Systems and methods for facilitating consumer-dispenser interactions

• US 8,744,618 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• 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:
  US12/204,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 700/233, 700/236, 700/242, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0015 the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components
• 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 1/08 Details
• 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: 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 system comprising a product dispenser and processor can be provided. The processor can be operable to execute a set of instructions operable to receive a consumer preference to receive a notification associated with a product. The set of instructions can be further operable to determine whether the product is being offered, and based at least in part on the consumer preference, notify the consumer regarding availability of the product from the product dispenser.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a beverage dispenser;

a processor functionally coupled to the beverage dispenser and configured to execute a set of instructions that, in response to execution, cause the processor to;

receive a consumer preference to receive a notification associated with availability of a beverage at the beverage dispenser, wherein the consumer preference comprises a selection of at least one of email communication, text message, voice mail communication, wireline phone call, or mobile phone call;

determine the availability of the beverage at the beverage dispenser; and

based at least in part on the consumer preference, notify the consumer that the beverage is available at the beverage dispenser and a location of the beverage dispenser in response to determining that the beverage is available, wherein the consumer is notified via a communication transmitted according to the consumer preference to a device associated with the consumer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer preference comprises at least one of consumer data, at least one consumer selection, at least one beverage preference, a preference to receive a notification when the beverage is available, or at least one location preference.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising

a data storage device comprising data from at least one ingredient matrix associated with the beverage dispenser, wherein the processor communicates with the data storage device to determine availability of the beverage at the beverage dispenser.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit one or more of an e-mail, a message, an online posting via a network, a voice mail, a wireless communication, or a wired communication.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to execute a set of instructions that, in response to execution, cause the processor to:

determine availability of an alternative beverage; and

based at least in part on the availability of the alternative beverage, notify the consumer regarding the availability of the alternative beverage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the beverage comprises a new beverage formulation, and the consumer preference comprises a preference to be notified in response to the new beverage formulation being available.

7. A system comprising:

a beverage dispenser;

a processor functionally coupled to the beverage dispenser and configured to execute a set of instructions that, in response to execution, cause the processor to;

receive selection data from a consumer, wherein the selection data comprises a consumer preference for communication;

based at least in part on the selection data, determine at least one notification of availability of a beverage at the beverage dispenser to transmit to the consumer; and

in response to determining that the beverage is available, transmit a notification of the at least one notification of availability to the consumer regarding availability of the beverage from the beverage dispenser and a location of the beverage dispenser, wherein the notification is transmitted according to the consumer preference for communication via a communication to a device associated with the consumer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein selection data further comprises at least one of a brand name of a beverage, a type of beverage, a promotion, a type of user interface associated with a beverage dispenser, a health interest, a location of interest, or a beverage attribute.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein a notification to the consumer comprises transmitting at least one of an e-mail communication, a message, an online posting via a network, an output via a user interface, an output via a user interface associated with the beverage dispenser, a communication via a client-type device, a communication via a wireless communication device, voice mail, wireless communication, or wired communication.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the notification comprises data indicative of at least one of a beverage, a beverage location, an alternative beverage, an alternative location, availability of a selected beverage, a time or date for availability of a selected beverage, an enhanced user interface, a classic type user interface, a promotion, promotion information, a coupon, product information, beverage information, a ring tone, a game code, health information, or consumer interest information.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to execute a set of instructions that, in response to execution, cause the processor to

add a transaction charge for some or all content provided to the consumer.

12. A method of supplying product availability, comprising:

receiving a consumer preference to receive a notification associated with availability of a beverage, wherein the consumer preference comprises a selection of at least one of email communication, text message, voice mail communication, wireline phone call, or mobile phone call;

determining the availability of the beverage at a beverage dispenser; and

based at least in part on the consumer preference, notifying the consumer that the beverage is available and a location of the beverage dispenser in response to determining that the beverage is available, wherein the consumer is notified via a communication transmitted according to the consumer preference to a device associated with the consumer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the consumer preference comprises at least one of consumer data, at least one consumer selection, at least one beverage preference, a preference to receive a notification when the beverage is available, or at least one location preference.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the availability of the beverage at the beverage dispenser comprises querying a data storage device comprising data from at least one ingredient matrix associated with a beverage dispenser.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein notifying the consumer that the beverage is available comprises transmitting at least one of an e-mail communication, a message, an online posting via a network, voice mail, a wireless communication, or a wired communication.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprises:

determining whether an alternative beverage is available; and

based at least in part on the availability of the alternative beverage, notifying the consumer regarding availability of the alternative beverage.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the beverage comprises a new beverage formulation, and the consumer preference is to be notified in response to the new beverage formulation being available.

18. A method of interacting with a consumer, comprising:

receiving selection data from a consumer, wherein the selection data comprises data indicative of a consumer preference for communicating via at least one of email communication, text message, voice mail communication, wireline phone call, or mobile phone call;

based at least in part on the selection data, determining at least one notification of availability of a beverage to transmit to the consumer; and

transmitting a notification of the availability of the beverage to the consumer via a device associated with the consumer according to the consumer preference.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein selection data comprises at least one of a brand name of the beverage, a type of the beverage, a promotion, a type of user interface associated with a beverage dispenser, a health interest, a location of interest, or a beverage attribute of the beverage.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting a notification to the consumer comprises transmitting at least one of an e-mail message, a message, an online posting via a network, an output via a user interface, an output via a user interface associated with the beverage dispenser, a communication via a client-type device, a communication via a wireless communication device, a voice mail message, a wireless communication, or a wired communication.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the notification comprises information indicative of at least one of a beverage, a beverage location, an alternative beverage, an alternative location, availability of a selected beverage, a time or date for availability of a selected beverage, an enhanced user interface, a classic type user interface, a promotion, promotion information, a coupon, beverage information, a ring tone, a game code, health information, or consumer interest information.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising

adding a transaction charge for some or all content provided to the consumer.

23. A method for marketing, comprising:

receiving a plurality of consumer preferences from a respective plurality of consumers, wherein at least one consumer preference of the plurality of consumer preferences is indicative of a preference to receive a notification of availability of a beverage formulation, and wherein the at least one consumer preferences comprises a selection for communication via at least one of email communication, text message, voice mail communication, wireline phone call, or mobile phone call;

notifying at least a portion of the plurality of consumers via respective communications transmitted to respective devices associated with the portion of the plurality of consumers that the beverage formulation is scheduled to be released at a predefined time, wherein each of the respective devices is configured to receive at least one of an email communication, a text message, a voice mail communication, a wireline phone call, or a mobile phone call; and

authorizing a plurality of beverage dispensers to dispense the beverage formulation at the predefined time.