Low cost control pour

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11544697-B2
Application number	US-201816622150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2018
Priority date	Jun 12, 2017
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

One embodiment may include a machine for providing beverages. The machine may include a reader configured to read data representative of an available balance for a user to obtain beverages from the machine from a machine-readable medium and electronics. The electronics may be configured to receive the data from the machine-readable medium in response to the user positioning the machine-readable medium within reading distance of the reader, enable the user to dispense a beverage into a vessel, and update the available balance of the machine-readable medium so as to reduce or prevent the user from dispensing unlimited beverages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a vessel comprising:
a substantially flat bottom surface; and
a machine-readable medium adhesively coupled to the flat bottom surface, the machine-readable medium comprising:
a chip including a read-write device;
an antenna communicably coupled to the chip; and
an adhesive strap adhesively coupling the chip and the antenna to the flat bottom surface of the vessel, the adhesive strap including a first and second winged portion and a central portion, the chip being adhesively coupled by the central portion of the adhesive strap to the flat bottom surface and the antenna being adhesively coupled by the first and second winged portions to the flat bottom surface; and

a machine for providing beverages, said machine comprising:
a reader configured to read data representative of an available balance for a user to obtain beverages from the machine from the machine-readable medium of the vessel; and
electronics configured to:
receive the data from the machine-readable medium in response to the machine-readable medium being in communication distance of the reader;
enable the user to dispense a beverage into the vessel;
transmit an updated available balance of the machine-readable medium to the machine-readable medium, to cause the machine-readable medium to update the available balance so as to reduce or prevent the user from dispensing unlimited beverages; and
prevent the user from dispensing unlimited beverages based on the data representative of the available balance, wherein preventing the user from dispensing the unlimited beverages comprises outputting an electromagnetic energy above a threshold to cause the chip of the machine-readable medium to become non-functional.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics are further configured to enable the user to dispense the beverage while the machine-readable medium is within the communication distance of the reader.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics are further configured to determine whether the data representative of the available balance is sufficient, based on the data received from the machine-readable medium, to dispense the beverage before enabling the user to dispense the beverage.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the reader uses radiofrequency signaling.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics are further configured to limit an amount of the beverage dispensed from the machine over a time period.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics communicate the data to a centrally located processor external to the machine.

7. The system according to claim 1 , said machine further comprising:
a biometric sensor configured to read a biometric parameter of the user; and
the electronics further configured to:
collect the biometric parameter of the user via said biometric sensor;
associate the biometric parameter with the machine-readable identifier to form a first pair;
after a first dispensing, determine whether a subsequent machine-readable identifier and subsequent biometric parameter that form a subsequent pair collected for a subsequent dispensing match the first pair; and
if the first and subsequent pair match, enable the user to dispense a beverage into a vessel if an available balance exists, otherwise, prevent the user from dispensing a beverage into the vessel.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the available balance comprises a total number of beverages, a total number of fluid ounces, or a total number milliliters, and includes an associated time period.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein enabling the user to dispense the beverage into the vessel is responsive to the total number of beverages, total number of fluid ounces, or total number of milliliters being greater than or equal to one, and a maximum amount of the beverage has not been poured over the associated time period.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the chip is positioned along the adhesive strap, and the antenna spans from a first portion of the adhesive strap to a second portion of the adhesive strap.

11. A method of providing beverages, said method comprising:
providing a vessel including a machine-readable medium adhesively coupled to a flat bottom surface of a vessel, wherein the machine-readable medium comprises a chip, an antenna communicably coupled to the chip, and an adhesive strap adhesively coupling the chip and the antenna to the flat bottom surface of the vessel, the adhesive strap including a first and second winged portion and a central portion, the chip being adhesively coupled by the central portion of the adhesive strap to the flat bottom surface and the antenna being adhesively coupled by the first and second winged portions to the flat bottom surface;
providing a machine for dispensing beverages into the vessel, the machine comprising a reader for reading data from the machine-readable medium;
reading, by the reader, the data representative of an available balance for a user from the machine-readable medium of the vessel, the data being read in response to electromagnetically communicating data from the machine-readable medium with the reader;
enabling the user to dispense a beverage into the vessel;
transmitting an updated available balance to the machine-readable medium, to cause the machine-readable medium to update the available balance in response to the beverage being dispensed by the user;
preventing the user from dispensing unlimited beverages based on the data representative of the available balance; and
outputting an electromagnetic energy above a threshold to cause an electronic device on the machine-readable medium coupled to the vessel to become non-functional.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein enabling the dispensing of the beverage occurs when the machine-readable medium is connected wirelessly to the dispenser.

13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising determining whether the data meets a predetermined criteria to dispense the beverage before enabling the user to dispense the beverage.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
collecting a biometric parameter of the user;
associating the biometric parameter with the machine-readable identifier to form a first pair;
after a first dispensing, determining whether a subsequent machine-readable identifier and subsequent biometric parameter that form a subsequent pair collected for a subsequent dispensing match the first pair; and
if the first and subsequent pair match, enabling the user to dispense a beverage into a vessel if an available balance exists, otherwise, preventing the user from dispensing the beverage into the vessel.

15. A system comprising:
a vessel comprising:
a substantially flat bottom surface; and
a machine-readable medium adhesively coupled to the flat bottom surface, the machine-readable medium comprising:
a chip including a read-write device;
an antenna communicably coupled to the chip; and
an adhesive strap adhesively coupling the chip and the antenna to the flat bottom surface of the vessel, the adhesive strap including a first and second winged portion and a central portion, the chip being adhesively coupled by the central portion of the adhesive strap to the flat bottom surface and the antenna being adhesively coupled by the first and second winged portions to the flat bottom surface; and

a machine for providing beverages, said machine comprising:
a biometric sensor configured to read a biometric parameter of a user;
a reader c

Assignees

• Coca Cola Co

Inventors

• Kingston Benjamin John
• Karibandi Akhil
• Polavaram Chetan
• Stubbs Thomas
• Roberts Jevawn
• Harrison Scott
• Kaplita Stan
• Dennis Christopher
• Carpenter Gregg
• Schwarber Joshua Casey
• Peng Tao

Classifications

• G07F9/001

  Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices · CPC title

• G06Q20/352

  Contactless payments by cards · CPC title

• G07F13/065 Primary

  for drink preparation · CPC title

• G06Q20/342

  Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities · CPC title

• G06Q20/40145

  Biometric identity checks · CPC title