Systems and methods for accurately tracking water consumption from a liquid dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11891295-B2
Application number	US-202117507227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2021
Priority date	Oct 21, 2021
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A method of tracking liquid consumption includes receiving an input from a user to dispense liquid from a liquid dispenser, determining an identity of the user, determining a volume of liquid dispensed from the dispenser, and confirming that the correct user is consuming the dispensed liquid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of tracking liquid consumption from a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a dispenser and a camera provided on an exterior surface of the refrigerator appliance, the method comprising:
receiving an input from a user to initiate a liquid dispensing operation from the dispenser;
determining an identity of the user providing the input, the user being a first user among a group of users, wherein determining the identity of the user comprises:
capturing, via the camera, an image of the user initiating the liquid dispensing operation;
comparing the captured image to a database of stored images; and
determining that the captured image matches a stored image from the database of stored images registered to the first user;

performing the liquid dispensing operation to dispense a volume of liquid;
determining a volume of liquid dispensed by the dispenser in response to performing the liquid dispensing operation; and
displaying a first prompt to the first user in response to performing the liquid dispensing operation, the first prompt comprising a request to confirm that the volume of dispensed liquid is intended for the first user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the dispensed liquid is not intended for the first user in response to displaying the first prompt; and
displaying a second prompt to assign the dispensed liquid to a different user from the group of users.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first prompt and the second prompt are displayed on a mobile device registered to the first user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a fingerprint scanner, and wherein determining the identity of the user providing the input comprises:
receiving a fingerprint input via the fingerprint scanner from the user;
analyzing the fingerprint input by comparing the fingerprint input against a database of previously recorded fingerprints; and
determining that the fingerprint input is registered to the first user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a user interface, and wherein determining the identity of the user providing the input comprises:
registering an input to the user interface designating the first user among the group of users.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the user interface is a touch panel provided on the refrigerator appliance.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator appliance further comprises a near field communication module provided therein, and wherein determining the identity of the user providing the input comprises:
searching, via the near field communication module, for a connectable device in response to receiving the input from the user to initiate the liquid dispensing operation;
establishing a connection between the refrigerator appliance and the connectable device via the near field communication module; and
determining that the connectable device is registered to the first user.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the connection between the refrigerator appliance and the connectable device is one of a Bluetooth connection, a near field connection, or a wireless fidelity connection.

9. A computing system for tracking liquid consumption, the computing system comprising:
a liquid dispenser configured to selectively dispense a liquid therefrom, the liquid dispenser comprising a camera provided on an exterior surface of the liquid dispenser;
a flow meter provided at the liquid dispenser, the flow meter detecting an amount of liquid dispensed from the liquid dispenser; and
a controller operably coupled to the liquid dispenser and the flow meter, wherein the controller is configured to perform a series of operations, the series of operations comprising:
receiving an input from a user to initiate a liquid dispensing operation from the dispenser;
determining an identity of the user providing the input, the user being a first user among a group of users, wherein determining the identity of the user comprises:
capturing, via the camera, an image of the user initiating the liquid dispensing operation;
comparing the captured image to a database of stored images; and
determining that the captured image matches a stored image from the database of stored images registered to the first user;

performing the liquid dispensing operation to dispense a volume of liquid;

determining a volume of liquid dispensed by the dispenser; and
displaying a first prompt to the first user in response to determining the volume of liquid dispensed, the first prompt comprising a request to confirm that the volume of liquid dispensed is intended for the first user.

10. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the series of operations further comprises:
determining that the dispensed liquid was not intended for the first user in response to displaying the first prompt; and
displaying a second prompt to assign the volume of liquid dispensed to a different user from the group of users.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the first prompt and the second prompt are displayed on a mobile device registered to the first user.

12. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the liquid dispenser further comprises a user interface, and wherein determining the identity of the user providing the input comprises:
registering an input to the user interface designating the first user among the group of users.

13. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the user interface is a touch panel provided on the liquid dispenser.

14. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the liquid dispenser further comprises a near field communication module provided therein, and wherein determining the identity of the user providing the input comprises:
searching, via the near field communication module, for a connectable device in response to receiving the input from the user to initiate the liquid dispensing operation;
establishing a connection between the liquid dispenser and the connectable device via the near field communication module; and
determining that the connectable device is registered to the first user.

15. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the connectable device is one of a mobile phone device, a smart watch, or a mobile tablet.

16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the connection between the liquid dispenser and the connectable device is one of a Bluetooth connection, a near field connection, or a wireless fidelity connection.

17. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein the liquid dispenser further comprises a fingerprint scanner, and wherein determining the identity of the user providing the input comprises:
receiving a fingerprint input via the fingerprint scanner from the user;
analyzing the fingerprint input by comparing the fingerprint input against a database of previously recorded fingerprints; and
determining that the fingerprint input is registered to the first user.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Caverno Katherine
• William Santhosh
• King Kelsey

Classifications

• F25D2400/361

  Interactive visual displays · CPC title

• B67D1/0888 Primary

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

• F25D23/126

  Water cooler · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title