceutical price, freshness and/or diversity, or the like. In other embodiments, operation 556 can be performed by a module 470 that includes circuitry 471 of FIG. 4.

[0039] Operation 557 comprises receiving the request quantity (e.g., user interface 1462 can receive data indicating a suggested amount of 50 tablets of a vitamin B complex), which can then be displayed to user 1460 or stored for later use, for example. In other embodiments, the request quantity can likewise be received from moduli 470 alter "executing the one or more instructions for generating the request quantity borne by medium 475.

[0040] Operation 558 comprises storing the request quantity (e.g., user interface 1462 storing a message in user data 1454 containing several suggested reorder amounts until "user 1460 logs in again). In other embodiments, operation 558 can be performed with medium 473 of FIG. 4 or with medium 350 of FIG. 3. These or other media of system 400 can likewise store data related to the request quantity, of course, such as other request quantities, medical history data, security information, supplier identification, user preferences, or instructions in light of teachings herein.

[0041] Operation 560 — performing one or more additional operations — may include one or more of the following operations: 561, 562, 563, 564, and/or 566. Operation 561 depicts receiving an update of the consumption regimen remotely (e.g., network interface 1492 receiving an indication that a given expert's diet regimen now allows up to 280 grams of protein supplement per week). This information can then be used by scheduler 1483 or stored in regimen description 1455 for later display to user 1460, for example.

[0042] Operation 562 depicts scheduling the consumption regimen (e.g., scheduler 1483 using a received update in changing the current regimen to allow at most 40 grams of protein per day). In other embodiments, operation 562 can be performed by a module 470 that includes circuitry 472 of FIG. 4.

[0043] Operation 563 depicts receiving an update of a module (e.g., module update logic 1470 receiving version 2.7 of a data file relied upon by compound identification logic 1496, and using it to replace version 2.8 previously in effect). In other embodiments, operation 563 can be performed by a system 400 that includes circuitry 486 of FIG. 4.

[0044] Operation 564 depicts receiving at least a portion of the consumption regimen (e.g., network interface 1492 receiving a list of all 45 nutraceuticals that can be required by regimen X). User 1460 can use this information in determining whether regimen X will require any unusual purchases, for example. In other embodiments, operation 564 can be performed by circuitry 481 of FIG. 4 or by logic 240 of FIG. 2, in some embodiments. ^l{M45|Op^1|erarϊόn 566 depicts authenticating a user input (e.g., authentication logic 1466 confirming the correctness of a password input by user 1460). In other embodiments, operation 566 can be performed by a system 400 that includes circuitry 484 ofFIG. 4.

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown another example system 600 able to perform many variants of flow 100 described with reference to one or more of FIG. 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, or 13. System 600 can be configured to perform these variants with or without proximity or direct interaction with any user or inventory manager, except those few variants for which context dictates otherwise.

[0047] System 600 includes circuitry 650 for registering a dispensation from an inventory within a module 630 for responding to the registering by indicating a request, consistent with flow 100 of FIG. 1. As shown, module 630 can also include one or more of computing device 634, logic 636, or logic 638. Circuitry 650 can optionally include one or more of logic 654, logic 656, or memory 658. Storage 660 can optionally include one or more of code 667, data 668 (which can comprise historical data or inventory data, e.g.), or other data 670 such as one or more regimens 672, 674.

[0048] In some embodiments, logic 654 can comprise logic for prompting the test result (and/or other information that may relate to the subject) by requesting a test that partly depends on a medical history of the subject, for example, by transmitting a prompting signal as output 622 to network 620. (See FIGS. 11&12.) Alternatively or additionally, system 600 can perform a flow 100 including an operation 556, for example, based on a user preference received via input 621 and archived in storage 660.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 7, there are shown various optional features of operational flow 100 of FIG. 1 or 5. In various implementations, system 600 of FIG. 6 can optionally be configured to perform flow 100 with one or more of operation 743 or operation 749.

[0050] Operation 743 comprises applying one or more inventory maintenance criteria to the inventory and to the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., inventory maintenance logic 1447 determining that a family's current regimen will exhaust the family's annis root in nutraceutical bin 1445 in less than a triggering time of two weeks). The criteria can likewise include a default or user-specified upper limit on a monetary Mlu'eW ati^'mf entόryr^'fό'f¹ example, or a maximum acceptable age of a perishable nutraceutical-containing compound. In some variants of the embodiment of FIG. 6, in response to receiving an input 621 indicating that a user's inventory manager is nearly full, for example, applying the criteria may accordingly reduce the request quantity to avoid spoilage, substantial investment in an ineffective or unneeded regimen, or other forms of waste. Also, system 600 optionally includes logic 638 comprising logic for querying a user responsive to the registering (at operation 749), such as by transmitting one or more requests as output 622 to network 620. This approach can help tailor the regimen by seeking input about a subject when a user is likely to be available, for example, around the time of the registering.

[0051] Operation 749 comprises querying a user responsive to the registering (e.g., user query logic 1446 sending a request to user 1460 to know whether a child still has a flu, to facilitate a decision of whether to reorder).

[0052] Operation 754 comprises retrieving at least a portion of the consumption regimen at least partly based on one or more attributes of a primary subject (e.g., storage logic 1450 selecting a portion of the contents of regimen description 1455 based on learning that the primary subject is a 6 '2" man who is slightly overweight). In some embodiments, operation 754 can include retrieving a regimen (regimen 672 of FIG. 6, e.g.) unique to the subject. Absent such an individualized regimen, even a few attributes such as age or symptom can form a basis for an effective regimen.

[0053] Operation 755 comprises selecting the request quantity partly based on an increment size of an inventory (e.g., quantity determination logic 1490 deciding to suggest a second 1 -pound tin of herbal tea even when 4 single-ounce packets would have been a less costly way to reach a total of 20 ounces). In other embodiments, data 668 of FIG. 6 may identify the increment size, for example, used by computing device 634 for performing the selecting operation 755.

[0054] Operation 757 comprises receiving a user input indicating at least one of a nutraceutical or a symptom (e.g., compound identification logic 1496 receiving an indication of a symptom of "having foot cramps" from subject description 1453 or user 1460). The user input may be received via a questionnaire (electronic or paper, e.g.), for example. (W055]^''O^"pe¥aTi'bh'''758 comprises selecting a nutraceutical at least partly based on one or more symptoms (e.g., compound identification logic 1496 selecting calcium and magnesium citrate responsive to an indication of foot cramps).

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 8, there are shown various optional features of operational flow 100 of FIG. 1, 5, or 7. In various implementations, system 200 of FIG. 2 or user system 1400 of FIG. 14 can be configured to perform flow 100 with operation 140 including one or more of operation 841, operation 843, operation 847, operation 848, or operation 849.

[0057] Operation 841 comprises dispensing a nutraceutical (e.g., dispensation confirmation logic 1443 sending an instruction to nutraceutical bin 1445 or to user 1460 via display 1467). In other embodiments, inventory manager 280 likewise performs operation 841, for example, by dispensing a nutraceutical-containing component 282 responsive to an instruction (via linkage 232) from primary module 210. The registering can optionally cause or enable or result from the dispensing operation 841, or stand in some other relation to the dispensing operation 841, conditional or otherwise.

[0058] Operation 843 comprises combining a mineral with an amino acid (e.g., regimen implementation logic 1480 implementing a nutraceutical combination including an amino acid chelated calcium). In other embodiments, for a subject who takes a steady regimen including more than one component (such as these), compound identification logic 1496 can optionally streamline regimen implementation by preferring multivitamins and other products that encapsulate more than one regimen component in a single article (tablet, e.g.) or otherwise consolidate consumption.

[0059] Operation 847 comprises registering a received antioxidant-containing component apportioned into one or more capsules (e.g., inventory maintenance logic 1447 receiving an electronic inventory update to show that vitamin C capsules have been added to nutraceutical bin 1445). Operation 848 depicts allocating a multivitamin supplement component apportioned into one or more increments of a uniform increment size (e.g., inventory maintenance logic 1447 reserving all 100 identical tablets for the use of one person who draws from nutraceutical bin 1445). Operation 849 comprises forming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation as a combination containing one or more of the capsules and one or more of the increments (e.g., inventory maintenance Mg^'rc W47'geHeMήg%''i3ispensation specifying two capsules and one tablet, which dispensation can then be included in a message displayed to user 1460).

[0060] FIG. 8 also shows various optional features of operational flow 100 of FIG. 1, 5, or 7 comprising additional operation 852, operation 854, or operation 856. In various implementations, system 300 of FIG. 3 or user system 1400 of FIG. 4 can be configured to perform flow 100 with operation 150 including one or more of these additional operations.

[0061] Operation 852 comprises receiving a validation of at least a portion of the consumption regimen (e.g., network interface 1492 receiving a message of approval from the subject's doctor concerning a detoxifying regimen that includes calcium D-glucarate). In some embodiments relating to FIG. 3, the validation of operation 852 can be received from user 360 or expert 314, for example, optionally in response to an automated request for such a validation. The request can define or justify the portion of the consumption regimen briefly, for example, and specify an action (such as clicking a button or entering a code, e.g.) by which the validation can be generated. The responding operation 150 can optionally be made conditional on receiving the validation before a deadline, for example, or can otherwise affect a condition or manner by which system 300 will complete the responding operation 150.

[0062] Operation 854 comprises receiving at least a portion of a health regimen that includes the consumption regimen (e.g., regimen description 1455 receiving a complete diet and exercise regimen). In some variants of FIG. 3, for example, the portion can be received by circuitry 330 via network 320. System 300 can present several such health regimens of interest to user 360 via interface 338, for example, prompting user 360 to adopt one or more of the health regimens. Logic 340 can then implement one or more user-adopted regimens by storing one or more instructions of each of the adopted regimens in medium 350 (a memory, e.g.). Likewise, as will be shown following, system 300 can perform operation 856 before, during, after, or without the above-described adoption operation. See FIG. 10, for example.

[0063] Operation 856 comprises receiving one or more components of the consumption regimen (e.g., regimen description 1455 receiving a complete diet and e'xeriSi'seYegirnen). '¹^tIW components of the consumption regimen can optionally be obtained, for example, by deriving them from regimen description 1455.

[0064] Referring now to FIG. 9, there are shown further optional features of system 400 of FIG. 4. As explained above, system 400 comprises circuitry 440 for registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory and module 470 for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

[0065] Module 470 optionally comprises display 971 configured for digitally indicating the request quantity. Alternatively or additionally, module 470 can comprise one or more of display 972 configured for graphically indicating the request quantity, module 973 for receiving input from a user locally, or module 974 for predicting a state of the inventory. Alternatively or additionally, module 470 can comprise signal-bearing medium 980 bearing one or more instructions such as those of FIG. 11 below.

[0066] Also as shown, alternatively or additionally, system 400 can further comprise circuitry 981 for accessing a network. Alternatively or additionally, system 400 can further comprise circuitry 982 for determining whether any update can be obtained for the consumption regimen, circuitry 983 for obtaining a regimen remotely, circuitry 984 for communicating with a consultant remotely, circuitry 985 for communicating with a supplier, or circuitry 986 for communicating with an inventory manager containing the inventory.

[0067] Referring now to FIG. 10, there are shown various optional features of operational flow 100 of FIG. 1, 5, 7 or 8. In various implementations, user system 1400 of FIG. 14 or system 400 of FIG. 9 can optionally be configured to perform flow 100 with operation 140 including one or more of operation 1041, operation 1046, operation 1047, operation 1048, or operation 1049. Operation 1041 comprises accessing a network (e.g., user query logic 1446 contacting a consultant or other user via the Internet). In other embodiments, operation 1041 is performed by circuitry 981 in the system 400 as shown in FIGS. 4 & 9.

[0068] Operation 1046 comprises receiving input from a user locally (e.g., user query logic 1446 receiving a query response from user 1460 through user interface 1462). f$0"69]^''O^'pW'tio'n"l047 comprises predicting a state of the inventory (e.g., event ^• predictor 1448 predicting that a supply of zinc in nutraceutical bin 1445 will run out in 28 days in lieu of restocking or a regimen change). In some embodiments, operation 1047 can be performed by a variant of of system 400 comprising module 974. The prediction may be based on one or more attributes of one or more dispensations such as the registered one(s), for example, or upon the consumption regimen or a current state of the inventory. The predicted state may be detailed, such as a complete description of each component and its ingredients, its age, its location, and the like. The predicted state may alternatively be more basic, such as "adequate" or "in need of component Z." The predicted state may also be expressed in various forms, such as a duration or a percentage.

[0070] Operation 1048 comprises postponing an action responsive to determining that the predicted state meets one or more criteria (e.g., scheduler 1483 postponing ordering any single item over $200 without a specific approval from user 1460).

[0071] Operation 1049 comprises communicating with an inventory manager containing the inventory (e.g., dispensation confirmation logic 1443 or inventory maintenance logic 1447 communicating with inventory manager 1444 containing an inventory of supplements and medications in nutraceutical bin 1445).

[0072] Operation 1052 comprises determining whether any alternative, substitute, or other update can be obtained for the consumption regimen (e.g., module update logic 1470 reviewing an accumulation of content periodically within or through network interface 1492 to determine whether the Bone-Up™ regimen has published any updates since last month). The determining can be performed by checking a mailbox, for example, or otherwise by sending a message into a network such as may be received by a server. Making a negative determination can be performed by receiving a negative reply or by waiting a given duration without receiving a reply, for example, or by making some similarly reasonable inference derived from one or more received signals.

[0073] Operation 1053 comprises receiving an available regimen remotely (e.g., network interface 1492 receiving a mark-up language segment relating to at least one nutraceutical from a clinic in another state). Operation 1054 comprises adopting the av&.rølfeΥegirrierfaTtheϊ'όnsurnption regimen (e.g., module update logic 1470 responding to a user selection by changing to a simpler regimen).

[0074] In some embodiments, system 400 comprises circuitry 983 that can perform operation 1053 by receiving an available regimen in response to a request or subscription, for example, or may select the available regimen as a preferable regimen automatically using information about the subject.

[0075] Operation 1055 comprises graphically indicating the request quantity (e.g., display 1467 showing a pixel image of two bottles that can obviate a translation or enable a person to understand and approve a purchase without having to read). In some embodiments, display 972 performs operation 1055 by showing a first component that is visually distinguishable from at least a second component, such as by color or shape.

[0076] Operation 1056 comprises digitally indicating the request quantity (e.g., display 1467 showing a default reorder list to a nutraceutical vendor). Alternatively or additionally, indicating operation 1056 can be performed by transmitting the request quantity digitally via a conduit (of FIG. 11, e.g.) or a wireless link (of FIG. 3, e.g.).

[0077] Referring now to FIG. 11, a system 1100 includes a signal-bearing medium 1180 that can comprise (or interact with) a conduit 1120, a disk 1130, an integrated circuit 1140, or a computing device 1150. System 1100 can further include a dispenser 1170. Medium 1180 can optionally bear one or more instructions 1160 comprising at least one of (a) one or more instructions for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory and (b) one or more instructions for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

[0078] Alternatively or additionally, medium 1180 can bear one or more instructions 1162 for recording the nutraceutical-containing dispensation with other medical history data of a subject. The other medical history data can include one or more prior recordings of a dispensation, for example. Alternatively or additionally, medium 1180 can bear one or more instructions 1163 for performing the nutraceutical-containing dispensation. Alternatively or additionally, medium 1180 can bear one or more instructions 1164 for prompting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation. Alternatively or additionally, medium 1180 can bear one or more instructions 1165 for detecting the iϊufraceύ'tical-coήtaϊriϊhg^"clispensation. Alternatively or additionally, medium 1180 can bear one or more instructions 1166 for determining the request quantity. Alternatively or additionally, medium 1180 can bear one or more instructions 1168 comprising at least one of (a) one or more instructions for receiving an indication of a quantity within each of one or more delivery units and (b) one or more instructions for indicating the request quantity as a number of the one or more delivery units. A given set of one or more instructions can comprise more than one of instructions 1162-1168, of course, optionally executable by computing device 1150.

[0079] Referring now to FIG. 12, there are shown various optional features of operational flow 100 of FIG. 1, 5, 7, 8, or 10. In various implementations, system 1100 of FIG. 11 can optionally be configured to perform flow 100 with operation 140 including one or more of operation 1242, operation 1243, operation 1246, operation 1247, or 1249.

[0080] Operation 1242 comprises performing the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., regimen implementation logic 1480 generating a dispensation identifying a list of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals). In some embodiments, system 1100 performs operation 1242 by transmitting instructions 1163 via medium 1180 to dispenserll70.

[0081] Operation 1243 comprises prompting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., regimen implementation logic 1480 causing inventor manager 1444 to perform a physical dispensation immediately). This can likewise be performed by a computing device 1150, for example, such as by transmitting a dispensing command or by otherwise causing an actuation of a dispenser.

[0082] Operation 1246 comprises detecting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., dispensation confirmation logic 1443 detecting a physical dispensation from inventory manager 1444 or a planned dispensation from regimen implementation logic 1480). In another example, operation 1246 can be performed by integrated circuit 1140 before, during, after, or without the physical dispensation. The dispensation to be registered can optionally be conditional, scheduled, or actual.

[00S3] Operation 1247 comprises responding to a result of a test indicating a state of a subject (e.g., user query logic 1446 receiving a "yes" response after asking the user

a fever). In some embodiments of system 1100 of FIG. 11, for example, operation 1247 can be performed by executing one or more instructions 1166 for determining the request quantity.

[0084] Operation 1249 comprises recording the nutraceutical-containing dispensation with other medical history data of a subject (e.g., user query logic 1446 recording the dispensation in subject description 1453). In some embodiments, operation 1249 is performed by computing device 1150 performing instruction(s) 1162.

[0085] Operation 1251 comprises displaying a performance indicator of the regimen relating to a potential result of following the regimen (e.g., display 1467 can show a comparison between a likelihood of catching a flu with a probiotic-containing yogurt regimen and a similar likelihood without a regimen). The potential result can be tangible, intangible, subjective, objective, or some combination of these. The performance ratio or other indicator can comprise an estimated probability of a measurable improvement, a ratio of "satisfied" regimen subscribers to "dissatisfied" regimen subscribers, a record of subjective experience, an anecdotal log, a rating, a research summary, a certification, an endorsement, or some other indicator.

[0086] Operation 1253 comprises receiving an indication of a quantity within each of one or more delivery units (e.g., electronic inventory 1456 including an indication of a per-unit "dose"). The quantity can be a nominal increment of mass (such as milligrams of a vitamin, e.g.), a count (of eggs, e.g.), a length, or some other convenient increment. In some embodiments, a code module comprising one or more instructions 1166 performs operation 1253 before or during operation 1254.

[0087] Operation 1254 comprises indicating the request quantity as a number of the one or more delivery units (e.g., regimen description 1455 describing a regimen as 2 units of item X, et cetera, with item X defined only in electronic inventory 1456).

[0088] Operation 1255 comprises detecting a condition (e.g., quantity determination logic 1490 detecting a user login or other action via user interface 1462). . The condition can comprise a substantially periodic event, for example, such as an appointment, a day of the month, a time of day, a mealtime, a work break, or the like. The condition can also comprise a storm or other weather condition, a job change or price change or other economic event, a smoking habit or some other personal condition, or any other condition that may affect the subject's life.

[0089] The detecting can be triggered by a signal from a calendar program, an alarm clock, a sensor, a network event, or a real time trigger, for example. In some variants of embodiments described above, system 300 of FIG. 3 performs operation 150 responsive to one or more criteria that depend on the detected event(s) as well as the request quantity and the regimen. A care provider can use system 300 to adjust or otherwise update a regimen-implementing request automatically, responsive to a scheduled visit by a patient, for example, if system 300 performs operation 1256.

[0090] Operation 1256 comprises responding to the condition by determining the request quantity (e.g., quantity determination logic 1490 responding to a user action by refreshing a proposed order by using a current system time).

[0091] Operation 1258 comprises determining the request quantity partly based on an indication of a visible attribute or a behavior of a subject (e.g., compound identification logic 1496 and quantity determination logic 1490 identifying and ordering a quantity of non-prescription lithium responsive to chronic extreme mood swings). The subject, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a parent, or some other observer may provide an objective indication (conscious, e.g.), for example, or a subjective indication (irritable or fatigued, e.g.) of the attribute or behavior. The request quantity may be zero if the visible attribute or the behavior indicates a negative reaction by the subject to a component of that regimen, for example. The indication may relate to a facial attribute ("bags under the eyes," e.g.), some other skin condition ("rash," e.g.), or any other visible attribute of a subject.

[0092] Operation 1259 comprises indicating the request quantity via a display of a hand-held device (e.g., display 1467 indicating the quantity via a cell phone, a camera, or a hybrid device). In various embodiments, any of the above-described systems can optionally include a display, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the system can comprise a hand-held device such as a cell phone, wrist watch or the like.

[0093] Referring now to FIG. 13, there are shown various optional features of operational flow 100 of FIG. 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, or 12. Operation 140 — registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory — may include one or more of the !SHSMr-]I ύpeMό'risy'ϊ'S^l, 1342, 1343, 1344, or 1345. Operation 1341 depicts listing one or more nutraceuticals and one or more pharmaceuticals in the nutraceutical- containing dispensation (e.g., regimen implementation logic 1480 including these items in a displayed or transmitted dispensation). Operation 1342 depicts listing a vitamin and/or a mineral in the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., regimen implementation logic 1480 including these items in a displayed or transmitted dispensation). Operation 1343 depicts listing a protein, an amino acid, an oil, and/or a fat in the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., regimen implementation logic 1480 including these items in a displayed or transmitted dispensation). Operation 1344 depicts listing a traditional remedy in the nutraceutical-containing dispensation (e.g., regimen implementation logic 1480 including these items in a displayed or transmitted dispensation). Operation 1345 depicts receiving a user report of the nutraceutical- containing dispensation (e.g., user query logic 1446 requesting and receiving a notification from user 1460 that the dispensation is planned).

[0094] Operation 1360 — performing one or more additional operations — may include one or more of the following operations: 1361, 1362, 1363, 1364, 1366, 1368, or 1369. Operation 1361 depicts receiving a request for a subscription (e.g., user interface 1462 receiving a decision that user 1460 is subscribing to the Adkins diet). Operation 1362 depicts obtaining data from one or more remote sources (e.g., registration logic receiving the registration(s) as the obtained data from a nutraceutical bin 1445 that can be remote). Operation 1363 depicts obtaining data via a network (e.g., network interface 1492 receiving data via the Internet).

[0095] Operation 1364 depicts receiving at least one of a diagnosis or one or more observations (e.g., subject description 1453 receiving an indication that a particular subject has rheumatoid arthritis). Operation 1366 depicts receiving at least one of a prognosis or another prediction (e.g., subject description 1453 receiving an indication that a 2- week convalescence is expected). The diagnosis or prognosis can optionally be based on one or more test results and/or reports by others, observations, predictions, reports, history, or other indications of status. The diagnosis or prognosis may relate to a subject who has adopted the consumption regimen, for example, and may warrant storing the diagnosis in a medical history. The subject may be diagnosed as having an allergy to seafood, for example, which may bear against a fish oil supplement. Substantially the same criterion ("no fish," e.g.) may effectively become a part of a given subject's regimen in other circumstances as well. It may arise from a received user instruction or preference ("no fish," e.g.), a user status ("vegan," e.g.), or otherwise arise from a received input (via interface 1462, e.g.). The subject may be diagnosed with osteoporosis, as another example, which may bear toward a calcium-containing (or higher-calcium) regimen.

[0096] Operation 1368 comprises communicating with a consultant remotely (e.g., network interface 1492 automatically notifying a subject's dietician at a remote facility). Operation 1369 comprises communicating with a supplier (e.g., network interface 1492 requesting the supplier's availability and lead times for products of interest). These operations can generate timely information about the availability or advisability of an available regimen, for example, facilitating appropriate adjustments at operation 150. Many embodiments described herein allow for a more sophisticated and cost-effective approach to building and maintaining an inventory of effective remedies.

[0097] Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations will typically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

[0098] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD)₅ a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

[0099] While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a corTS'tiiϋdtϊόn is irite^"Me"dih the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., " a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., " a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B." Moreover, "can" and "optionally" and other permissive terms are used herein for describing optional features of various embodiments. These terms likewise describe selectable or configurable features generally, unless the context dictates otherwise.

[00100] The herein described aspects depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being "operably connected," or "operably coupled," to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being "operably couplable" to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly MteractaTSte atid/όf ' wϊfelessly interacting components and/or logically interactable and/or logically interacting components.

[00101] While certain features of the described implementations have been illustrated as disclosed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the embodiments of the invention.

Claims

'rams craivrats:

1. A method comprising:

registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory; and

responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

confirming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving a user preference.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

identifying a compound comprising the request quantity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving a user preference; and

identifying a compound comprising the request quantity.

6. The methocl of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

determining the request quantity partly based on a user preference.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving the request quantity.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

storing the request quantity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving the request quantity; and

storing the request quantity.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing one or more additional operations.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an update of the consumption regimen remotely.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: scheduling the consumption regimen.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an update of the consumption regimen remotely; and

scheduling the consumption regimen.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an update of a module.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving at least a portion of the consumption regimen.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

authenticating a user input.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request for a subscription.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

applying one or more inventory maintenance criteria to the inventory and to the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving at least one of a diagnosis or one or more observations.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one of a prognosis or another prediction.

21. The methocl of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

querying a user responsive to the registering.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

retrieving at least a portion of the consumption regimen at least partly based on one or more attributes of a primary subject.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

selecting the request quantity partly based on an increment size of an inventory.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving a user input indicating at least one of a nutraceutical or a symptom.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

selecting a nutraceutical at least partly based on one or more symptoms.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

dispensing a nutraceutical. ^'"^'11^'."^' "^Jr "¹THe metnδ^'S'oFclaim I₅ wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

combining a mineral with an amino acid.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

registering a received antioxidant-containing component apportioned into one or more capsules.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

allocating a multivitamin supplement component apportioned into one or more increments of a uniform increment size.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

registering a received antioxidant-containing component apportioned into one or more capsules;

allocating a multivitamin supplement component apportioned into one or more increments of a uniform increment size; and

forming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation as a combination containing one or more of the capsules and one or more of the increments.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving a validation of at least a portion of the consumption regimen.

32.^'"^"" """The me^'thbd'of cTtim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving at least a portion of a health regimen that includes the consumption regimen.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving one or more components of the consumption regimen.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

accessing a network.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating with a consultant remotely.

36. The method of claim I₅ further comprising:

communicating with a supplier.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

receiving input from a user locally.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

communicating with an inventory manager containing the inventory. jy. The methcfd of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

determining whether any alternative, substitute, or other update can be obtained for the consumption regimen.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving an available regimen remotely.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving an available regimen remotely; and

adopting the available regimen as the consumption regimen.

42. The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

graphically indicating the request quantity.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

digitally indicating the request quantity.

44. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises: "p¹ riSfficΗϊϊg^' a state'ti'f the 'inventory.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

predicting a state of the inventory; and

postponing an action responsive to determining that the predicted state meets one or more criteria.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

performing the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

prompting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

48. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

detecting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

responding to a result of a test indicating a state of a subject.

50. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

recording the nutraceutical-containing dispensation with other medical history data of a subject. ^'3T: Thέ mltnW of el'aim 1 , wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

displaying a performance indicator of the regimen relating to a potential result of following the regimen.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving an indication of a quantity within each of one or more delivery units.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

receiving an indication of a quantity within each of one or more delivery units; and

indicating the request quantity as a number of the one or more delivery units.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

detecting a condition.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

detecting a condition; and

responding to the condition by determining the request quantity. '%':"^•' ^1Uh The nϊetlo'H'ϋϊ claim I₅ wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

determining the request quantity partly based on an indication of a visible attribute or a behavior of a subject.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

indicating the request quantity via a display of a hand-held device.

58. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining data from one or more remote sources.

59. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining data via a network.

60. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

receiving a user report of the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

61. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

listing one or more nutraceuticals and one or more pharmaceuticals hi the nutraceutical- containing dispensation.

62. The method of claim 1, wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

mineral in the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

S3. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

listing a protein, an amino acid, an oil, and/or a fat in the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

64. The method of claim 1 , wherein registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

listing a traditional remedy in the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

65. A^' system comprising:

means for registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory; and

means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for confirming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving a user preference.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for identifying a compound comprising the request quantity.

69. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for determining the request quantity partly based on a user preference.

70. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving the request quantity. ''ft'. JPlϊe sy^'ste^'m^'!ισf (3aim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for storing the request quantity.

72. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for receiving an update of the consumption regimen remotely.

73. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for scheduling the consumption regimen.

74. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for receiving an update of a module.

75. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for receiving at least a portion of the consumption regimen.

76. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for authenticating a user input.

77. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for receiving a request for a subscription.

78. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventor}' comprises:

means for applying one or more inventory maintenance criteria to the inventory and to the nutraceutical-containing dispensation. ¹TO:-¹' ^lulThe sysTeffiWclalm 65, further comprising:

means for receiving at least one of a diagnosis or one or more observations.

80. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for receiving at least one of a prognosis or another prediction.

81. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for querying a user responsive to the registering.

82. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for retrieving at least a portion of the consumption regimen at least partly based on one or more attributes of a primary subject.

83. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for selecting the request quantity partly based on an increment size of an inventory.

84. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving a user input indicating at least one of a nutraceutical or a symptom. »'5'.""' "-" 'The systeiffol" claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for selecting a nutraceutical at least partly based on one or more symptoms.

86. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for dispensing a nutraceutical.

87. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for combining a mineral with an amino acid.

88. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for registering a received antioxidant-containing component apportioned into one or more capsules.

89. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for allocating a multivitamin supplement component apportioned into one or more increments of a uniform inc^rement size.

90. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for forming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation as a combination containing one or more of the capsules and one or more of the increments. g.f_ ^ZΆ ^^fe^sy^gtfS^Sllim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving a validation of at least a portion of the consumption regimen.

92. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving at least a portion of a health regimen that includes the consumption regimen.

93. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving one or more components of the consumption regimen.

94. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for accessing a network.

95. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for communicating with a consultant remotely.

96. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for communicating with a supplier.

97. The system of claim 65 , wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises: frfe'afisW receiVfflgfmpiit trom a user locally.

98. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for communicating with an inventory manager containing the inventory.

99. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for determining whether any alternative, substitute, or other update can be obtained for the consumption regimen.

100. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving an available regimen remotely.

101. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for adopting the available regimen as the consumption regimen.

102. The system of claim 65, wherein the means fof responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for graphically indicating the request quantity.

103. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises: MfeahiHor¹

the request quantity.

104. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for predicting a state of the inventory.

105. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for predicting a state of the inventory; and

means for postponing an action responsive to determining that the predicted state meets one or more criteria.

106. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for performing the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

107. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for prompting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

108. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for detecting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

109. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for responding to a result of a test indicating a state of a subject '140? mi Rag syStSWbϊ-tll'im 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for recording the nutraceutical-containing dispensation with other medical history data of a subject.

111. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for displaying a performance indicator of the regimen relating to a potential result of following the regimen.

112. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for receiving an indication of a quantity within each of one or more delivery units.

113. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for indicating the request quantity as a number of the one or more delivery units.

114. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for detecting a condition.

115. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises: ϊWeaMW ύet^'Srmlfflh^'g'fflB request quantity partly based on an indication of a visible attribute or a behavior of a subject.

116. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

means for indicating the request quantity via a display of a hand-held device.

117. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for obtaining data from one or more remote sources.

118. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

means for obtaining data via a network.

119. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

means for receiving a user report of the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

T-2W"^ωΑ"sysrem*wmpttsing:

circuitry for registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory; and

module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

■ 121. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

circuitry for determining the request quantity partly based on a user preference.

122. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

circuitry for implementing the consumption regimen.

123. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

medium for storing at least the request quantity.

124. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

circuitry for confirming the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

125. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises: ωέ^'diMifciΘ&M-g fidheMmore instructions for generating the request quantity.

126. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving at least a portion of the consumption regimen remotely.

127. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for identifying a compound comprising the request quantity.

128. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving a user preference.

129. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for authenticating a user input.

130. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving an update of the consumption regimen.

131. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving an update of the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity.

132. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

a display configured for digitally indicating the request quantity.

133. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises: a-ai'Spiay-'conifgureci ior-grapnically indicating the request quantity.

134. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

a module for receiving input from a user locally.

135. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

a module for predicting a state of the inventory.

136. The system of claim 120, wherein the module for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen comprises:

a signal-bearing medium bearing one or more instructions.

137. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for accessing a network.

138. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for determining whether any update can be obtained for the consumption regimen.

139. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for obtaining a regimen remotely.

140. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for communicating with a consultant remotely.

12O₅ further comprising:

circuitry for communicating with a supplier.

142. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for communicating with an inventory manager containing the inventory.

143. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for obtaining data from one or more remote sources.

144. The system of claim 120, further comprising:

circuitry for obtaining data via a network.

145. The system of claim 120, wherein the means for registering a nutraceutical- containing dispensation from an inventory comprises:

circuitry for receiving a user report of the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

14δ:« Ii JJbisysMrfilfdbriipβing:

a computing device; and

at least one of one or more instructions for registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory; and one or more instructions for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

147. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

a conduit.

148. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

a disk.

149. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

an integrated circuit.

150. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

a dispenser.

151. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

one or more instructions for recording the nutraceutical-containing dispensation with other medical history data of a subject.

152. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

one or more instructions for performing the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

153. The system of claim 146, further comprising: bJife^';ibHlni©re"M^tifubfabnife,ttor prompting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

154. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

one or more instructions for detecting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

155. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

one or more instructions for determining the request quantity.

156. The system of claim 146, further comprising:

at least one of

one or more instructions for receiving an indication of a quantity within each of one or more delivery units; and

one or more instructions for indicating the request quantity as a number of the one or more deliver}' units.

iLJ » iLiiAncorΩpiarøøpiΘgϊam product comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing at least one of

one or more instructions for registering a nutraceutical-containing dispensation from an inventory; and

one or more instructions for responding to the registering by indicating a request quantity partly based on the inventory and partly based on a consumption regimen.

158. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

a conduit.

159. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

a disk.

160. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

an integrated circuit.

161. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

the signal-bearing medium bearing one or more instructions for recording the nutraceutical-containing dispensation with other medical history data of a subject.

162. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises: tteiiS|Hial-r.b^'e!blⁱi!d)g!l;miiiEin bearing one or more instructions for performing the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

163. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

the signal-bearing medium bearing one or more instructions for prompting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

164. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

the signal-bearing medium bearing one or more instructions for detecting the nutraceutical-containing dispensation.

165. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

the signal-bearing medium bearing one or more instructions for determining the request quantity.

166. The computer program product of claim 157, in which the signal-bearing medium comprises:

the signal-bearing medium bearing at least one of

one or more instructions for indicating the request quantity as an integer number of the one or more delivery units.