Coffee brewer and a corresponding network-based method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A coffee brewing apparatus that comprises:
- a coffee brewer;
a sensor configured and arranged to sense food components as used by the coffee brewer, wherein sensing food components comprises sensing information provided on a coffee pod containing the food components that includes at least one of information corresponding to a brand of the food component, information corresponding to a flavor of the food component, information corresponding to a grind of the food component, and information identifying whether the coffee pod is intended for use in the coffee brewer;
an external network interface configured and arranged to facilitate interfacing with a remote resource;
an end user interface including an active display;
a processor operably coupled to the sensor, the external network interface, and the end user interface and being configured and arranged to independently use information regarding food components used by the coffee brewer to facilitate obtaining responsive information from the remote resource and presenting the responsive information to an end user via the end user interface including presenting via the active display at least one of textual content and graphic content that corresponds to the responsive information;
the end user interface being capable of receiving an acceptance by the end user of a food component purchasing opportunity; and
the processor and external network interface being capable of facilitating a verification of the end user to accept the food component purchasing opportunity.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coffee brewing apparatus comprises a corresponding coffee brewer as well as a sensor that is configured and arranged to sense food components as used by that means for brewing coffee beverages. This coffee brewing apparatus then further comprises an external network interface that is configured and arranged to facilitate interfacing with a remote resource (or resources). The coffee brewing apparatus can further comprise an end user interface and a processor that is operably coupled to the sensor, the external network interface, and the end user interface and that is configured and arranged to independently use information regarding food components as are used by the means for brewing coffee beverages to facilitate obtaining corresponding responsive information from the remote resource and to then present that information to an end user via the end user interface.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A coffee brewing apparatus that comprises:
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a coffee brewer; a sensor configured and arranged to sense food components as used by the coffee brewer, wherein sensing food components comprises sensing information provided on a coffee pod containing the food components that includes at least one of information corresponding to a brand of the food component, information corresponding to a flavor of the food component, information corresponding to a grind of the food component, and information identifying whether the coffee pod is intended for use in the coffee brewer; an external network interface configured and arranged to facilitate interfacing with a remote resource; an end user interface including an active display; a processor operably coupled to the sensor, the external network interface, and the end user interface and being configured and arranged to independently use information regarding food components used by the coffee brewer to facilitate obtaining responsive information from the remote resource and presenting the responsive information to an end user via the end user interface including presenting via the active display at least one of textual content and graphic content that corresponds to the responsive information; the end user interface being capable of receiving an acceptance by the end user of a food component purchasing opportunity; and the processor and external network interface being capable of facilitating a verification of the end user to accept the food component purchasing opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 23, 24)
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11. A method comprising:
at a coffee brewing apparatus; detecting food components as are used by the coffee brewing apparatus, wherein the detecting comprises a sensor sensing information provided on a coffee pod containing the food components, the information including at least one of information corresponding to a brand of the food component, information corresponding to a flavor of the food component, information corresponding to a grind of the food component, and information identifying whether the coffee pod is intended for use in the coffee brewing apparatus; using a native external network interface to independently contact a remote resource and provide information to the remote resource regarding the food components as are used by the coffee brewing apparatus; receiving from the remote resource, via the native external network interface, responsive information that includes information regarding a food component purchasing opportunity; using a native end user interface to present the responsive information to an end user of the coffee brewing apparatus; receiving an acceptance of the food component purchasing opportunity by an end user; facilitating a verification of the end user to accept the food component purchasing opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 25)
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17. A method comprising:
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receiving from a coffee brewing apparatus via a modem that is native to the coffee brewing apparatus information regarding a food component as has been used by the coffee brewing apparatus, wherein the coffee brewing apparatus is configured to sense, using a sensor, information provided on a coffee pod containing the food component, and wherein the information regarding the food component corresponds to the information provided on the coffee pod containing the food component and includes at least one of information corresponding to a brand of the food component, information corresponding to a flavor of the food component, information corresponding to a grind of the food component, and information identifying whether the coffee pod is intended for use with the coffee brewing apparatus; using the information regarding the food component to develop corresponding responsive information that includes information regarding a food component purchasing opportunity; transmitting the corresponding responsive information directly to the coffee brewing apparatus via the modem that is native to the coffee brewing apparatus, wherein the coffee brewing apparatus is further configured to present at least a portion of the responsive information to an end user via an end user interface; receiving an acceptance of the food component purchasing opportunity by the end user; and verifying that the end user is authorized to accept the food component purchasing opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (18, 26)
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20. A coffee brewing apparatus that comprises:
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a brewer; and a sensor configured to sense food components as used by the brewer, wherein sensing food components further comprises sensing information provided on a coffee pod containing the food components that includes at least one of information corresponding to a brand of the food component, information corresponding to a flavor of the food component, information corresponding to a grind of the food component, and information identifying whether the coffee pod is intended for use in the brewer; an external network interface configured to facilitate interfacing with a remote resource; an end user interface including an active display; and a processor operably coupled to the sensor, the external network interface, and the end user interface and being configured to independently use information regarding food components used by the brewer to facilitate obtaining responsive information from the remote resource and presenting the responsive information to an end user via the end user interface including presenting via the active display at least one of textual content and graphic content that corresponds to the responsive information; the end user interface being capable of receiving an acceptance by the end user of a food component purchasing opportunity; and the processor and external network interface being capable of facilitating a verification of the end user to accept the food component purchasing opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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27. A coffee brewing apparatus that comprises:
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a brewer; a sensor configured to sense food components as used by the brewer, wherein sensing food components includes sensing information provided on a coffee pod containing the food components that includes at least one of information corresponding to a brand of the food component, information corresponding to a flavor of the food component, information corresponding to a grind of the food component, and information identifying whether the coffee pod is intended for use in the brewer; an external network interface configured to facilitate interfacing with a remote resource; an end user interface including an active display; and a processor operably coupled to the sensor, the external network interface, and the end user interface and being configured to independently use information regarding food components used by the brewer to obtain responsive information from the remote resource and present at least a portion of the responsive information to an end user via the end user interface including presenting via the active display at least one of textual content and graphic content that corresponds to the responsive information, wherein the sensor is not a component of the external network interface; the end user interface being capable of receiving an acceptance by the end user of a food component purchasing opportunity; and the processor and external network interface being capable of facilitating a verification of the end user to accept the food component purchasing opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification