Patent Grant
10512358
This subject matter of this application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/179,709, filed Jun. 10, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The subject matter of this application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/960,109, filed Dec. 4, 2015 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The subject matter of this application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/694,659, filed Sep. 1, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The subject matter of this application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/862,206, filed Jan. 4, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Portable refillable bottles and other containers used for water and other beverages are widely used and are important for health and hydration. Such bottles and containers are used with increasing frequency to consume functional ingredients, such as, for example, energy, protein, and sleep supplements. However, one limitation of such bottles and hydration containers is that the consumable contents remain constant and unchanged except for changes in quantity as the contents (frequently, but not exclusively water) are consumed and subsequently replenished.
Other problems and limitations exist with known bottles.
The systems and methods provide a container assembly comprising: a container having a known storage capacity for storing a liquid; an additive dispensing assembly, the additive dispensing assembly dispensing variable, non-zero quantities of one or more additives into the liquid stored in the container; one or more vessels that each contain one of the additives, of the one or more additives, to be dispensed into the liquid; and a gas dispensing assembly, the gas dispensing assembly releasing a gas into the liquid stored in the container, and the gas dispensing assembly including: an onboard gas tank; a valve assembly; and a gas outlet, and the valve assembly controlling flow of gas from the onboard gas tank, through the valve assembly, and to the gas outlet so as to output the gas into the liquid; and wherein the valve assembly, to perform the controlling the flow of gas, is movable between: an open position, in which flow of gas is allowed to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet; and a closed position in which the flow of gas is prevented to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet.
These and other objects, features, advantages, and characteristics of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following Detailed Description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawings, all of which form a part of the present disclosure. In the drawings:
The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of what is claimed in the present disclosure.
In the drawings, same reference numerals and acronyms have been used to identify same or similar structure, components or functionality for ease of understanding and convenience.
In the following description, references are made to various embodiments in accordance with which the disclosed subject matter can be practiced. Multiple references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Particular features, structures or characteristics associated with such embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner in various embodiments. Various examples and embodiments will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples. One skilled in the relevant art will understand, however, that one or more embodiments described herein may be practiced without many of these details. Likewise, one skilled in the relevant art will also understand that one or more embodiments of the present disclosure can include many other obvious features not described in detail herein. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail below, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description.
In one or more embodiments, the disclosure provides a container assembly that includes a gas dispensing assembly. The gas dispensing assembly can release gas into liquid stored in the container assembly. The container assembly can include a container having a known storage capacity for liquid or beverage. The container assembly can also include an additive dispensing assembly. The additive dispensing assembly can dispense variable, non-zero quantities of one or more additives into the liquid or beverage stored in the container. The container assembly can also include one or more vessels or additive vessels. Such additive vessels can contain one or more additives to be dispensed into the liquid. The gas dispensing assembly can include an onboard gas tank, a valve assembly, and a gas outlet. The valve assembly can control the flow of gas from the onboard gas tank, through the valve assembly, and to the gas outlet. As a result, gas is input into the liquid or beverage stored or contained in the container assembly. The valve assembly can be provided to control the flow of gas from the onboard gas tank into the liquid or beverage.
The valve assembly can be movable between an open position, in which flow of gas is allowed to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet, to a closed position in which such flow of gas is prevented or stopped.
The present disclosure generally relates to hydration systems, methods, and apparatuses. More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure relate to a portable and non-portable hydration container that periodically fully or partially dispenses additives and/or gas into a liquid consumable or other solute within the container in continuously variable volumes or concentrations.
One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a portable, self-contained beverage apparatus comprising: a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid; a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly, where the dispensing assembly includes a plurality of apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid.
In at least one embodiment, the portable, self-contained beverage apparatus further includes a controller that controls the dispensing by the dispensing assembly of the variable, non-zero quantities of the additives into the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly.
In at least one embodiment, the controller of the portable, self-contained beverage apparatus controls the dispensing by the dispensing assembly to maintain the targeted concentration of at least one of the additives in the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly, wherein the controlling is based on tracked consumable liquid level and the quantity of the at least one additive.
In at least one embodiment, the portable, self-contained beverage apparatus further includes the vessels retained in the plurality of apertures that contain the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly.
As described above, one problem of existing portable bottles and other containers is that the consumable contents contained in such bottles and containers remain essentially unchanged other than in their quantity. The utility of such bottles and containers may be greatly enhanced if the flavor, consistency, and/or the nutritional, chemical, gas, CO2 (carbon dioxide), oxygen, or other make-up of the consumable liquid could be altered over some period of time (e.g., hourly, daily, etc.) and/or according to some other cycle based on, for example, the needs or desires of the user, in order to optimize the health and well-being of the user. For example, the consumable liquid may be enhanced with an energy boosting supplement in the morning to facilitate alertness and focus, with vitamin supplements throughout the day, and with a calming nutritional supplement at the end of the day to facilitate quality sleep. Such a daily cycle may be supplemented by an additional longer term cycle of additives dispensed on a weekly, bi-weekly, etc., basis or some other customized time-cycle. As well as nutritional supplements, it may additionally be desirable to dispense other types of substances or additives such as, for example, vitamins, flavorings, pharmaceuticals, and the like, into the contents of portable containers in order to further optimize the health, hydration, recovery, and other benefits to a user, athlete, or patient, for example. Furthermore, mobile and wearable activity and fitness monitoring devices, as well as remote applications, may communicate with and/or receive data provided from portable bottles and other containers to control and monitor liquid and/or additive consumption and to perform other functions such as, for example, communicating a timely signal to portable and other containers to release all or a pre-defined amount of an additive substance from one of the additive vessels into the consumable contents of the container. Furthermore, such data might modify the dispensing protocol of the additive vessels. Data might function to recommend or otherwise incentivize the discovery, purchase, and and/or consumption of the aforementioned additive vessels.
Since portable hydration containers may typically be filled in the morning and topped-off throughout the day as liquid is consumed, it is neither practical nor desirable to require that a user fill multiple compartments of a container with multiple different consumable liquids or mixtures for consumption throughout the course of the day. Therefore, a more practical and desirable solution is to sequentially dispense a selection, sequence or combination of different additives from one or more additive vessels into a consumable liquid at the appropriate time in response to a signal from a mobile or wearable device, processor or application. Neither is it desirable that a user have to carry around separate additive vessels and insert them into the hydration container when needed at various times throughout the day. An illustrative example of such an additive delivery ecosystem is shown in
A hydration system such as that illustrated in
To achieve desired consumption temperatures, or to maintain a desired consumption temperature, it may be desirable to refrigerate the liquid container, in which case repeated and sustained exposure to low temperatures and humidity would be harmful to the electronic components. Though it may be desirable that these electronics components and sensors be in close proximity to the liquid container for functional reasons, it is also desirable that they be fully separable to enable thorough cooling of the liquid container, as well as washing.
One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a consumable container having a dispensing module assembly with a number of apertures into which the above described additive vessels can be inserted by a user. Each of these additive vessels can have a passive RFID tag attached to the vessel. An RFID antenna can be mounted on the surface of a dispensing module located on the central axis of the consumable container and accesses data about the contents of the additive vessel from the RFID tag. Therefore, the methods, systems, and apparatuses of the disclosure are also designed to access data about the contents of an individual additive vessel. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the antenna and/or other read and/or write capable data modality is oriented in such a way so as to necessitate only one system, as opposed to a static modality that might require a unique instance of the modality on each unique aperture. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that although a passive data system such as RFID may be ideal due to its passive nature, read/write capability, and low-cost, that functionally, other methods could accomplish similar results, including but not limited to physical key-based methods, or optical methods.
Another feature of the disclosure is to determine the geo-location of the user and determine whether the dispensing of additives or gas should be adjusted based on some aspect or aspects of this location (e.g., home, gym, office, etc.). One learned in the art will understand that such data, working to inform or otherwise guide a dispensing system, could be directly extrapolated or indirectly inferred.
Another feature is to determine the speed of motion of the user and determine whether the dispensing of additives should be adjusted based on this activity (e g walking, cycling, running). This data might further operate to corroborate supporting data feeds, such as those provided by wearable activity trackers and the like.
Another feature is to combine the user's location and the user's speed of motion to predict whether a user is indoors or outdoors and, if outdoors, to access weather, temperature and humidity data and adjust the dispensing of additives according to the needs of those environmental conditions. Such contextual data associated with ambient conditions relevant to dispensing events and/or additive recommendations or purchase does not necessarily need to relate to the user's physical movements however.
As will be described in greater detail below, the methods, systems, and apparatus of the present disclosure are also designed to present information to a user regarding the additives consumed and/or remaining in the vessels inserted in the hydration container. For example, in accordance with one or more embodiments, the portable container may display (e.g., on a user interface screen of the container) information or generate an alert to the user when one or more of the additive vessels inserted in the hydration container is, or will soon become empty. In another example, the container may be configured to predict a future date when one or more of the additive vessels inserted in the hydration container will become empty. Such a feature serves to recommend and/or automate future purchases. Such a system might also function to adjust or otherwise modify dispensing protocol to ensure that the additive does not become depleted on or before a targeted time.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the methods, systems, and apparatus described herein may optionally include or be capable/configured to perform one or more of the following: correlate depletion information of additive vessels with purchase history and previous rate of consumption to ascertain when a user will run out of supplies of the additive vessel irrespective of whether they are currently inserted in the container; enable the user to order replacement additive vessels by adding to their shopping cart on an eCommerce site through some type of user action (e.g., pressing a button on the container, interacting with an associated application, etc.).
In accordance with at least one embodiment, the methods, systems, and apparatuses may be designed to provide for direct or indirect communication of an instruction from a central control application to a consumable container. Such a direct or indirect communication may be, for example, an instruction to dispense an additive, may include a dispensing schedule and/or protocol, or may indicate that an additive (e.g., medication, pharmaceutical, or the like) has, or has not, been dispensed by the dispensing apparatus within the container. Data associated with the dispensing event (or lack thereof) might also be collected and communicated directly or indirectly between the dispensing device and the aforementioned central control application. In accordance with at least one embodiment, Bluetooth low energy may be used as the primary transmission method of such data.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, data may be communicated from a container that an additive (e.g., medication, pharmaceutical, or other additive) has, or has not, been added to the consumable contents of the container; data may be communicated from a container that the consumable contents of the container have been fully consumed, partially consumed, or not consumed. Direct or indirect mechanisms might further corroborate or invalidate such information directly or inferentially (e.g. the user has dumped the contents, as opposed to properly consuming them).
Also provided are a method and apparatus for the precise and continuously variable dispensing of a removable additive vessel through the use of a discretely adjustable piston or actuator, the key adjustment variable being stroke length (and therefore displacement volume) by the user, which then by the user's input (in the preferred disclosure's use case, the user's finger) translates into a dispensing event that is precise and repeatable. Passive electronics measuring which additive vessel, and what dispensing quantity, and how many dispensing events are initiated could log the user's consumption activity and behaviors.
Embodiments of some or all of the methods disclosed herein may be represented as instructions embodied on transitory or non-transitory processor-readable storage media such as optical or magnetic memory or represented as a propagated signal provided to a processor or data processing device via a communication network such as, for example, an Internet or telephone connection.
Another feature of the methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein relates to audio engagement processing. Another feature of the methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein relates to situational processing. Another feature of the methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein relates to group engagement processing. Further scope of applicability of the systems, apparatuses, and methods of the present disclosure will become apparent from the Detailed Description given below. However, it should be understood that the Detailed Description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the systems, apparatuses, and methods, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the concepts disclosed herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
It is appreciated that any of the features described in this disclosure as relating to an additive, such as a nutritional additive, for example, can also be applied to gas, as may be desired. Any of the features described herein relating to dispensing of an additive can also be applied to the dispensing of gas, as desired. Any of the features described herein as relating to control or monitoring, for example, of the dispensing of an additive can also be applied to the control and dispensing of a gas, as desired.
It is desirable for a portable hydration container or bottle to have, included within it, one or more separate additive vessels containing various additives that may be chosen and inserted within the hydration container by the user in various different combinations, such that some of the beverages, functional beverages, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, etc., may be periodically dispensed into the liquid contents of the container when required or desired, and consumed by the user. It is desirable for a portable hydration container or bottle to have, included within it, one or more on board gas tanks or gas containers so as to provide the ability to selectively dispense gas into liquid contents of the container.
Such a hydration apparatus or system may communicate with an application (e.g., mobile telephone application, computer program, etc.) that controls and monitors the additive dispensing from the vessels, and adjusts or otherwise modifies the dispensing of those additives according to real-time environmental and contextual variables. Hydration systems and containers such as those described herein also need to be periodically washed or sterilized in order to maintain hygiene levels and to avoid or eliminate cross-contamination between different additives. Furthermore, when a container assembly includes sensitive electronics, it is also beneficial to design the apparatus in such a way that washing, cleaning, or sterilization, or cooling, can be carried out without undue risk of damage to the electronic components. An amount of consumable within a portable hydration container of the disclosure will vary over time as it is consumed. As such, the methods, systems, and apparatus of the present disclosure are capable of varying and/or adjusting the amount of additive or gas to be dispensed into the consumable in order to achieve or maintain a targeted (e.g., optimal) or desired level of concentration of the additive (or additives) in the consumable. In addition, the consumption behaviors of the user related to hydration and the consumption of additives and the like would benefit from tracking and level measurement to provide apparatus-level context for non-zero dispensing, but also for the overall tracking and recommendation of additives and/or additive vessels, present and future.
Furthermore, since such hydration containers are portable and may be carried around to many different places, it would also be beneficial to a user if they could periodically re-order products from an online (e.g., eCommerce, and/or Mobile Application) website, and replenish their supplies of additives, vitamins, etc., directly from the container in which they are used, or from an associated mobile device, at any time and irrespective of the user's location. In addition, while hydration containers such as those described herein are of considerable value to an individual user, a collection of such containers may also be used by a group of users with common interests, such as, for example, a sports team, patients in a medical facility or assisted-living home, participants in clinical trials of a drug, and the like. In such instances it may be of considerable additional value to control, monitor, or otherwise coordinate the dispensing of additives both individually and/or collectively, and/or to monitor the consumption of consumables and additives individually and/or collectively. The following description of examples and embodiments of the methods, systems, and apparatus of the present disclosure provides additional details about many of the above features and functions.
As described above,
As shown in
The container assembly 200 can include a removable cap 212, which, in the illustrated embodiment, seals a top opening of the beverage chamber housing 214 to complete the chamber 230. The cap 212 can be configured to thread or snap on to a top end of the beverage chamber housing 214. Referring to
Referring to
It should be noted that
Referring to
The volume dispensed during a single piston stroke can be modulated linearly by modifying the piston stroke length. Multiple piston strokes can be used to dispense larger quantities. By design, the volume of the pumping chamber can be configured to be as small as practically possible when the piston 265 is in the starting position to avoid wasting additive liquid when a depleted additive vessel is withdrawn from the receptacle.
One benefit of the foregoing described positive displacement pump configurations is that when the additive vessel is withdrawn and when the beverage chamber housing is removed from the dispensing assembly all parts of the pumping mechanism become visible and accessible for cleaning. The pumping chamber is accessible through the receptacle and only a one-way umbrella valve, for example, sits in the port between the pumping chamber and the platform which is otherwise also accessible for cleaning. A one-way umbrella valve can be easily removed and cleaned or replaced.
As noted above, the various features and functionality of the embodiments described above with reference to
For example, the dispensing assembly 213 illustrated in
Various features and aspects of hydration systems of the disclosure are described above. In accordance with at least some embodiments, as described above in conjunction with
As shown in
The refill station 500 can include a housing 503 of the refill station 500. The housing 503 can include a platform top 501′ and a platform sidewall 502. The housing 503 can also include a station bottom. The platform top 501′ can be a structural member that includes a platform surface 501. The refill tank docking station 520 can be provided in or on the platform surface 501. The container assembly docking station can also be provided in or on the platform surface 501.
The refill station 500 can be provided with a station computer processor system 510. The station computer processor system 510 can perform various functions including monitoring the status of the refill station 500 and interfacing with a user. Relatedly, the refill station 500 can include a display interface or user interface 511. The user interface 511 can display various information regarding the status and operation of the refill station 500. The user interface 511 can be controlled by and/or interface with station computer processor system 510. Further details are described below. The refill station 500 can be powered by AC power, such as utilizing a power cord 507. The refill station 500 can be battery-powered. In some embodiments, the refill station 500 can be unpowered, i.e., not use battery or AC current.
As shown in
As shown in
Additionally, a user may interface with the container assembly 300, which contains the computer processor 301, utilizing another user device, such as a smart phone or cell phone. Each of the container assembly 300, the refill tank 530, and the refill station 500 can be provided with computer processor systems that include suitable memory or databases. Further, each of the container assembly 300, the refill tank 530, and the refill station 500 can exchange, communicate, or transmit data to another of such components.
The container assembly docking station can engage with the container assembly 300 in a non-concentric or non-centered relationship. In other words, engagement flange or other engagement member, which engages with the container assembly docking station 550 can be off-center of the container assembly 300. Such off-center arrangement may be needed or desired so as to provide for a desired spatial positioning of other components in the container assembly 300. Accordingly, it may be desired to provide an inscribed line or other indicia 559 on the platform surface 501 so as to show a user the desired position at which the container assembly 300 can be placed upon the platform surface 501. Relatedly, indicia on the platform surface 501 can be provided that matches with corresponding indicia on the container assembly 300. Such matching indicia can be provided so as to assist or ensure that the container assembly 300 is correctly placed upon the platform surface 501. For example, such matching indicia can include respective arrows or other marks that are to be matched, by the user, when placing the container assembly upon the platform surface 501.
The dispensing assembly 602 can include an additive dispensing assembly 308 and a gas dispensing assembly 400. The additive dispensing assembly 308 includes various structure associated with dispensing of additives. In the arrangement of
As shown in
In the arrangement shown in
The dispense platform 217 can be provided in a recessed portion that is defined by a cylindrical wall that includes threads 340. The threads 340 can provide engagement arrangement or mechanism to engage with the beverage chamber housing 315. Other engagement arrangement or mechanisms can be utilized such as a friction fit, snap fit, or other arrangement.
As shown in
The bottom support platform 316, at the bottle lower end 321, can be provided with an engagement collar 451. The engagement collar 451 can encircle or enclose a valve 440 of the gas intake assembly 439. Further details of the valve 440 and related features are described below, such as with reference to
As shown in
The arrangement of
As described above, flow of gas between the gas release valve 413 and the gas outlet port 421 can be provided by a valve outlet pipe 424. The valve outlet pipe 424 can include a lower pipe portion 424L and an upper pipe portion 424U. The distinction between the lower pipe portion 424L and the upper pipe portion 424U can be demarcation of the lower support platform 317. Relatedly, the lower support platform 317 and other structural features or components of the dispensing assembly 602 can provide support for pipes, hoses, conduits, or other passageways that are utilized to convey the gas from the tank 401, to the gas release valve 413, and (if the valve is open) to the gas outlet port 421.
As shown in
The dispensing assembly 602, and in particular the valve assembly 410, can include drive motor 411. The drive motor 411 can include motor driveshaft 417. The motor driveshaft 417 can drive a gearbox 412. In turn, the gearbox 412 can drive or actuate the gas release valve 413. The drive motor 411 in conjunction with the gearbox 412 can provide a “geared down” or “geared up” arrangement that may be desirable to effectively control the gas release valve 413. In particular, a geared down arrangement may be desirable for small or finite adjustment of the gas release valve 413. However, in other embodiments of the disclosure, the gearbox 412 can be omitted with the drive motor 411 directly connected to the gas release valve 413.
As shown in
As described above, in operation of the container assembly 300, gas in the interior volume 403 can be under pressure. As a result, gas can flow out of the interior volume 403 into the valve intake pipe 426. In the situation that the gas release valve 413 is in an open position, the gas can then flow through the gas release valve 413 into the lower pipe portion 424L of the valve outlet pipe 424—and then into the upper pipe portion 424U of the valve outlet pipe. Thereafter, gas flows out of the gas one-way valve 422 and into the liquid or beverage contained in the container assembly 300.
As also described above, the gas one-way valve 422 can be provided on the upper support platform 318. The upper support platform 318 can include the dispense platform 217, as shown in
As shown in
The gas intake assembly 439, and specifically the station engagement assembly 450, can include engagement collar 451. The engagement collar 451 can include a collar inner surface 452. The collar inner surface 452 can be provided with one or more engagement mechanisms 453. For example, the engagement mechanism can be a threaded arrangement or be part of a twist lock coupling arrangement. As shown in
In the example of
The valve 440 can be provided on a wall of the onboard gas tank 401 so as to provide for filling of the tank 41. In the example of
The onboard gas tank 401 can be provided upon the bottom support platform 316. The onboard gas tank 41 can be provided on an opposing side to and/or aligned with the inner surface 454. However, such spatial interrelationship is not needed. As shown in
The aperture or hole 455 can extend through the bottom wall 404 of the onboard tank and through the bottom support platform 316. Accordingly, the aperture 455 can include a first aperture 455A of the onboard tank bottom wall 404 and a second aperture 455B of the bottom support platform 316. The valve 440 can be biased to a closed position by spring 444. Specifically, the spring 444 can engage with the engagement flange 442 and the bottom support platform 316 and exert force, due to compression of the spring, so as to bias the valve 440 downward as shown in
The container assembly docking station 550 is shown at a high level in
The container assembly docking station 550 can include valve 555. The valve 555 can include or be in the form of a poppet valve, for example. The valve 555 can selectively open or close an inlet aperture 560 that is provided in the platform surface 501.
Relatedly, the inlet aperture 560, in the platform surface 501, can provide access or be connected to an interior space 504. The interior space 504 can be filled with a pressurized source of gas that, upon the poppet valve 555 being open, will pass into the interior volume 403 of the onboard gas tank 401. Such passage of gas can be provided due to the pressure differential between the interior space 504 and the interior volume 403. As used herein, “interior space” and “interior volume” bear the same meaning and have been used interchangeably. Accordingly, upon both the valve 555 and the valve 440 being open, and assuming a pressure differential between the interior space 504 and the interior volume 403, gas will flow out of the interior space 504, through an interior space or interior volume created by the attached engagement collars 451, 551, and into the interior volume 403. Flow of gas will occur until pressure is equalized between the interior space 504 and the interior volume 403.
It is appreciated that mechanisms or arrangements can be utilized so as to limit amount of gas that is allowed to escape or be lost in conjunction with connecting the station engagement assembly 450 with the container assembly docking station 550. For example, suitable O-rings or washers constructed of rubber or elastomeric material, for example, can be utilized so as to provide or assist with a gas tight seal. For example, and O-ring or washer can be provided at a top edge of the engagement collar 551 that interacts with the bottom support platform 317. In such arrangement, the engagement collar 551 can be provided to be taller than shown in
Relatedly, it is appreciated that the height or size of either the engagement collar 551 or the engagement collar 451 can be adjusted so as to accommodate for other structure of either the container assembly 300 or the refill station 500. For example, the container assembly 300, as described above, can include additive vessels or pods that extend downwardly from the bottom support platform 317. The height of the engagement collar 451 and/or the engagement collar 551 can be constructed so as to match with the distance that the additive vessels extend down. Such arrangement can result in or provide a desirable “seating” of the container assembly 300 upon the refill station 500.
The valve 555 can include a body 556, a seal flange 558, and engagement flange 557. The body 555, as shown in
The valve 555 can also include a spacer collar 554 and compression spring 561. The compression spring 561 acts against the spacer collar 554 and the platform surface 501 so as to bias the poppet valve 555 into a closed position, i.e. biased up as shown in
The structure 500 can be characterized as a “refill station” in that such a structure provides for filling the onboard gas tank 401 with gas. The structure 500 might also be characterized as a “recharge station” in that the refill station 500 “recharges” the onboard gas tank 403 with gas.
As shown in
As further shown in
The refill station poppet valve 525 includes seal flange 528 and engagement flange 527. Compression spring 529 biases the valve 525 to a closed position. In such closed position, the seal flange 528 is pressed against the platform surface 501 so as to prevent gas from passing through inlet aperture 519. However, as compared to the disposition shown in
In accordance with further aspects of the invention,
To control flow of gas through the gas release valve 413, the valve 413 can include a rotating valve insert 414. The rotating valve insert 414 can be selectively rotated within valve housing 416 as actuated by gearbox driveshaft 418. The gearbox driveshaft 418 can be driven by a mechanized system such as gearbox 412. The rotating valve insert 414 can include an insert passageway 415.
In the arrangement of
In the arrangement of
As described above, the refill station 500′ includes an interior space 504 that communicates gas from the supply pipe 570 to the refill tank docking station 520. Such interior space 504 is under pressure when gas is flowed therethrough. The interior space 504 can be provided or defined by a tube structure, hose structure, baffles, membranes, walls of the refill station or other structure as may be desired. The refill station 500, such as is shown in
More specifically,
As described herein, one-way valves may be utilized to dispense both additive and gas. Such one-way valve provides the ability for additive or gas to flow out of the dispensing assembly 710 while preventing beverage or liquid in the container assembly 300 from flowing back into the dispensing assembly 710.
The dispensing assembly 720 can include a housing cover 728 and user interface features. Dispensing assembly 720 can include a lower end 720L of the bottle or container assembly 300. The dispensing assembly 720 can include an additive dispensing assembly 721 and a gas dispensing assembly 723. The additive dispensing assembly 721 can include one or more additive outlet ports 722. Such ports can include one-way valves. The gas dispensing assembly 723 can include valve 724. Valve 724 can include a gas one-way “duck” valve. Such duck valve can include elastic sides, as described above, and slit 725. The elastic sides can be constructed of rubber, elastomeric, or other suitable material. The elastic sides can be constructed so as to bias slit 726 to a closed configuration. However, due to the elastic construction, slit 726 can be opened when gas flows out of the valve 724. In other words, the elastic sides 725 can be opened by interior gas pressure so as to allow gas flow out of the duck valve 724. Once pressure is relieved, elastic sides 725 return to their “natural” position or configuration so as to close slit 726, thus resulting in closure of the valve 724.
In the arrangement of
Step 804 reflects that the container assembly can be removed from the container assembly docking station at any time, in accordance with one or more embodiments. It is appreciated the transfer of gas into the container assembly can be relatively rapid. Once pressurize is equalized between the gas supply source in the onboard tank of the container assembly, the poppet valve of the container assembly can close in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Then, the process passes to step 805. In step 805, the bottle can be removed from the base receiving assembly with the onboard tank now filled.
Step 910 illustrates a trigger event is observed that user input is received that dictates a dispersion of gas. For example, such user input might be constituted by pressing a button on the container assembly 300. The trigger event might be an electrical pulse resulting from pressing such button or a switch that is associated with such button. Accordingly, in the situation of step 910, the user directly controls the dispersion of gas in the container assembly 300. As a result of a yes determination in step 910, the process passes to step 920. In step 920, the dictated action is performed. In this situation, the dictated action might simply be the dispersion of gas into the beverage contained in the container assembly 300.
In step 947, the CPS 301 determines if the MTD dictates one or more communications that are to be output to the user. For example, such communications might be lights, audio, or communication sent to the user's cell phone, for example. Then, the process passes to step 948. In step 948, the CPS performs a dispense of gas based on the gathered “action parameters”. That is, the CPS dispenses gas based on the data gathered in the processing of steps 943-947. Dictated communications may also be sent in conjunction with the processing of step 948. Then, the process passes to step 949. In step 949, the processing for the observed event is terminated.
The GUI 4500 allows a user to set a particular additive to monitor for a gas dispense event. Illustratively, the additive 4546 might be monitored. It is appreciated that the numerical reference to additives are for purposes of illustration and such numerical indicia can be replaced by a name of the additive, for user-friendliness. The additive 4546 might correspond to “whey” or “caffeine”, for example. Accordingly, in the situation of the GUI 4500, the additive that is set to monitor is additive 4546. By the selection of “yes” the user has enabled the dispense of gas in conjunction with the dispense of the additive 4546. Additionally, the user can set the lag time of the gas dispense after the dispense of the additive. In this case the lag time is 0.1 seconds. This can be a time duration between when the system, such as the CPS 301 detects the dispense of an additive, and when the system actuates valve 413, for example, so as to release gas. The user is also provided the ability to set the duration of the gas release, here 0.02 seconds. The user is also provided with the ability to set the strength of the gas release, here “low”. Functionality may also be provided to vary a gas dispense event based on ambient conditions, such as temperature or humidity, for example. Additional user interface buttons may be provided such as tap to save, return to prior dispense event, clear and start again, and create new gas dispense event, for example.
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure, a hydration system can comprise (A) a refill station, for refilling a container assembly with gas, the refill station including: (1) a refill station housing; (2) a container assembly docking station provided on the housing, the container assembly docking station including a first engagement mechanism for engaging with a container assembly, and a container interface valve for dispensing gas from the refill station to the container assembly; (3) a gas supply assembly that provides a source of gas to the refill station; and (B) the container assembly can be configured to engage with the container assembly docking station so as to flow gas from the refill station to the container assembly, and the container assembly can include: (1) a container having a known storage capacity for storing a liquid; (2) an additive dispensing assembly, the additive dispensing assembly dispensing variable, non-zero quantities of one or more additives into the liquid stored in the container; (3) one or more vessels that each contain one of the additives, of the one or more additives, to be dispensed into the liquid; and (4) a gas dispensing assembly, the gas dispensing assembly releasing a gas into the liquid stored in the container, and the gas dispensing assembly can include (a) an onboard gas tank that includes a container fill valve, (b) a valve assembly; and (c) a gas outlet, and the valve assembly controlling flow of gas from the onboard gas tank, through the valve assembly, and to the gas outlet so as to output the gas into the liquid. The valve assembly, to perform the controlling the flow of gas, can be movable between (i) an open position, in which flow of gas is allowed to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet; and (ii) a closed position in which the flow of gas is prevented to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet.
The gas supply assembly can include a refill tank docking station, and a refill tank that is removably coupled to the refill tank docking station.
The refill tank can include a pressure indicator that indicates an amount of gas in the refill tank.
The refill tank can include a tank valve that is openable to release gas from the tank into the refill station housing; and the refill tank docking station can include a tank interface valve that is openable to input gas from the tank into the refill station housing.
Each of the refill tank docking station and refill tank can have a respective engagement mechanism that each serve to removably couple the refill tank to the refill tank docking station.
Each of the respective engagement mechanisms can be constituted by an angled wedge or threaded arrangement so as to connect the refill tank docking station with the refill tank.
The tank valve can include a poppet valve and the tank interface valve, of the refill tank docking station, includes a further poppet valve.
The refill station housing can include a passageway through which gas is communicated from the tank interface valve to the container interface valve, and the container interface valve is openable so as to allow gas to pass from refill station housing.
Each of the container assembly and the container assembly docking station can have respective engagement mechanisms that each serve to removably couple the container assembly to the container assembly docking station.
The gas dispensing assembly can include a gas intake assembly associated with the onboard gas tank, the gas intake assembly including a second valve, of the hydration system, that provides for the onboard gas tank to be refilled when connected to the refill station housing.
The second valve can be a one-way valve, and an inlet to the onboard gas tank can be positioned at a bottom of the container assembly.
The gas intake assembly can include an engagement collar for positioning the container assembly on a refill station, and the engagement collar provided with at least one engagement mechanism for securing the container assembly to the refill station.
The at least one engagement mechanism can be at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) a threaded arrangement and (b) a twist-lock coupling; and the valve is a poppet valve that is openable in conjunction with the container assembly being positioned upon the refill station.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a container assembly can dispense additives and gas, the container assembly can include: (A) a tangibly embodied computer processor, the computer processor implementing instructions on a non-transitory computer medium disposed in a database, the database in communication with the computer processor; (B) a communication portion that interfaces between the computer processor and an electronic user device or other system; (C) the database; (D) a container having a known storage capacity for storing a liquid; (E) an additive dispensing assembly, the additive dispensing assembly dispensing variable, non-zero quantities of one or more additives into the liquid stored in the container; (F) one or more vessels that each contain one of the additives, of the one or more additives, to be dispensed into the liquid; and (G) a gas dispensing assembly, the gas dispensing assembly releasing a gas into the liquid stored in the container, and the gas dispensing assembly including: (a) an onboard gas tank; (b) a valve assembly; and (H) a gas outlet, and the valve assembly controlling flow of gas from the onboard gas tank, through the valve assembly, and to the gas outlet so as to output the gas into the liquid. The valve assembly, to perform the controlling the flow of gas, can be movable between (a) an open position, in which flow of gas is allowed to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet; and (b) a closed position in which the flow of gas is prevented to flow from the onboard gas tank to the gas outlet. The computer processor can perform processing including: identifying an event experienced by the container assembly; and based on such event, the gas dispensing assembly dispenses gas into the liquid stored in the container.
The event can be a push of a button provided on the container assembly so as to control the additive dispensing assembly to release gas into the liquid.
The event can be a user interfacing with the electronic user device so as to control the additive dispensing assembly to release gas into the liquid.
The event can be the additive dispensing assembly dispensing one of the additives; or the user physically interfacing with the container assembly; or the user interfacing with her electronic user device.
The computer processor can retrieve data, from the database regarding the event that was identified and associates such retrieved data with a data record.
The data record can include information regarding action items and/or attributes of action items that the computer processor is to perform in response to observation of the identified event.
The action item and/or an attribute of an action item can be at least one of duration of gas release, a sequence of pulses of gas release, a duration between pulses, strength of pulses regarding how much gas is released over a time, and timing of gas release.
The action item and/or an attribute of an action item can be a lag time between the observation of release of an additive and initiation of release of gas.
The release of gas can be constituted by a release of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and the release of carbon dioxide that results in a carbonated liquid in the container assembly.
Various features of the invention are described above. It is appreciated that the disclosure is illustrative and not limiting. In embodiments described above, the refill station 500 is powered either with AC electrical power or with battery power. However, the refill station 500 could be constructed without power or power requirements.
As described above, the refill tank 530 is provided with a pressure indicator 531. The pressure indicator 531 could be analog or digital, for example. The pressure indicator 531 could function without power.
Additionally, the container assembly 300 and the refill station 500 can include pressure indicators. For example, the refill station 500 could include a pressure indicator so as to indicate the pressure experienced by the refill station 500. The container assembly 300 can include a pressure indicator so as to indicate how much gas is left in the onboard gas tank 401.
In embodiments described above, the onboard gas tank 401 includes a single interior volume, cavity, or space, for example. However, the disclosure is not limited to such. The onboard gas tank 401 can include multiple volume, cavity, or spaces. Additionally, embodiments of the invention can include two or more onboard gas tanks 401, which could be provided to contain different types of gas, for example. The two or more onboard gas tanks 401 could be respectively filled utilizing off-center gas intake assemblies, such as is shown in
In accordance with embodiments, the gas release valve 413, as shown in
It should be appreciated that various seal rings, washers, O-rings, flanges, collars, threaded attachments, locking attachments, click lock attachments, twist lock couplings, sleeves, and other mechanical arrangements, for example, can be utilized so as to provide structure relied upon in practice of the disclosure.
The terms dispersion, dispensing, dispense, and other similar terms have been used herein to convey manipulation of a liquid or other material.
In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, a computer processing system of the invention can monitor different users that interact with the refill station 500 in refilling each users respective container assembly 300. For example, electronic indicia or tagging can be utilized such that the refill station 500 identifies which users bottle is being refilled on the refill station 500. Accordingly, communication between the refill station 500 and the container assembly 300 can utilize any known communication. For example, communication between the refill station 500 and the container assembly 300 can utilize NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology or protocols in communicating with each other.
Various patterns or schemes can be utilized such that the user can effectively communicate with the container assembly 300, as may be desired. For example, one push of a particular button could dictate to the container assembly 300 that additive should be released, where as to quick pushes of the particular button could dictate to the container assembly that gas should be released. Teachings of the above incorporated patent applications regarding user interface can be utilized in conjunction with the teachings described herein. Other features of the above incorporated patent applications can also be utilized in conjunction with the teachings described herein.
Embodiments of the disclosure, a computer processor of the container assembly 300 may provide information to the user regarding metrics associated with either gas or additives. For example, the computer processor can provide the user with information regarding how many carbon dioxide discharges are left, i.e., before the user has to refill. Such processing might be based on the pressure that is left in the onboard canister or gas tank, as described above.
It is appreciated that any of the computer processors described herein may utilize and/or have access to suitable databases. Such databases can store the various data utilized by or generated by the computer processors, for example.
Operation of the container assembly 300 may include inputting ambient conditions and affecting operations based on those ambient conditions. For example, such ambient conditions might include temperature or atmospheric pressure.
In embodiments of the invention, a refill tank 530 is utilized upon a refill station 500 so as to fill onboard gas tanks of container assemblies. In embodiments, the refill tank 530 itself can be connected to a further source of gas, such as a gas hose. In embodiments of the invention, the refill tank 530, after gas therein has been depleted, can simply be switched out with a full refill tank 530.
As described herein, illustrative gas or pneumatic arrangements are provided in systems and methods of the invention. Other known arrangements can be utilized in the invention such as known pipe or hose fittings, for example. Additionally, the refill station 500 is described herein, illustratively, is being a single unitary base. However in other embodiments of the invention, the refill station 500 can be separate, discrete units that are attached by hose or pipe, for example.
In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a different button can be provided on the container assembly or bottle for each of the additives and for each of the gases. In other embodiments, a same button can be used for additive and gas, with different touches resulting in different action being taken by the container assembly. For example, a quick tap on a button might result in a dispense of additive, where as to hold the button down results in a dispense of both additive and gas. A quick tap on a button might result in a dispense of gas, whereas to hold the button down results in a dispense of both additive and gas. A user can vary an amount or degree that a beverage is carbonated. In accordance with one embodiment, a system of the disclosure can monitor an amount of liquid in the container assembly and limit or constrain an input amount of gas based on such amount of liquid. Such can provide a benefit of precluding a beverage from being over carbonated. As otherwise described herein, additive can be dispensed before gas. Gas can be dispensed before additive. Additive and gas can be dispensed at the same time. The container assembly can output communications regarding any aspect of status of the container assembly.
It will be appreciated that features, elements and/or characteristics described with respect to one embodiment of the disclosure may be variously used with other embodiments of the disclosure as may be desired.
It will be appreciated that the effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects, which are not mentioned herein, will be apparent to those in the art from the disclosure and accompanying claims.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure and accompanying claims.
It is appreciated that the various components of embodiments of the disclosure may be made from any of a variety of materials including, for example, plastic, plastic resin, nylon, composite material, foam, rubber, wood, metal, and/or ceramic, for example, or any other material as may be desired.
A variety of production techniques may be used to make the apparatuses as described herein. For example, suitable injection molding and other molding techniques and other manufacturing techniques might be utilized. Also, the various components of the apparatuses may be integrally formed, as may be desired, in particular when using molding construction techniques. Also, the various components of the apparatuses may be formed in pieces and connected together in some manner, such as with suitable adhesive and/or heat bonding.
The various apparatuses and components of the apparatuses, as described herein, may be provided in various sizes and/or dimensions, as desired.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly on another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “onto” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly on another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. Examples include “attached onto”, “secured onto”, and “provided onto”. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly onto” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, “onto” and “on to” have been used interchangeably.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “attached to” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly attached to the another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “attached directly to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. It will be understood that such relationship also is to be understood with regard to: “secured to” versus “secured directly to”; “provided to” versus “provided directly to”; and similar language.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
Spatially relative terms, such as “lower”, “upper”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawing figures. It will be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of structures in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawing figures. For example, if a device in the drawing figures is turned over, elements described as “lower” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented “upper” relative the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, as otherwise noted herein, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect and/or use such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.
Embodiments are also intended to include or otherwise cover methods of using and methods of manufacturing any or all of the elements disclosed above.
As otherwise described herein, it is appreciated that a feature of one embodiment of the disclosure as described herein may be used in conjunction with features of one or more other embodiments as may be desired.
As used herein, “data” and “information” have been used interchangeably.
Any motorized structure as described herein may utilize gears, linkages, sprocket with chain, or other known mechanical arrangement so as to transfer requisite motion and/or energy.
Hereinafter, further aspects of implementation of the systems and methods of the disclosure will be described.
As described herein, at least some embodiments of the system of the disclosure and various processes, of embodiments, are described as being performed by one or more computer processors. Such one or more computer processors may be in the form of a “processing machine,” i.e. a tangibly embodied machine. As used herein, the term “processing machine” is to be understood to include at least one processor that uses at least one memory. The at least one memory stores a set of instructions. The instructions may be either permanently or temporarily stored in the memory or memories of the processing machine. The processor executes the instructions that are stored in the memory or memories in order to process data.
The set of instructions may include various instructions that perform a particular task or tasks, such as any of the processing as described herein. Such a set of instructions for performing a particular task may be characterized as a program, software program, code or simply software.
As noted above, the processing machine, which may be constituted, for example, by the particular system and/or systems described above, executes the instructions that are stored in the memory or memories to process data. This processing of data may be in response to commands by a user or users of the processing machine, in response to previous processing, in response to a request by another processing machine and/or any other input, for example.
As noted above, the machine used to implement the disclosure may be in the form of a processing machine. The processing machine may also utilize (or be in the form of) any of a wide variety of other technologies including a special purpose computer, a computer system including a microcomputer, mini-computer or mainframe for example, a programmed microprocessor, a micro-controller, a peripheral integrated circuit element, a CSIC (Consumer Specific Integrated Circuit) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or other integrated circuit, a logic circuit, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device such as a FPGA, PLD, PLA or PAL, or any other device or arrangement of devices that is capable of implementing the steps of the processes of the disclosure.
The processing machine used to implement the invention may utilize a suitable operating system. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure may include a processing machine running the Windows 10 operating system, the Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft Windows™ Vista™ operating system, the Microsoft Windows™ XP™ operating system, the Microsoft Windows™ NT™ operating system, the Windows™ 2000 operating system, the Unix operating system, the Linux operating system, the Xenix operating system, the IBM AIX™ operating system, the Hewlett-Packard UX™ operating system, the Novell Netware™ operating system, the Sun Microsystems Solaris™ operating system, the OS/2™ operating system, the BeOS™ operating system, the Macintosh operating system, the Apache operating system, an OpenStep™ operating system or another operating system or platform.
It is appreciated that in order to practice the method of the disclosure as described above, it is not necessary that the processors and/or the memories of the processing machine be physically located in the same geographical place. That is, each of the processors and the memories used by the processing machine may be located in geographically distinct locations and connected so as to communicate in any suitable manner. Additionally, it is appreciated that each of the processor and/or the memory may be composed of different physical pieces of equipment. Accordingly, it is not necessary that the processor be one single piece of equipment in one location and that the memory be another single piece of equipment in another location. That is, it is contemplated that the processor may be two pieces of equipment in two different physical locations. The two distinct pieces of equipment may be connected in any suitable manner. Additionally, the memory may include two or more portions of memory in two or more physical locations.
To explain further, processing is described above is performed by various components and various memories. However, it is appreciated that the processing performed by two distinct components as described above may, in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosure, be performed by a single component. Further, the processing performed by one distinct component as described above may be performed by two distinct components. In a similar manner, the memory storage performed by two distinct memory portions as described above may, in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosure, be performed by a single memory portion. Further, the memory storage performed by one distinct memory portion as described above may be performed by two memory portions.
Further, as also described above, various technologies may be used to provide communication between the various processors and/or memories, as well as to allow the processors and/or the memories of the disclosure to communicate with any other entity; i.e., so as to obtain further instructions or to access and use remote memory stores, for example. Such technologies used to provide such communication might include a network, the Internet, Intranet, Extranet, LAN, an Ethernet, or any client server system that provides communication, for example. Such communications technologies may use any suitable protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP, or OSI, for example.
As described above, a set of instructions is used in the processing of the invention on a processing machine, for example. The set of instructions may be in the form of a program or software. The software may be in the form of system software or application software, for example. The software might also be in the form of a collection of separate programs, a program module within a larger program, or a portion of a program module, for example. The software used might also include modular programming in the form of object oriented programming. The software tells the processing machine what to do with the data being processed.
Further, it is appreciated that the instructions or set of instructions used in the implementation and operation of the invention may be in a suitable form such that the processing machine may read the instructions. For example, the instructions that form a program may be in the form of a suitable programming language, which is converted to machine language or object code to allow the processor or processors to read the instructions. That is, written lines of programming code or source code, in a particular programming language, are converted to machine language using a compiler, assembler or interpreter. The machine language is binary coded machine instructions that are specific to a particular type of processing machine, i.e., to a particular type of computer, for example. The computer understands the machine language.
A suitable programming language may be used in accordance with the various embodiments of the disclosure. Illustratively, the programming language used may include assembly language, Ada, APL, Basic, C, C++, COBOL, dBase, Forth, Fortran, Java, Modula-2, Pascal, Prolog, REXX, Visual Basic, and/or JavaScript, for example. Further, it is not necessary that a single type of instructions or single programming language be utilized in conjunction with the operation of the systems and methods of the disclosure. Rather, any number of different programming languages may be utilized as is necessary or desirable.
Also, the instructions and/or data used in the practice of the invention may utilize any compression or encryption technique or algorithm, as may be desired. An encryption module might be used to encrypt data. Further, files or other data may be decrypted using a suitable decryption module, for example. As described above, the invention may illustratively be embodied in the form of a processing machine, including a computer or computer system, for example, that includes at least one memory. It is to be appreciated that the set of instructions, i.e., the software for example, that enables the computer operating system to perform the operations described above may be contained on any of a wide variety of media or medium, as desired. Further, the data that is processed by the set of instructions might also be contained on any of a wide variety of media or medium. That is, the particular medium, i.e., the memory in the processing machine, utilized to hold the set of instructions and/or the data used in the invention may take on any of a variety of physical forms or transmissions, for example. Illustratively, as also described above, the medium may be in the form of paper, paper transparencies, a compact disk, a DVD, an integrated circuit, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magnetic tape, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, a EPROM, a wire, a cable, a fiber, communications channel, a satellite transmissions or other remote transmission, as well as any other medium or source of data that may be read by the processors of the disclosure.
Further, the memory or memories used in the processing machine that implements the invention may be in any of a wide variety of forms to allow the memory to hold instructions, data, or other information, as is desired. Thus, the memory might be in the form of a database to hold data. The database might use any desired arrangement of files such as a flat file arrangement or a relational database arrangement, for example.
In the systems and methods of the disclosure, a variety of “user interfaces” may be utilized to allow a user to interface with the processing machine or machines that are used to implement the invention. As used herein, a user interface includes any hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software used by the processing machine that allows a user to interact with the processing machine. A user interface may be in the form of a dialogue screen for example. A user interface may also include any of a mouse, touch screen, keyboard, voice reader, voice recognizer, dialogue screen, menu box, list, checkbox, toggle switch, a pushbutton or any other device that allows a user to receive information regarding the operation of the processing machine as it processes a set of instructions and/or provide the processing machine with information. Accordingly, the user interface is any device that provides communication between a user and a processing machine. The information provided by the user to the processing machine through the user interface may be in the form of a command, a selection of data, or some other input, for example. As discussed above, a user interface is utilized by the processing machine that performs a set of instructions such that the processing machine processes data for a user. The user interface is typically used by the processing machine for interacting with a user either to convey information or receive information from the user. However, it should be appreciated that in accordance with some embodiments of the systems and methods of the disclosure, it is not necessary that a human user actually interact with a user interface used by the processing machine of the disclosure. Rather, it is also contemplated that the user interface of the invention might interact, i.e., convey and receive information, with another processing machine, rather than a human user. Accordingly, the other processing machine might be characterized as a user. Further, it is contemplated that a user interface utilized in the systems and methods of the disclosure may interact partially with another processing machine or processing machines, while also interacting partially with a human user.
It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present disclosure is susceptible to broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present disclosure other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present disclosure and foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the disclosure.
Accordingly, while the present disclosure has been described here in detail in relation to its exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made to provide an enabling disclosure of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed or to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any other such embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements.
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