Systems and methods for facilitating consumer-dispenser interactions

• US 8,340,815 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Peters, Dan, Tran, Son V., Newman, David R., Antao, Leonard F., Slagley, David O., Kolls, H. Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US12/204,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20090065570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 700/233, 700/236, 700/232, 700/239, 700/240
• 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: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/00 Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for dispensing consumable products. In one embodiment, a product dispenser is provided. The product dispenser can include a user interface operable to receive consumer inputs and to present product selection information. In addition, the product dispenser can include a reader configured to obtain identification information associated with a consumer. The product dispenser can include a controller in communication with the reader and user interface, and operable to execute a set of instructions to receive from the reader identification information associated with a consumer. The controller can also be operable to execute a set of instructions operable to retrieve consumer information based at least in part on the identification information, and provide product selection information at the user interface based at least in part on the consumer information.

Claims

1. A product dispenser, comprising:

a user interface operable to receive consumer inputs and to present product selection information;

a reader configured to obtain identification information associated with a consumer via a wireless communication; and

a controller in communication with the reader and user interface, and operable to execute a set of instructions to;

receive, from the reader, identification information associated with a consumer;

retrieve consumer information based at least in part on the identification information, wherein the consumer information comprises at least one product preference and at least one graphical user interface preference; and

provide product selection information at the user interface based at least in part on the at least one product preference, and wherein the product selection information is presented in a consumer selected graphical user interface view based at least in part on the at least one graphical user interface preference.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the identification information associated with a consumer can be obtained from at least one of the following:

a user interface associated with the product dispenser, a machine readable code, information from a RFID tag, a communication from a client-type device, or a communication from a wireless communication device.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

transmit one or more consumer preferences for storage on a wireless communication device.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

assign a reward to the consumer based at least in part on the identification information.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

assign a reward to the consumer based at least in part on a selection of at least one product by the consumer.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

output a reward code operable to be redeemed by a consumer.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein based at least in part on the consumer information, the reward code can be redeemed at one of the following:

a website, a beverage dispenser, a vending machine, a transaction terminal, a retail store, or a store.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

determine a price for a product based at least in part on the consumer information.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

receive an instruction from a consumer to redeem a reward for a product; and

dispense a selected product based at least in part on whether an account associated with the consumer comprises a predefined amount of rewards or is assigned a particular status.

10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

dispense a particular product to a predefined group of consumers, wherein the predefined group of consumers has either previously signed up to be notified of the particular product or the predefined group of consumers inputs a predefined reward code.

11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to execute a set of instructions to:

customize the user interface, wherein the product selection information comprises at least one of the following;

news, weather, sports, financial, or consumer interest information.

12. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the consumer information comprises at least one of the following:

consumer preference, a recipe, a recipe list, a customized list of product ingredients, a past product list, or a list of products.

13. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein product selection information comprises at least one of the following:

a price for a product, an option to purchase a product for another consumer, a survey, a list of selectable product ingredients, a recipe available only at the product dispenser, a promotional offer recipe, a consumer recipe, a traditional product, or a customized beverage or product.

14. A method for operating a product dispenser, comprising:

receiving identification information associated with a consumer via a wireless communication;

retrieving consumer information based at least in part on the identification information, wherein the consumer information comprises at least one product preference and at least one graphical user interface preference; and

providing product selection information at a user interface associated with the product dispenser based at least in part on the at least one product preference, and wherein the product selection information is presented in a consumer selected type of graphical user interface view based at least in part on the at least one graphical user interface preference.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving identification information associated with a consumer comprises at least one of the following:

receiving information via a user interface associated with the product dispenser, scanning a machine readable code, receiving information from a RFID tag, receiving a communication from a client-type device, or receiving a communication from a wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting one or more consumer preferences to a wireless communication device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

assigning a reward to the consumer based at least in part on the identification information.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

assigning a reward to the consumer based at least in part on a selection of at least one product by the consumer.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

based at least in part on the consumer information, outputting a reward code operable to be redeemed by a consumer, wherein the reward code can be redeemed at one of the following;

a website, a product dispenser, a vending machine, a transaction terminal, a retail store, or a store.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a price for a product based at least in part on the consumer information.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an instruction from a consumer to redeem a reward for a product; and

dispensing a selected product based at least in part on whether an account associated with the consumer comprises a predefined amount of rewards or is assigned a particular status.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

dispensing a particular product to a predefined group of consumers, wherein the predefined group of consumers has either previously signed up to be notified of the particular product or the predefined group of consumers inputs a predefined reward code.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

customizing the user interface, wherein the product selection information comprises at least one of the following;

news, weather, sports, financial, or consumer interest information.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the consumer information comprises at least one of the following:

consumer preference, a recipe, a recipe list, a customized list of product ingredients, a past product list, or a list of products.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein product selection information comprises at least one of the following:

a price for a product, an option to purchase a product for another consumer, a survey, a list of selectable product ingredients, a recipe available only at the product dispenser, a promotional offer recipe, a consumer recipe, a traditional beverage or product, or a customized beverage or product.

26. A method for operating a product dispenser, comprising:

receiving identification information associated with a consumer via a wireless communication;

retrieving consumer information based at least in part on the identification information, wherein the consumer information comprises at least one product preference and at least one graphical user interface preference;

customizing product selection information at a user interface associated with the product dispenser based at least in part on the at least one product preference, and wherein the product selection information is presented in a consumer selected type of graphical user interface view based at least in part on the at least one graphical user interface preference; and

based at least in part on a selected product by the consumer, updating the consumer information.