AUTOMATED WINE DISPENSING APPARATUS AND MONITORING SYSTEM
A method, device, and system for in-room wine purchasing and/or dispensing. More specifically, the collaboration of one or more wine dispensing devices, a wine dispensing platform, a property management system, and third-party systems to enable, support, and capitalize on the provision of wine within lodging environments. Mechanisms for enforcing alcohol-related policies and/or regulations maintained by a geographic locality as well as for preventing the consumption of wine by underage or property staff members are also discussed.
1 . A method for regulating wine dispensing, comprising:
receiving a device specific update (DSU), wherein the DSU specifies at least one location and configuration information;
identifying a wine dispensing device (WDD) associated with the at least one specified location; and
transmitting the DSU to the WDD.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving status information from at least the WDD.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the status information comprises real-time information about the at least one WDD.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the real-time information comprises wine levels in the at least one WDD.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the status information comprises near real-time information about the at least one WDD.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the near real-time information comprises wine levels in the at least one WDD.
7 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
after receiving the status information, generating a service list, wherein the service list only specifies WDDs that have a wine level below a threshold wine level.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein generating the service list comprises using a consumption rate of at least one WDD.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information specifies at least one alcohol-related policy.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one alcohol-related policy specifies drinking hours.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one alcohol-related policy specifies service hours.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information a message to be displayed to a user when a touchscreen of the WDD is activated.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information specifies at least one parental lock code.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information specifies a number of complementary glasses of wine to dispense to a user of the WDD.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location is a room.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the DSU specifies a plurality of locations.
17 - 25 (canceled)
26 . A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) storing instructions for regulating wine dispensing, the instructions comprising functionality for:
receiving a device specific update (DSU), wherein the DSU specifies at least one location and configuration information;
identifying a wine dispensing device (WDD) associated with the at least one specified location; and
transmitting the DSU to the WDD.
27 . The CRM of claim 26 , the instructions comprising further functionality for:
receiving status information from at least the WDD.
28 . The CRM of claim 27 , wherein the status information comprises real-time information about the at least one WDD.
29 . The CRM of claim 28 , wherein the real-time information comprises wine levels in the at least one WDD.
30 - 41 . (canceled)