SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A PRODUCT

• US 20140310112A1
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A.
• Application Number:
  US13/863,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20140310112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A product monitoring system for an event venue includes a seat configured to receive a patron, a sensor assembly coupled to the seat and configured to detect the presence of a concession product and to monitor a state of the concession product, and a control module communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive a signal from the sensor assembly and to send a response.

Claims

1. A product monitoring system for an event venue, comprising:

a seat configured to receive a patron;

a sensor assembly coupled to the seat and configured to detect the presence of a concession product and to monitor a state of the concession product; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive a signal from the sensor assembly and to send a response.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device configured to receive the response from the control module and to convey the response to the patron.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to detect the presence of the patron in the seat.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the concession product comprises a drink cup, and wherein the sensor assembly is configured to detect the presence of the drink cup.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the state comprises a drink level of the drink cup, and wherein the sensor assembly is configured to monitor the drink level.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a drink cup holder coupled to the seat and configured to receive the drink cup; and

wherein the sensor assembly is coupled to the drink cup holder.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor assembly comprises an image sensor.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the drink cup comprises an additive, and wherein the image sensor is configured to detect the additive.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is programmed to calculate a product depletion rate based on the signals received from the sensor assembly.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the state comprises a product level.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the control module is programmed to estimate the product level based on the product depletion rate.

45. The system of claim 4, wherein the control module is configured to send the response to the communication device when the state of the concession product reaches a predetermined threshold.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the response comprises an offer of a product for purchase.

55. The system of claim 4, wherein the communication device comprises a cellular phone, and the response comprises a text message.

60. The system of claim 1, wherein the response is delivered to an automated vendor configured to deliver the concession product to the seat.

61. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seating chart configured to display a patron profile for the seat.

69. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of seat coupled sensor assemblies, and to base its response on the plurality of signals.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

9-16. -16. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

20-39. -39. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

48-54. -54. (canceled)

56-59. -59. (canceled)

62-68. -68. (canceled)

70. (canceled)

71. A product monitoring system for an event venue, the system comprising:

an image sensor assembly configured to detect the presence of a concession product within a patron seating region of the venue, and to monitor a state of the concession product; and

a control module configured to receive a signal from the image sensor assembly and to send a response.

74. The system of claim 71, further comprising:

a communication device configured to receive the response from the control module and to convey the response to a patron.

80. The system of claim 71, wherein the concession product comprises an additive, and wherein the image sensor assembly is configured to detect the additive.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the additive comprises a fluorescent component, and wherein the image sensor assembly is configured to detect the fluorescent component.

82. The system of claim 80, wherein the additive comprises a reflective component, and wherein the image sensor assembly is configured to detect the reflective component.

87. The system of claim 80, wherein the concession product comprises:

a concession container holding the concession.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the additive is coupled to the concession, and wherein the image sensor assembly is configured to detect the additive.

89. The system of claim 87, wherein the additive is coupled to the concession container, and wherein the image sensor assembly is configured to detect the additive.

100. The system of claim 71, wherein the image sensor assembly is configured to send a signal to the control module when the state of the concession product reaches a predetermined threshold.

72-73. -73. (canceled)

75-79. -79. (canceled)

83-86. -86. (canceled)

90-99. -99. (canceled)

101-131. -131. (canceled)

132. A product monitoring system for an event venue, comprising:

a concession product having a state;

a radio frequency sensor assembly operably coupled to the concession product and configured to monitor the state of the concession product; and

a control module configured to receive a signal from the radio frequency sensor, and to send a response.

135. The system of claim 132, further comprising:

a communication device configured to receive the response from the control module, and to convey the response to a patron within the event venue.

136. The system of claim 132, wherein the concession product further comprises a product container.

137. The system of claim 136, wherein the radio frequency sensor assembly comprises a passive radio frequency antenna attached to the product container.

138. The system of claim 137, wherein the passive radio frequency antenna is configured to short out in response to contact with the concession product.

140. The system of claim 137, wherein the passive radio frequency antenna extends along a wall of the product container.

141. The system of claim 140, wherein the system comprises more than one passive radio frequency antenna, and the passive radio frequency antennas are positioned discretely at more than one product level on the product container.

145. The system of claim 136, wherein the radio frequency sensor assembly comprises an RFID tag attached to the product container, and wherein the RFID tag is coupled to a sensor configured to monitor the state of the concession product.

150. The system of claim 132, wherein the radio frequency assembly is configured to send a signal to the control module when the state of the concession product reaches a predetermined threshold.

133-134. -134. (canceled)

139. (canceled)

142-144. -144. (canceled)

146-149. -149. (canceled)

151-226. -226. (canceled)