Machine performance monitoring system and billing method

• US 7,158,918 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Knepler, John T., Bunn, Arthur H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff; Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUAREZ, FELIX E
• Application Number:
  US10/168,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 702/25, 702/50, 702/64, 702/100, 702/173, 702/177, 702/182, 702/20, 702/179, 702/183, 992/80, 992/90, 426/392, 705/1, 73/530.2
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system for monitoring the performance of beverage preparation equipment includes a device, such as a data collector, for monitoring the use of the equipment. Information regarding one or more inputs to the equipment is provided to the data collector which uses the information to monitor the performance of the equipment. The information may include information relating to voltage, current, phase angle, and time. The information may be used by a supplier to time delivery of product to the end user of the apparatus or servicing of the equipment in response to use, inferred information, and other alerts. A method of billing based on the results of the monitoring includes a method of billing the use of the apparatus and product in relation to the quantity of water, product, or both used by the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a beverage preparation device, comprising the steps of:

measuring at least one input into the beverage preparation device; and

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation device based on the measured input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining information includes determining an estimate of a volume of dilution material used by the beverage preparation device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the measured input is at least one of voltage, current, phase angle, and time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured input is a volume of dilution material used by the beverage preparation device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting the measured input to a remote location prior to the step of determining information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining information includes determining a usage pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of billing the user of the device based on the determined information.

8. A system for monitoring the performance of beverage preparation equipment comprising:

a sensor for measuring at least one input to the beverage preparation equipment;

a data collector; and

a means for transmitting the measured input to the data collector, the data collector determining information regarding the performance of the beverage preparation equipment using the measured input.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for providing access to the performance information to at least one supplier associated with the beverage preparation equipment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the beverage preparation equipment uses a dilution material and the data collector determines an estimate of the volume of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the input to the beverage preparation equipment is electrical power and the sensor measures at least one of voltage, current, phase, and time of the power into the beverage preparation equipment.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the input to the beverage preparation equipment is dilution material and the sensor measures a volume of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.

13. A beverage preparation apparatus comprising:

at least one dilution source providing a dilution material;

at least one product source providing a product;

at least one sensor providing data regarding at least one of the dilution material and the product;

a controller connected to the sensor and configured to transmit the data externally of the apparatus; and

a data collector externally receiving the data transmitted by the controller and determining performance information of the beverage preparation apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the product source includes a device to measure the amount of product dispensed.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the dilution source and product source includes a flow meter.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data collector includes a communication device to transmit the performance information to a supplier.

17. A method of operating beverage preparation equipment comprising the steps of:

providing beverage preparation equipment to an end user, the beverage preparation equipment including a sensor;

continuously monitoring data from the sensor;

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment using the data from the sensor; and

performing a function related to the beverage preparation equipment based on the information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of performing a function includes billing the end user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of performing a function includes maintaining the beverage preparation equipment.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of performing a function includes providing additional product to the end user.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the beverage preparation equipment includes a dilution source having dilution material and the step of determining information includes determining the amount of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the beverage preparation equipment includes a product source having product and the step of determining information includes determining the amount of product used by the beverage preparation equipment.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the beverage preparation equipment includes a dilution source having dilution material, a heater, and a thermostat;

the sensor measuring the voltage at and the current through the heater;

the thermostat measuring the temperature of the dilution material; and

the step of determining information includes determining an estimate of the volume of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of transmitting the information to at least one supplier of goods for the beverage preparation equipment.

25. A method of monitoring a beverage preparation device, comprising the steps of:

measuring at least one input into the beverage preparation device; and

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation device based on the measured input, wherein the step of determining information includes determining a usage pattern.

26. A method of operating beverage preparation equipment comprising the steps of:

providing beverage preparation equipment to an end user, the beverage preparation equipment including a sensor;

continuously monitoring data from the sensor;

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment using the data from the sensor; and

performing a function related to the beverage preparation equipment based on the information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment, wherein the step of performing a function includes providing additional product to the end user.

27. A method of operating beverage preparation equipment comprising the steps of:

providing beverage preparation equipment to an end user, the beverage preparation equipment including a sensor;

continuously monitoring data from the sensor;

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment using the data from the sensor;

transmitting the information to at least one supplier of goods for the beverage preparation equipment; and

performing a function related to the beverage preparation equipment based on the information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment.

28. A method of operating beverage preparation equipment comprising the steps of:

providing beverage preparation equipment to an end user, the beverage preparation equipment including at least one sensor;

monitoring data from the at least one sensor;

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment using the data from the at least one sensor; and

performing a function related to the beverage preparation equipment based on the information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment, wherein the step of performing a function includes monitoring the beverage preparation equipment for maintenance of one or more device in the beverage preparation equipment.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of scheduling maintenance of the beverage preparation equipment in response to monitoring the one or more device in the beverage preparation equipment.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of providing repair of the beverage preparation equipment in response to monitoring the one or more device in the beverage preparation equipment.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of monitoring one of at least one of voltage, current, phase angle, and time associated with one or more device of the beverage preparation equipment.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

providing a dilution source having dilution material; and

determining information includes determining the amount of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one sensor; and

using the at least one sensor for determining the amount of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.

34. A method of operating beverage preparation equipment comprising the steps of:

providing beverage preparation equipment;

providing at least one sensor operatively associated with the beverage preparation equipment;

monitoring data from the at least one sensor;

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment using the data from the at least one sensor;

performing a function related to the beverage preparation equipment based on the information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment wherein the function is accumulating information relating to the beverage performance of the beverage preparation equipment.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein information is accumulated for monitoring usage patterns associated with the beverage preparation equipment.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of applying usage patterns for delivery of product.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of applying usage patterns for detecting anomalies.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of applying usage patterns for detecting malfunctions.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of applying usage patterns for monitoring the amount of dilution material used.

40. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of applying usage patterns for planning maintenance.

41. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of applying usage patterns for scheduling maintenance.

42. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of monitoring one of at least one of voltage, current, phase angle, and time associated with one or more device of the beverage preparation equipment.

43. A method of monitoring at least one device of beverage preparation equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring at least one input into the at least one device, the input is a monitorable characteristic associated with the operation of the at least one device; and

determining information about the performance of the beverage preparation equipment based on the measured input.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the monitorable characteristic is at least one of voltage, current, phase angle, and time associated with the at least one device of the beverage preparation equipment.

45. A method of claim 43, further comprising the step of using the information for scheduling maintenance of the beverage preparation equipment.

46. A method of claim 43, further comprising the step of using the information for providing repair of the beverage preparation equipment.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising the steps of:

providing a dilution source having dilution material; and

using information includes determining the amount of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one sensor; and

using the at least one sensor for determining the amount of dilution material used by the beverage preparation equipment.