Electronic drink coaster

• US 7,353,136 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TVIPR LLC
• Original Assignee: PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Inventors: Vock, Curtis A., Youngs, Perry, Larkin, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Washburn; Douglas N
• Application Number:
  US11/252,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 702/55, 702/173, 702/127, 705/23
• US Class Current: 702/173
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 : Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 : of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 : for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 : Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7242 : using integration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 : specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/50 : Force related parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/26 : attached to the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 : for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: B68B 1/00 : Devices in connection with harness, for hitching, reining, training, breaking or quietening horses or other traction animals devices of this kind combined with traction harness B68B3/00; stable equipment A01K1/00; devices forming part of a vehicle B62C
• CPC Class Codes: B68C 1/00 : Saddling equipment for riding- or pack-animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 : for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 : for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/00 : Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 : with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 : by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/16 : using properties of piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 : using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 : for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 : in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 : Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/08 : Systems for determining direction or position line
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/00 : Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 : Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 : together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 : Race time-recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 9/00 : Traffic control systems for craft where the kind of craft is irrelevant or unspecified
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 : Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A system for ordering drink refills, comprising a coaster body with a processor, a wireless transmitter and at least one button, the processor responding to user inputs to activate the wireless transmitter to transmit wireless signals indicative of a desired order.

Claims

1. An electronic drink coaster, comprising a coaster containing a weight detector for sensing a weight or weight change of a container with drinking fluid on the coaster, and further comprising a processor for processing signals from the weight detector, and a communications port for wirelessly relaying information relating to the drinking fluid on the coaster, wherein a bar or restaurant is notified to provide a new drink when the drinking fluid is consumed.

2. The coaster of claim 1, further comprising one or more buttons selectable by a user for ordering a drink from the bar or restaurant and from the coaster.

3. The coaster of claim 1, the weight detector comprising a force sensor, the processor configurcd to determine a change in the force to determine weight.

4. The coaster of claim 1, the weight detector comprising one of a force sensing resistor, electro-resistive device, an accelerometer, and a pressure sensor.

5. A system for ordering drink refills, comprising a drink coaster having a drink coaster body with:

a weight detector for sensing weight of a beverage container on the drink coaster body;

a processor for processing information from the weight detector to determine whether a user of the drink coaster needs a refill;

a wireless transmitter; and

at least one button, the processor responsive to user inputs and the information from the weight detector to activate the wireless transmitter to transmit wireless signals indicative of a desired order or a need for a refill.

6. The system of claim 5, the desired order comprising a beverage order.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising an LED capable of emitting light to indicate a status of the order.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising a receiver configured with a food or drinking establishment that supplies the order, for receiving the wireless signals.

9. The system of claim 5, the processor processing the information to determine whether the container is empty.

10. The system of claim 5, the processor processing the information to determine whether the container is full.

11. The coaster of claim 5, the weight detector comprising a force sensor, the processor configured to determine a change in the force to determine weight.

12. The coaster of claim 5, the weight detector comprising one of a force sensing resistor, electro-resistive device, an accelerometer, and a pressure sensor.

13. A method for ordering drinks, comprising:

automatically determining that container for fluid needs refill based upon a weight of the container on a drink coaster; and

automatically transmitting a wireless signal indicative of a need for refill, from the drink coaster to a wireless receiver in a restaurant or bar, which may then refill the fluid.

14. A method of claim 13, further comprising responding to user input via at least one button on the coaster to wirelessly transmit a food or drink order to the wireless receiver in the restaurant or bar, which may then fill the order.

15. In a drink coaster, the improvement comprising:

a wireless transmitter for generating electromagnetic energy indicative of an order of food and/or drink;

a sensor for detecting weight or change of weight of a drink on the drink coaster; and

a processor for processing data from the sensor and for instructing the wireless transmitter to generate the electromagnetic energy in response to the weight or change of weight.

16. In a drink coaster of claim 15, the further improvement comprising a user interface at which a user of the drink coaster can operate to order food and/or drinks, the wireless transmitter responsive to the user interface.

17. In a drink coaster of claim 16, the further improvement wherein the user interface comprises a button at a surface of the drink coaster.