Service transaction monitoring system, method and device

• US 7,265,673 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beverage Metrics Holding Limited
• Original Assignee: Beverage Metrics Holding Limited
• Inventors: Teller, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/990,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/309.15, 222/23, 222/28, 222/30, 222/504, 222/63, 222/36, 222/567, 222/1, 222/641, 222/39, 222/37
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/16 for removing flanged caps, e.g. crown caps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1405 Control taps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0006 responsive to coded information provided on the neck or spout of the storage container, e.g. bar-code, magnets or transponder
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0054 Mounting or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in shops or bar counters
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

A system, method, and device for monitoring the dispensing of liquids, in particular, beverages dispensed at a bar or restaurant is disclosed. The device attaches to the exterior of a container and detects dispensing events by sensing tilt or motion of the container, which could include a bottle or a handle. The system includes an electronic sensor device, data receiver, personal computer, bottle opener/camera system, bar code scanner, point of sale, bar camera, network, Web server, and paging system. The method automatically detects and monitors dispensing events, including detecting the type and amount of liquid, reconciling dispensing events with register ring-ups, recording information, saving video specific to the dispensing event, and sending a page indicating anomalies.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring container openings, comprising:

a container opener;

a camera directed to a container being opened by the container opener;

a computer coupled to the camera and configured to retrieve images of the container when the container opener is being used to open the container;

a recognition program configured to recognize at least one of a brand and name of the container being opened.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a computer program configured to retrieve the recognized brand or name of the container being opened, and perform reconciliation with ring-ups of a point of sale (pos) device.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a database of drink recipes;

wherein said pos reconciliation comprises matching a recognized brand or name to ingredients to determine drinks made from the recognized brand or name and matching the drinks made to ring-ups on the pos device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said computer is further configured to forward at least one of the captured images to an auditing device.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an accounting program configured to account for at least one of inventory and sales based on the recognized opened container.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said container opener is a bottle opener and said container is a beverage bottle.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said camera is directed to a bottle cap of the beverage bottle, said images being retrieved are images of the bottle cap, and said recognition program recognizes at least one of the name and brand of the beverage from the bottle cap image.

8. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a light activated switch for initiating capture of images from the camera.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the light activated switch is an infrared light with a sensor device positioned so as to indicate that the container opener is being used.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said camera is mounted on the container opener.

11. A system for detecting the dispensing of a liquid comprising:

an electronic sensor device, said sensor device including a motion detector and a timing means for measuring the duration of motion;

a data receiver, wherein said data receiver receives data from said sensor device;

a personal computer, wherein said personal computer receives data from said data receiver

a video camera which communicates with said personal computer,

wherein said sensor device is attached to a bottle or tap used in a dispensing event and said personal computer is configured to capture at least one image of the dispensing event based on the tilt event detected by said sensor.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a video camera coupled to said computer system;

wherein said computer system is configured to save at least one image in conjunction with a motion detection by said sensor device.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one image is linked to an audit mechanism that identifies an event related to the motion detection.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a POS system coupled to said personal computer;

wherein said system is configured to reconcile dispensing events with ring-ups on said POS system and link accounting of transactions of the POS system with the captured images of each dispensing event.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the sensor is attached inside a concave portion on a bottom of the bottle.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said electronic sensor device is attached to a pouring device comprising one of a bottle, tap, spigot, faucet, and handle at one of a collar fixed around, side of, and bottom of the pouring device.

17. A device for monitoring container openings, comprising:

a bottle cap opener;

a camera directed to a container being opened by the bottle cap opener;

a computer coupled to the camera and configured to retrieve images of the container when the bottle cap opener is being used to open the container;

a recognition program configured to recognize at least one of a brand and name of the container being opened.

18. The device according to claim 17, further comprising a computer program configured to retrieve the recognized brand or name of the container being opened, and perform reconciliation with ring-ups of a point of sale (pos) device.

19. The device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a database of drink recipes;

wherein said pos reconciliation comprises matching a recognized brand or name to ingredients to determine drinks made from the recognized brand or name and matching the drinks made to ring-ups on the pos device.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein said computer is further configured to forward at least one of the captured images to an auditing device.

21. The device according to claim 17, further comprising an accounting program configured to account for at least one of inventory and sales based on the recognized opened container.

22. The device according to claim 17, wherein said container is a beverage bottle.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein said camera is directed to a bottle cap of the beverage bottle, said images being retrieved are images of the bottle cap, and said recognition program recognizes at least one of the name and brand of the beverage from the bottle cap image.

24. The device according to claim 22, further comprising a light activated switch for initiating capture of images from the camera.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the light activated switch is an infrared light with a sensor device positioned so as to indicate that the bottle cap opener is being used.

26. The device according to claim 17, wherein said camera is mounted on the bottle cap opener.