IP Library Patent Application 10971486
Patent Application
App. No. 10/971,486

RF device in drinkware to record data/initiate sequence of behavior

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
10/971,486
Abstract

A drinkware is provided to provide information to a receiver. The drinkware is a RF device coupled to a handheld drinking container. The RF device can receive and send RF signals and communicate with a sensory device. A transmitter can send a signal to the communication device, which then activates sensory device. The RF device can communicate with the transmitter to control a fountain machine.

Claims (55)

1 . A drinking container comprising:

a sensory device coupled to the drinking container; and

a receiver coupled to the drinking container and capable of receiving signals, the receiver in communication with the sensory device.

2 . The drinking container of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply connected to the receiver and the sensory device.

3 . The drinking container of claim 1 , wherein the drinking container has a wall, and the receiver is within the wall.

4 . The drinking container of claim 1 , wherein the drinking container has an outer surface, and the receiver is attached to the outer surface.

5 . A drinking system comprising:

a handheld drinking container;

a transmitter;

a sensory device coupled to the handheld drinking container; and

a communication device coupled to the handheld drinking container in communication with the transmitter and the sensory device.

6 . The drinking system of claim 5 , wherein the transmitter can send a RF signal and the communication device can receive the RF signal.

7 . The drinking system of claim 6 , wherein the communication device can send a RF signal.

8 . The drinking system of claim 5 , wherein the communication device comprises a RF chip powered by a power supply.

9 . The drinking system of claim 5 , wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency identification chip.

10 . A drinking container, comprising;

a communication device attached to the drinking container capable of receiving and transmitting signals.

11 . The drinking container of claim 10 , further comprising a sensory device attached to the container in communication with the communication device, wherein the communication device is a RF circuit configured to receive a signal from a transmitter and transmit a signal to a receiver.

12 . A drinking container comprising:

a sensory device coupled to the container;

a receiver communication device coupled to the container; and

a switch coupled to the container in communication with the receiver communication device and the sensory device.

13 . The container of claim 12 , wherein the receiver communication device is configured to send a signal to the switch to cause the switch to activate the sensory device.

14 . The container of claim 12 , wherein the receiver communication device is a signal receiver and signal transmitter.

15 . A drinking system comprising:

a handheld drinking container;

a receiver sensory device coupled to the drinking container and capable of receiving a signal.

16 . The drinking system of claim 15 , wherein the receiver sensory device is a RF circuit in communication with a light, which is powered by a battery.

17 . A method of dispensing a liquid comprising:

providing a handheld drinking container having a RF device;

providing a transmitter that communicates with the RF device;

controlling a fountain machine being capable of dispensing a liquid in response to the communication between the transmitter and the RF device and/or sending a signal that an unauthorized refill is attempted.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the handheld drinking container is a disposable cup.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the fountain machine is controlled based on the amount of liquid dispensed into the handheld drinking container.

20 . A beverage dispensing system to control and supervise the billing, inventorying and pouring of drinks comprising, in combination:

a cup having a generally cylindrical configuration with an inner wall and an outer wall defining an intermediate air space, the cup further having an upper lip and a bottom and a cylindrical sidewall there between;

an ISO 15693 certified read/write 13.56 MHz RFID, hereinafter radio frequency identification, tag on the container, the tag being passive and adapted to store information relating to a purchase situated on the sidewall of the cup, the tag being adapted to store information relating to purchase time and purchase date and being related to the size of the cup and amount being purchase;

a self serve beverage dispenser having a plurality of dispensing valves associated with a plurality of different beverages, each valve also having an actuator formed as a proximity sensor to notify the unit a cup is present and a antenna adapted to read information in the tag on the cup;

a reader located in a vertical plane in the proximity of the dispenser beneath the valves and operatively coupled with respect to the tag for communicating with the tag and for communicating with the actuator; and

an electronic system operatively coupled to the tag and the actuators and the reader, the electronic system including a central processing unit (CPU), and an antenna and the tag with the actuator coupled to the cup and the CPU and with a relay coupled to the valves;

the electronic system also including an input/output (I/O) board and a host controlled board, the I/O board including an off/on switch and a power providing transformer and a rectifier and two regulators, the electronic system also including a RFID reader board and an Optical Radio Modem inputting the I/O board, the host controller board including a Realtime Clock, a Flash, an I/O, a SRAM, a CPU and timers; and

the ISO 15693 Tag Format for RFIDMUG PRODUCTS being a 64 block sub system with Block 1 being a MAGICNUMBER: 32 bits, Block 2 being a VERSIONID: 32 bits, Block 3 being a STARTDATE TIME: 32 bits, Block 4 being a STOPDATE TIME: 32 bits, Block 5 being a VENDORID: 32 bits, Block 6 being a LOCATIONID: 32 bits, Block 7 through Block 64 being SPARE: 32 bits. All of the blocks are preferably hard coded ID: 64 bits.

21 . A beverage dispensing system comprising:

a container having an upper lip and a bottom and a cylindrical sidewall there between;

a read/write radio frequency identification tag on the container;

a beverage dispenser having a plurality of dispensing valves associated with a plurality of different beverages, each valve also having an actuator;

a reader operatively coupled with respect to the tag for communicating with the tag and for communicating with the actuator; and

an electronic system operatively coupled to the tag and the actuators and the reader.

22 . The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the electronic system includes a central processing unit (CPU), and an antenna and the tag with the actuator coupled to the cup and the CPU and with a relay coupled to the valves.

23 . The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the electronic system also includes an input/output (I/O) board and a host controlled board, the I/O board including an off/on switch and a power providing transformer and a rectifier and two regulators, the electronic system also including a RFID reader board and an Optical Radio Modem inputting the I/O board, the host controller board including a Realtime Clock, a Flash, an I/O, an SRAM, a CPU and timers.

24 . The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the electronics includes an ISO 15693 Tag Format for RFIDMUG PRODUCTS which is a 64 block sub system with Block 1 being a MAGICNUMBER: 32 bits, Block 2 being a VERSIONID: 32 bits, Block 3 being a STARTDATE TIME: 32 bits, Block 4 being a STOPDATE TIME: 32 bits, Block 5 being a VENDORID: 32 bits, Block 6 being a LOCATIONID: 32 bits, Block 7 through Block 64 being SPARE: 32 bits, all of the blocks are preferably hard coded ID: 64 bits.

25 . The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the actuator is a proximity sensor adapted to read information in the tag on the cup.

26 . The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the actuator is a button for each valve to initiate dispensing.

27 . The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the reader is in a vertical plane in the proximity of the dispenser beneath the valves.

28 . The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the reader (read/write antenna) is in a horizontal plane in front of and beneath the dispenser.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2007
From: HUMPHREY, RICHARD
To: WHIRLEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 018880/0775 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2006
From: DORNEY, PETER
To: WHIRLEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 018425/0952 →