Liquid pouring control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11117794-B2
Application number	US-201916686260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2019
Priority date	Nov 18, 2019
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

In an approach for pouring control, a processor recognizes that a user requests material from a dispenser with a container. A processor evaluates the container via one or more sensors. A processor determines that the user is allowed to receive the material. A processor, in response to determining that the user is allowed to receive the material, triggers the dispenser to pour the material into the container. A processor monitors the dispenser pouring the material. A processor determines that an anomaly is detected during pouring the material. A processor, in response to determining that the anomaly is detected during pouring the material, signals the dispenser to stop the pouring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
recognizing, by one or more processors, that a user requests material from a dispenser with a container;
evaluating, by one or more processors, the container via one or more sensors;
determining, by one or more processors, that the user is allowed to receive the material;
in response to determining that the user is allowed to receive the material, triggering, by one or more processors, the dispenser to pour the material into the container;
monitoring, by one or more processors, the dispenser pouring the material;
extracting, by one or more processors, three-dimension information of the container;
determining, by one or more processors, a surface border of the container;
determining, by one or more processors, a desired material level for the container based on the extracted three-dimension information and the detected surface border information of the container;
monitoring, by one or more processors, material level changes during the pouring by identifying variances to thermal changes of the container;
determining, by one or more processors, that the material level reaches the desired material level based on the variances to the thermal changes of the container;
in response to determining that the material level reaches the desired material level, signaling, by one or more processors, the dispenser to stop the pouring;
determining, by one or more processors, that an anomaly is detected during pouring the material; and
in response to determining that the anomaly is detected during pouring the material, signaling, by one or more processors, the dispenser to stop the pouring.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the container includes ascertaining characteristics of the container including size, volume, component, and condition of the container.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a camera, a projector, an ultrasonic sensor, and a weight sensor.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the user is allowed to receive the material includes identifying the user by a way selected from the group consisting of: a user password, a digital fingerprint, a facial recognition, a near-field communication, and a biometric recognition.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the anomaly is detected during pouring the material includes:
triggering, by one or more processors, thermal excitation of the container via the one or more sensors,
receiving, by one or more processors, images taken on the container,
analyzing, by one or more processors, the received images, and
determining, by one or more processors, the anomaly based on the analysis of the received images.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the material is liquid.

7. A computer program product comprising:
one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to recognize that a user requests material from a dispenser with a container;
program instructions to evaluate the container via one or more sensors;
program instructions to determine that the user is allowed to receive the material;
program instructions to, in response to determining that the user is allowed to receive the material, trigger the dispenser to pour the material into the container;
program instructions to monitor the dispenser pouring the material;
program instructions to extract three-dimension information of the container;
program instructions to determine a surface border of the container;
program instructions to determine a desired material level for the container based on the extracted three-dimension information and the detected surface border information of the container;
program instructions to monitor material level changes during the pouring by identifying variances to thermal changes of the container;
program instructions to determine that the material level reaches the desired material level based on the variances to the thermal changes of the container;
program instructions to, in response to determining that the material level reaches the desired material level, signal the dispenser to stop the pouring;
program instructions to determine that an anomaly is detected during pouring the material; and
program instructions to, in response to determining that the anomaly is detected during pouring the material, signal the dispenser to stop the pouring.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein program instructions to evaluate the container include program instructions to ascertain characteristics of the container including size, volume, component, and condition of the container.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors include a camera, a projector, an ultrasonic sensor, and a weight sensor.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein program instructions to determine that the user is allowed to receive the material include program instructions to identify the user by a way selected from the group consisting of: a user password, a digital fingerprint, a facial recognition, a near-field communication, and a biometric recognition.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein program instructions to determine that the anomaly is detected during pouring the material include:
program instructions to trigger thermal excitation of the container via the one or more sensors,
program instructions to receive images taken on the container,
program instructions to analyze the received images, and
program instructions to determine the anomaly based on the analysis of the received images.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the material is liquid.

13. A computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to recognize that a user requests material from a dispenser with a container;
program instructions to evaluate the container via one or more sensors;
program instructions to determine that the user is allowed to receive the material;
program instructions to, in response to determining that the user is allowed to receive the material, trigger the dispenser to pour the material into the container;
program instructions to monitor the dispenser pouring the material;
program instructions to extract three-dimension information of the container;
program instructions to determine a surface border of the container;
program instructions to determine a desired material level for the container based on the extracted three-dimension information and the detected surface border information of the container;
program instructions to monitor material level changes during the pouring by identifying variances to thermal changes of the container;
program instructions to determine that the material level reaches the desired material level based on the variances to the thermal changes of the container;
program instructions to, in response to determining that the material level reaches the desired material level, signal the dispenser to stop the pouring;
program instructions to determine that an anomaly is detected during pouring the material; and
program instructions to, in response to determining t

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Candido De Lima Junior Juscelino
• Biondo Junior Jose Gilberto
• Murilo Lima Leoni
• Franco Ivan Francisco
• Monteiro Vieira Igor

Classifications

• B67D1/124

  the flow being started or stopped by means actuated by the vessel to be filled, e.g. by switches, weighing · CPC title

• B67D1/1236

  comprising means for detecting the size of vessels to be filled · CPC title

• B67D2001/1263

  the level being detected electrically · CPC title

• B67D1/0888 Primary

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title

• B67D1/125

  Safety means, e.g. over-pressure valves · CPC title