Dispenser with use-based content delivery

• US 8,786,398 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Wegelin, Jackson W., O'Keefe, Patrick J. Jr., Moore, Andrew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/073,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0076 Body hygiene; Dressing; Knot tying
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A dispenser with use-based content delivery includes an indicator to present audio and/or video content that is delivered from a remote computer via a wired or wireless network. In addition, the dispenser is configured to monitor various operation parameters associated with the dispenser, as well as the physical attributes of its users. The dispenser uses such data to select informational content that targets the needs of each specific user, so as to communicate informational content in a highly-effective manner.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing material from a refill container to a user, the dispenser comprising:

a controller to monitor at least one operating parameter associated with the dispensing of the material;

a pump coupled to said controller, said pump adapted to be in fluid communication with the refill container;

an actuator coupled to said controller, such that when said actuator is engaged, said pump dispenses the material from the refill container;

a sensor coupled to said controller, said sensor configured to anonymously identify at least one physical attribute associated with the user;

an indicator coupled to said controller; and

a transceiver coupled to said controller, said transceiver configured to receive content stored at a remote computer;

wherein said controller transmits a reference identifier that includes both the anonymously identified at least one physical attribute and the at least one operating parameter associated with the dispensing of the material to the remote computer, whereupon the remote computer identifies and transmits content associated with both the anonymously identified at least one physical attribute and the at least one operating parameter associated with the dispensing of the material for receipt at said transceiver for presentation by said indicator.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an image sensor.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a motion sensor.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a display.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a speaker.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said transceiver receives said content from said remote computer via a wireless network.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein said content is transferred via said wireless network using file transfer protocol (FTP).

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said controller stores an identification code, such that said transceiver receives content only associated with said identification code.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said content is transferred via said wireless network using hyper-text transfer protocol (HTTP).