Systems and methods for targeted advertising on food and beverage preparation and dispensing machines

• US 9,747,606 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Break Room Media, LLC
• Original Assignee: Break Room Media, LLC
• Inventors: Stoulil, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandenburg, William A
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSCH, CHRISTOPHER CONRAD
• Application Number:
  US13/016,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• 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

Providing targeted advertising on food/beverage preparation or dispensing machines may include electronically presenting selected targeted media on or in proximity to a food/beverage preparation or dispensing machine. This may involve automatically activating consumable item preparation or dispensing mechanisms of the food/beverage preparation or dispensing machine, or activating an item selection menu, in conjunction with electronically presenting the selected media. The targeted advertising may be based on receiving user input such as information identifying a particular user or consumer or menu selections and then selecting the selected media based on the received user input. User interface elements may also be provided enabling a user to request additional information regarding selected targeted media be electronically sent to them or an order be placed for a related product. Compensation to a user or another entity may be activated each time the selected media is played.

Claims

1. A method for providing advertising in a system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, the method comprising:

receiving input, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, from a user or from a device of the user, wherein the system includes a computer processor and a non-transitory memory coupled to the computer processor;

automatically selecting, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, media to be presented to the user based on the received input;

electronically presenting, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, the selected media;

automatically activating, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, operation of one or more beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms, or a displaying of a beverage selection menu, causing the operation or displaying to occur at least partially concurrently with the electronically presenting the selected media;

associating, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, a beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms with compensation for the presenting of the selected media; and

recording, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, information regarding the association between the beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms and the compensation for the presenting of the selected media.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically activating operation of the one or more beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms, or the displaying of the beverage selection menu, is based on the received input.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically activating operation of the beverage preparation, or dispensing mechanisms or the displaying of the beverage selection menu, is triggered by the electronically presenting the selected media.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising automatically activating operation of beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms and timing the presenting of the selected media to occur during the beverage preparation or dispensing and wherein the presenting of the selected media is caused by the activating operation of the one or more beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms initiate preparation of a hot beverage.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronically presenting the selected media includes delivering an advertisement and further comprising:

recording an occurrence of the delivery of the advertisement.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising automatically activating delivery of compensation for the delivering of the advertisement.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the automatically activating delivery of compensation for the delivering of the advertisement comprises automatically communicating information regarding the occurrence of the delivery of the advertisement to enable a system to correlate the occurrence of the delivery of the advertisement with an amount of compensation for the delivering of the advertisement.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising communicating along with the information regarding the occurrence of the delivery of the advertisement information identifying a user to which the advertisement was delivered.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the automatically communicating information regarding the occurrence of the delivery of the advertisement comprises communicating the information regarding the occurrence of the delivery of the advertisement to an entity associated with placing the advertisement.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

monitoring the user'"'"'s attention to the advertisement delivered; and

determining an amount of the compensation for the delivering of the advertisement based on a level of attention resulting from the monitoring.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the input is received at a food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the electronically presenting the selected media occurs on a display of the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the electronically presenting the selected media occurs on a display in close proximity to the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the display in close proximity to the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine is a display of a wireless device of the user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronically presenting the selected media occurs on a display of the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine or on a display in close proximity to the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine, and the input is received at a device remote from the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting media to be played based on received input comprises:

receiving information identifying a user;

retrieving user profile information based on the input identifying the user; and

selecting the media to be played based on the retrieved user profile information.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising displaying a subset of beverage or food choice menu selections, the subset being a portion of possible beverage or food choice menu selections determined based on the retrieved user profile information.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the received input includes a menu selection of media topics or a menu selection of food or beverages.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronically presenting the selected media comprises:

concurrently displaying a plurality of separate media pieces on one or more displays that are associated with a food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of separate media pieces include at least one advertisement and at least one other type of media.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising providing, on a user interface, a user selectable element associated with one of the plurality of separate media pieces that, when selected by a user, causes information related to the one of the plurality of separate media pieces to be electronically communicated to a device remote from the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the device remote from the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine is a mobile device of the user.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the information related to the one of the plurality of separate media pieces includes an order for an item related to the one of the plurality of separate media pieces.

25. A beverage preparation or dispensing machine comprising:

means for electronically presenting selected media; and

means for automatically activating operation of beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms, or displaying of an item selection menu, causing the operation or displaying to occur at least partially concurrently with the electronically presenting the selected media;

means for associating a beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms with compensation for the presenting of the selected media; and

means for recording information regarding the association between the beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms and the compensation for the presenting of the selected media.

26. The beverage preparation or dispensing machine of claim 25 wherein the means for automatically activating one or more beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms, or displaying of a beverage selection menu, and causing the operation or displaying to occur at least partially concurrently with the electronically presenting the selected media, comprise:

at least one processor;

beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms in operable communication with the processor;

at least one non-transitory memory operably coupled to the at least one processor; and

a multimedia output or peripheral interface in operable communication with the at least one processor, wherein the memory has computer executable instructions thereon, that when executed, cause the processor to perform;

automatically activating operation of beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms, or displaying of a beverage selection menu, and causing the operation or displaying to occur at least partially concurrently with electronically presenting selected media based on input;

associating a beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms with compensation for the presenting of the selected media; and

recording information regarding the association between the beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms and the compensation for the presenting of the selected media.

27. The beverage preparation or dispensing machine of claim 26 wherein the presenting of the selected media occurs during beverage preparation or dispensing caused by activating the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms.

28. The beverage preparation or dispensing machine of claim 26 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to select the selected media based on input by:

receiving information identifying a user;

retrieving user profile information based on the input identifying the user; and

selecting the media to be played based on the retrieved user profile information.

29. The beverage preparation or dispensing machine of claim 26 wherein the retrieving user profile information includes retrieving user profile information from a device remote from the beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions thereon, that when executed, cause a computer processor to perform:

electronically presenting selected media; and

automatically activating operation of one or more beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms, or displaying of a beverage selection menu, and causing the operation of the one or more beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms or the displaying of beverage selection menus at least partially concurrently with the electronically presenting the selected median;

associating, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, a beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms with compensation for the presenting of the selected media; and

recording, by the system for advertising on a beverage preparation and dispensing machine, information regarding the association between the beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms and the compensation for the presenting of the selected media.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the electronically presenting the selected media comprises concurrently displaying a plurality of separate media pieces on one or more displays that are associated with a food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein the plurality of separate media pieces include at least one advertisement and at least one other type of media.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein automatically activating the displaying of the item selection menu comprises:

providing, on a user interface, a user selectable element associated with one of the plurality of separate media pieces that, when selected by a user, causes information related to the one of the plurality of separate media pieces to be electronically communicated to a device remote from the food or beverage preparation or dispensing machine.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the computer processor to:

receive input; and

select the selected media based on the received input.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the association between the beverage dispensing cycle of the beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms and the compensation for the presenting of the selected media is the occurrence of the presenting of the selected media associated with the causing operation of the one or more beverage preparation or dispensing mechanisms to occur at least partially concurrently with the electronically presenting the selected media.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the selected media is selected based on a user selection regarding types of media.