Dispensing system and user interface

• US 10,005,657 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Lim, Stephen, Sisler, Christine J., Badimon, Mathieu R., D'Amore, Massimo F., Durham, Mikel, Flohr, Camiel, Vail, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Titcomb, William
• Application Number:
  US14/976,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 715838
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0017 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0872 Aesthetics, advertising
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

A dispensing system may be configured to dispense a custom product based on a user selection. The user selection may be provided via a user interface of the dispensing system. The user interface may simultaneously display selectable icons for the available types of products (e.g., types of beverages) and other icons for modifying a chosen product (e.g., a flavoring or additive to a beverage, such as a sweetener or a cherry flavoring). The user interface may receive input from a user in order for the user to select a custom product (e.g., a custom drink) and the dispensing system may dispense the custom product to the user.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer readable media storing computer-executable instructions configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the dispenser to;

provide a display screen that is arranged to allow a user to select and cause dispensing of a custom beverage using a progression starting from a top region of the display screen and ending at a bottom region of the display screen, wherein the display screen includes;

a first region comprising a plurality of icons that represent brands of beverages available for dispensing from the dispenser as part of the custom beverage;

a second region comprising a plurality of modifier buttons that represent flavorings or additives available for dispensing from the dispenser as part of the custom beverage; and

a third region comprising a pour button that causes the dispenser to dispense the custom beverage.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first region is located above the second region and the third region in the display screen, and the second region is located above the third region in the display screen.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first region, the second region, and the third region are simultaneously displayed.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer readable media further stores computer-executable instructions configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the dispenser to:

receive a selection of a first icon of the plurality of icons, the first icon representing a brand of beverage;

receive an actuation of a first modifier button of the plurality of modifier buttons, the first modifier button representing a flavoring;

receive an actuation of the pour button;

as a response to actuation of the pour button, cause a user-selected beverage to be dispensed by the dispenser, the user-selected beverage including the brand of beverage and the flavoring.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein icons appearing in front of the carousel represent historically most popular selections for that dispenser.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of icons form a part of a rotating carousel in the first region, and the plurality of icons represent all of the brands of beverages available for dispensing from the dispenser.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of icons includes a first icon that overlaps a second icon while simultaneously displaying all brands of beverages available for dispensing from the dispenser.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the display screen includes a fourth region, the fourth region comprising a plurality of buttons, each of the plurality of buttons describing a desired property for brands of beverages that are visible in the first region.

10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser further comprises one or more mixing chambers, an ingredient system and a doser unit.

11. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer readable media storing computer-executable instructions configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

display, on a display screen, one or more types of products for dispensing from the apparatus and one or more modifiers to the one or more types of products, wherein each of the modifiers represents an item that can be added to a product when the product is being dispensed by the apparatus;

while displaying the one or more types of products and the one or more modifiers, receive input selecting a first type of the one or more types of products; and

while displaying the one or more types of products and the one or more modifiers, receive input selecting a first modifier of the one or more modifiers to the one or more types.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more computer readable media further stores computer-executable instructions configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

while displaying the one or more types of products and the one or more modifiers, receive input directing the apparatus to dispense a combination of the first type of product and the first modifier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to dispense the combination of the first type of product and the first modifier.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the combination of the first type of product and the first modifier is a custom beverage.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more types of products are displayed at a first region of the display screen, and the one or more modifiers to the one or more types are displayed at a second region of the display screen, wherein the first region is located above the second region.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more types of products represents a beverage type or brand, and each of the one or more modifiers represents a flavoring or additive.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more types of products are displayed in a carousel arrangement.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more types of products are displayed in a matrix arrangement.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising one or more mixing chambers, an ingredient system and a doser unit.