System and Method Using a Scale for Monitoring the Dispensing of a Beverage
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
- measuring a scale time for the container on a scale;
measuring a end weight for the container on the scale; and
determining that a dispense event has occurred for the beverage based on whether a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus occurred substantially within the scale time and based on whether the end weight of the beverage dispensed into the container approximates a serving based on point-of-sale information.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage from a dispensing apparatus into a container using a scale and other devices. Methods of the present invention may perform the following steps: measuring a scale time for the container on a scale, measuring a end weight for the container on the scale, and determining that a dispense event has occurred for the beverage based on whether a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus occurred substantially within the scale time and based on whether the end weight of the beverage dispensed into the container approximates a serving based on point-of-sale information. In some embodiments the tilt condition is measured by a sensor device that does not contact the beverage being dispensed. Further embodiments may use pour time and the weight of the dispensing apparatus. The determined dispense event may determine the brand of the beverage dispensed.
176 Citations
88 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
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measuring a scale time for the container on a scale;
measuring a end weight for the container on the scale; and
determining that a dispense event has occurred for the beverage based on whether a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus occurred substantially within the scale time and based on whether the end weight of the beverage dispensed into the container approximates a serving based on point-of-sale information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
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measuring a scale time for the container on a scale;
determining that a dispense event has occurred for the beverage based on whether a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus occurred substantially within the scale time. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
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measuring a scale time for the container on a scale;
measuring a end weight of a gradual weight increase for the container on the scale; and
determining that a dispense event has occurred for the beverage based on whether a sensor measured a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus substantially within the scale time and based on whether the end weight of the beverage dispensed into the container approximates a serving based on data from the sensor.
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34. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage comprising the following steps:
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(a) measuring a pour time for a dispensing apparatus using a scale;
(b) measuring a change in weight for the dispensing apparatus using the scale; and
(c) determining of whether a dispense event has occurred for a beverage from the dispensing apparatus based on if a tilt condition occurs substantially within the pour time and based on if the change in weight for the dispensing apparatus approximates a serving based on point-of-sale information. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage comprising the following steps:
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measuring a pour time for a dispensing apparatus using a scale;
determining of whether a dispense event has occurred for a beverage from the dispensing apparatus based on if a tilt condition occurs substantially within the pour time. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage comprising the following steps:
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(a) measuring a pour time for a dispensing apparatus using a scale;
(b) measuring a change in weight for the dispensing apparatus using the scale; and
(c) determining of whether a dispense event has occurred for a beverage from the dispensing apparatus based on if a sensor measured a tilt condition substantially within the pour time and based on if the change in weight for the dispensing apparatus approximates a serving based on data from the sensor.
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69. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage comprising the following steps:
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opening a valve timer connected to a dispensing apparatus by entering point-of-sale information;
measuring a scale time for a container on a scale; and
determining whether a dispense event has occurred for the beverage from the dispensing apparatus based on if the valve timer is opened substantially within the scale time and based on if the change in weight for the container approximates a serving based on point-of-sale information.
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70. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
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measuring a scale time for the container on a scale;
measuring a gradual weight for the container on the scale; and
determining that a dispense event has occurred for the beverage based on;
whether a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus occurred substantially within the scale time;
identity of the dispensing apparatus; and
the gradual weight. - View Dependent Claims (71)
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72. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
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determining whether a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus has occurred substantially within a scale time; and
if a tilt condition has occurred, determining whether a dispense event has occurred based on;
identity of the dispensing apparatus; and
a gradual weight. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75)
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76. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage comprising the following steps:
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measuring a total weight of a number of dispensing apparatuses weighed at the end of a time period;
generating an expected weight from POS recipe data based on recipe information and the number of paid beverages purchased during the time period; and
determining that the number of the paid beverages purchased were dispensed by reconciling the total weight with the expected weight. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A method of monitoring the dispensing of a beverage comprising:
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measuring a time that a change in weight of dispensing apparatus using a scale assigned to a brand occurred; and
determining that a dispense event occurred for the beverage based on whether point-of-sale information is entered near the time and the point-of-sale information contains a purchased serving having the brand assigned to the scale. - View Dependent Claims (83)
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84. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
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(a) measuring a scale time for the container on a scale;
(b) determining that selected beverages of a plurality of beverages have been served based on tilt conditions of each of the respective dispensing apparatuses for the selected beverages occurring substantially within the scale time; and
(c) determining that a given mixed drink has been sold served based on the selected beverages in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (85, 86)
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87. A method for monitoring the dispensing of a beverage into a container comprising the following steps:
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(a) measuring a weight of the container on a scale;
(b) sensing a tilt condition of a dispensing apparatus for a brand of beverage; and
(c) determining the amount and type of the beverage served based on the weight of the container and the brand of the beverage that was sensed in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (88)
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Specification