Service transaction monitoring system, method, and device

• US 20070146154A1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Beverage Metrics Holding Limited
• Original Assignee: Beverage Metrics Holding Limited
• Inventors: Teller, David
• Application Number:
  US11/708,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146154A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/689
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/16 for removing flanged caps, e.g. crown caps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1405 Control taps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0006 responsive to coded information provided on the neck or spout of the storage container, e.g. bar-code, magnets or transponder
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0054 Mounting or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in shops or bar counters
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

A system, method, and device for monitoring the dispensing of liquids, in particular, beverages dispensed at a bar or restaurant is disclosed. The device attaches to the exterior of a container and detects dispensing events by sensing tilt or motion of the container, which could include a bottle or a handle. The system includes an electronic sensor device, data receiver, personal computer, bottle opener/camera system, bar code scanner, point of sale, bar camera, network, Web server, and paging system. The method automatically detects and monitors dispensing events, including detecting the type and amount of liquid, reconciling dispensing events with register ring-ups, recording information, saving video specific to the dispensing event, and sending a page indicating anomalies.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a tilt sensor configured to sense a tilted condition of the electronic device;

a processing device coupled to the tilt sensor and configured to retrieve tilt data from the tilt sensor after the tilted condition is sensed; and

a transmitter coupled to the processing device and configured to transmit the tilt data after the tilted condition is completed.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted tilt data;

a computer coupled to the receiver and configured to calculate an amount of a pour associated with the received tilt data based on a pour rate of a bottle to which the electronic device is mounted.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the pour rate is determined based on historical pour rates of bottles similar to the bottle to which the electronic device is mounted.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted tilt data;

a computer coupled to the receiver and configured to calculate a pour rate of a bottle to which the electronic device is mounted based on a volume of the bottle and a number of pours from the bottle; and

a database that stores the pour rates and bottle volumes.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the calculated pour rate updates the pour rate in the database.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted tilt data;

a computer coupled to the receiver and configured to update a current volume of a bottle to which the electronic device is mounted based on a duration of a pour indicated by the received tilt data and a pour of the bottle.

7. The electronic device according claim 1, further comprising:

a status generator configured to generate a status message indicating a status of the electronic device, wherein the status message comprises a unique ID of the device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to calculate of a pour amount from a bottle based on duration of the tilted condition.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to process the tilt data to determine if a valid pour has occurred from a bottle to which the electronic device is mounted.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein a valid pour is determined by a duration of time that the tilted condition is detected by the sensor;

and

a valid pour is determined if the tilted condition is detected within predetermined low and high thresholds.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the processing device is further configured to process the tilt data to determine a pour count; and

the transmitter is further configured to transmit the pour count.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the processing device is further configured to calculate a pour amount from the pour count.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the processed tilt data comprises an amount of liquid poured.

14. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is packaged in a collar sized to fit the neck of a bottle.

15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is attached to the side of a bottle.

16. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is attached to a bottom of a bottle.

17. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is located in a dimple of a bottle.

18. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a Web server configured to receive the transmitted tilt data.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the Web server is configured to calculate an amount of a pour associated with the received tilt data based on a pour rate of a bottle to which the electronic device is mounted.

20. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the Web server is configured to calculate a pour rate of a bottle to which the electronic device is mounted based on a volume of the bottle and a number of pours from the bottle;

and wherein the Web server comprises a database that stores the pour rates and bottle volumes.