Systems and Methods for Dispensing Consumable Products

• US 20140288700A1
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Tran, Son V., Newman, David R., Antao, Leonard F., Slagley, David O., Kolls, H. Brock, Peters, Dan Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for dispensing consumable products. One embodiment of the invention can provide a product dispenser. The product dispenser can include an ingredient matrix operable to receive a plurality of product ingredients. In addition, the product dispenser can include a controller in communication with the ingredient matrix, and operable to execute a set of instructions to receive product data associated with the plurality of product ingredients. Moreover, the controller can further comprise a set of instructions to track usage of the plurality of product ingredients when at least one product is dispensed. Furthermore, the controller can further comprise a set of instructions to update the product data during or after dispensing of a product or installation of one or more product ingredients in the ingredient matrix.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A product dispenser, comprising:

a controller configured to;

communicate with a data processing resource;

determine if a recipe database update is available at the data processing resource; and

in response to ascertaining that the recipe database update is available, to receive the recipe database update from the data processing resource, and

update a recipe database associated with the product dispenser.

25. The product dispenser of claim 24, wherein to communicate with the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to communicate locally via a network with the data processing resource.

26. The product dispenser of claim 24, wherein to communicate with the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to communicate remotely via a network with the data processing resource.

27. The product dispenser of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a check to determine if a recent version of a recipe database is available for download from the data processing resource to the product dispenser.

28. The product dispenser of claim 24, wherein to determine if the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the data processing resource.

29. The product dispenser of claim 24, wherein to update the recipe database associated with the product dispenser, the controller is further configured to install the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.

30. A method for updating a product dispenser, comprising:

communicating with a data processing resource from the product dispenser,

determining if a recipe database update is available at the data processing resource; and

in response to ascertaining that the recipe database update is available, communicating the recipe database update from the data processing resource to the product dispenser, and updating a recipe database associated with the product dispenser.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein communicating with the data processing resource from the product dispenser comprises one of communicating locally with the data processing resource from the product dispenser or communicating remotely with the data processing device from the product dispenser.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein communicating with the data processing resource from the product dispenser comprises communicating a check to determine if a recent version of a recipe database is available for download from the data processing resource to the product dispenser.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein determining if the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource comprises comparing a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the data processing resource.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein communicating the recipe database update from the data processing resource to the product dispense comprises receiving the recipe database update at a controller associated with the product dispenser from the data processing resource.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein updating the recipe database associated with the product dispenser comprises installing the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.

36. A system, comprising:

a server, and

a product dispenser in communication with a controller configured to;

communicate with the server,

receive a recipe database update from the server in response to the recipe database update being available for download from the server, and

update a recipe database associated with the product dispenser.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate via a network with the server.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a check to determine if a recent version of a recipe database is available for download from the server to the product dispenser.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the server is configured to determine if the recipe database update is available for download from the server.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the server is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the server.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the recipe database update is available for download from the server.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the controller is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the server.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein to update the recipe database associated with the product dispenser, the controller is further configured to install the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein the server is configured to transmit via a network the recipe database update to the product dispenser.