Patent Application
20180354773
There are numerous retailers, distributors, and companies that attempt to target users with supplements, beverages, and other nutritional foods or drinks. However, most of these products are pre-made and generic to a certain population of users and/or for a certain purpose. For example, companies create sports drinks to assist the performance of a generic user during activities, and retailers sell smoothies that promote certain health benefits to a large population of users.
Embodiments of the disclosed technology will be described and explained through the use of the accompanying drawings.
Systems and methods for dispensing beverages, such as beverages based on pods of various mixtures (e.g., smoothies based on smoothie pods) are described. The systems and methods described herein provide a refrigerator integrated with a pod-based beverage dispenser, such as a smoothie dispenser, that makes beverages using the contents of a pod or cartridge, as well as water and/or ice from the refrigerator.
For example, a user inputs a selection on a refrigerator GUI presented by an external dispenser unit (e.g., a selection of water, ice, or smoothie). When smoothie is selected, the user selects the size of the smoothie (e.g., 8 oz, 12 oz, and so on), and inputs a smoothie pod, or cartridge, into the dispenser unit. The device extracts the contents of the pod (or cartridge) and mixes the contents of the pod with water and ice that is fed into the dispenser unit to provide water and ice to the mixture. The dispenser unit then dispenses the mixed smoothie in a cup positioned within or proximate to the dispenser unit.
Therefore, the systems and methods enable a refrigerator to provide pod-based beverages (e.g., smoothies) via dispenser units that often provide water and ice. The systems and methods may control water amounts, ice amounts, and so on, that are associated with requested smoothies, and may control the timing or order or providing ingredients to a smoothie being made, among other benefits.
In some cases, the pod-based dispenser units are part of, or integrated with, a refrigerator. In other cases, the pod-based dispenser units are retrofit or otherwise added to a refrigerator having a conventional dispenser unit (e.g., a unit that provides water and ice), utilizing existing water and ice lines within the refrigerator to provide water and ice when making the pod-based beverages.
The beverage pods, or smoothie pods, may be pods or cartridges containing specific mixtures of ingredients. For example, a pod may include a mixture of various freeze dried fruits (e.g., freeze dried bananas, strawberries, blueberries, mango, and so on), freeze dried vegetables (e.g., kale, spinach, beets, and so on), additive powders (e.g., protein powders, powdered greens), oils, seeds, supplements, flavors, and so on. In some cases, a pod may include a mixture of many different ingredients. In other cases, the pod may include one or more ingredients.
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present technology. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present technology may be practiced without some of these specific details.
The terminology used herein is to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific examples of the invention. Indeed, certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.
Further details regarding the systems, devices, methods, and routines will be described herein. The drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Similarly, some components and/or operations may be separated into different blocks or combined into a single block for the purposes of discussion of some of the embodiments of the present technology. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.
The refrigerator also includes a control unit 120, which may receive instructions associated with making a beverage from a cloud-based smoothie network component or server, and/or may control operation of the dispenser unit based on the received instructions or other stored instructions.
A water module 165, which receives water from the refrigerator 100, and/or an ice module 160, which receives ice from the refrigerator 100, deliver water and/or ice to the cup 115. A mixing device 150, such as a blender or other device configured to mix the contents (e.g., smoothie pod contents, ice, water, and so on), is configured to mix, blend, or otherwise generate a smoothie or other similar beverage within the cup 115.
A level detector 155 monitors the fluid level in the cup 115, and is controlled by the control unit 120, which, as described herein, is configured to coordinate the actions of the various components of the dispenser unit 110. For example, various programs or recipes may be downloaded or programed to the control unit 120.
The control unit 120, therefore, may utilize instructions stored in one or more databases when controlling operations of the shuttle module 140, the mixing device 150, the ice module 160, and/or the water module 165. For example, the following table, Table 1, represents a set of instructions stored or accessed by the control unit 120 when determining different quantities of water and/or ice to add to a smoothie.
For example, the control unit 120 performs various routines or methods, as instructed, that enable a user to manually control functions of the dispenser unit 110, such as selections of water or ice levels or combinations, and/or may run programs (e.g., “Smoothie Program Thin,” “Smoothie Program Thick,” and so on) which enable a user to start, after a pod 135 is inserted, to turn on a certain level of water and ice. These routines, as depicted in the Table, may include positioning the pod 135 via the pod shuttle 140 to flow water at high velocity through the pod 135, shuttling the pod out of the water, continuing to add ice and water at various times, controlling an optional mixer, and so on. Further, the control unit 120 may receive feedback from the fluid detector 155, and adjust various routines based on the feedback.
Further, the unit 120 may include a communication module 260 (e.g., WiFi, internet, 4G, 3G, Bluetooth, and so on) that is connected to the main bus 250 to receive and transmit information between the unit 120 and other networked devices or systems. Memory 270 is also connected to the bus 250 and stores controller software 272 to run the various programs that are stored in a programs DB (database) 274, such as programs represented by the information in Table 1.
In some embodiments, the dispenser unit 110 receives instructions, recommendations, and other information from various networked or cloud-based sources, such as a cloud-based recommendation system.
A recommendation system 340 may communicate with one or more pod-based refrigerators 310, 315, each of which having GUIs 312, 317, over a network 325. The recommendation system 340, which may be part of a beverage network server 330, includes and stores information that facilitates determining smoothies and other beverages to make for users based on various characteristics, attributes, or wants for the users.
For example, a beverage database 350 may include many different smoothie programs or beverage profiles for smoothies to be made by the refrigerators 310, 315, and a user database 355 may store information for users associated with the refrigerators 310, 315.
In addition, the recommendation system 340 may publish or make available one or more application programming interfaces (APIs), which are accessed by third party systems 360, such as online health programs, social media services, restaurants, and so on, in order to provide their customers and members with targeted smoothies via the recommendation system 330 and/or refrigerators 310, 315. Further details regarding operation of the recommendation system 340 may be found in related application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith, and entitled CUSTOMIZING BEVERAGE PROFILES FOR A USER, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Aspects of the systems can be embodied in a special purpose computing device or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions explained in detail herein. Aspects of the system may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks or modules are performed by remote processing devices, which are linked through a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Aspects of the systems may be stored or distributed on computer-readable media (e.g., physical and/or tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage media), including magnetically or optically readable computer discs, hard-wired or preprogrammed chips (e.g., EEPROM semiconductor chips), nanotechnology memory, or other data storage media. Indeed, computer implemented instructions, data structures, screen displays, and other data under aspects of the system may be distributed over the Internet or over other networks (including wireless networks), on a propagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., an electromagnetic wave(s), a sound wave, etc.) over a period of time, or they may be provided on any analog or digital network (packet switched, circuit switched, or other scheme). Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that portions of the system reside on a server computer, while corresponding portions reside on a client computer such as a mobile or portable device, and thus, while certain hardware platforms are described herein, aspects of the system are equally applicable to nodes on a network. In an alternative embodiment, the mobile device or portable device may represent the server portion, while the server may represent the client portion.
As described herein, he refrigerator 100, via the control unit 120, may perform various processes, operations, or methods when preparing smoothies for users.
In operation 410, the control unit 120 receives a user selection via a displayed GUI or manual control to make a smoothie. For example, the user may select one or more recommended smoothies displayed via the user interface 210 of the refrigerator 100.
In operation 420, the control unit 120 accesses a beverage program from a database based on the user selection. For example, the control unit 120 may access the programs database 274 and retrieve a beverage program or other set of instructions associated with the selected smoothie.
In operation 430, the control unit 120 causes the dispenser unit 110 to make the smoothie using the accessed beverage program. For example, the dispenser unit 110 receives a smoothie pod 135 and mixes specified amounts of water and ice to the contents of the pod 135 based on the program.
In operation 510, the system 340 receives information identifying a type of refrigerator and a requested beverage (or, user information), from the refrigerator. In operation 520, the system 340 identified one or more beverage programs associated with the refrigerator type (or, identifier) and the requested beverage. For example, the system 340 may access information stored in the beverage database 350 and/or user database 355 in order to determine whether a requesting refrigerator is capable of making a requested smoothie.
In operation 530, the system 340 transmits one or more identified beverage programs to the database 274, which is accessed by the control unit 120 to cause the dispenser unit to make an associated smoothie. Thus, in some embodiments, the refrigerator 100 may request one or more beverage programs from the recommendation system 330, which provides recommendations to an associated user via the user interface 210 of the dispenser unit 110.
In some cases, the control unit 120 may automatically detect a smoothie, and may automatically search for the program associated with making the smoothie. Further, once a smoothie is made, the control unit 120 may provide a cleaning program, where the dispenser unit 110 requests a cleaning cup or pod to be inserted, and the dispenser unit 110 performs various functions (running of water and ice) to clean the various components of the unit 110 and/or refrigerator 100.
Thus, in some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein provide a pod-based beverage dispenser, such as via a dispenser unit of a refrigerator. For example, a refrigerator may have a dispenser unit configured to dispense a beverage that includes a pod opening configured to receive a smoothie pod into the dispenser unit, a pod opener configured to open a received smoothie pod, a pod shuttle configured to position the opened smoothie pod within a pod chamber of the dispenser unit, and a pod chamber configured to mix contents extracted from the opened smoothie pod with water or ice supplied to the pod chamber from the refrigerator, and dispense a mixture of the smoothie pod contents and the water or ice into a cup positioned within the dispenser unit.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above Detailed Description of examples of the technology is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the technology are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the technology, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementations may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.
The teachings of the technology provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the technology. Some alternative implementations of the technology may include not only additional elements to those implementations noted above, but also may include fewer elements.
These and other changes can be made to the technology in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain examples of the technology, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the technology can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the technology to the specific examples disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the technology encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the technology under the claims.
To reduce the number of claims, certain aspects of the technology are presented below in certain claim forms, but the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the technology in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the technology is recited as a computer-readable medium claim, other aspects may likewise be embodied as a computer-readable medium claim, or in other forms, such as being embodied in a means-plus-function claim. Any claims intended to be treated under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) will begin with the words “means for”, but use of the term “for” in any other context is not intended to invoke treatment under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing this application to pursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in a continuing application.
This application claims priority to the following U.S. Provisional patent applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/296,814 filed on Feb. 18, 2016, entitled “PROVIDING A USER INTERFACE FOR CUSTOMIZING BEVERAGE PROFILES;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/296,844 filed on Feb. 18, 2016, entitled “REFRIGERATOR WITH POD-BASED BEVERAGE DISPENSER;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/296,851 filed Feb. 18, 2016, entitled “CUSTOMIZING BEVERAGE PROFILES TO USER SLEEP CYCLES;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/297,009 filed Feb. 18, 2016, entitled “RECOMMENDING MODIFICATIONS TO USER-CREATED BEVERAGE PROFILES;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/297,644 filed Feb. 19, 2016, entitled “CUSTOMIZING BEVERAGE PROFILES TO USER MENTAL ACUITY;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/297,711 filed Feb. 19, 2016, entitled “PORTABLE, POD-BASED SMOOTHIE MAKER;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/297,716 filed Feb. 19, 2016, entitled “CUSTOMIZING BEVERAGE PROFILES TO USER WELLNESS PROGRAMS;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/297,632 filed Feb. 19, 2016, entitled “CUSTOMIZING BEVERAGE PROFILES TO USER ACTIVITIES;” each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62297632 | Feb 2016 | US | |
| 62297644 | Feb 2016 | US | |
| 62296851 | Feb 2016 | US | |
| 62297716 | Feb 2016 | US | |
| 62296814 | Feb 2016 | US | |
| 62296844 | Feb 2016 | US | |
| 62297711 | Feb 2016 | US | |
| 62297009 | Feb 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2017/018512 | Feb 2017 | US |
| Child | 16105641 | US |
