DISTRIBUTION NETWORK FOR MONITORING, CONTROLLING AND OPTIMIZING FLOW OF LIQUID BEVERAGE PRODUCTS DELIVERED TO CUSTOMERS VIA CONTAINERS
A liquid product distribution network monitor, controls, and optimizes the flow of liquid products for delivery to consumers served via liquid product dispensing containers, such as a beer keg. At least one liquid product dispensing container includes an adaptably affixed radio transmitter and microprocessor for sensing and transmitting a plurality of data measurements relating to the status of said liquid product dispensing container. A stationary or mobile radio signal reader communicates data measurements from the radio transmitter. Data collection functions include liquid product management functions, liquid product sales functions, and liquid product consumer management functions. A computer processing server communicates with an internet communications or cloud interface. Reporting and marketing sales interface with the functions of producing, distributing, vending, and consuming the liquid products.
1 . A liquid product distribution network for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the flow of liquid products for delivery to consumers via liquid product dispensing containers, comprising:
at least one liquid product dispensing container for transporting from a transport location to a dispensing location, said at least one liquid product dispensing container comprising an adaptably affixed radio transmitter and microprocessor for sensing and transmitting a plurality of data measurements relating to the status of said liquid product dispensing container;
a stationary or mobile radio signal reader operable within said distribution network for receiving said plurality of data measurements from said radio transmitter and further communicating information relating to said plurality of data measurements with computer software systems associated with said dispensing location for a plurality of data collection functions, said data collection functions comprising liquid product management functions, liquid product sales functions, and liquid product consumer management functions;
a computer processing system associated with said stationary reader for processing data and executing instructions associating with said information relating to said data collection functions and further interfacing said information relating to said data collection functions with an internet communications interface; and
a reporting and marketing sales subsystem associated with said computer processing server system for interfacing with a plurality of computer processing systems operating in association with the functions of producing, distributing, vending, and consuming said liquid products.
2 . The liquid product distribution network of claim 1 , further comprising a truck reader unit for use on a delivery truck operating within the liquid product distribution network for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the flow of liquid products for delivery to consumers via liquid product dispensing containers.
3 . The liquid product distribution network of claim 1 , wherein said a computer processing system associates with said stationary reader for processing data and executing instructions associating events that may influence the transition of keg states as monitored liquid product dispensing containers transit across various geographic regions.
4 . The liquid product distribution network of claim 1 , further comprising at least one weighing mat system for determining the weight of at least one liquid product dispensing container at least one of said dispensing locations determining the volume, state, and other information relating to the contents of said at least one liquid product dispensing container.
5 . The liquid product distribution network of claim 1 , further comprising circuitry and executable instructions associated said radio transmitter and microprocessor for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing operations that occur in a dispensing location cold room and operations that occur in a public room of said dispensing location.
6 . The liquid product distribution network of claim 1 , further comprising a fill reader at said dispensing location for determining the fill levels of said liquid product dispensing container located in a dispensing location cold room.
7 . The liquid product distribution network of claim 1 , further comprising a mobile device application associated with said liquid product distribution network for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing operations of said liquid product distribution network.
8 . The liquid product distribution network of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of marketing feedback instructions for using said liquid product distribution network to market predetermined liquid products to consumers.
9 . A method for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the flow of liquid products for delivery to consumers via liquid product dispensing containers using liquid product distribution network, comprising the steps of:
transporting from a transport location to a dispensing location at least one liquid product dispensing container, said at least one liquid product dispensing container comprising an adaptably affixed radio transmitter and microprocessor for sensing and transmitting a plurality of data measurements relating to the status of said liquid product dispensing container;
receiving said plurality of data measurements from said radio transmitter and further communicating information relating to said plurality of data measurements with computer software systems associated with said dispensing location for a plurality of data collection functions using a stationary or mobile radio signal reader operable within said distribution network, said data collection functions comprising liquid product management functions, liquid product sales functions, and liquid product consumer management functions;
processing data and executing instructions associating with said information relating to said data collection functions and further interfacing said information relating to said data collection functions with an internet communications interface using a computer processing system associated with said stationary reader; and
interfacing with a plurality of computer processing systems operating in association with the functions of producing, distributing, vending, and consuming said liquid products using a reporting and marketing sales subsystem associated with said computer processing server system.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of using a truck reader unit on a delivery truck operating within the liquid product distribution network for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the flow of liquid products for delivery to consumers via liquid product dispensing containers.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of associating said stationary reader with a computer processing system for processing data and executing instructions associating events that may influence the transition of keg states as monitored liquid product dispensing containers transit across various geographic regions.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of determining the weight of at least one liquid product dispensing container at least one of said dispensing locations using at least one weighing mat system in determining the volume, state, and other information relating to the contents of said at least one liquid product dispensing container.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of associating said radio transmitter and microprocessor for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing operations that occur in a dispensing location cold room and operations that occur in a public room of said dispensing location.
14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of operating a fill reader at said dispensing location for determining the fill levels of said liquid product dispensing container located in a dispensing location cold room.
15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of using a mobile device application associated with said liquid product distribution container for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing operations of said liquid product distribution network.
16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of using a plurality of marketing feedback instructions associated with said reporting and marketing sales subsystem marketing predetermined liquid products to consumers as determined by such products being contained in said liquid product distribution containers.
17 . A radio transmitter device for use in a liquid product distribution network for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the flow of liquid products for delivery to consumers via liquid product dispensing containers, said liquid product distribution network comprising:
at least one liquid product dispensing container for transporting from a transport location to a dispensing location, said at least one liquid product dispensing container comprising an adaptably affixed radio transmitter and microprocessor for sensing and transmitting a plurality of data measurements relating to the status of said liquid product dispensing container, said radio transmitter device further comprising:
an outer housing for attaching to the liquid product dispensing container, said outer housing comprising an enclosure and an attachment mechanism for attaching said casing to a predetermined location of said liquid product dispensing container;
a self-contained power source for providing power to the liquid product dispensing container device;
a radio transmitter device for securing in said enclosure and further comprising:
a radio/processing module for processing radio signal transmissions of information relating to the liquid product dispensing container;
an antenna associated with said radio/processing module for sending and receiving said radio signal transmissions between said radio/processing module and at least one hub and/or mobile device;
a mechanism for broadcasting a signal and data such that a receiver of the broadcast can approximate the distance to the broadcaster using characteristics of the signal and data contained therein;
a sensor interface for allowing one or more sensors to be interfaced with the processor; and
processor instructions and attached memory for operating said radio transmitter device to store and communicate information relating to the location of the liquid product dispensing container, the state of the liquid product dispensing container, and the state of the liquid product within the liquid product dispensing container;
a stationary or mobile radio signal reader operable within said distribution network for receiving said plurality of data measurements from said radio transmitter device and further communicating information relating to said plurality of data measurements with computer software systems associated with said dispensing location for a plurality of data collection functions, said data collection functions comprising liquid product management functions, liquid product sales functions, and liquid product consumer management functions;
a computer processing system associated with said stationary reader for processing data and executing instructions associating with said information relating to said data collection functions and further interfacing said information relating to said data collection functions with an Internet communications interface; and
a reporting and marketing sales subsystem associated with said computer processing server system for interfacing with a plurality of computer processing systems operating in association with the functions of producing, distributing, vending, and consuming said liquid products.
18 . The radio transmitter device of claim 17 , further comprising instructions and circuitry for associating a truck reader unit for use on a delivery truck operating within the liquid product distribution network for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the flow of liquid products for delivery to consumers via liquid product dispensing containers
19 . The radio transmitter device of claim 17 , further comprising data and instruction for storage and executing on said computer processing system for associating events that may influence the transition of keg states as monitored liquid product dispensing containers transit across various geographic regions;
20 . The radio transmitter device of claim 17 , further comprising instructions and data operating on said liquid product distribution network for intelligently transmitting a plurality of marketing feedback instructions for using said liquid product distribution network to market predetermined liquid products to consumers according to the presence of said radio transmitter device and liquid product information stored on said radio transmitter device.