Beverage dispensing system and method
First Claim
1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
- a plurality of serving spouts in fluid connection with respective inlet pipes, the inlet pipes locatable within respective beverage receptacles, the serving spouts having respective receptacle identifiers and associated with respective prices/price groups or points/points groups;
a plurality of product data sets maintained in computer memory, the product data sets including a product identifier and having associated respective receptacle identifiers and price(s) or points;
a reading device configured to calculate a monetary or points value at least partly from a stored value device, the stored value device having a stored value device identifier;
a plurality of stored value device data sets maintained in computer memory, the stored value device data sets including respective stored value device identifiers and respective stored values;
a user selection component configured to obtain from a user a serving spout selection and to dispense a volume of beverage from the selected serving spout based on a comparison between the price(s) or points associated with the selected serving spout and the stored value;
a plurality of user data sets maintained in computer memory, the user data sets including respective user identifiers and stored value device identifiers; and
a plurality of transaction data sets maintained in computer memory, the transaction data sets including respective stored value device identifiers and receptacle identifiers.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage dispensing system includes serving spouts in fluid connection with inlet pipes locatable within beverage receptacles. The serving spouts have receptacle identifiers and are associated with prices/price groups or points/points groups. Product data sets in computer memory include a product identifier and have associated receptacle identifiers and prices or points. A reading device calculates value from a stored value device. Stored value device data sets in computer memory include stored value device identifiers and stored values. A user selection component obtains a serving spout selection, and dispenses a volume of beverage from the selected serving spout by comparing the prices or points associated with the selected serving spout and the stored value. User data sets and transaction data sets in computer memory include user identifiers, stored value device identifiers, stored value device identifiers, and receptacle identifiers.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
-
a plurality of serving spouts in fluid connection with respective inlet pipes, the inlet pipes locatable within respective beverage receptacles, the serving spouts having respective receptacle identifiers and associated with respective prices/price groups or points/points groups;
a plurality of product data sets maintained in computer memory, the product data sets including a product identifier and having associated respective receptacle identifiers and price(s) or points;
a reading device configured to calculate a monetary or points value at least partly from a stored value device, the stored value device having a stored value device identifier;
a plurality of stored value device data sets maintained in computer memory, the stored value device data sets including respective stored value device identifiers and respective stored values;
a user selection component configured to obtain from a user a serving spout selection and to dispense a volume of beverage from the selected serving spout based on a comparison between the price(s) or points associated with the selected serving spout and the stored value;
a plurality of user data sets maintained in computer memory, the user data sets including respective user identifiers and stored value device identifiers; and
a plurality of transaction data sets maintained in computer memory, the transaction data sets including respective stored value device identifiers and receptacle identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of dispensing beverages from a plurality of serving spouts in fluid connection with respective inlet pipes, the inlet pipes locatable within respective beverage receptacles, the serving spout having respective receptacle identifiers and associated with respective prices/price groups or points/points groups, the method comprising the steps of:
-
maintaining a plurality of product data sets in computer memory, the product data sets including a product identifier and having associated respective receptacle identifiers and price(s) or points;
obtaining, through a reading device, a monetary or points value at least partly from a stored value device, the stored value device having a stored value device identifier;
maintaining a plurality of stored value device data sets in computer memory, the stored value device data sets including respective stored value device identifiers and respective stored values;
obtaining from a user a serving spout selection;
dispensing a volume of beverage from the selected serving spout based on a comparison between the price(s) or points associated with the selected serving spout and the stored value;
maintaining a plurality of user data sets in computer memory, the user data sets including respective user identifiers and stored value device identifiers; and
maintaining a plurality of transaction data sets in computer memory, the transaction data sets including respective stored value device identifiers and receptacle identifiers.
-
Specification