METHOD OF LIMITING BREWER OPERATION TO AUTHORIZED SUBSTANCES
First Claim
1. A method for preventing unauthorized equipment usage comprising the steps of:
- providing equipment to a user;
providing authorized beverage making product to the user for loading into the equipment, the authorized beverage making product being contained in packaging, the authorized beverage making product being accompanied by a technological measure being associated with at least one of the packaging and the product, the technological measure being readable by the equipment to set a predetermined number of authorized beverage making cycles;
communicating the predetermined number of authorized beverage making cycles to the equipment; and
permitting the equipment to be operated only while there are authorized beverage making cycles remaining.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for preventing unauthorized equipment usage that involves providing equipment, such as beverage making equipment, to a customer. Authorized product is provided to the customer in packaging that has a technological measure attached. The equipment includes a technological measure reader to read information from the technological measure to set the equipment to perform an authorized number of food or beverage making cycles. An authorization deactivator may also be provided in association with the equipment to erase, decrement, or otherwise prevent the technological measure from being reused.
21 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for preventing unauthorized equipment usage comprising the steps of:
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providing equipment to a user;
providing authorized beverage making product to the user for loading into the equipment, the authorized beverage making product being contained in packaging, the authorized beverage making product being accompanied by a technological measure being associated with at least one of the packaging and the product, the technological measure being readable by the equipment to set a predetermined number of authorized beverage making cycles;
communicating the predetermined number of authorized beverage making cycles to the equipment; and
permitting the equipment to be operated only while there are authorized beverage making cycles remaining.
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2. A method for preventing unauthorized equipment usage for equipment that uses authorized beverage making product to be loaded into the equipment, machine readable information associated with the authorized beverage making product, the method comprising:
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providing an authorization deactivator that is controllably operated by the equipment; and
performing a deactivation function on at least of portion of the authorized beverage making product having machine readable information.
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3. A method for preventing unauthorized equipment usage comprising the steps of:
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providing equipment to a customer;
providing authorized beverage making product to be loaded into the equipment to the customer, the authorized beverage making product being accompanied by a technological measure, the technological measure being readable by the equipment;
validating the authorized product;
operating the equipment while the authorized beverage making product is validated; and
in response to the authorized beverage making product losing validation, performing a deactivation function on the technological measure.
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4. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized equipment usage, the apparatus comprising:
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a food dispensing portion;
a controller operatively associated with the food dispensing portion, and a technological measure reader operatively associated with the controller. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for preventing unauthorized equipment usage, the system comprising:
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an apparatus comprising;
a food dispensing portion;
a controller, the controller electrically, controllably communicating with the food dispensing portion, and a technological measure reader, the technological measure reader electrically communicating with the controller;
authorized product, the authorized product being contained in packaging, the authorized product being accompanied by a technological measure being one of in the packaging or on the packaging, the technological measure being capable of communication with the technological measure reader. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A kit for use with a equipment to prevent unauthorized equipment usage, the kit comprising:
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a technological measure reader for association with the equipment, and a retrofit part for association with the equipment, the retrofit part being configured to prevent operation of the equipment by controllably operating one of the equipment or a controller of the equipment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification