System and method for regulating alcohol consumption

• US 20060217932A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icard LLC
• Original Assignee: Icard LLC
• Inventors: Vercnocke, Geoffrey A., Vergote, Daniel S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40

Abstract

A system and method for regulating alcohol consumption includes an ID tag having a unique ID for a person. When a person desires to purchase an alcoholic beverage, the ID tag is scanned or read by a reader. Information relating to prior purchases of alcoholic beverages are retrieved. An anticipated blood alcohol level is calculated based upon the current order and previous orders of alcoholic beverages. If the blood alcohol level of the user is anticipated to exceed a threshold, then sales of alcohol beverage are declined.

Claims

1. A system for regulating alcohol consumption of a user comprising:

a personal ID tag having a unique ID associated with the user;

a reader for reading the unique ID; and

a first computer for recording an alcoholic beverage order of the user identified by the unique ID.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

blood alcohol calculation means for approximating a blood alcohol level of the user based upon the alcoholic beverage order.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

an alert for indicating that the user may exceed a threshold if the user consumes an alcoholic beverage.

4. The system of claim 3 where the alert comprises an indicator proximal to the reader.

5. The system of claim 4 where the reader has a display, and the alert is shown on the display.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a first database for storing the alcohol order by the user.

7. The system of claim 6 where the first database includes personal information regarding the user.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a second computer for receiving from the first computer information regarding the alcoholic beverage order.

9. The system of claim 8 where the personal ID tag is a swipe card.

10. The system of claim 9 where the personal ID tag is a wrist band having an identification code therein.

11. The system of claim 10 where the personal information regarding the user includes information about gender and weight of the user.

12. The system of claim 11 where the personal information regarding the user includes a blood alcohol reading.

13. A method for regulating alcohol consumption by a user comprising:

providing the user with a unique ID; and

storing a quantity of an alcoholic beverage ordered by the user.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

calculating an anticipated blood alcohol level for the user based upon the quantity of the alcoholic beverage ordered by the user.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of calculating an anticipated blood alcohol level is based upon personal information regarding the user.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

refusing a sale of the alcoholic beverage if the anticipated blood alcohol level exceeds a threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

initiating an alert if the anticipated blood alcohol level exceed the threshold.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

storing a time indicative of when the quantity of alcoholic beverage was ordered.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

calculating the anticipated blood alcohol level based upon previous orders for alcoholic beverages by the user.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

calculating the anticipated blood alcohol level based upon the time.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

if the anticipated blood alcohol level does not exceed the threshold, completing the sale of the alcoholic beverage.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

storing a quantity and a time of the sale for the alcoholic beverage.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

storing a personal information regarding the user in a database.

24. The method of claim 23 where the step of calculating the anticipated blood alcohol level is based upon the personal information.

25. A method of regulating the alcohol consumption by a user:

associating a plurality of unique ID number with a plurality of user;

providing the user with an ID tag, the ID tag having a first unique ID;

before fulfilling an order for an alcoholic beverage, reading the first unique ID; and

attempting to match the first unique ID with one of a plurality of unique IDs.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

if the first unique ID does match one of the plurality of unique IDs, then retrieving information about the user associated with that unique ID.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

displaying the information.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

having a person present the ID tag, the ID tag having a unique ID; and

verifying that the information for the user associated with the unique ID is that of the person presenting the ID tag.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

if the person is identical to the user associated with the unique ID, then fulfilling the order for the alcoholic beverage.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

if the person is identical to the user associated with the unique ID, retrieving information prior alcoholic beverage orders associated with the unique ID.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

calculating an anticipated blood alcohol level for the user based if the order for the alcoholic beverage was fulfilled.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

if the anticipated blood alcohol level exceeds a threshold, then refusing to fulfill the order for the alcoholic beverage.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:

if the anticipated blood alcohol level does not exceed the threshold, then fulfilling the order for the alcoholic beverage.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

storing in a database information regarding the order for the alcoholic beverage.

35. The method of claim 34 where the step of calculating the anticipated blood alcohol level includes using information regarding previous orders for alcoholic beverages.

36. A memory device for access by an application program, the memory device comprising:

an alcoholic beverages consumed field for recording a consumption of an alcoholic beverage by a user.

37. The memory device of claim 36 further comprising a time field for storing a time of the consumption of the alcoholic beverage.

38. The memory device of claim 37 further comprising a consumption rate field.

39. The memory device of claim 38 where the memory device is a magnetic swipe card.

40. The memory device of claim 38 where the memory device includes a semiconductor memory.

41. A memory device for access by an application program, the memory device comprising:

a consumption rate field for recording a maximum rate of consumption of alcoholic beverages by a user without the user becoming intoxicated.

42. The memory device of claim 41 further comprising a consumption field for recording a consumption of an alcoholic beverage by a user.

43. The memory device of claim 42 further comprising a time field indicating a time of the consumption of the alcoholic beverage.

44. The memory device of claim 43 where the memory device is a magnetic swipe card.

45. The memory device of claim 44 where the memory device includes a semiconductor memory.

46. A memory device for regulating consumption of an alcoholic beverage by an individual prepared by a process comprising the step of:

recording a maximum rate of consumption of alcoholic beverages by a user without the user becoming intoxicated.

47. The memory device of claim 46 wherein the process further comprises the step of:

recording an amount of an alcoholic beverage consumed by an individual.

48. The memory device of claim 47 wherein the process comprises the step of:

recording a time when the alcoholic beverage was consumed.