NZ788511B2 - A distribution network for monitoring, controlling and optimizing flow of liquid beverage products delivered to customers via containers - Google Patents

Abstract

container distribution monitoring and reporting network system, comprising: at least one container for transporting a liquid product from a transport location to a dispensing location; a respective container sensor apparatus adapted to be affixed to each of the at least one container, comprising: a housing adapted for fixed attachment to each respective container; a radio transmitter device fitting within and protected by said housing and comprising a low energy consumption radio/processing module and configured to operate in an encrypted, non connectable mode; sensing circuitry associated with said radio transmitter device for sensing and communicating to said radio/processing module physical properties associated with each respective container including data relating to the identification and status of each respective container; and radio frequency signal transmission circuitry associated with said radio/processing module for transmitting encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus; a battery power supply fitting within and protected by said housing and electrically powering said radio transmitter device; a mobile communications device comprising: geographic position sensing and cell radio circuitry for moving to a plurality of locations within the container distribution network; and configured to receive and process said encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus passively and without user interaction; said mobile communications device further comprising: memory circuitry for storing the data and computer processor executable instructions relating to each container and the container distribution network; further comprising computer processing circuitry for processing said data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of each container within the container distribution network, without otherwise using network uplink/gateway circuit device; and the mobile communications device being operable within the distribution network for receiving the data from the radio transmitter and further communicating information relating to the data with computer software systems associated with the dispensing location for a plurality of data collection functions.

Claims (17)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A container distribution monitoring and reporting network system, comprising: at least one container for transporting a liquid product from a transport location to a dispensing location; a respective container sensor apparatus adapted to be affixed to each of the at least one container, comprising: a housing adapted for fixed attachment to each respective container; a radio transmitter device fitting within and protected by said housing and comprising a low-energy consumption radio/processing module and configured to operate in an encrypted, non-connectable mode; sensing circuitry associated with said radio transmitter device for sensing and communicating to said radio/processing module physical properties associated with each respective container including data relating to the identification and status of each respective container; and radio frequency signal transmission circuitry associated with said radio/processing module for transmitting encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus; a battery power supply fitting within and protected by said housing and electrically powering said radio transmitter device; a mobile communications device comprising: geographic position sensing and cell radio circuitry for moving to a plurality of locations within the container distribution network; and configured to receive and process said encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus passively and without user interaction; said mobile communications device further comprising: memory circuitry for storing the data and computer processor executable instructions relating to each container and the container distribution network; further comprising computer processing circuitry for processing said data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of each container within the container distribution network, without otherwise using network uplink/gateway circuit device; and the mobile communications device being operable within the distribution network for receiving the data from the radio transmitter and further communicating information relating to the data with computer software systems associated with the dispensing location for a plurality of data collection functions.

2. The distribution monitoring and reporting network system of Claim 1, wherein said container sensor apparatus further comprises at least one self-contained transducer within said housing and associated with said sensing circuitry for sensing an associated fill level of said container.

3. The distribution monitoring and reporting network system of Claim 1, said container sensor apparatus further comprising mechanical or electronic locks for preventing unauthorized removal of said container sensor apparatus from the container.

4. The distribution monitoring and reporting network system of Claim 1, further comprising a plurality of LED lights, LCD display, or other display mechanism providing visual indication of alarms and operational status of the container.

5. The distribution monitoring and reporting network system of Claim 1, said container sensor apparatus further comprising instructions and circuitry for permitting a consumer mobile device to decode signal transmitted from said container sensor apparatus.

6. The distribution monitoring and reporting network system of Claim 1, said container sensor apparatus further comprising a barcode or QR code printed upon it which provides unique identification of the unit, or generation of secure keys to enable communication with the unit.

7. The distribution monitoring and reporting network system of Claim 1, said container sensor apparatus further comprising an emitter and receiver based sensing means for detecting attachment of a tap or a coupler thereof at a neck of the container.

8. A method for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of at least one container for transporting a liquid product from a transport location to a dispensing location within a container distribution network system, comprising the steps of: attaching a container sensor apparatus to each of the at least one containers, comprising the steps of: fitting and fixedly attaching a protective housing to each container; fitting within said housing, a radio transmitter device comprising a low-energy consumption radio/processing module configured to operate in an encrypted non-connectable mode; and associating with said radio transmitter device sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating to said radio/processing module physical properties associated with each container including data relating to the identification and status of each container; the method further comprising the steps of: associating radio frequency signal transmission circuitry with said radio/processing module for transmitting encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus; and fitting a battery power supply within said protective housing and electrically powering said radio transmitter device using said battery power supply; moving a mobile communications device comprising: geographic position sensing and cell radio circuitry to a plurality of locations within the container distribution network; and configuring said mobile communications device to receive and process said encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus passively and without user interaction; storing the data and computer processor executable instructions relating to each container and the container distribution in memory circuitry within said mobile communications device; processing the data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring and reporting the physical properties, including data relating to the identification and status of each container, and location of each container within the container distribution network; communicating with the container distribution network using computer processing circuitry within said mobile communications device, without otherwise using a network uplink/gateway circuit device; and the mobile communications device being operable within the distribution network for receiving the data from the radio transmitter and further communicating information relating to the data with computer software systems associated with the dispensing location for a plurality of data collection functions.

9. The method of Claim 8, further comprising the step of operating at least one self- contained transducers within said container sensor apparatus for determining the fill level of the container.

10. The method of Claim 8, further comprising the step of preventing unauthorized removal of said container sensor apparatus from the container using at least one mechanical or electronic locks operating within said housing.

11. The method of Claim 8, further comprising the step of generating at least one set of alarms and operational status information from said container sensor apparatus for transmission as wireless signals to a display unit providing visual indication of alarms and operational status of said container sensor apparatus using a plurality of LED lights, LCD display, or other display mechanisms.

12. The method of Claim 8, further comprising the step of permitting a consumer mobile device to decode a plurality of signals transmitted from said container sensor apparatus using instructions and circuitry associated with said radio/processing module.

13. The method of Claim 8, further comprising the step of using a barcode or QR code printed upon said container sensor apparatus to provides unique identification of the unit, or generation of secure keys to enable communication with the unit.

14. The method of Claim 8, further comprising the step of detecting attachment of a tap or a coupler thereof at a neck of the container.

15. A container distribution network system, comprising: a plurality of container distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus located at a plurality of locations within the container distribution network for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of a plurality of containers, the container distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus each, comprising: a container sensor apparatus apparatus adapted for attachment to each of the plurality of containers, comprising: a housing adapted for fixed attachment to each container; a radio transmitter device fitting within and protected by said housing and comprising a low-energy consumption radio/processing module configured to operate in an encrypted non-connectable mode; sensing circuitry associated with said radio transmitter device for sensing and communicating to said radio/processing module physical properties associated with each container including data relating to the identification and status of each container; and radio frequency signal transmission circuitry associated with said radio/processing module for transmitting encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus; a battery power supply fitting within and protected by said housing and electrically powering said radio transmitter device; a mobile communications device configured to receive and process said encrypted radio frequency signals from said sensor apparatus passively and without user interaction, said mobile communications device comprising: geographic position sensing and cell radio circuitry for determining the location of the mobile communications device within said plurality of locations within the container distribution network; and memory circuitry for storing data and computer processor executable instructions relating to each container and the container distribution network; further comprising computer processing circuitry for processing the data and executing said executable instructions for monitoring and reporting the physical properties and location of each container within the container distribution network, without otherwise using network uplink/gateway circuit device; and the mobile communications device being operable within the distribution network for receiving the data from the radio transmitter and further communicating information relating to the data with computer software systems associated with the dispensing location for a plurality of data collection functions; and a container distribution network communications circuitry and information technology networks associated for providing communications amongst said plurality of container distribution network locations.

16. The network system, of any one of Claims 1 to 7 or 15: further comprising instructions and circuitry for permitting a mobile communications device to decode signal transmitted from said radio transmitter device; and further comprising a signal reader for communicating data relating to the physical properties and location of the container within the container distribution network.

17. The network system, of any one of Claims 1 to 7, 15 or 16, wherein the radio frequency transmitter device is adapted to communicate with a plurality of wireless networks, one or more selected from short-range communications such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, UWB, etc., and one or more selected from long-range communications networks such as LPWAN, cellular, etc. and configured to communicate over selected communication channels to take advantage of available connection points.