System and method for managing the dispensation of a bulk product

• US 7,573,395 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ginjoint LLC
• Original Assignee: SGS Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Morrison, Christopher S., Studnicki, Adam A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu; Van T.
• Application Number:
  US10/906,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 340/689, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/573.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.34, 340/10.51, 235/380, 235/385, 235/375, 222/23, 222/52, 222/641
• US Class Current: 340/689
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 Bar management means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A premises (20) is equipped with a plurality of containers (26) in which are stored bulk products (56) that are dispensed from the containers (26) for individual transactions. The containers (26) are equipped with asset tags (48) that monitor the dispensation of products (56). Event records (96) are electronically communicated from the asset tags (48) to a host (46) for processing. A tag event process (198) evaluates the event records (96) and calculates actual dispensation rates (224) that self-calibrate for a number of potential dispensation variances. The tag event process (198) detects when a container (26) becomes empty (68) and then performs a reconciliation (266) for the container (26). The process (198) also detects when inventory usage data is incomplete, whether by failure to receive communications or from missing a single event record (96), and causes a warning to be presented so that an audit may be performed.

Claims

1. A system for managing a dispensation of a bulk product (56) from a container (26) in which said bulk product is stored and from which said bulk product is dispensed by tilting said container away from an inactive orientation (58), said system comprising:

an asset tag (48) coupled to said container, said asset tag having a first tilt sensor (74) configured to detect an orientation for said container of greater than a first angle (65) displaced from said inactive orientation, said asset tag having a second tilt sensor (76) configured to detect an orientation for said container of greater than a second angle (63) displaced from said inactive orientation, said second angle being greater than said first angle, said asset tag being configured to generate first data (146) describing a duration said container spends at said orientation greater than said first angle and second data (148) describing a duration said container spends at said orientation greater than said second angle, and said asset tag being configured to electronically transmit said first and second data;

a computer (46) remotely located from said asset tag and configured to obtain said first and second data transmitted from said asset tag, said computer being configured to calculate a total amount (238) of bulk product dispensed in response to said first and second data; and

an information-presentation system (196) in data communication with said computer, said information-presentation system being configured, in cooperation with said computer, to present information describing said total amount dispensed.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said computer calculates said total amount in response to said first and second data being respectively applied to first and second dispensation rates (224′

, 224″

), said first and second dispensation rates exhibiting a dispensation-rate ratio;

said system manages dispensations of a variety of different bulk products from a variety of different containers, where a different asset tag is coupled to each of said containers; and

said computer is configured so that different dispensation-rate ratios are associated with different asset tags.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said asset tag is configured to emit a warning (138) when said container spends greater than a predetermined duration at an angle between said first and second angles.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second angle is between 20°

and 60°

greater than said first angle.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first angle is approximately 90°

and said second angle is 135°

±

15°

.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said computer is configured to calculate said total amount in response to said first and second data being respectively applied to first and second actual dispensation rates (224′

, 224″

); and

said computer is configured to adjust (268) at least said second actual dispensation rate (224″

) in response to said container becoming empty to improve accuracy of said second actual dispensation rate.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

a server dispenses said bulk product by tilting said container;

said total amount is a total actual amount (238);

said computer is configured to calculate a total expected amount (240) in response to said first and second data being respectively applied to first and second expected dispensation rates (226′

, 226″

), said first and second expected dispensation rates being relatively static compared to said second actual dispensation rate; and

said computer and said information-presentation system are mutually configured to present information describing said total expected amount.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said computer is configured to determine a sales price (250) for said dispensation in response to said total expected amount.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second angles are substantially solid angles.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising:

a plurality of receivers (38), each of which is configured to receive said first and second data transmitted from said asset tag; and

a data collection unit (42) configured to receive said first and second data from more than one of said receivers and to transmit said first and second data to said computer.

11. A computer-assisted method for managing dispensations of bulk products (56) from containers (26), said method comprising:

detecting (212), at a computer (46), a dispensation of one of said bulk products from one of said containers;

obtaining, at said computer, an expected dispensation rate (226) and an actual dispensation rate (224) for said one of said containers;

adjusting, at said computer, inventory data (256, 292) in response to said actual dispensation rate to account for said dispensation; and

providing performance feedback information (255) about said dispensation through an information-presentation system, said performance feedback information being configured in response to said expected dispensation rate.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said expected dispensation rate is relatively static compared to said actual dispensation rate.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 additionally comprising recording a sales price (242) for said dispensation in response to said expected dispensation rate.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said recording activity comprises establishing said sales price in response to said expected dispensation rate and a time of day (236) when said dispensation of said one bulk product occurred.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 additionally comprising:

accumulating sales prices for a plurality of dispensations to produce an accumulated sales price value (284); and

presenting (286) said accumulated sales price value through said information-presentation system so that an audit may be performed against actual revenue collected.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11 additionally comprising recording a cost (239) for said dispensation, said cost being calculated in response to said actual dispensation rate.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

said inventory-data adjusting activity comprises calculating (292) an estimate of said one bulk product remaining in said one container in response to said actual dispensation rate; and

said method additionally comprises presenting (296) said estimate through said information-presentation system so that an audit of inventory in said one container may be performed.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said presenting activity presents a graphic image of said one container and a graphic depiction of a product level relative to said image of said one container, said product level being responsive to said estimate.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein:

said detecting activity comprises receiving data identifying said one container (90); and

said presenting activity selects said graphic image from a collection of diverse graphic images in response to said one-container-identifying data.

20. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

said dispensation of said one bulk product from said one container results from tilting said one container away from an inactive orientation (58); and

said detecting activity comprises receiving first data (146) which describe a first duration during which said one container is tilted greater than a first angle (65) away from said inactive orientation and second data (148) which describe a second duration during which said one container is tilted greater than a second angle (63) away from said inactive orientation, wherein said second angle is greater than said first angle.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein

said actual dispensation rate is a second actual dispensation rate (224″

) and is responsive to said second data;

a first actual dispensation rate (224′

) is responsive to said first data;

said inventory data for said one container is responsive to said first and second actual dispensation rates;

said expected dispensation rate is a second expected dispensation rate (226″

) and is responsive to said second data;

a first expected dispensation rate (226′

) is responsive to said first data; and

said server feedback information is responsive to said first and second expected dispensation rates.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said one bulk product is a beverage, said one container is a bottle, and said dispensation results from tilting said bottle away from an upright orientation.

23. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

said detecting activity comprises receiving duration data (146, 148) and user input data (112, 114) from an asset tag (48) coupled to said one container, said duration data describing a duration during which said one container is tilted greater than a predetermined angle away from an inactive orientation, and said user input data being collected from a user interface (54) of said asset tag;

said method additionally comprises determining a dispensing range (240′

) in response to said user input; and

said performance feedback information is configured in response to said duration data and said dispensing range.

24. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

said detecting activity comprises receiving duration data (146, 148) from an asset tag (48) coupled to said one container, said duration data describing a duration during which said one container is tilted greater than a predetermined angle away from an inactive orientation;

said method additionally comprises determining a dispensing range (240′

) in response to said duration data; and

identifying a sales price in response to said dispensing range.

25. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said detecting activity comprises:

receiving, at a plurality of receivers (38), dispensation data from an asset tag coupled to said one container;

collecting said dispensation data from said plurality of receivers at a data collection unit (42); and

communicating said data from said data collection unit to said computer.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 additionally comprising:

supplying power to said plurality of receivers from said data collection unit; and

supplying power to said data collection unit from a public power distribution network (178) and from a battery (182).

27. A method as claimed in claim 11 additionally comprising adjusting (268) said actual dispensation rate from time to time to improve accuracy of said actual dispensation rate so that said actual dispensation rate becomes more accurate than said expected dispensation rate.

28. A computer-assisted method for managing dispensations of bulk products (56) from containers (26), said method comprising:

maintaining, at a computer (46), a collection of graphic images, wherein said graphic images correspond to said containers;

detecting (212), at said computer, dispensations of said bulk products from said containers;

adjusting (256, 292), at said computer, inventory data for said containers in response to said dispensations;

receiving (288), at said computer, a request for inventory audit information about one of said containers;

selecting one of said graphic images in response an identity (227) of said one container; and

providing said requested inventory audit information through an information-presentation system (196) in data communication with said computer, said inventory audit information being configured to depict said one graphic image and to depict a product level (60) relative to said one graphic image, said product level being responsive to said inventory data for said one container.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein said bulk products are beverages, said containers are bottles, said graphic images are images of said bottles.

30. A method as claimed in claim 28 additionally comprising:

determining, at said computer, dispensation rates (224) for said containers; and

adjusting (268) said dispensation rates from time to time to improve accuracy of said dispensation rates.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein:

said dispensation rates are actual dispensation rates;

said determining activity also obtains expected dispensation rates (226) for said containers; and

said method additionally comprises providing performance feedback information about said dispensations through said information-presentation system, said performance feedback information being configured in response to said expected dispensation rates.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31 wherein said expected dispensation rates are relatively static compared to said actual dispensation rates.

33. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein:

said dispensations of said bulk products from said containers result from tilting said containers away from inactive orientations (58);

said detecting activity comprises receiving, for each dispensation, first data (146) which describe a first duration during which said one of said containers is tilted greater than a first angle (65) away from said inactive orientation and second data (148) which describe a second duration during which said one container is tilted greater than a second angle (63) away from said inactive orientation, wherein said second angle is greater than said first angle; and

said adjusting activity adjusts, for each dispensation, said inventory data in response to said first and second data.

34. A method for managing a dispensation of a bulk product (56) from a container (26), said method comprising:

equipping said container with an asset tag (48);

collecting (104) user input at said asset tag, said user input indicating a sales price of said bulk product to be dispensed;

collecting (134, 135) dispensation data (146, 148) at said asset tag, said dispensation data describing a quantity of said bulk product dispensed from said container during a dispensation;

evaluating (136, 255) said dispensation data and said user input to determine whether a quantity of said bulk product dispensed is within a dispensation range (240) for said sales price; and

presenting (138, 255) humanly perceivable information which reflect results of said evaluating activity.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein:

said sales price is associated with an intended quantity to be dispensed from said container; and

said presenting activity causes said asset tag to emit a warning when said dispensation data indicate a quantity greater than said intended quantity has been dispensed.

36. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said method additionally comprises ringing-up (254) a sale in response to said user input.

37. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein:

said dispensation data describes a duration during which said container was dispensing said bulk product; and

said method additionally comprises associating an expected dispensation rate (226) and an actual dispensation rate (224) with said container; and

said evaluating activity is conducted in response to said dispensation data and said expected dispensation rate.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein said method additionally comprises adjusting said actual dispensation rate (268) from time to time to improve accuracy of said actual dispensation rate.

39. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein:

said dispensation of said bulk product from said container results from tilting said container away from an inactive orientation;

said dispensation-data-collecting activity comprises obtaining first data (146) which describe a first duration during which said container is tilted greater than a first angle (65) away from said inactive orientation and second data (148) which describe a second duration during which said container is tilted greater than a second angle (63) away from said inactive orientation, wherein said second angle is greater than said first angle; and

said evaluating activity uses said first and second data to determine whether the quantity dispensed was within said dispensing range.

40. A method as claimed in claim 39 additionally comprising:

emitting a warning when said container spends greater than a predetermined duration at an angle between said first and second angles.

41. A method as claimed in claim 34 additionally comprising:

adjusting (256, 292) inventory data for said container in response to said dispensation data;

receiving (288) a request for inventory audit information about said container;

selecting one of a plurality of graphic images in response an identity of said container; and

providing said requested inventory audit information through an information-presentation system (196), said inventory audit information being configured to depict said one graphic image and to depict a product level (60) relative to said one graphic image, said product level being responsive to said inventory data for said container.

42. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said asset tag detects a plurality of events occurring at said container, wherein said user input is one of said events and said dispensation is another of said events, and said method additionally comprises:

transmitting (100) data describing at least a portion of said events from said asset tag to a remotely located computer;

determining (208), at said computer, whether one of said events occurring at said container was not described by said data; and

when said one event was not described by said data, presenting (210) information through said information-presentation system so that an audit of said one container may be performed, said information indicating that said one event was missed.

43. A method as claimed in claim 34 additionally comprising:

accumulating sales prices for a plurality of dispensations to produce an accumulated sales price value (284); and

presenting (286) said accumulated sales price value as humanly perceivable information so that an audit may be performed against actual revenue collected.