Machine performance monitoring system and billing method

• US 20040015305A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Bunn, Arthur H, Knepler, John T
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system for monitoring the performance of beverage preparation equipment includes a device, such as a data collector, for monitoring the use of the equipment. Information regarding one or more inputs to the equipment is provided to the data collector which uses the information to monitor the performance of the equipment. The information may include information relating to voltage, current, phase angle, and time. The information may be used by a supplier to time delivery of product to the end user of the apparatus or servicing of the equipment in response to use, inferred information, and other alerts. A method of billing based on the results of the monitoring includes a method of billing the use of the apparatus and product in relation to the quantity of water, product, or both used by the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a food preparation device, comprising the steps of:

measuring at least one input into the food preparation device; and

determining information about the performance of the device based on the measured input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining information includes determining an estimate of the volume of dilution material used by the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the measured input is at least one of voltage, current, phase angle, and time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured input is a volume of dilution material used by the device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting the measured input to a remote location prior to the step of determining information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining information includes determining a usage pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of billing the user of the device based on the determined information.

8. A system for monitoring the performance of food preparation equipment comprising:

a sensor for measuring at least one input to the food preparation equipment;

a data collector; and

a means for transmitting the measured input to the data collector,

the data collector determining information regarding the performance of the food preparation equipment using the measured input

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for providing access to the performance information to at least one supplier associated with the food preparation equipment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the equipment uses a dilution material and the data collector determines an estimate of the volume of dilution material used by the equipment.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the input to the equipment is electrical power and the sensor measures at least one of voltage, current, phase, and time of the power into the equipment.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the input to the equipment is dilution material and the sensor measures a volume of dilution material used by the equipment.

13. A food preparation apparatus comprising:

at least one dilution source providing a dilution material;

at least one product source providing a product;

at least one sensor providing data regarding at least one of the dilution material and the product;

a controller connected to the sensor and configured to transmit the data externally of the apparatus; and

a data collector externally receiving the data transmitted by the controller and determining performance information of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the product source includes a device to measure the amount of product dispensed.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the dilution source and product source includes a flow meter.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data collector includes a communication device to transmit the performance information to a supplier.

17. A method of operating food preparation equipment comprising the steps of:

providing food preparation equipment to an end user, the food preparation equipment including a sensor;

continuously monitoring data from the sensor;

determining information about the performance of the food preparation equipment using the data from the sensor; and

performing a function related to the equipment based on the information about the performance of the food preparation equipment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of performing a function includes billing the end user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of performing a function includes maintaining the equipment.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of performing a function includes providing additional product to the end user.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the food preparation equipment includes a dilution source having dilution material and the step of determining information includes determining the amount of dilution material used by the equipment.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the food preparation equipment includes a product source having product and the step of determining information includes determining the amount of product used by the equipment.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the food preparation equipment includes a dilution source having dilution material, a heater, and a thermostat;

the sensor measuring the voltage at and the current through the heater;

the thermostat measuring the temperature of the dilution material; and

the step of determining information includes determining an estimate of the volume of dilution material used by the equipment.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of transmitting the information to at least one supplier of goods for the equipment.