NZ788190B2 - A distribution network for monitoring, controlling and optimizing flow of liquid beverage products delivered to customers via containers - Google Patents

Abstract

need exists for improved monitoring of the distribution and usage of beverage products in a retail environment with a liquid product distribution network to ensure continuity of supply of the beverages. The present invention addresses this need by providing a liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system, the system comprising a tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus for use with a liquid product dispensing faucet and in association with the liquid product distribution network, and further comprising computer processing circuitry for processing sensor data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of the tap handle within the liquid product distribution network.

Claims (25)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system, comprising: a tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus for use with a liquid product dispensing faucet and in association with the liquid product distribution network, comprising: a tap handle radio transmitter device fitting within and protected by said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus and comprising a low-energy consumption radio/processing module; tap handle sensing circuitry associated with said radio transmitter device for sensing and communicating to said radio/processing module physical properties associating with a tap handle or a faucet or line or container attached to said tap handle, tap handle radio frequency signal transmission circuitry associated with said radio/processing module for transmitting radio frequency signals from said tap handle radio transmitter device without the use of geographic position circuitry; and further: a tap handle battery power supply fitting within and protected by said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus and electrically powering said radio transmitter device; a mobile communications device comprising geographic position sensing circuitry for moving to a plurality of locations within the liquid product distribution network and configured to receive and process said radio frequency signals from said tap handle passively and without user interaction; said mobile communications device further comprising memory circuitry for storing data and computer processor executable instructions relating to the tap handle and the liquid product distribution network, and further comprising computer processing circuitry for processing said data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of the tap handle within the liquid product distribution network.

2. The tap handle distribution network monitoring and reporting system of Claim 1, wherein said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus is fitted within said tap handle by taking the place of a standard tap handle ferrule.

3. The liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system of either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus further comprises at least one self-contained sensor associated with said sensing circuitry for sensing whether the tap handle is attached to a faucet.

4. The liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system of any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus further comprises at least one self-contained sensor associated with said sensing circuitry for distinguishing between users who operate said tap handle.

5. The liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system of any one of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising a plurality of LED lights, LCD display, or other display mechanism providing visual indication of alarms and operational status of the tap handle.

6. The liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system of any one of Claims 1 to 5, said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus further comprising instructions and circuitry for permitting a consumer mobile device to decode signal transmitted from said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus.

7. The liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting system of any one of Claims 1 to 6, further comprising a battery and associated circuitry for operating said tap handle distribution in a self-contained mode for at least two years.

8. A method for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of a liquid storage and dispensing data in a liquid product distribution network, comprising the steps of: operating a tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus; said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus operating steps comprising the steps of: fitting and fixedly attaching a tap handle radio transmitter device for fitting within and protected by a tap handle and comprising a low-energy consumption tap handle radio/processing module, comprising the steps of: associating with said radio transmitter device sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating to said radio/processing module to said tap handle radio/processing module physical properties associated with the tap handle or faucet attaching to said tap handle, and associating radio frequency signal transmission circuitry with said radio/processing module for transmitting radio frequency signals from said tap handle radio transmitter sensing and reporting device without the use of geographic position circuitry; and further: fitting a battery power supply within said tap handle and electrically powering said radio transmitter device using said battery power supply, whereby said tap handle radio transmitter device operates without geographic position sensing circuitry for a period of up to two years; and moving a mobile communications device comprising geographic position sensing circuitry to a plurality of locations within the liquid product distribution network and configuring said mobile communications device to receive and process said radio frequency signals from said tap handle radio/processing device; storing data and computer processor executable instructions relating to the tap and tap handle distribution in memory circuitry within said mobile communications device, and processing said data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of the tap handle within the liquid product distribution network and communicating with the liquid product distribution network using computer processing circuitry within said mobile communications device and with the capability of not using a network uplink/gateway circuit device; and said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus operating steps comprising the steps of sensing flow of a liquid through a tap positioned to dispense a liquid from a liquid product container.

9. The method of Claim 8, further comprising the step of fitting said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus within said tap handle by taking the place of a standard tap handle ferrule.

10. The method of either Claim 8 or Claim 9, further comprising the step of operating said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus using at least one self-contained sensor associated with said sensing circuitry for sensing whether the tap handle is attached to a faucet.

11. The method of any one of Claims 8 to 10, further comprising the step of operating said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus using at least one self-contained sensor associated with said sensing circuitry for distinguishing between users who operate said tap handle.

12. The method of any one of Claims 8 to 11, further comprising the step of operating said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting using a plurality of LED lights, LCD display, or other display mechanism providing visual indication of alarms and operational status of the tap handle.

13. The method of any one of Claims 8 to 12, further comprising the step of operating said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting using instructions and circuitry for permitting a consumer mobile device to decode signal transmitted from said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus.

14. The method of any one of Claims 8 to 13, further comprising the step of forming said tap handle flow monitoring apparatus within the form factor of a tap handle for dispensing said liquid product for concealing the presence of said tap handle flow monitoring apparatus within said tap handle and thereby preventing detection of said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus during normal tap handle operations.

15. The method of any one of Claims 8 to 14, further comprising the use of an uplink gateway circuit device in the operation of said liquid product distribution network.

16. A liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system, comprising: a liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus for operation in association with a tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus, wherein said liquid product distribution network alternatively utilizes at different locations either said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus, or both said liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus on a liquid product container and said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus; said liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus, comprising a small form factor liquid product sensing and reporting device positioned on the liquid product container; said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus comprising circuitry and for sensing location, type and flow of a liquid through a tap positioned to dispense a liquid from said liquid product container containing said liquid product, wherein said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus further comprises: a tap handle radio transmitter device for fitting within or configured in integral association within the form factor of said tap handle and protected by a tap handle and comprising a low-energy consumption tap handle radio/processing module; tap handle sensing circuitry associated with said tap handle radio transmitter device for sensing and communicating to said tap handle radio/processing module physical properties associating with liquid dispensed from the liquid product container, said sensing circuitry further for sensing and communicating to said radio transmitter device a predetermined set of physical operational parameter values associating with said tap handle; and tap handle radio frequency signal transmission circuitry associated with said tap handle radio/processing module for transmitting radio frequency signals from said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus without the use of geographic position circuitry; and further: a tap handle battery power supply fitting within and protected by said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus and electrically powering said tap handle radio transmitter device; and a mobile communications device comprising geographic position sensing circuitry for moving to a plurality of locations within the liquid product distribution network and configured to selectively receive and process said radio frequency signals from said small form factor liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus or said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus passively and without user interaction; said mobile communications device further comprising memory circuitry for storing data and computer processor executable instructions relating to the liquid product container and the liquid product distribution network, and further comprising computer processing circuitry for processing said data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring; and reporting the physical properties and location of the liquid product container within the liquid product distribution network, without otherwise using network uplink/gateway circuit device; wherein said liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus and said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus may operate independently or collaboratively for sensing and reporting the status of fluid storage, flow, and financial operations relating to the distribution of said liquid product throughout the liquid product distribution network.

17. The liquid product dispensing network of Claim 16, wherein said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus is fitted within said tap handle by taking the place of a standard tap handle ferrule.

18. The liquid product dispensing network of either Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus further comprises at least one self-contained sensor associated with said sensing circuitry for sensing whether the tap handle is attached to a faucet.

19. The liquid product dispensing network of any one of Claims 16 to 18, wherein said tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus further comprises at least one self-contained sensor associated with said sensing circuitry for distinguishing between users who operate said tap handle.

20. The liquid product dispensing network of any one of Claims 16 to 19, further comprising instructions and circuitry for permitting a consumer mobile device to decode signal transmitted from said liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus.

21. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the tap handle radio frequency signal transmission circuitry is configured to establish a mesh network with other tap handle radio frequency signal transmission circuitry of other liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatuses associated with corresponding multiple liquid product containers in the liquid product distribution network monitoring and reporting system, for facilitating transmission of radio frequency signals from the sensing and reporting devices from the other tap handle radio frequency signal transmission circuitry.

22. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the tap handle radio frequency signal transmission circuitry is adapted to communicate with a plurality of wireless networks, one or more selected from short-range communications from the group including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB, and one or more selected from long-range communications networks from the group including LPWAN, LORA or cellular; and the tap handle radio frequency transmitter device is configured to selectively communicate over communication channels by decision metrics such as: available access points, battery life, geographic position, fill state, time of day.

23. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the system further comprises a low-profile weighing mat with a flat surface capable of determining the weight of one or more liquid product containers placed upon it.

24. The system of any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the said tap handle battery power supply is rechargeable and is charged by at least one of: charging contacts provided at the surface of the tap handle flow distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus; or wireless charging inductive loop, or other contactless charging mechanism.

25. The system of Claim 24 wherein the inductive loop is provided in the tap handle.