Programmed dispensing of consumable compositions

• US 8,718,819 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Lord, Robert W., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/799,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/240
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Methods and systems for administering consumable compositions according to a programmed dosing schedule are provided.

A method for administering a consumable composition may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) dispensing a first dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and (b) detecting at least one ingestion of the consumable composition.

A method for administering a consumable composition may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) dispensing a first dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; (b) detecting at least one aspect of the consumable composition; and (c) providing a user notification according to the aspect of the consumable composition.

A system for administering a consumable composition may comprise: (a) means for dispensing a first dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and (b) means for detecting at least one ingestion of the consumable composition.

A system for administering a consumable composition may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) means for dispensing a first dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; (b) means for detecting at least one aspect of the consumable composition; and (c) means for providing a user notification according to the aspect of the consumable composition.

Claims

1. A method for administering a consumable composition, the method comprising:

dispensing a dose of a first consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and

providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes;

dispensing an amount of a second consumable composition having a color that is distinct from the dose of the first consumable composition in order to provide an indicating notification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes:

providing a visual notification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes:

vibrating a beverage container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes:

providing an audible notification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to an e-mail system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a text messaging system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second consumable composition includes an amount of the first consumable composition.

10. A system for administering a consumable composition, the system comprising:

circuitry for dispensing a dose of a first consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and

circuitry for providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose, wherein the circuitry for providing a notification indicating a missed ingestion of a dose includes;

circuitry for dispensing an amount of a second consumable composition having a color that is distinct from the dose of the first consumable composition in order to provide an indicating notification.

11. A method for administering a consumable composition, the method comprising:

dispensing a dose of a first consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and

providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition, wherein the providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes;

dispensing an amount of a second consumable composition having a color that is distinct from the dose of the first consumable composition in order to provide a user notification.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes:

providing a notification of an upcoming dose.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes:

providing a notification of a dispensed dose.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing a notification of a dispensed dose includes:

providing a visual notification.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing a notification of a dispensed dose includes:

vibrating a beverage container.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing a notification of a dispensed dose includes:

providing an audible notification.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing a notification of a dispensed dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a communications device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing a notification of a dispensed dose includes:

transmitting a notification to an e-mail system.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing a notification of a dispensed dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a text messaging system.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing a notification of a dispensed dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a computing device.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes:

providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose includes:

providing a visual notification.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose includes:

providing an audible notification.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a communications device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to an e-mail system.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a text messaging system.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose includes:

transmitting a notification to a computing device.

28. A system for administering a consumable composition, the system comprising:

circuitry for dispensing a dose of a first consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and

circuitry for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition, wherein the circuitry for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes;

circuitry for dispensing an amount of a second consumable composition having a color that is distinct from the dose of the first consumable composition in order to provide a user notification.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes:

circuitry for providing a notification of a dispensed dose.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the circuitry for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes:

circuitry for providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose.

31. A system for administering a consumable composition, the system comprising:

means for dispensing a dose of a first consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; and

means for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition, wherein the means for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes;

means for dispensing an amount of a second consumable composition having a color that is distinct from the dose of the first consumable composition in order to provide a user notification.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the means for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes:

means for providing a notification of a dispensed dose.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the means for providing a user notification according to an aspect of the consumable composition includes:

means for providing a notification of a failed dispensation of a dose.