Beverage dispensing control
First Claim
1. A method performed by data processing apparatus, the method comprising:
- obtaining, by a data processing apparatus and from a data store, configuration data specifying a multi-tier activation scheme that must be met for a beverage dispensing node to be enabled to dispense beverages, the multi-tier activation scheme specifying that activation data requesting activation of the beverage dispensing node by a first entity authorized to activate the node will enable the beverage dispensing node only when received subsequent to receipt of authorization data from a second entity;
receiving, by a data processing apparatus and from an enabled user, activation data that requests activation of the node from the first entity, wherein the activation of the beverage dispensing node causes a valve located between a beverage source and a beverage dispenser to be opened independent of a request to dispense a beverage at the beverage dispenser, wherein the beverage dispenser is a device that controls dispensing of a beverage when the valve is open;
determining, by a data processing apparatus, whether authorization data was received from the second entity prior to receiving the activation data from the first entity;
selecting, by a data processing apparatus, an activation state for the beverage dispensing node based on the determination and the obtained configuration data, an activation state of activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was received prior to the activation data, and an activation state of de-activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was not received prior to the activation data, wherein the de-activated state corresponds to the valve being closed; and
opening the valve located between the beverage source and the beverage dispenser when the activated state is selected.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for control of beverage dispensing. In one aspect, authorization data specifying that a beverage dispensing node is authorized to be activated are received. Activation data that request activation of the node are also received, where activation of the node causes a valve that controls flow of fluid to a beverage dispenser to be opened. A determination is made that the activation data are associated with a user identifier for an enabled user, where an enabled user is a user that has been enabled to activate the node. In response to receipt of the authorization data and the activation data a valve that controls flow of fluid to the beverage dispenser is opened. Data (e.g., de-authorization or de-activation data) specifying that an activated beverage dispensing apparatus be de-activated can also be received. In response to receipt of the data, the valve can be closed.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method performed by data processing apparatus, the method comprising:
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obtaining, by a data processing apparatus and from a data store, configuration data specifying a multi-tier activation scheme that must be met for a beverage dispensing node to be enabled to dispense beverages, the multi-tier activation scheme specifying that activation data requesting activation of the beverage dispensing node by a first entity authorized to activate the node will enable the beverage dispensing node only when received subsequent to receipt of authorization data from a second entity; receiving, by a data processing apparatus and from an enabled user, activation data that requests activation of the node from the first entity, wherein the activation of the beverage dispensing node causes a valve located between a beverage source and a beverage dispenser to be opened independent of a request to dispense a beverage at the beverage dispenser, wherein the beverage dispenser is a device that controls dispensing of a beverage when the valve is open; determining, by a data processing apparatus, whether authorization data was received from the second entity prior to receiving the activation data from the first entity; selecting, by a data processing apparatus, an activation state for the beverage dispensing node based on the determination and the obtained configuration data, an activation state of activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was received prior to the activation data, and an activation state of de-activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was not received prior to the activation data, wherein the de-activated state corresponds to the valve being closed; and opening the valve located between the beverage source and the beverage dispenser when the activated state is selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system comprising:
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a data storage device that stores configuration data specifying a multi-tier activation scheme that must be met for a beverage dispensing node to be enabled to dispense beverages, the multi-tier activation scheme specifying that activation data requesting activation of the beverage dispensing node by a first entity authorized to activate the node will enable the beverage dispensing node only when received subsequent to receipt of authorization data from a second entity; and a beverage dispensing apparatus configured to interact with the data storage device and perform operations comprising; obtaining the configuration data from the data storage device; receiving activation data that requests activation of the node, wherein activation of the node from the first entity, wherein the activation of the beverage dispensing node causes a valve located between a beverage source and a beverage dispenser to be opened independent of a request to dispense a beverage at the beverage dispenser, wherein the beverage dispenser is a device that controls dispensing of a beverage when the valve is open; determining whether authorization data was received from the second entity prior to receiving the activation data from the first entity; selecting an activation state for the beverage dispensing node based on the determination and the obtained configuration data, an activation state of activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was received prior to the activation data, and an activation state of de-activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was not received prior to the activation data, wherein the de-activated state corresponds to the valve being closed; and opening the valve located between the beverage source and the beverage dispenser when the activated state is selected. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the program comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
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obtaining configuration data specifying a multi-tier activation scheme that must be met for a beverage dispensing node to be enabled to dispense beverages, the multi-tier activation scheme specifying that activation data requesting activation of the beverage dispensing node by a first entity authorized to activate the node will enable the beverage dispensing node only when received subsequent to receipt of authorization data from a second entity; receiving activation data that requests activation of the node from the first entity, wherein the activation of the beverage dispensing node causes a valve located between a beverage source and a beverage dispenser to be opened independent of a request to dispense a beverage at the beverage dispenser, wherein the beverage dispenser is a device that controls dispensing of a beverage when the valve is open; determining whether authorization data was received from the second entity prior to receiving the activation data from the first entity; selecting an activation state for the beverage dispensing node based on the determination and the obtained configuration data, an activation state of activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was received prior to the activation data, and an activation state of de-activated being selected in response to determining that the authorization data was not received prior to the activation data, wherein the de-activated state corresponds to the valve being closed; and opening the valve located between the beverage source and the beverage dispenser when the activated state is selected.
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31. A method comprising:
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receiving, by one or more data processing apparatus, game data specifying that a game has reached a specified point at which beverage dispensing is restricted, the received game data being independent of a time of day clock; and de-activating a plurality of beverage dispensing nodes based on the receipt of the game data, wherein; receiving game data comprises receiving, from a game clock that functions independent of a time of day clock, data indicating that a specified portion of the game has been played; and de-activating, by one or more data processing apparatus, the beverage dispensing node comprises de-activating beer vending stations in a venue of the game in response to receipt of the data.
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Specification