Systems and Methods for Facilitating Consumer-Dispenser Interactions

• US 20090070234A1
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Peters, Dan, Kolls, H. Brock, Newman, David R., Antao, Leonard F., Tran, Son V., Slagley, David O.
• Granted Patent: US 9,051,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0041 Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for consumer-dispenser interactions. In one embodiment, a product dispenser is provided. The product dispenser can include a user interface operable to interact with a consumer and receive at least one input from the consumer. The product dispenser can also include a controller comprising a set of instructions operable to receive a request from a consumer to dispense a custom product. In addition, the controller can further comprise a set of instructions operable to present via the user interface a at least one of a list of selectable product ingredients or adjustable product formulation parameters. Moreover, the controller can further comprise a set of instructions operable to dispense a product based at least in part on one or more of the selectable ingredients or selected formulation parameters.

Claims

1. A product dispenser comprising:

a user interface operable to interact with a consumer and receive at least one input from the consumer; and

a controller comprising a set of instructions operable to;

receive a request from a consumer to dispense a custom product;

present via the user interface at least one of a list of selectable product ingredients or adjustable product formulation parameters; and

dispense a product based at least in part on one or more of the selectable ingredients or selected formulation parameters.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein a request from a consumer to dispense a custom product comprises at least one of the following:

information received via a user interface associated with the product dispenser, a scanned machine readable code, information received from a RFID tag, a communication received from a client-type device, or a communication received from a wireless communication device.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a set of instructions operable to:

receive information associated with the consumer, wherein the information comprises previously stored selectable product ingredients or adjustable product formulation parameters.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein adjustable product formulation parameters comprise at least one of the following:

volume, ratio, portion, carbonation level, sweetener, flavor shots, or nutritional additive.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a set of instructions operable to:

store one or more selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters input by a consumer.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein information associated with the consumer comprises a code received from the consumer, and the set of instructions is further operable to:

retrieve a profile associated with the consumer.

7. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein information associated with the consumer further comprises identification information associated with the consumer, and the controller further comprises a set of instructions operable to:

retrieve a user profile associated with the consumer.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a set of instructions operable to:

store a recipe associated with the dispensed product in a profile associated with the consumer.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a set of instructions operable to:

provide consumer access to a profile associated with the consumer over a network; and

receive one or more selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters from the consumer via the network.

10. A method for operating a product dispenser, comprising:

receiving a request from a consumer to dispense a custom product;

based at least in part on the information associated with the consumer, presenting at least one of a list of selectable product ingredients or adjustable product formulation parameters;

receiving input regarding at least one of selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters; and

dispensing a product based at least in part on one or more of the selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving a request from a consumer to dispense a custom product comprises at least one of the following:

receiving information via a user interface associated with the product dispenser, scanning a machine readable code, receiving information from a RFID tag, receiving a communication from a client-type device, or receiving a communication from a wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving information associated with the consumer, wherein the information comprises previously stored selectable product ingredients or adjustable product formulation parameters.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein adjustable product formulation parameters comprise at least one of the following:

volume, ratio, portion, carbonation level, sweetener, flavor shots, or nutritional additive.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing one or more selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters input by a consumer.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving information associated with the consumer further comprises receiving a code from the consumer, and retrieving a profile associated with the consumer.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving information associated with the consumer further comprises receiving identification information associated with the consumer, and retrieving a user profile associated with the consumer.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing a recipe associated with the dispensed product in a profile associated with the consumer.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing consumer access to a profile associated with the consumer over a network; and

receiving an input to one or more selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters from the consumer.

19. A method for operating a product dispenser, comprising:

receiving information associated with the consumer;

based at least in part on the information associated with the consumer, presenting via a user interface associated with the product dispenser at least one product recipe comprising at least one selectable product ingredient or adjustable product formulation parameter;

receiving a consumer input regarding at least one of selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters; and

dispensing a product based at least in part on one or more of the selected product ingredients or product formulation parameters.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving information associated with the consumer comprises at least one of the following:

accessing a profile associated with the consumer, receiving consumer information from a remote server or data storage device, receiving information via a user interface associated with the product dispenser, scanning a machine readable code, receiving information from a RFID tag, receiving a communication from a client-type device, or receiving a communication from a wireless communication device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein adjustable product formulation parameters comprise at least one of the following:

volume, ratio, portion, carbonation level, sweetener, flavor shots, or nutritional additive.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing consumer access to a profile associated with the consumer via a network, wherein the profile comprises one or more selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters selected by the consumer; and

storing any changes to the profile.

23. A product dispenser comprising:

a user interface operable to interact with a consumer and receive at least one input from the consumer; and

a controller comprising a set of instructions operable to;

receive information associated with the consumer;

based at least in part on the information associated with the consumer, present via the user interface associated with the product dispenser at least one product recipe comprising at least one selectable product ingredient or adjustable product formulation parameter;

receive a consumer input regarding at least one of selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters; and

dispense a product based at least in part on one or more of the selected product ingredients or product formulation parameters.

24. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein the controller further comprises a set of instructions operable to:

receive via a network information from a profile associated with the consumer, wherein the profile comprises one or more selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters previously selected by the consumer.

25. A system comprising:

a communication network;

a plurality of product dispensers in communication with the network, wherein each product dispenser comprises;

a user interface operable to interact with a consumer and receive at least one input from the consumer; and

a controller comprising a set of instructions operable to;

receive via the network information associated with the consumer;

based at least in part on the information associated with the consumer, present via the user interface associated with the product dispenser at least one product recipe comprising at least one selectable product ingredient or adjustable product formulation parameter;

receive a consumer input regarding at least one of selectable product ingredients or product formulation parameters; and

dispense a product based at least in part on one or more of the selected product ingredients or product formulation parameters.