Systems and methods for dispensing consumable products

{
  "publication_number": "US9569748B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Systems and methods for dispensing consumable products",
  "abstract": "Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for dispensing consumable products. One embodiment of the invention can provide a product dispenser. The product dispenser can include a controller configured to communicate with a data processing resource, determine that a recipe database update for a recipe of at least one beverage is available at the data processing resource, receive the recipe database update from the data processing resource, and update the recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser, wherein an updated recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A product dispenser, comprising: a controller configured to: communicate with a data processing resource; determine that a recipe database update for a current recipe of at least one beverage comprises a newer recipe than the current recipe, wherein the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource; receive the recipe database update from the data processing resource; update the current recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser based at least in part on the newer recipe, wherein the newer recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier; receive a selection of the at least one beverage for dispensing; obtain the ingredient identifier and the ingredient ratio from the recipe database; and initiate operation of one or more pumps or valves to dispense the at least one beverage from a nozzle at the product dispenser.",
    "2. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to communicate with the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to communicate locally via a network with the data processing resource.",
    "3. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to communicate with the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to communicate remotely via a network with the data processing resource.",
    "4. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a check to determine if the database processing resource comprises a recent version of any recipe that is available for download from the data processing resource to the product dispenser.",
    "5. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to determine if the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource, the controller is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the data processing resource.",
    "6. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein to update the recipe database associated with the product dispenser, the controller is further configured to install the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.",
    "7. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display the at least one beverage for selection via a display device.",
    "8. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to dispense the at least one beverage.",
    "9. A method for updating a product dispenser, comprising: automatically initiating communication with a data processing resource from the product dispenser, wherein the communication is initiated periodically; determining that a recipe database update for a recipe of at least one beverage is available at the data processing resource; communicating the recipe database update from the data processing resource to the product dispenser; updating the recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser, wherein an updated recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier; receiving a selection of the at least one beverage for dispensing; obtaining the ingredient identifier and the ingredient ratio from the recipe database; and initiating operation of one or more pumps or valves to dispense the at least one beverage from a nozzle at the product dispenser.",
    "10. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating with the data processing resource from the product dispenser comprises one of communicating locally with the data processing resource from the product dispenser or communicating remotely with the data processing device from the product dispenser.",
    "11. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating with the data processing resource from the product dispenser comprises communicating a check to determine if a recent version of a recipe database is available for download from the data processing resource to the product dispenser.",
    "12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining if the recipe database update is available at the data processing resource comprises comparing a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the data processing resource.",
    "13. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating the recipe database update from the data processing resource to the product dispense comprises receiving the recipe database update at a controller associated with the product dispenser from the data processing resource.",
    "14. The method of claim 9, wherein updating the recipe database associated with the product dispenser comprises installing the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.",
    "15. A system, comprising: a server; and a product dispenser in communication with a controller configured to: periodically initiate communication with the server to determine whether recipe database updates are available; determine that a recipe database update for a recipe of at least one beverage is available for download from the server; receive the recipe database update from the server; update the recipe of the at least one beverage in a recipe database associated with the product dispenser, wherein an updated recipe comprises an ingredient identifier and an ingredient ratio for an ingredient associated with the ingredient identifier; receive a selection of the at least one beverage for dispensing; obtain the ingredient identifier and the ingredient ratio from the recipe database; and initiate operation of one or more pumps or valves to dispense the at least one beverage from a nozzle at the product dispenser.",
    "16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate via a network with the server.",
    "17. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the server.",
    "18. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the recipe database update is available for download from the server.",
    "19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to compare a current version of the recipe database associated with the product dispenser with a version of the recipe database available at the server.",
    "20. The system of claim 15, wherein to update the recipe database associated with the product dispenser, the controller is further configured to install the recipe database update in a data storage device associated with the product dispenser.",
    "21. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is configured to transmit via a network the recipe database update to the product dispenser."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "COCA-COLA® is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Ga., U.S.A. Other names, symbols, designs, or logos used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of The Coca-Cola Company or other companies.\n\nThis invention relates to product dispensers, and in particular, relates to systems and methods for dispensing consumable products.\n\nConventional beverage dispensers can pour a beverage by combining a syrup, sweetener, and/or water. To create a finite variety of beverage selections different kinds of syrup can be offered. This typically results in being able to offer a finite number of branded and non-branded beverage selections. As an example, a single prior art dispenser using several different kinds of syrup might be able to offer limited choices of COCA-COLA™, DIET COCA-COLA™, SPRITE™, and a few other branded or non-branded beverage selections.\n\nOne problem with these types of conventional beverage dispensers is that only a limited number of drinks can be offered. As such, conventional beverage dispensers may be limited in being able to offer the consumer what they want. In this regard, consumers want a wider menu of beverage selections and the ability to customize their beverage. Research suggests that they want more beverage variations even for a traditional branded beverage. For example, offering COCA-COLA™. COCA-COLA™ with lime, CHERRY COCA-COLA™, VANILLA COCA-COLA™ and numerous other types of COCA-COLA™ beverage variations.",
  "cpc": [
    "B67D 1/0888",
    "B67D 1/0041",
    "B67D 2210/00089",
    "G05B 15/02",
    "G06K 7/10009",
    "G06Q 10/087",
    "G07F 11/002",
    "G07F 13/065",
    "G07F 9/001",
    "G07F 9/002",
    "G07F 9/02",
    "G07F 9/026"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B67D 7/74",
    "G06Q 10/08",
    "B67D 1/00",
    "B67D 1/08",
    "G07F 11/00",
    "G07F 13/00",
    "G07F 13/06",
    "G07F 9/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Coca Cola Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Dan Peters, JR.",
    "Son V. Tran",
    "David R. Newman",
    "Leonard F. Antao",
    "David O. Slagley",
    "H. Brock Kolls"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-06-09",
  "publication_date": "2017-02-14",
  "grant_date": "2017-02-14",
  "priority_date": "2007-09-06",
  "application_number": "US-201414299776-A",
  "family_id": "40220223",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
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  ]
}