The present invention relates to a beverage container and particularly, although not exclusively, to a smart beverage container operable to determine information related to the liquid contained in the container so as to determine a beverage consumption routine of a user.
Water plays an important physiological role in the survival of human beings as a large portion of the human body, in terms of weight or volume, is made up of water. In order for the body to properly grow, develop and operate, fluid balance in the body is essential. Depending on the age, gender, weight, height, and other body conditions, the body water requirement for different people may be different.
The human body has the intrinsic ability to regulate water content in different tissues and organs of different body parts, and it can produce a thirst sensation to remind the body the need to consume fluid to stay properly hydrated when the water content of the body falls below a threshold as detected by the brain.
Although the human body has self-regulatory functions, in this rapidly paced society, people are busy with a lot of different tasks and work and they often neglect the signals generated by their body as well as the importance of a healthy diet. For example, people may consume an excessive amount of caffeine (e.g., coffee or tea) as an attempt to reduce physical fatigue or drowsiness. In another example, people may consume insufficient amount of water by being sedentary, and by heavily focusing on the work they have without attending to their body needs. The fact that a lot of people are unconcerned with the signals generated by their body or are unaware of these unhealthy habits is problematic and alarming.
There is a need for the dietary habits (e.g., eating or drinking habits) of an individual to be monitored, recorded and/or analysed so as to help the individual to improve their dietary habits, or at least reminding them of the unhealthy habits that they have.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage container comprising a container body, wherein the beverage container includes: a plurality of sensors arranged to determine information associated with liquid contained in the container body; and a processor operably coupled with the plurality of sensors for determining a beverage consumption routine of a user based on the information determined by the plurality of sensors.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of sensors are further arranged to determine one or more beverage consumption events or beverage filling events; and the processor is further arranged to determine the beverage consumption routine of a user of the beverage container based on the one or more beverage consumption events or beverage filling events.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage consumption routine includes one or more of: type of the liquid consumed by the user, volume of the liquid consumed by the user, and time at which the liquid is consumed by the user.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the processor is arranged to determine a beverage consumption alarm to be provided to the user based on the beverage consumption routine of the user; wherein the beverage consumption alarm is arranged to remind the user of consumption of liquid from the beverage container.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container further comprises an alarm module operably coupled with the processor for providing the beverage consumption alarm to the user.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of sensors includes a linear array of level sensors arranged at least partly lengthwise along the container body for detecting a level of the liquid in the container body so as to determine a volume of liquid in the container body.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of sensors further includes a temperature sensor arranged to detect a temperature of the liquid in the container body.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of sensors further includes a liquid detector arranged to detect the type of the liquid contained in the container body.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of sensors further includes a motion sensor arranged to detect a motion of the beverage container being picked up.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container further comprises a lid removably coupled with the container body.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of sensors further includes a lid state sensor arranged to detect if the lid is opened or closed, or connected with or disconnected from the container body.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container further comprises a clock or timing module operably coupled with the processor for recording time of events occurred.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container further comprises an indicator module operably coupled with the processor for indicating one or more of the temperature, the volume, and the type of liquid contained in the container body.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container further comprises a communication module operably coupled with the processor arranged to communicate data with an external electronic device.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container further comprises a power module operably coupled with the processor and the plurality of sensors for selectively powering the processor and one or more of the plurality of sensors.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container further comprises a memory module operably coupled with the processor for storing one or more beverage consumption events or beverage filling events, the information determined by the plurality of sensors, the beverage consumption routine of the user and/or a beverage consumption alarm schedule.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the container body comprises an inner container body and an outer container body; a space defined between the inner and outer container bodies are arranged for housing the processor and one or more of the plurality of sensors.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the inner and outer container bodies are made of heat insulating materials.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the alarm module includes one or more light emitting devices for providing visible alarm, a vibration motor for providing tactile alarm, a sound emitting device for providing an audible alarm, or any combinations thereof.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the container body includes a beverage chamber with a cross section defined by a continuous slot portion and major segment portion, the slot portion defining a channel extending at least partly lengthwise along the beverage chamber; wherein the linear array of level sensors are arranged along the channel defined by the slot portion.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, each level sensor includes an infrared transmitter and an infrared emitter.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the infrared transmitter and the infrared emitter of each level sensor are arranged proximal each other in a non-diametrically opposed manner.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the temperature sensor is a thermistor.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the liquid detector is an infrared transmitter and an infrared emitter.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the liquid detector is operable to determine if the liquid contained in the container body is water or coffee.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the motion sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the lid state sensor is a magnetic switch.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the processor is operable to determine a beverage consumption event or a beverage filling event based on the motion of the beverage container detected by the motion sensor and a lid state detected by the lid state sensor.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the events occurred and recorded by the clock and timing module include one or more of: a beverage consumption event, a beverage filling event, a liquid level detected, a liquid temperature detected, and a type of liquid detected.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the indicator module includes one or more light emitting indicators.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the communication module is arranged to communicate the beverage consumption routine of the user to the external electronic device.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the communication module is a wireless communication module arranged to communicate with the external electronic device using wireless communication signals.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the communication module is a Bluetooth module that communicates with the external electronic device using Bluetooth signals.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the power module comprises a rechargeable battery.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage container is operable in an idle mode when the beverage container is not being used by the user; and in an active mode when the beverage container is being used by the user; wherein in the idle mode, only the motion sensor and the lid state sensor are in an operation state and the other of the plurality of sensors are in a reduced power state; and in the active mode, the motion sensor, the lid state sensor and one or more of the other plurality of sensors are in an operation state.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage consumption routine determination system, comprising: a beverage container operable to determine a beverage consumption routine of a user; and an external electronic device arranged to communicate with the beverage container; wherein the beverage consumption routine of the user is arranged to be transmitted from the beverage container to the external electronic device for storage in the external electronic device or in a server using the external electronic device.
In one embodiment of the second aspect, the server is distributed in a cloud computing network.
In one embodiment of the second aspect, the external electronic device is arranged to communicate with the beverage container using wireless communication signals.
In one embodiment of the second aspect, the user can manipulate records of the beverage consumption routine using the external electronic device.
In one embodiment of the second aspect, the user can set a predetermined beverage consumption alarm and transmit the predetermined beverage consumption alarm to the beverage container using the external electronic device.
In one embodiment of the second aspect, the beverage container is the beverage container in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining a beverage consumption routine of a user of a beverage container, comprising the steps of: determining one or more beverage consumption event or beverage filling event of the beverage container; determining information related to liquid contained in the beverage container; and determining the beverage consumption routine of the user of the beverage container based on the one or more events and the information determined.
In one embodiment of the third aspect, the information related to liquid contained in the beverage container includes one or more of: type, temperature, and volume of the liquid, and a time at which the information is determined.
In one embodiment of the third aspect, the step of determining one or more beverage consumption event or beverage filling event of the beverage container includes determining a time at which the beverage consumption event or beverage filling event occurs.
In one embodiment of the third aspect, the beverage consumption routine includes one or more of: type of the liquid consumed by the user, volume of the liquid consumed by the user, and time at which the liquid is consumed by the user.
In one embodiment of the third aspect, the method further comprises the step of determining a beverage consumption alarm to be provided to the user based on the beverage consumption routine of the user, wherein the beverage consumption alarm is arranged to remind the user of consumption of liquid from the beverage container.
In one embodiment of the third aspect, the method further comprises the step of storing the beverage consumption routine of the user in a server.
In one embodiment of the third aspect, the server is distributed in a cloud computing network.
In one embodiment of the third aspect, the beverage container is the beverage container in accordance with the first aspect or the beverage container in the beverage consumption routine determination system in accordance with the second aspect.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage container comprising a container body and a lid removably coupled with the container body, wherein the beverage container includes a plurality of sensors arranged to determine information associated with liquid contained in the container body and one or more beverage consumption events or beverage filling events; and a processor operably coupled with the plurality of sensors for determining a beverage consumption routine of a user based on the information determined by the plurality of sensors and the one or more beverage consumption events or beverage filling events, and for determining a beverage consumption alarm to be provided to the user based on the beverage consumption routine of the user; wherein the beverage consumption alarm is arranged to remind the user of consumption of liquid from the beverage container; an alarm module operably coupled with the processor for providing the beverage consumption alarm to the user; and a communication module operably coupled with the processor arranged to communicate data with an external electronic device; and wherein the plurality of sensors include a linear array of level sensors arranged at least partly lengthwise along the container body for detecting a level of the liquid in the container body so as to determine a volume of liquid in the container body; a temperature sensor arranged to detect a temperature of the liquid in the container body; a liquid detector arranged to detect the type of the liquid contained in the container body; a motion sensor arranged to detect a motion of the beverage container being picked up; and a lid state sensor arranged to detect if the lid is opened or closed, or connected with or disconnected from the container body.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid container comprising: a container body with a first portion and a second portion continuous with the first portion, the first and second portions together define a volume for receiving liquid; a plurality of emitters and receivers forming emitter-receiver pairs arranged external to the second portion of the container body and spaced apart along a lengthwise direction of the second portion of the container body; the emitter of each of the plurality of emitter-receiver pairs is arranged to transmit a signal towards the corresponding receiver of the plurality of emitter-receiver pairs through the second portion of the container body; wherein the plurality of emitter-receiver pairs include: one or more first emitter-receiver pairs forming level sensors for detecting an amount of liquid in the container body; and a second emitter-receiver pair forming a liquid detector for detecting a type of liquid contained in the container body.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the second portion comprises a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall arranged between the first and second walls; the first, second and third walls being formed continuously; and the first and second walls being arranged adjacent the plurality of emitter-receiver pairs and between the emitter and the receiver of each of the plurality of emitter-receiver pairs. Preferably, the first, second and third walls are formed integrally.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, portions of the first and second walls arranged between each of the one or more first emitter-receiver pairs are substantially planar and are arranged at an angle of less than 90 degrees with each other, and portions of the first and second walls arranged between the second emitter-receiver pair are substantially planar and are arranged parallel with each other. Preferably, portions of the first and second walls arranged between each of the one or more first emitter-receiver pairs are arranged at an angle between 45-75 degrees. More preferably, portions of the first and second walls arranged between each of the one or more first emitter-receiver pairs are arranged at an angle of 60 degrees.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the liquid container further comprises a circuit board connected to the container body adjacent the second portion of the container body, the circuit board having the plurality of emitter-receiver pairs disposed or mounted lengthwise along the circuit board; and a circuit module electrically connected with the plurality of emitter-receiver pairs.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the second emitter-receiver pair is arranged at a lower half of the container body when the container is in an upright configuration.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the second emitter-receiver pair is arranged below at least one of the one or more first emitter-receiver pairs when the container is in an upright configuration. Preferably, the second emitter-receiver pair is arranged below the one or more first emitter-receiver pairs when the container is in an upright configuration.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the plurality of emitters and receivers are infrared emitters and infrared receivers adapted to emit and receive infrared signals; and wherein the first and second walls are infrared-transmissive, and the first and second walls are operable to alter a wave speed (and hence wavelength or travel direction) of the infrared signal. Preferably, the first and second walls are made of plastic materials.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the one or more first emitter-receiver pairs are arranged to detect the amount of liquid in the container body based on the presence or absence of signal received at the corresponding receivers.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the second emitter-receiver pair is arranged to detect the type of liquid contained in the container body based on a difference of signal strength between a signal emitted by the emitter and a signal received at the corresponding receiver.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the liquid detector is operable to differentiate between water and coffee contained within the liquid container.
In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the first portion defines a first volume and the second portion defines a second volume, the first and second volumes together the volume of the liquid container for receiving liquid, and the first volume being larger than the second volume.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a world in which everyday physical objects are embedded with sensors and actuators and are linked to the Internet through wired or wireless networks such that data can be readily gathered, communicated and analysed, and that events can be readily responded to with minimal human intervention. In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), physical objects can represent themselves digitally in the physical world to interact with other objects, thereby transforming the physical world into a huge information system.
Three elements are particular important in the Internet of Things (IoT). The first element is sensors and actuators. These sensors and actuators enable different information about human activities and the environment to be gathered. Examples of these sensors and actuators include position sensors such as GPS that can provide location information; motion sensors such as gyroscope that can provide orientation information, etc. The second element is connection or connectivity. Connection refers to the ability to readily store data, such as those gathered by the sensors and actuators, onto networks. Examples of this include Bluetooth, RFID, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G networks that can be used to connect to the Internet wirelessly. The third element is people and process, and this involves the utilization and integration of the gathered data on the networks into people, processes, and systems for improved decision making. These three elements play a crucial role in the development of new types of smart devices, systems, and applications.
Recently, new types of smart devices, systems, and applications have been developed based on the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT). Examples of these devices and systems include smart thermostats by Nest Labs and WeMo® smart switch by Belkin™ for home automation; Peak™ fitness and sleep tracker by Basis for monitoring and tracking fitness-related metrics, etc. To date, the development of new smart devices is mostly on objects that are originally already electrical in nature. There remains significant room for development of new types of smart devices for various applications, for example, in health-related applications, to transform ordinary objects into smart objects with improved utility and efficiency.
Referring to
In the present embodiment, the lid 104 includes a wall 106 extending along its periphery. The peripheral wall 106 is continuous and it includes a raised portion 106a and a lowered portion 106b. The peripheral wall 106 defines a recess 108 in which the opening (not shown) of the lid 104 is formed. The opening formed on the lid 104 allows a user of the beverage container 100 to drink from the container body 102 with the lid 104 attached. Preferably, the opening of the lid 104 is arranged closer to the lowered portion 106b than to the raised portion 106a. In this way, when the user drinks from the container body 102, the lip of the user will be in contact with the lowered portion 106b of the peripheral wall 106 of the lid 104. As shown in
In the present embodiment, the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b both taper towards the bottom of their respective body. In particular, the extent of tapering of the inner container body 102a is larger than that of the outer container body 102b. Accordingly, when the inner container body 102a is stacked or arranged inside the outer container body 102b, the upper end of the inner container body 102a protrudes upwards from the upper end of the outer container body 102b, and that the lower end of the inner container body 102a is raised relative to the lower end of the outer container body 102b. As shown in
Referring now to
In one embodiment of the beverage container 100 (this embodiment is not illustrated in the Figures), a further detachable container body can be arranged inside the inner container body 102a. In this embodiment, the detachable container body may be used to carry beverage in place of the inner container body 102a. The detachable container body may be secured to the inner container body 102a through a snap fit arrangement (e.g., with a rib and groove type engagement formed on part of the outer surface of the detachable container body and the inner container body 102a), a screw fit arrangement (e.g., with screw threads formed on part of the outer surface of the detachable container body and the inner container body 102a) or any other types of mechanical or electromagnetic fittings (e.g., using magnets). In this arrangement, the detachable container body, once detached from the container 100, can be easily cleaned. Also, the use of the further detachable container body for carrying beverage could minimize the chance of disrupting or even damaging the circuits in between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b during cleaning. In one embodiment, the detachable container body may also be made of materials that are suitable to be put into a dish washing machine for cleaning or washing. Accordingly, the user can use a dish washing machine to clean the detached detachable container, the only part that is arranged to carry beverage and hence needs to be cleaned.
In one embodiment of the beverage container 100 (this embodiment is not illustrated in the Figures), a heating element may be arranged between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b for heating or at least maintaining the temperature of the beverage contained in the container 100. Preferably, the heating element is arranged adjacent or on the outer surface of the inner container body 102a so as to provide the most efficient heating effect. The heating element may be metallic (e.g., nichrome, platinum), ceramic (e.g., molybdenum disilicide), or other composite heating elements that is operable to convert electricity into heat through resistive heating. In one example, the heating element is a spiral coil wrapped around the outer surface of the inner container body 102a. In other embodiments, the heating elements may take any other forms, such as a block, a sheet, etc. In the present embodiment, the container 100 preferably includes a port (e.g., USB port) for receiving electricity from an external power source so as to heat up the heating element. In some embodiments, a resistive control may be provided to adjust the temperature of the heating element. By activating a heating element between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b, the temperature of the beverage (especially hot beverage) can be maintained and even increased, thereby reduce heat loss to the beverage or even heat up the cooled beverage. A person skilled in the art would appreciate the proper heat insulation arrangement may be provided in the space 116 between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b so that the heat generated by the heating element will not substantially propagate to the electronic arrangements also included in the space 116 to affect the operation of these electronic arrangements.
With continuous reference to
The beverage container 100 shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
In the present embodiment, a plurality of emitters 1120 and receivers 1122 (shown in
In the present embodiment, the emitters 1120 and receivers 1122 are infrared emitters and infrared receivers adapted to emit and receive infrared signals; and the first and second walls 1110, 1112 are infrared-transmissive such that infrared light emitted by the emitters 1120 may pass through the first and second walls 1110, 1112 to reach the receivers 1122. In the present embodiment, the first and second walls 1110, 1112 are made of plastic materials, and they are operable to alter a wave speed (and hence wavelength, or even travel direction) of the infrared light ray passing therethrough based on Snell's law of refraction.
Based on the illustration of
A person skilled in the art would readily appreciate that the container body of the liquid container 1100 of the present embodiment may take different shapes and forms, without deviating from the scope of the present invention. As long as the emitters-receivers and the first and second walls arrangement of the container body are operable, the other structures of the container body can be suitably altered. Also, other types of emitters and receivers (non-infrared based) may be used in the present invention, as long as the first and second walls of the second portion of the container body remain transmissive.
In the present embodiment, the construction of the second portion of the container body and the use of different emitter-receiver pairs for level sensing and for liquid detection are particularly advantageous. By arranging different emitter-receiver pairs for different purposes, the complexity of the circuitry of the circuit board can be substantially reduced. Also, by arranging the first and second walls of the second portion of the container body differently (some at angles with each other, some parallel with each other) for different sensing purposes, the emitter-receiver pairs need not contain delicate or advanced electronic components, and this results in substantial reduction of manufacture cost without sacrificing quality and reliability. By relying on refractive phenomena instead of purely electrical measurements for determining liquid level and liquid type, the container arrangement in the present embodiment may be less prone to electronic failures of the circuit board.
The beverage container 100 in the present embodiment as illustrated in
The level sensor 402 in the beverage container 100 of the present embodiment refers to the array of level sensors 122 arranged lengthwise along the height of the container body 102 (at different height of the container body 102) as shown in
The temperature sensor 404 of the beverage container 100 in the present embodiment is for determining a temperature of the liquid contained in the container body 102. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor 404 may be arranged at least partly on or adjacent the bottom surface of the inner container body 102a such that it is immediately adjacent or in contact with the liquid in the inner container body 102a. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 404 is a thermistor that can measure temperature in the range of 0° C.-100° C. However, in other embodiments, the temperature sensor 404 may be other mechanical or electrical temperature sensing devices such as a thermocouple, and the temperature that can be measured may be beyond the range of 0° C.-100° C.
The liquid detector 406 in the beverage container 100 is arranged to detect the type of the liquid contained in the container body 102. With the liquid detector 406, the beverage container 100 is operable to differentiate that type of liquid contained in the container 100. Preferably, the liquid detector 406 is arranged in a lower part of the container body 102 such that the detection can be carried out even if the volume of liquid in the container 100 is small. In the present embodiment, the liquid detector 406 may comprise an infrared transmitter and an infrared emitter arranged on the inner container body 102a for detecting the type of liquid based on the intensity or time difference of the infrared light emitted and received. In one embodiment, the infrared transmitter and an infrared emitter of the liquid detector 406 may be one of those of the level sensors, i.e., at least one set of infrared transmitter and emitter is used to measure the level of liquid and the type of liquid at the same time. In other embodiments, the infrared transmitter and an infrared emitter of the liquid detector 406 may be separately arranged. In the present embodiment, the liquid detector 406 (infrared transmitter and an infrared emitter) is arranged to produce a voltage difference based on the intensity or time difference determined. As different types of liquid may have different colour and hence different light absorption, reflective or transmission properties, different voltage differences may be generated by the liquid detector 406, allowing these different fluids to be differentiated. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid detector 406 is adapted to differentiate whether the liquid in the container 100 is water or coffee based on the value of the voltage difference. It should be appreciated that other types of liquid detectors such as those using chemical based methods can also be used in the present invention. For chemical based liquid detectors, it may further be possible to detect the particular nutritional information of the liquid contained in the container 100.
Apart from the ability to determine information relating to the fluid in the container 100 as illustrated above, the beverage container 100 in the present embodiment is also operable to determine a beverage consumption event and a beverage filling event of the container 100. In other words, the beverage container 100 in the present embodiment is operable to detect that the user is drinking from the container 100 and that the user is filling the container 100 with liquid. To achieve this, the beverage container 100 in the present embodiment includes a motion sensor 408 and a lid state sensor 410.
The motion sensor 408 in the beverage container 100 in the present embodiment is arranged to detect and/or differentiate different motions of the beverage container 100. In one embodiment, the motion sensor 408 includes one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer. These accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or magnetometer are preferably arranged in the space defined between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b. Preferably, the motion sensor 408 can detect manipulation of the beverage container 100 by the user based on the movement and orientation of the container 100. In one embodiment, the motion sensor 408 is operable that the container 100 is being picked up by the user for drinking and that the container 100 is being picked up by the user for filling liquid into the container 100, based on the specific movement and orientation of the container 100. In doing so, the motion sensor 408 is operable to exclude other types of manipulation of the beverage container 100 by the user (e.g. stirring, washing the container 100, etc.).
The lid state sensor 410 in the present embodiment is operable to detect if the lid member 110 is opened or closed. In other words, the lid state sensor 410 is operable to determine if the opening formed on the lid 104 is being accessed. In one embodiment, the lid state sensor 410 is further operable to determine if the lid 104 is connected with or disconnected from the container body 102. In the present embodiment, the lid state sensor 410 in the present embodiment is preferably a magnetic switch element operably associated with the lid member 110 and/or the lid 104, although other forms of lid state sensors 410 may also be implemented to operate with the present embodiment of the beverage container 100. These alternative examples of lid state sensors 410 may include, for example, mechanical or limiting switches to detect the open or close state of the lid or the position of the lid or other forms of electro-mechanical mechanism which can be actuated when the lid is manipulated by a user and in turn provide an electrical signal representative of the user's manipulation of the lid.
In the present embodiment, the beverage container 100 further includes a processor 412 that is operably connected with all other functional modules in the beverage container 100. In one embodiment, the processor 412 may be arranged in a circuit housed in the space 116 between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b. The processor 412 in the present embodiment is arranged to receive information related to the volume, temperature, and type of liquid contained in the beverage container 100 from the level sensor 402, the temperature sensor 404, and the liquid detector 406; and receive motion data and lid state data from the motion sensor 408 and the lid state sensor 410.
In the present embodiment, the processor 412 is operable to determine the volume, temperature, and type of liquid contained in the beverage container 100. In one example of volume determination, assuming the first bottom level sensor 122 is arranged at a level indicting 50 ml of liquid is contained in the container 100 and the second bottom level sensor 122 is arranged at a level indicting 100 ml of liquid is contained in the container 100, if the processor detects that the first bottom level sensor 122 is activated and the second bottom level sensor 122 is not, it can determine that a liquid of 50-100 ml is contained in the container 100. On the other hand, the temperature of the liquid contained in the container 100 can be readily obtained from the temperature sensor 404. With respect to the determination of the type of liquid contained in the container 100, the processor 412 can be preprogramed to associated different types of liquid with different measurement values such that the processor 412 can recognize the type of liquid in the container based on the voltage difference produced by the liquid detector 406. In the embodiment where a chemical based liquid detector is used, the processor 412 is further operable to perform a more complex analysis on the fluid contained in the container 100 based on the detection result to determine the composition of the liquid.
Furthermore, the processor 412 in the present embodiment is operable to determine the occurrence of beverage consumption event and a beverage filling event at the container 100 based on both the lid state detected by the lid state sensor 410 and the motion detection result of the motion sensor 408. For example, the processor 412 may determine that a beverage consumption event has occurred if the lid state sensor 410 determines that the lid 104 is opened and the motion sensor 408 detects that the beverage container 100 is being picked up in a particular manner. As a further example, the processor 412 may determine that a beverage filling event has occurred if the lid state sensor 410 determines that the lid 104 has disengaged from the container body 102 and that the motion sensor 408 detects that the beverage container 100 is being picked up in a particular manner. In one embodiment, the processor 412 may further be operable to exclude other events, such as a container washing event or a stirring event, based on the lid state detected by the lid state sensor 410 and the motion detection result of the motion sensor 408. Preferably, the processor 412 is also operable to determine the event in which the user discards or decants the fluid from the beverage container 100 without consuming it, based on both the lid state detected by the lid state sensor 410 and the motion detection result of the motion sensor 408. It should be appreciated that other ways for determining a beverage consumption event and a beverage filling event may also be possible in other embodiments.
In the present invention, the processor 412 is further operable to determine a beverage consumption routine of a user of the container 100 based on the information relating to the liquid contained in the beverage container 100, and the occurrence of the beverage consumption event and the beverage filling event. In the present embodiment, the beverage consumption routine includes one or more of the type of liquid consumed by the user, the type of liquid filled in by the user, the volume of liquid consumed by the user, the volume of the liquid filled in by the user, and time and/or duration of which the above events occurred. The beverage consumption routine may further include a log of all of the activities associated with the container 100.
Based on the beverage consumption routine of the user, the processor 412 is operable to generate a beverage consumption alarm to remind the user of the need to consume liquid from the beverage container 100. In one example, the processor 412 determines that the user should consume a certain amount of fluid for a particular day in order to remain hydrated. The processor 412 then creates the beverage consumption alarm based on the beverage consumption history of the user (e.g., the amount of beverage consumed in a certain time period, time since last consumption, type of beverage consumed, etc.), and optionally, the personal information of the user (e.g., weight, height, and age of the user). The beverage consumption alarm will be conveyed to the user by appropriate means at a time determined by the processor 412, so as to remind the user that he/she should consume some fluid from the container 100 to remain hydrated.
As shown in
In one particular example, the alarm module 414 may comprise three surface-mount-device light-emitting diodes (SMD LED) of different colour (e.g., red, blue, green) and a vibration motor. In this example, when the processor 412 determines that the user has not consumed any beverage from the container 100 for 1 hour, it may produce a first beverage consumption alarm to remind the user, causing the alarm module 414 to flash the blue LED for 10 seconds and vibrate the vibration motor at the same time. If the processor 412 determines that the user has not consumed any beverage from the container 100 for 1.5 hour, it may produce a second beverage consumption alarm to remind the user, causing the alarm module 414 to flash the green LED for 10 seconds and vibrate the vibration motor at the same time. If the processor 412 determines that the user has not consumed any beverage from the container 100 for 2 hours, it may produce a third beverage consumption alarm to remind the user, causing the alarm module 414 to flash the red LED for 10 seconds and vibrate the vibration motor at the same time.
A clock/timing module 416 operably connected with the processor 412 is provided in the beverage container 100 of the present embodiment. In one example, the clock/timing module 416 may be arranged in a circuit disposed between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b. Preferably, the clock/timing module 416 is arranged to provide the time of occurrence or duration of an event detected by the sensors to the processor 412. For example, the clock/timing module 416 may associate the beverage consumption event with the time of which it occurred, or associated a certain measurement (liquid level, temperature or type) or detection result with time. The clock/timing module 416 may also operate to provide a clock to the beverage container 100. Furthermore, it may help the processor 412 to determine the appropriate time for providing the beverage consumption alarm to the user.
In the present embodiment, the beverage container 100 further includes a memory module 418. In one example, the memory module 418 may be a RAM chip arranged in a circuit disposed between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b. The memory module 418 is operably coupled with the processor 412, and optionally with one or more of the sensors and detectors, so as to maintain a local record of the beverage consumption events or beverage filling events, the information determined by the plurality of sensors, the beverage consumption routine of the user, the beverage consumption alarm schedule, as well as the time and/or duration associated with these events and results.
An indicator module 420 is arranged in the beverage container 100 in the present embodiment. The indicator module 420 is operably coupled with the processor 412, and optionally with one or more of the sensors and detectors, for indicating information relating to the liquid in the container body 100 to the user, or for indicating the status of the container 100 to the user. Preferably, the indicator module 420 is operable to indicate the temperature, the volume, and the type of liquid contained in the container body 102, the status of the memory module 418, the energy capacity remaining in the container 100, etc. In the present invention, the indicator module 420 may comprise a digital display screen, a light emitting device, a vibrator, a sound emitting device, surface markings on the container body 102, or a combination of these devices. These devices may be the same as those of the alarm module 414, or may be implemented at least partly separately.
In one particular example, the indicator module 420 comprises three surface-mount-device light-emitting diodes (SMD LED) of different colour (e.g., red, blue, green) and a vibration motor. In this example, when the processor 412 determines through the motion sensor 408 that the container 100 is picked up properly by the user, it may cause the temperature sensor 404 to measure the temperature of liquid in the container 100. The processor 412, upon receiving the temperature information from the temperature sensor 404, directs the indicator module 420 to indicate the temperature detected to the user. For example, when the liquid in the container 100 is determined to be cold (e.g. 0° C.-30° C.), the indicator module 420 may turn on the blue LED for 10 seconds; when the liquid the liquid in the container 100 is determined to be warm (e.g. 31° C.-60° C.), the indicator module 420 may turn on the green LED for 10 seconds; the liquid in the container 100 is determined to be cold (e.g. 60° C.-100° C.), the indicator module 420 may turn on the red LED for 10 seconds. In this 3 SMD LED example, if the processor 412 determines that the memory module 418 is full, it may cause the indicator module 420 to flash the red and green lights alternatively for 10 seconds, reminding the user that the memory module 418 is full (capacity used up). Furthermore, if the processor 412 determines that the power of the container 100 is low, it may cause the red light of the indicator module 420 to be turned on, so as to remind the user to supply power to the container 100. It should be appreciated the above example is non-limiting and the way of which the indicator modules 420 operates to provide information or reminder may vary in other embodiments, depending on the actual construction of the indicator module 420 (e.g., using display screen that display 2D or 3D graphics instead of SMD LEDs) and design choice.
The beverage container 100 in the present embodiment further includes a communication module 422 arranged to communicate data with an external electronic device 100. In one embodiment, the communication module 422 may be arranged in the space between the inner and outer containers 102a, 102b. Preferably, the communication module 422 is a wireless communication module that can communicate with the external electronic device in a wireless manner. For example, the communication module 422 may be a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth module, an NFC module, a RFID module, or a ZigBee module that can communicate with the external electronic device wirelessly. In one preferred embodiment, the communication module 422 is a Bluetooth module that can communicate data with the external electronic device using 4.0 BLE communication protocol. The communication between the electronic device and the communication module 422 of the container 100 may be initiated by either the electronic device or the container 100; and it can be established actively with the communication module 422 actively seeking a signal from the external device, or passively with the communication module 422 broadcasting a signal to be picked up by the electronic device. The communication module 422 in the present embodiment is operably connected with the processor 412 and/or the memory module 418 for transferring data gathered by the processor 412 or data stored in the memory module 418 to the external electronic device for storage or further processing or analysis. For example, the data that can be transferred to the external electronic device include the beverage consumption routine of the user. In one example, the communication module 422 is also operable to receive data or command from the external electronic device. For example, the communication module 422 may be operable to receive a predetermined beverage consumption alarm from the external electronic device.
In the present embodiment, the external electronic device operable to communicate with the communication module 422 of the container 100 may be any information handling system such as a smart phone, a smart bracelet, a laptop, a tablet computer, etc. Preferably, the external electronic device comprises suitable components necessary to receive, store and execute appropriate computer instructions. The components may include one or more of a processing unit, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), disk drives, input devices such as a power port, a USB port, etc., I/O devices such as a touch sensitive display, a physical or virtual keyboard and communications links. The external electronic device preferably includes instructions that may be included in ROM, RAM or disk drives and may be executed by the processing unit. Optionally, a communication log between the container 100 and the electronic device may be recorded in the memory module 418.
The beverage container 100 in the present embodiment also includes a power module 424 operably coupled with the processor 412 and all other functional modules in the container 100. In one implementation, the power module 424 may be a rechargeable battery (e.g. Lithium based) arranged in the space between the inner and outer container bodies 102a, 102b. Preferably, the rechargeable battery can be recharged wirelessly or through a port (not shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the power module 424 is operable to cooperate with the processor 412 to selectively operate the different functional modules in the beverage container 100. For example, the beverage container 100 in the present embodiment may be capable to operate in an idle mode when the beverage container 100 is not being used by the user (e.g. no pick up motion detected by motion detector 408, no lid state changes detected by lid state sensor 410, etc.) and in an active mode when the beverage container 100 is being used by the user (e.g. pick up motion detected by motion detector 408). In one embodiment, in the idle mode, only the motion sensor 408 and the lid state sensor 410 are in an operation (power on) state for detecting potential manipulation of the container 100 by the user, whereas the other functional modules are put in a reduced power (power off/hibernation) state. On the other hand, in the active mode, the motion sensor 408, the lid state sensor 410 and at least one other functional module as shown in
Whilst in the above embodiment the beverage container 100 is shown to include twelve different functional modules implemented using different mechanical and/or electrical elements, it should be appreciated that the beverage container 100 in other embodiments of the present invention need not include all of the twelve functional modules. For example, the beverage container 100 may not have a temperature sensor 404. On the other hand, the beverage container 100 in the present invention may include additional functional components. For example, the beverage container 100 may include a chemical sensor arranged to detect the chemical composition of the liquid contained in the beverage container 100. It should further be appreciated that other implementations and operation methods for operating and implementing the different functional modules illustrated are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Referring to
As shown in
In the present embodiment, the beverage container 100 (e.g., with communication module 422) and the external electronic device (with a communication module) are operably connected through a communication link 502 for communicating data. Preferably, the communication link 502 is a wireless communication link. Examples of this wireless communication link includes a Bluetooth communication link, a ZigBee communication link, etc. In an alternative embodiment, the communication link 502 may be a wired connection between the beverage container 100 and the external electronic device 200. In some embodiments, the communication link 502 may be encrypted. In one embodiment, the communication link 502 between the beverage container 100 and the external electronic device 200 may be established actively with the communication module 424 of the container 100 actively seeking a signal from the external device 200, or passively with the communication module 424 broadcasting a signal to be picked up by the electronic device 200. In one embodiment, the communication module 424 of the container 100 may be activated by the user through actuating a button (not shown) arranged on the container 100. In another embodiment, the communication module 424 of the container 100 may be activated automatically without user intervention.
As shown in
In the system 500 of
In one embodiment, the beverage container 100 in the system 500 can be manipulated by the user through the electronic device 200 for controlling data communication in the system 500. For example, the user can associate the beverage container 100 with the electronic device 200 using an interface at the electronic device 200. The user may add or remove entries in the event log, measurement data, or edit the beverage consumption routine received from the beverage container 100 for updating the data in the electronic device 200. The user may also use the data received from the beverage container 100 for other fitness related analysis. For example, the user may use the beverage consumption data obtained from the beverage container 100 in combination with other fitness related measurements (e.g., food consumption, exercise, etc.) determined by other devices or modules for health related applications. The user may input into the electronic device 200 a beverage consumption alarm to be transferred to the beverage container 100 through the communication link 502. In one particular example where the electronic device 200 is a health or fitness related monitoring device (e.g. smart bracelet) that monitors the physiological signs (such as heart rate, breathing rate, etc.) of the user, the device 200 may determine that the user needs to consume fluid to remain hydrated based on the physiological signs measurements. Accordingly, the device 200 will determine and transmit a beverage consumption alarm to the beverage container 100 so as to remind the user of the need to consume fluid from the container 100.
It should be appreciated that the system 500 in the embodiment of the present invention is capable of modifications and variations, and is adapted for operation with different smart beverages containers and different electronic devices, under the system architecture as described with respect to
The flow diagram 600 in
If the container 100 then detects that it is being picked up by the user and the lid 104 of the container is being manipulated, it determines whether a beverage consumption event or a beverage filling event has occurred in step 710. In one embodiment, when the container 100 determines that it is being picked up by the user using the motion sensor 408, the processor 412 and the indicator module 420 may be activated to display to the user the temperature, type or volume of liquid contained in the container 100. If in step 710 the processor 412 of the container 100 determines based on the measurement of the motion sensor 408 that a beverage consumption event or a beverage filling event is occurring, it proceeds to step 712 to determine the type of liquid that is being filled into the container 100. In one embodiment, step 712 may be omitted if the container 100 determines that the event is a beverage consumption event. In step 714, the container 100 determines whether the beverage consumption event or the beverage filling event has been completed. Upon detecting that the beverage consumption event or the beverage filling event has completed, the beverage container 100 proceeds to step 716 to determine a new level and temperature of liquid in the container 100 using the level sensor 402 and the temperature sensor 404. Again, this step 716 is performed using the level sensor 402 and the temperature sensor 404 in the container 100. In another embodiment, the liquid type detection in step 710 may occur only after the container determines that the beverage consumption event or the beverage filling event has completed in step 716. Next, in step 718, the processor 412 of the container 100, upon receiving the updated type, volume and temperature information of the liquid contained in the container 100 based on the measurement results of the sensors 402, 404, 406, determines or updates a beverage consumption routine of the user and generates a beverage consumption alarm based on the new measurements. Preferably, the personal information (weight, height, age, etc.) of the user is also taken into account for determining a personalized beverage consumption alarm. One or more of the beverage consumption events or beverage filling events, the information determined by the plurality of sensors, the beverage consumption routine of the user, the beverage consumption alarm schedule, as well as the time and/or duration associated with these events and results are then stored locally in the memory module 418 in the container in step 720. In step 722, when the communication link 502 between the container 100 and the external device 200 is established, the container 100 sends all the above measurement data and event log in its memory module 418 to the external electronic device 200 for storage or further processing. In one embodiment, whenever the communication link 502 between the container and the external device is established, for example, after steps 704, 706, 710, 712, 716, 718 or 720, the container 100 may transfer data in its local memory module 418 to the external device 200.
Upon completion of step 720, if the container 100 fails to establish the communication link 502 with the external electronic device 200, then the container 100 will enter idle mode and the data will be stored in the memory module 418 of the container 100. The data stored will be transferred to the external electronic device 200 at a later stage, when the communication link 502 is available. On the other hand, if the container 100 successfully establishes the communication link 502 with the external electronic device 200 to transfer data to the device 200, then after step 722 when the data has been completely transferred to the external electronic device 200, the container 100 may delete the data that has been transferred to the external device 200 from its local memory 418, freeing up the space in the memory module 418. Subsequently, the container 100 may enter idle mode in step 708.
In one embodiment, this step 808 further involves authentication and verification at the container 100 or at the external device 200 or both. For example, a user may be prompted to enter a username and passcode at the external electronic device 200 for establishing the communication link 502 between the container 100 and the external electronic device 200. Once the communication link 502 between the container 100 and the external electronic device 200 is established, measurement data and event log stored in the memory 418 of the container 100 can be transferred to the external device 200 for display, storage or further analysis, in step 810. In one embodiment, the data and event log are also preferably stored in the server 302 in the cloud 300. Upon completion of the data transfer process, the container 100 may enter the idle mode again in step 802.
The flow diagram in
It should be readily appreciated that the operation steps illustrated in
Referring to
In step 1006, the beverage consumption events and/or beverage filling events of the user that are monitored and recorded by the container 100 are transmitted from the container 100 to the phone 202A through communication link 502. This transmission can be done periodically, instantaneously or manually (e.g. by press a sync button on the phone 202A), depending on the availability of the communication link 502 between the container 100 and the phone 202A. In step 1006, the phone 202A maintains a log of the beverage consumption data including the amount of beverage consumed, the type of beverage consumed, and the time associated with these events locally, and optionally, in a server accessible by the smart phone 202A. Then, in step 1008, the phone 202A analyses the beverage consumption data based on the beverage consumption goal initially set in step 1004. The analysis may include calculating the total consumption from the starting time, the time since last consumption, the sequence of the type of beverage consumed, etc.
In step 1010, the smart phone 202A determines the percentage of completion of the goal. The phone 202A may display the percentage value on its screen through the interface of the software application. In an illustrative example, if the user has initially set a goal of consuming four litres of water in one day, and the beverage consumption data shows that the user has, since the starting time, consumed 0.6 litres of water, the phone 202A will determine that the goal completion percentage is 0.6/4=15%. Preferably, in this example, the phone 202A is operable to scan through the beverage consumption log of the user to eliminate beverage consumption entries that are not related to water. For example, the phone 202A may discard the reading of the amount of coffee consumed in its calculation of the total amount of water consumed. In a more advanced embodiment, however, the software application on the phone 202A may be pre-programmed to apply a weighing factor to the coffee consumption entry in the log in determination of the amount of water consumed (as coffee also comprises water), thereby taking into account the coffee consumption entry in calculating the amount of water consumed.
Upon determining the percentage of completion of the goal in step 1010, the phone 202A may transmit the result to the container 100 through the communication link 502 for storage in the local processor or memory of the container 100. In step 1012, the beverage container 100 can continue to monitor or determine the percentage of completion of the goal initially set based on the continuous monitoring and recording of the beverage consumption related events and data obtained in step 1004.
On the other hand, after step 1010, the phone 202A may proceed to determine beverage consumption reminders or alerts based on the analysis of the beverage consumption data obtained from the container 100, as shown in step 1014. In particular, the phone 202A may determine beverage consumption reminders based on the event log, the beverage consumption goals set, and/or the percentage of completion of the goal. In one embodiment, the phone 202A may determine the time for alerting the user to consume beverage based on the type and amount of beverage last consumed and/or the time since last consumption of a particular type of beverage to prevent the user from being dehydrated. In addition, the phone 202A may determine the time for reminding the user of the percentage of completion of the goal set initially. The times for providing these alerts to the user is then stored locally in the phone 202A, as well as transmitted to the container 100 for local storage through communication link 502. These times are also optionally stored in a server accessible by the phone 202A.
In steps 1016A and 1016B, the container 100 and/or the phone 202A may provide the alerts to the user at the determined times to remind the user of dehydration, or to remind the user of the outstanding goal set initially. For example, the phone 202A may provide an audible alarm and/or a vibratory alarm that reminds the user the need to consume beverage to stay hydrated. The phone 202A may also display other graphical notifications (e.g., the word “DRINK NOW”, the percentage of goal completed, etc.) on the screen through the interface of the software application, to provide a beverage consumption alert or an outstanding goal alert to the user at the determined time. On the other hand, the container 100 may also provide the same alerts to the user using, for example, the alarm module 414. In one particular example, the alarm module 414 may comprise three surface-mount-device light-emitting diodes (SMD LED) of different colour (e.g., red, blue, green) and a vibration motor. In this example, the container 100 may turn on the red LED and/or vibrate the motor to indicate a beverage consumption alarm; or may flash all LEDs intermittently when the goal has not yet completed. In the present example, the beverage consumption alert or the outstanding goal alert may be provided by both the container 100 and the phone 202A at the same time, or provided by any one of the container 100 and the phone 202A.
In steps 1018A and 1018B, the container 100 and/or the phone 202A may provide the alerts to the user upon determining that the goal is completed. For example, the phone 202A may provide an audible alarm and/or a vibratory alarm, or display other graphical notifications on the screen through the interface of the software application to notify the user that the goal has been completed. The container 100 may also provide the same alerts to the user using, for example, the alarm module 414. In one particular example, the alarm module 414 may comprise three surface-mount-device light-emitting diodes (SMD LED) of different colour (e.g., red, blue, green) and a vibration motor. In this example, the container 100 may turn on the blue LED and/or vibrate the motor to indicate that the goal has been completed. The goal completion indicator may be provided by both the container 100 and the phone 202A at the same time, or provided by any one of the container 100 and the phone 202A.
It should be readily appreciated that the software application integration operation steps illustrated in
Embodiments of the smart beverage container in the present invention are advantageous in that it can readily determine information associated with liquid contained in the container body, as well as manipulation of the container by the user, so as to determine a beverage consumption routine of the user. The beverage container in the present invention can monitor the daily fluid consumption routine of a user in an automatic and efficient manner. This is partly because the operation of the module in the container is largely automated, and the container is capable of energy conservation using an idle mode when appropriate. Furthermore, the beverage container is operable to provide alarm automatically to remind the user when and how much fluid needs to be consumed in order for the user to remain properly hydrated. More importantly, this alarm is tailored to the need of the user as the generation of the alarm takes into account not only the beverage consumption record of the user, but also the weight, height, gender, age, and other person information of the user. A log of all beverage consumption activities of the user can be maintained automatically. By providing these functions, the beverage container in the present invention can integrate seamlessly into the user's daily life to improve the health and fitness of the user. Specific structural and functional arrangements of the sensors, indicators, processors, and other modules in the beverage container are also advantageous, and a person skilled in the art would readily appreciate these advantages in terms of function, operation efficiency, cost, ease of operation, ease of manufacture, accuracy of measurement, etc., upon reading the description.
Embodiments of the beverage consumption routine determination system in the present invention are also advantageous. By monitoring a beverage consumption pattern of a user using the beverage container, and gather the information for storage and analysis, a tailored fitness program may be created for the user. Also, by providing a software application integration feature that enables a beverage consumption goal implementation, the beverage container system can be readily adapted for fitness and health related applications, thereby promoting hydration awareness and improving health of the user. The beverage consumption pattern of the user monitored by the container may be used in conjunction with other monitoring results provided by other monitoring devices. For example, the beverage consumption pattern of the user may be used together with a fitness tracker, such that when the user is performing exercise, the electronic device can take into account the physiological measurements of the user (via other fitness monitoring or detection devices) for generation of beverage consumption alarm. In another setting, the beverage consumption routine determination system may be used by a patient who is required to take certain amount of fluidic medication. In this example, the patient may use the beverage container solely for consuming the medication, and the consumption data may be transmitted to an electronic device and hence to a database in a hospital or clinic. Alternatively, in the embodiment in which the beverage container is operable to communicate data automatically to server in the cloud directly without using the electronic device, the consumption data may be directly stored in the cloud server. In that way, a medical practitioner may readily monitor the medication consumption pattern of the user remotely. Also, the patient may be reminded of the need to take the medication, as well as the time and volume of which the medication needs to be taken, by the beverage container in the present invention. Based on the above example, it can be appreciated that applications and thus advantages of the beverage consumption routine determination system are numerous, and these would be apparent to a person skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed description above.
Although not required, the embodiments described with reference to the Figures can be implemented as an application programming interface (API) or as a series of libraries for use by a developer or can be included within another software application, such as a terminal or personal computer operating system or a portable computing device operating system. Generally, as program modules include routines, programs, objects, components and data files assisting in the performance of particular functions, the skilled person will understand that the functionality of the software application may be distributed across a number of routines, objects or components to achieve the same functionality desired herein.
It will also be appreciated that where the methods and systems of the present invention are either wholly implemented by computing system or partly implemented by computing systems then any appropriate computing system architecture may be utilised. This will include stand-alone computers, network computers and dedicated hardware devices. Where the terms “computing system” and “computing device” are used, these terms are intended to cover any appropriate arrangement of computer hardware capable of implementing the function described.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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15103376.1 | Apr 2015 | HK | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62199359 | Jul 2015 | US |