Method for managing orders and dispensing beverages.

(54) Title: METHOD FOR PROCESSING ORDERS AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES. (54) Title: METHOD FOR MANAGING ORDERS AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES.

(57) Summary

A method of processing orders and dispensing products in a container is described. The method may include the steps of instructing a user to choose a product type at an order entry station, printing the indication on the container indicating at least the type of product chosen, reading the indication at a product dispensing station and dispense the type of product chosen in the container.

(57) Abstract

A method for managing orders and dispensing products into a container. The method may inelude the steps of prompting a user selection of a product type at an order entry station, printing indicia on the container indicating at least the product type selected, reading the indicia at a product dispensing station, and dispensing the product type selected into the container.

METHOD FOR PROCESSING ORDERS AND DISPENSING BEVERAGES

CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED REQUESTS

The subject of this application relates to the subject of the following co-dependent applications, each of which is assigned to the same assignee of this application, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Each of the following applications is hereby incorporated for reference in its entirety: VESSEL ACTIVATED BEVERAGE DISPENSER, Application Serial No. 12 / 767,048, attached hereto, and METHOD OF PRINTING INDICIA ON VESSELS TO CONTROL A BEVERAGE

DISPENSER, Application Series No. 12 / 767,049, attached hereto.

TRADEMARKS

The COCA-COLA® mark is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Other marks used herein may be registered trademarks, trade names, or product names of The Coca-Cola Company or other companies.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application generally relates to a method of processing orders and dispensing beverage products such as beverages, pharmaceuticals, or any other dispensable product, and more particularly relates to a method of placing an order at a check-in station. orders, requesting a user to choose a type of product, printing signs on the container in which the product is to be dispensed, indicating at least the type of product chosen, replacing the container on a product dispensing station, reading the signals on the product dispensing station, configuring the product dispensing station to dispense the chosen product type based on part of the signals, and dispensing the chosen product type In the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ordering and filling a drink order at a fast-food or full-service restaurant often may not be a task. A service staff member can simply deliver an empty mug to a consumer. The consumer then has to use a self-service beverage dispenser to choose and fill the cup. The fast food or full service restaurant generally has no way of knowing which beverage product the consumer chose or how many times the consumer has filled the cup. The fast-food or full-service restaurant also has no way to link consumer choices to the original food and beverage order. As such, there is little opportunity to process and collect information related to consumer beverage consumption in a self-service beverage environment.

Furthermore, the service staff member may fill the cup with the wrong drink, may associate the full cup with the wrong order, or may simply misinterpret the consumer's choice while trying to execute simultaneous orders. When a consumer orders several different drinks for a family or group of friends, there is no way of knowing which drink belongs to whom. Seeing inside the cup cannot be helpful since many drinks are the same color. One then needs to test the different drinks to determine which drink is which.

A service staff member in a fast food or full service restaurant environment may also need two hands to operate the beverage dispenser. Such a two-handed operation can slow down the service time of the service staff member. In this regard, having to pause long enough to navigate a graphical user interface to choose a type of beverage from a beverage menu and then place and hold a mug while filling can take an extended period of time. That time can negatively impact the speed at which consumers can be served by the service staff member.

Another problem is that the service staff member may have to put down what he is carrying to free a hand to operate the beverage dispenser. The space in fast food and full service restaurant environments is first class. Having to lower food orders to fill drinks can cause you to inconveniently stack food, place food where it does not belong, and / or balance food trays to free both hands to choose and fill drink cups .

Thus there may be a need for a method of processing orders and dispensing beverages in a fast food or full service restaurant setting. In this regard, the speed and accuracy of food and beverage orders may need to be improved to satisfy the consumer. There may also be a need to provide a consumer interface that increases the utility of a beverage dispenser for children and other consumers as well as increases the utility of the beverage dispenser for service staff member. There may also be a need to better inform consumers that it is in the consumer's cup, particularly when a consumer orders several different kinds of drinks at the same time. There may also be a need to increase the speed and efficiency of the service staff member when choosing and filling beverage cups.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus the present application provides a method of processing orders and dispensing products, such as beverages, into a container or container. The method may consist of the steps of asking a user to choose a type of product at an order entry station, printing signs on the container indicating at least the type of product chosen, reading the signs at a product dispensing station, and dispense the type of product chosen in the container.

The present application further provides a method of processing orders and dispensing beverages into a container. The method may consist of the steps of placing an order in an order entry system, the order consists of an order identification, printing signs on the container including order identification, providing the container to a consumer, reading the signals on a beverage dispensing station, allowing the consumer to choose a type of beverage, to dispense the type of beverage into the container, and communicate the order identification and the type of drink chosen to the order entry system.

The present application further provides a method of using a container as a graphical user interface pointing device in fountain dispensers. The method may consist of placing the container next to a container motion detector, monitoring, by means of the container motion detector, the rotational movement of the container or other movement, allowing a user to interact with a graphical user interface through of the container motion detector, allowing the user to choose a type of beverage from a beverage menu, and dispense the chosen type of beverage into the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The subject matter herein is addressed in a particular and distinctly claimed manner in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The purposes, features, and advantages of the present application, above and others, may be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. IA shows an example of a micro-metered beverage dispensing station having a portion of the interface of the micro-metered beverage dispensing station.

Fig. IB shows an example of a micro-metered beverage dispensing station having a portion of the interface of the micro-metered beverage dispensing station.

Fig. 2A shows an example of a portion of the interface of a beverage dispenser valve having a graphical user interface.

Fig. 2B shows an example of a known beverage dispenser valve.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a number of interfaces capable of effecting the ability to choose and initiate dispensing of a beverage from a beverage dispensing station.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a system block diagram for a user interface device for use with a beverage dispenser.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a container activated user interface device for use with a beverage dispenser.

Fig. 6 shows an example of a container-activated user interface device configured as an automated beverage system.

Fig. 7 shows an example of a network for order entry and fulfillment and beverage filling in fast food or full service restaurants.

Fig. 8 shows an example of a method for choosing and dispensing beverages using a container as part of a user interface device.

Fig. 9 shows examples of exemplary embodiments of a method for choosing and dispensing beverages using a container as part of a user interface device.

Fig. 10 shows an example of a method for processing orders and dispensing beverages.

Fig. 11 shows examples of exemplary modalities of a method for processing orders and dispensing beverages.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a method of using a container as a pointing device of the graphical user interface in fountain dispensers.

Fig. 13 shows examples of exemplary embodiments of a method of using a container as a device.

<td>pointer</td><td>the graphical interface</td><td>of the</td><td>user</td><td>in</td>

<td>dispensers</td><td>source.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>The description</td><td>detailed explains</td><td>the</td><td colspan="2">modalities</td>

<td>preferred of</td><td>the application together</td><td>with</td><td>advantage</td><td>and</td>

<td>characteristics,</td><td>as an example with</td><td colspan="2">reference to</td><td>the</td>

drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, it will be seen that in Figs. IA and IB there is a dispenser station for micro-metered drinks 202. The dispenser station for micro-metered drinks 202 can process the dispensing of a number of concentrated ingredients, water, milk, soy, sweetener, carbonated water, and other ingredients to form drinks in precise formulas to form hundreds of different drinks. To effect a user's ability to choose which beverage formula to dispense, a user accessible graphical user interface 206 may be provided. In this regard, a menu of beverage choices can be presented in graphical user interface 206 such as beverage selections 204A-204E.

For example and not as a limitation, a COCACOLA ZERO ™ drink can be dispensed by choosing the 204A COCA-COLA ZERO ™ drink selection. In a similar way, a BARQ'S ROOT BEER® beverage can be dispensed by choosing the 204B BARQ'S ROOT BEER® beverage selection. A COCA-COLA® drink can be dispensed using the 204C beverage selection, a DIET COKE® drink can be dispensed via the 204D beverage selection, and a SPRITE® beverage can be dispensed via the beverage selection 204E. Beverage dispenser 202 can be configured to dispense hundreds of types of beverages limited only by the ingredients necessary to formulate a beverage formula.

To facilitate the choice of beverage type from graphical user interface 206, a user is generally asked to touch a touch screen. If the user's hands are full, the user will need to put something down in order to free a hand and then make a choice of the type of beverage. In some other situations, the location of the touch screen may be too high for easy access by children or other types of consumers.

An advantage here is that an additional user interface device 300 can be implemented to facilitate the ability to optionally choose and dispense a type of beverage. In this regard, the beverage dispenser 202, a beverage dispensing region 210, an ice dispensing lever 208, a beverage dispensing lever 216 (shown in Fig. 2A) and / or locations the interface device may have 300 (shown in Fig. 3) capable of detecting movement of a container 212. As shown in Fig. IB, a user can rotate the container 212 to move the selection on the GUI 206 in direction A B. The user can also move container 212 in the up or down direction to move the selection of the graphical user interface 206 in the C-D direction. For purposes herein, the user interface device 300 may also be referred to as a system 300. Alternatively, and to avoid the need to rotate container 212, container 212 may be provided with machine-readable signals 400E which, instead of only partially surrounding container 212, surrounds the entire perimeter of container 212 so that that the user interface device 300 can read the signals no matter which direction the container is placed

212.

This one-hand user interface is an alternative to having to touch the touch screen 206 and thereby effectuates that ability to choose and optionally dispense the desired beverage. In a number of examples, this one-hand beverage selection interface speeds up beverage selection and dispensing time in the service staff environment commonly found in fast-food or full-service restaurant environments. In general, a service staff dispenser is operated by a service staff member and an automatic service dispenser is operated by a consumer. One-handed operation frees service staff members from having to put down what they are transporting to choose and dispense a drink. In another example, children and other consumers who are unable to reach the elevated graphical user interface 206 can optionally dispense a selection of beverages using only the movement of the container to interact with the beverage dispenser. In another example, the wheelchair consumer or others having difficulty reaching the elevated graphical user interface 206 may also benefit from being able to choose and dispense a beverage using only the movement of the container to interact with the beverage dispenser.

Referring to Fig. 2A, an example of a portion of the interface of a beverage dispenser having the graphical user interface 206 is shown. In a conventional font dispenser 242 shown in Fig. 2B, a number of Single flavor valves are oriented so that a user can only choose between finite numbers of beverage flavors. Conventional fountain dispenser modalities commonly support a dozen or fewer valves and therefore a finite number of beverage type choices.

An advantage herein is that a simple valve 218 can be configured with graphical user interface 206. Dispenser lever 216 can be configured with user interface device 300 so that a user can interact with the user valve. beverages to choose a type of beverage and then dispense the beverage into container 212. In this aspect, a user can move or rotate container 212 in direction A

B causing the type of beverage to change in graphical user interface 206. As the user rotates container 212 in direction A, graphical user interface 206 displaying the flavor label changes from COCA-COLA® 204C to SPRITE® 204E to BARQ'S ROOT BEER® 204B to DIET COKE® 204D to COCA-COLA ZERO ™ 204A and then back to COCA-COLA® 204C. Rotating the container in direction B reverses the flavor presentation pattern. The user thus has the ability to use container 212 to choose a type of beverage and then dispense the beverage by activating lever 216. Also in Fig. 2A is shown a nozzle of beverage dispenser 214 and a number of touch buttons. 246A-B. The 246A-B touch buttons can effect a user's ability to interact with valve 218 and optionally dispense the beverage by touching them.

Valve 218 can upgrade a conventional fountain dispenser 242 or an automated beverage dispenser 230 (shown in Fig. 6). In this regard, valve 218 having graphical user interface 206 can be incorporated into conventional fountain equipment and existing automated beverage systems to effect the ability to select and dispense numerous beverages from simple valve 218 with the use of a 300 user interface device.

Referring to Fig. 3, an example of a number of interfaces capable of effecting the ability to choose and initiate dispensing of a beverage from a beverage dispensing station is shown. The user interface device 300 can be incorporated in the dispensing lever 216, the ice lever 208, or in the beverage dispensing area using a dispensing area lever 222, a dispensing plate 224, or other device. As the container 212 approaches the system 300, the movement of the container can be detected and used to facilitate selection of a beverage type in the graphical user interface 206. Once the beverage type has been selected, you can start dispensing by pressing lever 216, lever 208, operating a number of switches 220AC, or otherwise. Levers, switches, combinations thereof, and / or other types of actuators may be mentioned as the dispense actuators. In this regard, dispensing actuators can be used to dispense the selected type of beverage. A number of levers such as levers 208 and 216 can be used with switches 220A-C to serve as a dispense actuator to allow a member of the service staff, consumer, or other users to initiate and control dispensing of the drink.

Switches 220A-C can be actuated by pushing container 212 against dispenser lever 222 or dispenser plate 224. Dispenser area lever 222 and dispenser plate 224 may be free enough to move such that one of switches 220A-C it can be operated when the lever or plate is pushed by the container 212. In a multi-level menu in the graphical user interface, by pushing the container 212 against the left side of the lever of the dispensing area 222 and thus operating the switch 220A the graphic user interface screen can be moved to the next menu level while pushing the container 212 against the right side of the the lever of dispensing area 222 and thus actuating switch 220B can return the graphical user interface to the previous menu level.

In addition to detecting movement of container 212 and using that movement of container to facilitate beverage selection and optionally dispensing a beverage, system 300 can be configured to print signals on container 212. During beverage selection and / or When dispensing beverages, a printing mechanism 308 (shown in Fig. 4) associated with system 300 can print signals on container 212. Those signs can be the type and class of beverage selected and dispensed, a machine-readable barcode, health and wellness information, product content information, and / or other signs. As an example and not as a limitation, in the

Fig. 3 shows signs that a 400C machine can read and horizontally oriented 400D product information as printed by the system 300 associated with lever 208. Fig. 3 also shows signs that a 400E machine can read and product information. Vertically oriented 400F as printed by system 300 associated with lever 216. In Fig. 3 Also shown are horizontally oriented machine readable signs 400A and 400B product information as printed by system 300 associated with lever 222. Note that each of these signals, 400A, 400C, and 400E may be oriented horizontally at different levels in container 212 (as shown with signals 400C and 400A, but with the signals completely surrounding container 212 to prevent the user from you need to rotate the signals 400A, C, or E so that they can be read by the user interface device 300 in any orientation. In this application, the user would simply raise the cup to the desired level so that the desired signals are read by the user interface device.

Referring to Fig. 4, an example of a system block diagram is shown for user interface device 300 for use with the beverage dispenser. System 300 can be integrated into a beverage dispensing station, fountain dispenser, automated beverage system, or other type of beverage dispenser. In fact, the system can be integrated into any dispensing mechanism to dispense any type of product, including, without limitation, food products, pharmaceuticals, sweets, coffee (including beans and ground), paint, or any other product that can be dispensed and need to be distinguished from other products that can be dispensed from the same dispensing mechanism. System 300 can be used to effect use of container 212 to select a type of beverage and optionally dispense a beverage. Furthermore, that system 300 can be used to read signals that the machine can read and / or print signals on the surface of the container. Reading those signals can effect the ability to program the dispenser to dispense a certain type of beverage, control access to the beverage dispenser station, program the beverage dispenser station, and / or effect other features.

System 300 may have a microprocessor 302. That microprocessor 302 may be an INTEL, MOTOROLA, AMD, ZILOG, MICROCHIP, RABBIT, and / or other types and classes of microprocessors, as needed and / or desired. Microprocessor 302 can be interconnected with a motion detector for container 304. A radiation source 306 can be used to illuminate a portion of the surface of container 212. The backscatter can then be captured by the container motion detector 304. In this regard, the container motion detector 304 can determine the motion of the container 212 by monitoring changes in the backscatter. Backscatter can also be mentioned as the scatter data. The movement of the container effects the ability of the microprocessor 302 to implement instructions that perform the steps of determining the movement of the container by analyzing the dispersion data, communicating the data based on part of it. dispersion data, and effects the user's ability to rotate or move the container to choose a type of beverage.

The radiation source 306 and the container motion detector 304 may be similar in design and manufacture to the components found in an optical personal computer mouse or other type of optical pointing device design. Furthermore, the radiation source and the motion detector of the container can employ visible and non-visible light and / or other radiation sources and detectors. Furthermore, laser, radio frequency, and / or other radiation sources and / or motion detector techniques of the container and / or components can be used in the design. Mechanical encoders can also be used in part as a container motion detector. The container motion detector 304 can also use mechanical position detection, rotary encoders, container contact means, and / or other container motion detection techniques.

Interconnected with microprocessor 302 may be a print mechanism 308. That print mechanism 308 can be configured to print signals on the surface of container 212, as shown in FIG. 3, and / or in other ways. That printing mechanism 308 can print by heat, inkjet, radiation exposure of reactive inks applied to the surface of the container, and / or by other printing methods. The printing mechanism 308 can create graphic and text signals by means of pixel-based printing methods such as the dot matrix style and / or by other types and or kinds of printing methods.

Interconnected with the microprocessor 302 may be a signal reader 310. The signal reader 310 can read and process codes that the machine can read. Those codes that the machine can read can be MICROSOFT

TAG, a DATAMATRIX CODE, a QRCCODE, a barcode, graphics, black and white labels, color labels, and / or other types of signals that the machine can read.

Interconnected with the 302 microprocessor may be a number of general purpose inputs and outputs (GPIO) 312. In this regard, the 302 microprocessor can read and control external devices via the GPIO 312. For example and not as a limitation, the switches 220A-C can be monitored by GPIO 312. The GPIO 312 can also be used to control lighting around beverage dispensing area 210 or to monitor and control other aspects and devices.

Interconnected with microprocessor 302 may be a user selection detector 314. User selection detector 314 can be used to detect container 212 or movement of lever 208, lever 216, and / or lever 222. In this regard, user selection detector 314 can be used to detect movement of the container to determine that the user has made a selection. For example, and not as a limitation, the user moves container 212 to choose a type of beverage. Once the beverage type is selected in the graphical user interface 206, the user can then make contact or move lever 208, lever 216, and / or lever 222. That contact or movement of the lever can be detected. by user selection detector 314 and used to confirm selection of beverage type. In operation, this confirmation of the selected beverage type can be followed by ice dispensing, the beverage, and / or other actions. User selection detector 314 can make use of an accelerometer, switches, and / or other user selection detection devices.

Interconnected with microprocessor 302 may be a digital interface 316. Digital interface 316 may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a CAN bus interface, an infrared communication port, a serial port, a radio frequency port, or another type or class of digital communication port. In this regard, system 300 can interface with and communicate with other digital devices through digital interface 316.

Referring to Fig. 5, an example of the container-activated user interface device 300 for use with a beverage dispenser is shown. Radiation source 306 can emit radiation 226 that is reflected off the surface of container 212 and can be monitored by means of container motion detector 304. The container motion detector 304 can detect the movement of the container 212 by means of the reflected radiation received off the surface of the container from the radiation source 306 as scattering data associated with the movement of the container. Microprocessor 302 can implement instructions that perform the steps of determining the movement of the container by analyzing the dispersion data. The data may then be communicated based in part on the scatter data to allow the user to interact with the graphical user interface 206. This effects the user's ability to rotate or move container 212 to choose a type of beverage and dispense the drink.

The printing mechanism 308 can be used to print the type of beverage, beverage information, machine-readable codes, and / or other signals on container 212. That printing can be accomplished by printing transfer by inkjet, thermal printing, or radiation-activated ink exposure with the use of radiation sources.

Referring to Fig. 6, an example of the container activated user interface device 300 is shown configured as the automated beverage system 230. An automated beverage system (ABS) 230 may be operatively related to a order entry system. That order entry system can be found at a fast food or full service restaurant. In operation, an order placed by means of the order entry system can cause the automated beverage system 230 to dispense a container from a container dispenser 232A-C and be able to fill it automatically with a beverage.

An advantage here is that the signals can be printed on the container 212 starting by means of a command that is being placed in the order entry system 234 (shown in Fig. 7). The signals printed on the container 212 can include machine-readable signals, type of beverage, and / or other signals, and can be used to confirm that the container is authorized to receive product from the product dispenser. Container 212 can be automatically dispensed from container dispenser 232AC at a position of container 212A. To the dispensed container 212, signals can be printed on the container 212 as it is transported past system 300A. Upon reaching a position of container 212B, lever 216 having a system 300B placed therein can read the signals, configure the type of beverage to be dispensed, and then dispense the beverage into container 212. The signals in container 212 can be used to determine the type of beverage to be dispensed and optionally other parameters of the beverage such as size, diet sweetener, non-diet sweetener, and / or the signals to be dispensed. they can use to determine other aspects or characteristics. The 232A-C dispensing container can be configured for small 232A containers, medium 232B containers, large 232C containers, and / or configured in other ways.

An advantage here is that not only can printed signals be used to configure beverage dispensing station 202A-B, beverage valves 218, and automated beverage system 230 to dispense a desired type of beverage, but signals can have a function to ensure order accuracy and consumer satisfaction. In this regard, by printing the type of beverage on the surface of container 212, the service staff member can ensure that the consumer receives the correct beverage. Otherwise if a consumer is buying multiple beverages, possibly belonging to multiple family members, the signs 400B, D, and F can read on the surface of container 212 ensure that each family member receives the type correct drink. A fountain dispenser, the automated beverage system 230, the beverage dispensing station 202A-B, and the beverage dispenser may be mentioned as a beverage dispenser, a beverage dispensing station, and / or beverage dispenser by staff of service.

Referring to Fig. 7, an example of a beverage order entry and fulfillment network is shown in fast-service and full-service restaurants. A consumer 238 can place an order with a member of the 240 service staff. That order can be placed in an order entry system 234. Placing the order may require the service staff member to choose the type of beverage desired by the consumer through a graphical user interface 206B. Alternatively, the consumer may make beverage selection from a consumer accessible graphical user interface 206A. The beverage dispensing station 202A-B, the automated beverage system 230, the graphical user interfaces 206AB, the container printer 236, and the order entry station 234 may be together in a network with a data processing system 244 In this aspect, the data processing system 244 can be a data processing resource based on a local or global network or a system accessible on a global network. The Internet can be considered a global network. Data processing system 244 can be used to run a fast food or full service restaurant that includes the order entry process.

Container 212 can be printed and the service staff member can deliver container 212 to the consumer. The consumer can then use beverage dispensing station 202 A to fill container 212. Signs printed on container 212 may contain the order identification and the consumer's act of filling container 212 at beverage dispensing station may cause that the signs be read including the order identification. The information about what the consumer dispensed into the container can then be communicated to the data processing system 244 that processes the orders so that the beverage information can be added to the order information. In this regard, the order information may include the types, class, and volume of beverage dispensed by the consumer.

This feature overcomes the current drawbacks that when a consumer purchases a beverage in a self-service environment, the service staff member adds to the order a beverage entry without details such as the flavor or brand of the beverage the consumer is going to consume. Furthermore, there is no way to track fillers in a self-service environment and therefore the information may be incorrect regarding the type, class, and volume of beverage dispensed by the consumer.

The service staff member can initiate the filling of the beverage by means of the automated beverage system 230. Information on the consumer's order, type of beverage, other product information, and / or other signs can be printed on the container. 212 and fill in the automated beverage system 230. The service staff member then benefits from having the type of beverage, order identification, and / or other signs imprinted on the surface of container 212 to ensure that the correct beverage is provided to the correct consumer. The consumer also benefits in that when he receives the drinks and distributes them to family members, each consumer ensures that he is getting the right drink.

Service staff member 240 can use container 212 in combination with user interface device 300 to quickly choose a type of beverage and dispense the beverage at beverage dispensing station 202B. In this regard, container 212 can be preprinted and read at beverage dispensing station 202B and / or can be printed after service staff member 240 selects the desired beverage.

Referring to Fig. 8, an example of a method for processing and dispensing beverages is shown. An order can be placed through an order entry station in a fast food or full service restaurant setting. The user can be prompted to choose a type of beverage, the type of beverage can be printed on container 212, container 212 can be read at a beverage dispensing station, the beverage dispensing station can be configured, and the type The chosen beverage dispenser can be dispensed into container 212. The beverage dispensing station may also be mentioned as an automated beverage system. The method starts at block 1002.

In block 1002, an order is placed at an order entry station. At block 1004, a user is asked to make a choice of a type of beverage. That choice of a type of beverage can be made on a graphical user interface 206A by the consumer or on a graphical user interface 206B by a member of the service staff. At block 1006, a number of signals can be printed on container 212. Those signals can be printed by means of a container printer 236 or otherwise. Additionally, those signs can be the type or class of beverage chosen and dispensed, a machine-readable barcode, health and wellness information, product content information, consumer loyalty data, and / or other types of information.

At block 1008, container 212 can be relocated to the beverage dispensing station or an automated beverage system. Container 212 can be delivered to the consumer or the automated beverage system can begin filling the order. At block 1010, the signals can be read on the surface of container 212 at the beverage dispensing station or the automated beverage system. At block 1012, the beverage dispensing station or automated beverage system may be configured to dispense the selected beverage type. At block 1014, the type of beverage chosen can be dispensed into container 212. The method is then exited.

Referring to Fig. 9, examples of a method for processing orders and dispensing beverages are shown. At block 1016, the beverage type selection can be made by a consumer. In this regard, the consumer may have access to a graphical user interface for beverage selection. At block 1018, the beverage type selection can be made by a service staff member. The service staff member can access the beverage selection graphical user interface. In block 1020, the steps of reading the signals from container 212, configuring the beverage dispenser, and dispensing the type of beverage into container 212 can be performed in an unattended manner of the automated beverage system. After entering the order, container 212 can be filled without the intervention of a service staff member. At block 1022, the user can be allowed to choose the type of beverage from the graphical user interface by moving and / or rotating container 212. At block 1024, an automatic refill of container 212 can be initiated by reading the signals printed on the surface of container 212 at the beverage dispensing station. At block 1026, the beverage dispensing station can be configured to dispense the type of beverage based on the signals read on the surface of container 212. At block 1028, the type of beverage chosen can be dispensed into container 212. Then you quit the method.

Referring to Fig. 10, an example is shown of a method of processing orders and dispensing beverages. An order can be placed at an order entry station and a container 212 can be printed with signs and provided to a consumer. Printed signs may include order identification signs. The consumer can then present the printed signals on the container 212 to be read at a beverage dispensing station. The beverage dispensing station may allow the consumer to choose a type of beverage, and the beverage may be dispensed into container 212. Data communication may then be effected between the beverage dispensing station and the order entry processing system including order identification data and drink type data. This data communication can serve to update the order regarding the type of drink chosen, as well as update other aspects of the order. The method starts in block 2002.

In block 2002, an order can be placed at an order entry station. In block 2004, a number of tokens can be printed on container 212. Those tokens may include the order identification and other information. In block 2006, container 212 can be provided to the consumer. In block 2008, the signals can be read at the beverage dispensing station by system 300. In the 2010 block, the consumer can be allowed to choose a type of drink. In block 2012, the type of beverage can be dispensed into container 212. In block 2014, the order and beverage type information also includes the dispensed volume and other attributes of the beverage product can be communicated to a data processing resource such as a 244 data processor or a network based data processing resource. In block 2016, the order regarding the type of drinks chosen and the identification of the received order can be updated. In this regard, the consumer order can now track the type of beverage and other attributes of the beverage based in part on the type of beverage dispensed. The method is then exited.

Referring to Fig. 11, methods for processing orders and dispensing beverages are shown. In block 2018, container 212 can be positioned next to a container 304 motion detector. In block 2020, the rotation and other movement of container 212 can be monitored. At block 2022, the user can be allowed or enabled to interact with the graphical user interface. At block 2024, the user may be allowed to choose the type of beverage from a menu. The method is then exited.

In another example at block 2026, the user may be allowed to choose the type of beverage from the graphical user interface by moving and / or rotating container 212. At block 2028, the choice of beverage type can be recorded. One contact or movement of the levers or switches associated with or monitored by the system 300 may be sufficient to indicate the user's attempt to record a user's choice. At block 2030, the user can dispense the chosen type of beverage. At block 2032, the user can initiate an automatic refill of container 212 with the chosen beverage type. The beverage dispensing station can be configured to dispense the type of beverage based on the signals and the type of beverage can be dispensed into container 212.

Referring to Fig. 12, an example of a method of using a container as a pointing device of the graphical user interface in fountain dispensers is shown. Container 212 can be positioned proximate to container 304 motion detector. Rotation or other movement of container 212 can be monitored by means of container motion detector 304. A user may be allowed, or otherwise enabled, to interact with the graphical user interface using container 212 as a pointing device. The user can then choose and dispense a type of drink. The method starts at block 3002.

At block 3002, container 212 can be placed proximate to a container 304 motion detector. At block 3004, the rotation and other movement of container 212 can be monitored. At block 3006, a user may be allowed or otherwise enabled to interact with the graphical user interface. At block 3008, the user may be allowed to choose a type of beverage. At block 3010, the user may be allowed to dispense the chosen type of beverage into container 212. The method is then exited.

Referring to Fig. 13, examples of a method of using container 212 as a 'graphical user interface pointing device' in fountain dispensers. At block 3012, a radiation source such as monochromatic light, laser, or other radiation source, can be transmitted against the surface of container 212. At block 3014, the scatter data, also referred to as backscatter, can be received at the container motion detector. Those dispersion data may be associated with the movement of the container. The microprocessor implements instructions to effect the user's ability to rotate or move container 212 to choose a type of beverage. It exits after the method.

In another example at block 3016, a microprocessor may be interconnected with the motion detector of the container to receive the radiation reflected off the surface of the container. container 212 from the radiation source as scatter data associated with the motion of container 212. The microprocessor can implement instructions that perform the steps of determining the motion of container 212 by analyzing the scatter data. At block 3018, the data can be communicated based on part of the scatter data that allows the user to interact with the graphical user interface. At block 3020, the user's ability to rotate or move container 212 to choose a type of beverage can be effected. The method is then exited.

In another example at block 3022, the user's choice can be recorded by means of an accelerometer. Such contact or movement of the lever can be detected by the user selection detector and used to confirm the choice of beverage type. During operation, this confirmation of the chosen beverage type can be followed by ice dispensing, drinking, and / or other actions.

In another example at block 3024, the user's choice can be recorded by activating a pour switch. At block 3026, that activation of the pour switch can effect dispensing of the chosen beverage type. The method is then exited.

In another example, the printed signals can be printed on the bottom of the container, and can be read by a system 300 configured to read the signals from the bottom of the container. This can be advantageously obtained directly with the valve, for example, 218, or another dispenser head, for example, in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

The capabilities herein can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware, or some combination of these. As an example, one or more aspects described herein may be included in a factory article (eg, one or more computer program products) having, for example, means that can be used by the computer. The media may be incorporated therein, for example, program code media that can be read by the computer to provide and facilitate the capabilities herein. The factory item may be included as part of a computer system or sold separately. Additionally, at least one device for storing programs that can be read by a machine can be provided, which tangibly incorporates at least one instruction program executable by the machine to execute the capabilities described herein.

The flow charts depicted herein are only examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, steps can be performed in a different order, or steps can be added, removed, or modified. All these variations are considered as part of the claimed invention.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various refinements and enhancements that are within the scope of the following claims and the equivalents thereof. These claims should be considered to maintain adequate protection for the invention described first.