System, apparatus, and method for utilizing a reading of a machine readable element associated with a consumable product
A method for utilizing a reading of a machine readable element associated with a consumable product, may include storing, by a computer, in a memory in communication with the computer, a record of apparatus identification information associated with an apparatus having a reader for reading the machine readable element. The method may also include obtaining usage information based on a reading of the machine readable element by the reader, wherein the usage information comprises identity information indicative of an identity of a supplier of the consumable product and applying, by the computer, a debit to the supplier of the consumable product based on the usage information and the apparatus identification information.
1. A computer system for utilizing a reading of a machine readable element associated with a consumable product, the computer system comprising:
a memory including computer executable instructions; and
a processor having access to the memory for executing the computer executable instructions, wherein execution of the computer executable instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform operations including:
storing a record of apparatus identification information associated with an apparatus, the apparatus being configured to process the consumable product and having a reader or reading the machine readable element;
obtaining usage information relative to the consumable product based on a reading of the machine readable element by the reader, wherein the usage information comprises identity information indicative of an identity of a supplier of the consumable product; and
applying a debit to the supplier of the consumable product based on the usage information and the apparatus identification information, the debit indicating an amount of money to be collected from the supplier of the consumable product.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the usage information includes user information associated with a user of the apparatus, and the operations further comprise:
applying a credit to the user of the apparatus based on the usage information.
3. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the user of the apparatus is a retailer of the consumable product.
4. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise:
calculating a fee to be collected from the user of the apparatus for using the apparatus to process the consumable product, wherein the fee is based on a number of consumable products processed using the apparatus.
5. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein the credit is applied as a reduction of the fee.
6. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the credit is based on a number of consumable products processed using the apparatus.
7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the usage information includes user information associated with a user of the apparatus, and the operations further comprise:
applying a credit to the user of the apparatus based on the debit and the usage information.
8. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the usage information indicates that:
the consumable product is to be processed by the apparatus;
the consumable product is being processed by the apparatus; or
the consumable product has been processed by the apparatus.
9. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the identity information includes at least one of:
an identity of the consumable product; or
the identity of the supplier of the consumable product.
10. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes an oven and the consumable product includes a food product.
11. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the usage information comprises:
obtaining the usage information associated with a plurality of consumable products based on a total number of readings of machine readable elements corresponding to the plurality of consumable products.
12. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the machine readable element includes at least one of: an RFID tag readable using a radio frequency sensor, a graphic indicator readable using an optical sensor, or a magnetic indicator readable using a magnetic sensor.