Beverage dispensing machine network
AssigneeVendometry Inc.
InventorDavid Kennedy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is provided for monitoring a plurality of beverage dispensing machines. A monitoring device associated with each machine includes a sensor for generating data indicative of a product level, machine usage, or machine error. A control computer receives the data, generates a notification (such as an alert, a report, or a servicing schedule) based on the data, and transmits the notification to a mobile computer. The monitoring device may include a signal generator, and a processor configured to control the signal generator to generate a machine reset signal in response to receiving a reset request from a communications network.
Claims24
A system for monitoring a plurality of beverage dispensing machines, the system for use with a mobile computer, the system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of monitoring devices, wherein each one of the monitoring devices is associated with a different one of the machines, and comprises at least one sensor for generating data comprising any one or a combination of:
- (i) product level data indicative of a quantity of a product available for consumption by the one of the machines;
- or
- (ii) usage data indicative of a number of activations or a total elapsed activation time of the one of the machines;
- or
- (iii) error data indicative of an error in operation of the one of the machines;
- (b) a control computer in communication via a communications network with the monitoring devices, and comprising:
- a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor to implement a method comprising the steps of:
- (i) receiving the data generated by the sensors;
- and
- (ii) generating a notification based on the data generated by the sensors;
- and
- (iii) transmitting the notification to the mobile computer.
(canceled)
A method for monitoring a plurality of beverage dispensing machines, the method implemented by a control computer and for use with a mobile computer, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving data from a plurality of monitoring devices in communication via a communications network with the control computer, wherein each one of the monitoring devices is associated with a different one of the machines, and wherein the data comprises any one or a combination of:
- (i) product level data indicative of a quantity of a product available for consumption by the one of the machines;
- or
- (ii) usage data indicative of a number of activations or a total elapsed activation time of the one of the machines;
- or
- (iii) error data indicative of an error in operation of the one of the machines;
- (b) generating a notification based on the data generated by the sensors;
- and
- (c) transmitting the notification to the mobile computer.
20-34. (canceled)
A device for monitoring a beverage dispensing machine, the device comprising:
- (a) at least one sensor for generating data comprising any one or a combination of:
- (i) product level data indicative of a quantity of a product available for consumption by the machine;
- or
- (ii) usage data indicative of a number of activations or a total elapsed activation time of the machine;
- or
- (iii) error data indicative of an error in operation of the machine;
- and
- (b) a communication module for transmitting the data to a communications network.
36-37. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.