Method and system of diffusing scent complementary to a service

• US 10,258,712 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scentbridge Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Conroy, Todd H. Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Todd H., Conroy, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reis, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US15/225,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20160339135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/135 Vaporisers for active components
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/20 Method-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/54 Mixing liquid fragrances with air
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/213 by spraying or atomising of the liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2416 characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2424 the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together downstream of the container before discharge B05B7/2435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2489 an atomising fluid, e.g. a gas, being supplied to the discharge device B05B7/2402, B05B7/2483, B05B7/262 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/262 a liquid and a gas being brought together before entering the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/30 : by floats
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 : using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 : Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 : Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 : Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing scent in an environment include receiving data from sensors disposed in an environment regarding an indication that a service is being delivered in the environment and identifying remote atomizing scent diffusion devices disposed in the environment, wherein each scent diffusion device comprises a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the remote computer. Based on the indication, an electronic data structure is created defining a physical operational state of the scent diffusion devices, including data specifying at least one of a production of a scent that is intended to be a complement to the service, a fan speed of a fan in the diffusion device that moves particles carrying a scent, and a voltage of a pump of the diffusion device. The diffusion devices are caused to implement the at least one defined operational state.

Claims

1. A method relating to atomizing scent diffusion devices within an environment, comprising:

receiving, at a computer, data from one or more sensors disposed in an environment, wherein the data provides an indication that a service is being delivered in the environment;

identifying a plurality of remote atomizing scent diffusion devices disposed in the environment, wherein each scent diffusion device comprises a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the remote computer;

based on the indication, creating, via the remote computer, an electronic data structure defining at least one physical operational state of the remote atomizing scent diffusion devices, wherein the electronic data structure includes data specifying at least one of a production of a scent that is intended to be a complement to the service, a fan speed of a fan in the diffusion device that moves particles carrying a scent, and a voltage of a pump of the diffusion device;

accessing logistical data comprising at least one of transportation map data and a route optimization data to produce part of the service for at least one atomizing scent diffusion device; and

causing the remote atomizing scent diffusion devices to implement the at least one defined operational state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the remote atomizing scent diffusion devices to implement the at least one defined operational state includes at least one of scheduling and coordination of resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the at least one defined operational state comprises performing a days of supply calculation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the calculation involves taking a measured current liquid level and dividing it by the average usage rate per day to determine a number of days of supply remaining.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the average usage rate per day is defined for a time period.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the scheduling and coordination of resources includes the dispatch of a replenishment technician.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the scheduling and coordination of resources includes the transmission of an alert/email to on-site personnel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is at least one of a lighting service, a music service, a fountain activation, a display of an item, a food service, a beverage service and arrival of one or more people.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, monitoring a traffic sensor in the environment to determine a number of scent impressions delivered by a network of atomizing scent diffusion devices, and transmitting the number to the remote computer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the number enables a third party to perform a brand management task.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein when the complement to the service being delivered in the environment is to have an unscented environment, the at least one defined operational state specifies one or more of no production of scent, the ceasing of scent diffusion, or the diffusion of an odor neutralizing agent.

12. A method relating to atomizing scent diffusion devices within an environment, comprising:

providing a scheduling facility to indicate when a service is scheduled to occur in an environment;

selecting a scent to be diffused in the environment that complements the scheduled service;

determining a plurality of remote atomizing scent diffusion devices disposed in the environment, wherein each scent diffusion device comprises a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a remote computer;

accessing logistical data comprising at least one of transportation map data and a route optimization data to produce part of the service for at least one atomizing scent diffusion device; and

triggering one or more of the plurality of remote atomizing scent diffusion devices to diffuse the selected scent in accordance with the scheduled service.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, after triggering, launching a survey to be given to participants of the scheduled service, wherein the survey is used to calculate a metric for a brand impression.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the scheduled service is at least one of a lighting service, a music service, a fountain activation, a display of an item, a food service, a beverage service and arrival of one or more people.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising, monitoring a traffic sensor in the environment to determine a number of scent impressions delivered by the atomizing scent diffusion devices, and transmitting the number to the remote computer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the number enables a third party to perform a brand management task.