Beverage preparation machine supporting a remote service functionality
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a method for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine ( 1 ). The beverage preparation machine ( 1 ) is adapted for preparing a beverage by receiving a capsule in a capsule extraction unit, circulating a carrier liquid, such as water in particular heated water, through said capsule in the extraction unit and by dispensing a resulting beverage. The machine is in data communication with a remote server ( 50 ) via a communication network ( 511, 501, 502 ). The machine ( 1 ) monitors (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 ) parameters related to the machine and submits (S 5 ) the monitored parameters to the server ( 5 ). The server ( 5 ) initiates (S 8 , S 9 ) a service functionality depending on the submitted parameters. The present invention further relates to a beverage preparation machine ( 1 ) adapted to support such a method and to a system ( 100 ) for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine ( 1 ) at a customer location ( 150 ).
1. A capsule-based beverage preparation machine, comprising:
at least one sensor for monitoring a number of consumed capsules and automatically determining a type of each of the consumed capsules; and
a communication module for enabling communication with a remote server via a communication network and for submitting the number of consumed capsules and the type of each of the consumed capsules to the remote server, the communication module being adapted to receive from the server an indication of a necessary service functionality depending on submitted number of consumed capsules and type of each of the consumed capsules.
2. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 comprising a user interface for outputting the received indication to a user.
3. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the communication module is a bidirectional interface.
4. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , comprising a storage for storing the number of consumed capsules and the type of each of the consumed capsules, and the communication module submits the stored number of consumed capsules and type of each of the consumed capsules upon a request received from the server.
5. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , comprising a control unit for starting a maintenance function in response to the indication of a corresponding service functionality received by the communication module.
6. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , comprising a beverage preparation unit in a housing.
7. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the communication network comprises a dedicated network between the communication module to a public network.
8. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , comprising a beverage preparation unit having a control module, the communication module being connected to the control module, a communication program for communication to the server being carried out by the control module of the beverage preparation unit or the control module included in the communication module.
9. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 7 , wherein the dedicated network is a wireless network.
10. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the type of each of the consumed capsules comprises a type of beverage for which contents of each of the consumed capsule were formulated.
11. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
at least one sensor for monitoring a number of consumed capsules and automatically determining a type of each of the consumed capsules;
a control unit; and
a communication module for enabling communication with a remote server via a communication network and for submitting the number of consumed capsules and the type of each of the consumed capsules to the remote server, the communication module constructed and arranged to initiate a service functionality selected from the group consisting of:
offering a service to the customer;
taking steps for automatically providing a service to the customer;
indicating to the customer an upcoming maintenance period;
indicating to the customer shortage of an ingredient within the machine needed for preparing a beverage; and
indicating to the customer the need for replacement of a part of the machine.
12. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 11 , wherein the type of each of the consumed capsules comprises a type of beverage for which contents of each of the consumed capsule were formulated.
13. A system comprising:
a beverage preparation machine being adapted for preparing a beverage by receiving a capsule in a capsule extraction unit, circulating a carrier liquid through the capsule in the extraction unit and by dispensing a resulting beverage; and
a remote server being in data communication with the beverage preparation machine via a communication network,
the beverage preparation machine being adapted to monitor a number of consumed capsules, to automatically determine a type of each of the consumed capsules, and to submit the number of consumed capsules and the type of each of the consumed capsules to the server, and
the server being adapted to initiate a service functionality depending on submitted number of consumed capsules and type of each of the consumed capsules.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the type of each of the consumed capsules comprises a type of beverage for which contents of each of the consumed capsule were formulated.