Monitoring balance and distribution of fluid distribution systems to improve quality and efficiency.

Abstract

A beverage monitoring system is provided for use with a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser. The beverage monitoring system includes at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to a sensor assembly. The beverage monitoring system also includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to perform diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to monitoring the balance and distribution of fluid distribution systems to improve quality and efficiency. [Background technology]

[0002] Cross-reference to related applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 267,253, filed January 28, 2022, entitled "MONITORING FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BALANCING AND DISTRIBUTION TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY," and this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 16 / 797,790, filed February 21, 2020, entitled "MONITORING FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BALANCING AND DISTRIBUTION TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY," both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Field of the invention The present disclosure relates generally to monitoring balance and dispensing of fluid dispensing systems, and more particularly, for example, to draft beverage systems to diagnose potential problems, improve the quality of dispensed fluids, and improve the efficiency of the dispensing process. Prior art description

[0004] A fluid dispensing system dispenses fluid at a metered rate. One example of a fluid dispensing system is a draft beverage system installed in a bar, restaurant, etc. Draft beverage systems are used to dispense draft beverages, such as beer, cider, soda, juice, etc., from a tap. ·summary

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a beverage monitoring system is provided for use in a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser. The beverage monitoring system includes at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to a sensor assembly. The beverage monitoring system also includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to diagnose potential problems with the line or provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data. The cooler control and monitoring assembly monitors a cooler fan, monitors humidity within the cooler, and / or monitors air pressure within the cooler.

[0006] In a variant, the beverage monitoring system further comprises at least one flow sensor that applies ultrasound to monitor the flow.

[0007] In a variant, the at least one flow sensor includes a processor, an ultrasonic front-end processor, two ultrasonic transducers, and a temperature sensor.

[0008] In a variant, at least one flow sensor uses a time of flight mechanism to measure the flow rate of the dispensed beverage.

[0009] In a variant, the ultrasonic front-end processor sends an ultrasonic signal through the fluid passing through the channel from one ultrasonic transducer to the other ultrasonic transducer at a predetermined nominal speed in one direction along a signal path of a predetermined length, and then sends the ultrasonic signal back again in the opposite direction, such that the measured speed of the signal is increased or decreased from the nominal speed by the fluid flow speed depending on whether the signal is traveling with the flow or against the flow, such that the difference in signal travel time in each direction is directly correlated to the fluid flow speed.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment, at least one flow sensor provides data regarding pressure, temperature, and fluid flow within the beverage dispensing line.

[0011] In a variant, the beverage monitoring system further comprises at least one environmental sensor.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, at least one environmental sensor measures and monitors the ambient temperature of the cooler and the oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gas concentrations within the cooler.

[0013] In a variant, the beverage monitoring system further comprises at least one pressure sensor.

[0014] In a variant, the at least one pressure sensor measures the pressure directly in the beverage dispensing line in real time.

[0015] In a variation, the beverage monitoring system further comprises at least one carbon dioxide sensor.

[0016] In a variant, the beverage monitoring system further comprises at least one color sensor.

[0017] In a variant, the at least one color sensor is a photometer and / or a spectrophotometer.

[0018] In a variant, the at least one color sensor is integrated into the flow sensor.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, at least one color sensor determines the particular beverage passing through the beverage delivery line.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the beverage monitoring system further comprises a user interface that provides real-time keg levels so that an operator of the beverage system can monitor when a particular beverage is starting to get low and initiate a procedure for a replacement keg and move the replacement keg to the cooler.

[0021] In an alternative embodiment, the beverage monitoring system further comprises a user interface providing daily, weekly and / or monthly reports.

[0022] In a variant, the sensor assembly includes at least one flow sensor, at least one environmental sensor, at least one pressure sensor, and at least one color sensor.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the beverage monitoring system determines when the beverage dispensing line is to be cleaned.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the beverage monitoring system includes a glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly that monitors the level of glycol solution in the glycol cooling system, monitors the flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitors the viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measures a temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine the effectiveness of the beverage system.

[0025] In a variant, the beverage monitoring system comprises tracking devices affixed to the keg shells to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transition of keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells.

[0026] In one embodiment, the beverage monitoring system includes at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to a sensor assembly. The beverage monitoring system also includes a sensor assembly configured to diagnose potential line problems or provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data. The glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly monitors the level of glycol solution in the glycol cooling system, monitors the flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitors the viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measures a temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine the effectiveness of the beverage system.

[0027] In one embodiment, the beverage monitoring system comprises at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to a sensor assembly. The beverage monitoring system also comprises a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to perform diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data. Tracking devices are secured to the keg shells to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transition of keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells.

[0028] In one embodiment, the beverage monitoring system includes at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to the sensor assembly. The beverage monitoring system also includes a sensor assembly and a user interface. The user interface provides real-time keg levels so that an operator of the beverage system can monitor when a particular beverage is starting to get low and can initiate a response for a replacement keg and move the replacement keg to a cooler.

[0029] In one embodiment, a method for monitoring beverages in a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser comprises sensing a characteristic of a fluid in the beverage system, processing data generated based on the characteristic of the fluid sensed in the beverage system, monitoring a cooler fan, humidity in the cooler, and / or air pressure in the cooler, and performing diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems in the line or provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data.

[0030] In one embodiment, a method for monitoring beverages in a beverage system includes sensing a characteristic of a fluid in the beverage system, processing data generated based on the characteristic of the fluid sensed in the beverage system, monitoring a level of glycol solution in a glycol cooling system, monitoring a flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitoring a viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measuring a temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine beverage system effectiveness, and performing diagnostic processing to diagnose potential line problems or provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data.

[0031] In one embodiment, a method for monitoring beverages in a beverage system comprises sensing a characteristic of a fluid in the beverage system, processing data generated based on the characteristic of the fluid sensed in the beverage system, tracking keg shells to enhance cleaning processes, optimize transitions of keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keeping a record of the contents of various keg shells, and performing diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems in the line or provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data.

[0032] Other features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] Aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary beverage monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A illustrates a functional diagram of an exemplary local controller (gateway) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B]FIG. 2B is an external view of the example gateway of FIG. 2A in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A illustrates a functional diagram of an exemplary sensor assembly (eg, a beverage reporting unit (BRU)) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B illustrates an external view of the exemplary sensor assembly of FIG. 3A in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A illustrates a functional diagram of an exemplary flow sensor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B illustrates an external view of the example flow sensor of FIG. 4A in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the example flow sensor of FIG. 4B in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a beverage monitoring system. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows different types of beer differentiated by color according to the Standard Reference Method (SRM). [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the relationship between cooler temperature (-) and line temperature (----). [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used in the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used in the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used in the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used in the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used with the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used with the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used with the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used with the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used with the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 illustrates various user interfaces that may be used with the beverage monitoring system. [Figure 18A] FIG. 18A shows an exemplary daily report. [Figure 18B] FIG. 18B shows an exemplary daily report. [Figure 18C] FIG. 18C shows an exemplary daily report. [Figure 18D] FIG. 18D shows an exemplary daily report. [Figure 18E] FIG. 18E shows an exemplary daily report. [Figure 18F] FIG. 18F shows an exemplary daily report. [Figure 18G] FIG. 18G shows an exemplary daily report. [Figure 18H] FIG. 18H shows an exemplary daily report. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosure may be illustrated or described in a patent or patent content, including any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, any new and useful improvement thereof. As a result, aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of software and hardware, which may be generally referred to herein as "circuits," "modules," "components," or "systems." Additionally, aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of a computer program product by one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums for embodying computer-readable program code.

[0036] Any combination of one or more non-transitory computer readable media may be utilized. The non-transitory computer readable medium may be a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (non-exhaustive list) of computer readable storage media may include portable computer diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM" or flash memory), suitable optical fiber with repeaters, portable compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage device, magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this specification, a computer readable storage medium may be any non-transitory medium capable of storing or preserving a program for use by or in cooperation with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0037] A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal having computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may also be a computer-readable medium that can communicate, propagate, or transfer a program for use by or in cooperation with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device other than a computer-readable storage medium. Program code embodied on a computer-readable signal medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including, but not limited to, wireless, wired, fiber optic cable, RF, or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0038] Computer program code for carrying out operations of aspects of the present disclosure may be written in one or a combination of programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as JAVA, SCALA, SMALLTALK, EIFFEL, JADE, EMERALDR, C++, C#, VB.NET, PYTHON, C programming language, traditional procedural programming languages ​​such as VISUAL BASIC, FORTRAN® 2003, Perl, COBOL 2002, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages ​​such as PYTHON, RUBY, Groovy, or other programming languages. The program code may be executed entirely on a single computing device, partially on one computing device (such as a local computing device) and on another computing device (such as a remote computing device, such as a server in a data center or cloud computing device), or entirely on a remote computing device. In the case of multiple computing devices, the computing devices may be connected to each other via any type of network, including wired and / or wireless connections, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), the Internet using an Internet service provider, an intranet, a mobile network (e.g., a 3G network, a 4G network, or a 5G network conforming to 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications), or other network.

[0039] Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (e.g., systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Each block in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, may be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a computing device or other programmable data processing device such that the instructions, executed via a processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform the operations illustrated in the blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams. The processor may control one or more devices and / or one or more sensors described herein.

[0040] These computer program instructions may also be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, which, when executed, may direct instructions to a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other device to function in a particular manner. The non-transitory computer-readable medium, with the computer program instructions stored thereon, may generate a product including instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the operations illustrated in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded into a computer, other programmable instruction execution device, or other device to cause a series of operations to be performed on the computer, other programmable device, or other device. The instructions executing on the computer or other programmable device thereby provide a process that performs the operations illustrated in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks.

[0041] Embodiments of the present disclosure may monitor the flow of fluid to a dispensing unit, such as pouring draft beer from a tap, to, for example, improve the dispensing quality of the dispensed fluid, reduce waste and / or spillage, identify and reduce dispensing issues such as theft and waste by correlating flow data with POS data, and collect data for analysis, thereby improving efficiency and other business operation metrics. For example, a beer manufacturer produces beer with an intended amount of carbonation and foam. Certain embodiments described herein may use any of a variety of sensor technologies (e.g., optical, electromagnetic, ultrasonic) to characterize the characteristics of a beverage dispensing line and the flows therein (e.g., the presence and amount of air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or oxygen), such as the volumetric flow rate of the beverage in the line, the temperature of the beverage in the line, the cleanliness of the beverage line, the presence of undesirable materials in the line (e.g., beer stones, yeast, mold, bacteria), fluid deaeration, fluid viscosity, fluid density, fluid temperature, etc. Certain embodiments described herein may use the above characteristics along with other measurements collected from other sensors (e.g., measurements of environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, or pressure from an environmental sensor) to improve beverage dispense quality by providing feedback and alerts. Using this information, certain embodiments may identify quality issues with the pour of the beverage, such as whether there is too much foam, and determine potential causes of the quality issues, such as the temperature in the cooler or the pressure in the beverage line. In some embodiments, the sensor, such as an optical sensor and / or a light sensor, may be configured to detect and / or identify particulate matter, such as dust, pollen, glass, dirt, metal shavings, and other impurities in the fluid. As an example, particulate matter may be detected and / or identified based on the size of the particulate matter from the sensor readings. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor may be tuned to operate with a particular fluid. For example, the sensor may be tuned according to a predetermined color, carbonation level, viscosity, specific gravity, specific volume, specific gravity, pH, and other fluid properties. In addition to fluid calibration, the functionality of the sensor may be improved by calibration of certain environmental factors, such as line color and bar brightness. This is because environmental factors may affect the functionality of the sensor, for example, with respect to monitoring the color of the fluid.

[0042] Some embodiments may also improve and maintain the balance of the draft beverage system by integrating with dispensing system elements such as gas conditioning and blending systems. Additionally, some embodiments may correlate sensor-monitored flow and environmental data with POS information to detect beverage volume theft (e.g., volume poured but not sold) and improper pouring (e.g., waste) and evaluate business operations such as which beverages will bring in the highest revenue or profit or be judged quality in a particular situation or time frame. In this manner, some embodiments may improve business operations by identifying beverages whose sales are likely to improve business operation metrics.

[0043] In one example of a draft beverage system dispensing beer, an embodiment of the present disclosure may use an ultrasonic transducer to measure the flow rate of beer as it travels from the keg to the tap. By using an ultrasonic transducer, the disadvantages associated with traditional turbine flow meters and the disadvantages associated with more expensive or less accurate methods for measuring and monitoring flow rates may be avoided. The disadvantages of using turbine flow meters include their mechanical nature, e.g., moving parts subject to wear and failure, the need for periodic recalibration based on wear or changes in mechanical properties, and the tendency for dissolved gas concentrations to decrease in the measured fluid (i.e., out-gassing). Additionally, turbine flow meters designed for fluids are generally not suitable for partially or completely empty lines, often producing erroneous measurements and potentially being damaged in such cases. Electromagnetic flow measurements are relatively expensive and use more power than ultrasonic sensors, which can be powered by just a coin cell battery.

[0044] Certain embodiments described herein may include flow sensors through which the measured fluid flows. Although non-intrusive measurements are possible, they are generally inferior because the relevant engineering properties that affect the measurement (such as the speed of sound, which is material-dependent, or the cross-sectional area, which is geometry-dependent) typically vary with time and location, affecting the accuracy of the relevant measurements. For example, typical lines used to dispense draft beverages are flexible and will bend, compress, or deform when using a typical non-intrusive clamp-on meter. A consistent, quality-controlled, conditioned environment for such properties is provided by the sensor through which the fluid flows, resulting in a more accurate measurement.

[0045] Some embodiments are described with reference to a draft beverage system (e.g., carbonated beer dispensed from a keg stored in a cooler via a tap). Some embodiments are applicable to the dispensing of any carbonated beverage, non-carbonated beverage, or non-beverage fluid, such as nitro-infused coffee, carbonated soda, or water used in a manufacturing process, for which monitoring of temperature, pressure, flow rate, or other measurements described herein may be performed. Some embodiments described in this disclosure are provided as examples of embodiments only. Those skilled in the art should be able to readily understand that the embodiments include and are applicable to many other embodiments, not just those described herein, without departing from the examples herein.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an exemplary beverage monitoring system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates the beverage monitoring system 10 including a beverage system 100 for monitoring the balance and dispensing of beverages using a draft beverage system. According to the disclosed embodiment, the system 100 may include an installation location 102 (e.g., a bar or restaurant), an environmental control cabinet 104 (e.g., cooler, refrigerator) used to maintain desired environmental characteristics (e.g., temperature, pressure) of the dispensed beverages, and various dispensing elements. The various dispensing elements include a pressurized gas source 106, a pressurized gas regulator 108, a pressurized gas dispensing line 110, a beverage dispensing line 111, a beverage container 112 (e.g., a keg, cask, etc.), and a beverage dispenser 114 (e.g., a tap). The beverage monitoring system 10 performing the operations described herein may include one or more components local to the system 100 or one or more components remote from the system 100. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 may include a gateway 200 installed at the installation location 102 and data connections 113, 115, 117 to each of the beverage dispenser 114, the POS system 12, the pressurized gas regulator 108, the sensor assembly 300, the flow sensor 400 (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and 4C), and the environmental sensor 500 (see FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C). In addition to the flow sensor 400 and the environmental sensor 500, various other sensors may be integrated into the beverage monitoring system 10 to enhance the operation of the system 100, including, but not limited to, a pressure sensor 600, a carbon dioxide sensor 700, and / or a color sensor 800. The gateway 200 is connected to an off-site component 118 (e.g., a server device) via a network 116. The operation of the beverage monitoring system and / or devices or components are described in further detail elsewhere herein. As will be understood based on the disclosure below, the gateway 200, sensor assembly 300, flow sensor 400, environmental sensor 500 (including carbon dioxide sensor 700), pressure sensor 600, and / or color sensor 800 work in conjunction to collect, process, and distribute information regarding the operation of the draft beverage system.

[0047] 5, the data includes real-time readings related to the characteristics of the beverage flowing through the beverage dispensing line 111. The readings include, but are not limited to, line temperature, line pressure, line fluid volumetric flow rate, fluid color, fluid spectral characteristics, fluid degassing, and fluid flow rate. The data includes environmental values ​​related to the environment associated with the system 100. The environmental values ​​include, but are not limited to, air pressure within the storage cabinet 104, humidity within the storage cabinet 104, ambient temperature within the storage cabinet 104, ambient gas concentration within the storage cabinet 104, and the like. The data further includes sales information. As will be appreciated based on the disclosure below, this data is processed by the gateway 200 and optional off-site components 118 to generate information that is presented to the beverage system operator via various interfaces 900 to enable the beverage system operator to optimize the operation of the system 100.

[0048] One of the central goals of the beverage monitoring system 10 is to eliminate unnecessary waste, with a particular focus on mitigating quality-related waste. Simply put, quality-related waste is most easily addressed if beverage system operators are provided with the right tools: the granularity of data and real-time feedback that only the beverage monitoring system 10 can provide. Prior to the advent of the current beverage monitoring system 10, beverage system operators had no way to determine the frequency or magnitude of quality-related issues. Previously, their only option was to have the bartender report any foaming issues, but by the time the bartender reported something, it was often too late. Bartenders often wait until the situation becomes unbearable and interferes with their day-to-day operations before reporting it to a manager. One of the main ways in which the present beverage monitoring system differs from traditional draft beverage systems is its approach to specifically classifying where waste is occurring.

[0049] Many conventional draft beverage systems simply show % sold and % wasted and nothing more. In contrast, the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention goes a few steps further by providing a time breakdown of pour and sales volumes and separating them into six different categories: Human, Overpour, Underpour, Quality, Comp, and System (see Figures 18A-18H). Human waste is loss caused by improper Point of Sale (POS) use or improper draft beverage system use and is usually related to beer entry errors. Overpour and underpour are the inverse of each other and are derived through a matching algorithm that assigns individual pour and sales volumes together to determine actual and expected in terms of pour and sales volumes. Quality waste is loss caused by draft system balance issues and is specifically related to pours assigned to temperature or pressure flags.

[0050] In comp categories that fall under discounted or free sales, the beverage monitoring system 10 treats them as "waste" because the beverage system operator is selling the product but not receiving the full amount of revenue for it. Finally, the beverage monitoring system 10 generally considers losses associated with cleaning lines or replacing kegs to be unpreventable.

[0051] Because the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention monitors the environmental conditions of every single pour, it can provide customers with a frequency distribution of when, where, and what problems are being encountered. Often, temperature and pressure issues are intertwined, leading to a common cause-and-effect scenario where a bartender notices what appears to be a problem and adjusts the pressure regulator, only making the problem worse. The science of draft beer is relatively easy if you understand what you are doing and have the ability to get real-time feedback. However, if you make adjustments blindly, problems can quickly get out of control. For example, if a keg is kicked unexpectedly or space constraints force an operator to store the keg in a hallway or outdoors, the operator will be forced to pour a very bubbly, hot keg from the keg no matter what they do.

[0052] As will be described below with reference to the various user interfaces 900 depicted in Figures 18A-18H, the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention provides real-time keg levels, allowing the beverage system operator to monitor when a particular beverage is starting to get low and initiate temperature responses by moving a replacement keg to the cooler. Beverage system operators can look at the real-time temperature of the beverage delivery lines 111 in their applications to determine if they are experiencing high temperatures that tend to directly impact low pressure scenarios. These two variables are intricately related. If a single beverage distribution line 111 or a group of beverage distribution lines 111 are hotter than the others, depending on several factors such as whether a long draw or direct draw system is in use, the operator can make inferences such as the keg is hot and needs time to respond, the beverage distribution line 111 may not be properly wrapped by an insulated trunk, there is a hot spot in the beverage distribution line 111, or the glycol needs to be refilled / repaired.

[0053] All of the daily, weekly, and monthly reports (see, e.g., FIGS. 18A-18H) provided in accordance with the present beverage monitoring system 10 include a system health section that breaks down the percentage of pours for each beverage dispensing line 111 and whether the temperature and pressure were in low, normal, or high conditions. Beverage system operators can set temperature operational thresholds for each line and specify stricter or looser thresholds for flagging pours with temperature issues. These reports can be analyzed daily by hands-on managers utilizing the reports generated by the present beverage monitoring system 10. The reports generated by the beverage monitoring system 10 include a line identifier for each beverage, allowing managers to cross-reference beverages with high quality waste to problematic beverage delivery lines 111. Depending on issues observed in the health section of the beverage monitoring system 10 reports, operators can take action on those issues to mitigate the issues. Daily reports generated by the current beverage monitoring system 10 include an hourly breakdown of pour data and include an overlay that indicates what percentage of pours had underlying quality-related issues. This allows the beverage system operator to identify if the problem lasted all day or only for a short period of time. In taking action, the beverage system monitoring system 10 allows the beverage system operator to utilize these reports and utilize the application of the beverage monitoring system 10 in making adjustments to verify the operating conditions of the draft beverage system.

[0054] With the foregoing in mind and considering the detailed disclosure below, the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention provides the tools and data to enable beverage system operators to make informed business decisions. The reporting and consulting style of the beverage monitoring system 10 is intended to provide the beverage system operator with as much information as possible so that the operator can address issues with confidence. The beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention can be integrated with additional sensors and control systems to automatically correct issues such as cooler temperatures and line pressures.

[0055] As mentioned above, Figure 1 is provided as an example, other examples are possible according to the present embodiment.

[0056] FIG 2A illustrates a functional diagram of an exemplary local controller, e.g., gateway 200, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, FIG 2A illustrates the beverage monitoring gateway 200 described in FIG 1. In this embodiment, the gateway 200 monitors and collects environmental and flow metrics during the dispensing of beverages from the taps, acts as a router between various devices, and acts as a gateway between devices onsite at the installation location 102 and devices offsite, such as the offsite component 118. The gateway 200 is connected to a draft beverage system. For example, a keg of beer is stored in a cooler and flows through a line from the keg to the tap before being dispensed from the tap. The gateway 200 may include a processor 201, a network interface 202 connected to a dispenser 114 (e.g., a tap) via connection 113, a network interface 204 connected to a sensor assembly 300 via connection 117, an audio / visual control network interface 206 connected to a disc jockey (DJ) or other audio / visual booth at the installation location 102, an interface 208 for serial communications, and an Ethernet network interface 210.

[0057] The gateway network interfaces 202, 204, 206, and 210 are individually controlled and signaled to reduce packet delays. The gateway 200 acts as a router between the three network interfaces. The gateway 200 receives data from the sensor network via network interface 204 and processes the data to determine if a pour has been initiated. It then transmits that information to the tap network via network interface 202. This allows the tap 114 to visually indicate the amount poured, and in one embodiment, the tap 114 automatically closes once the selected amount has been poured. The gateway 200 may implement an alternative communication interface, such as a cellular network modem, to provide connectivity when wired or wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi) is not available or is not desired.

[0058] The gateway 200 communicates with each tap via the tap network interface 202. Each tap 114 may be daisy-chained. The taps 114 may be externally powered. The gateway 200 knows which tap 114 has requested a pour and prioritizes the associated flow measurement packets so that the tap 114 has real-time, low-latency data that is used to control the valves in the tap. For example, if three of the fifteen taps 114 are actively pouring beer, their traffic streams will be prioritized over the data (e.g., the gateway 200 only needs to bridge the traffic of the three active taps from the sensor network to the tap network while caching the other data of the unused taps 114). This configuration has various advantages, since data delays can lead to uncertainties and errors regarding the amount of beer poured. Reducing latency can correspondingly reduce pour uncertainties and errors. As an example of this, an increase in the delay time between collecting a flow measurement and delivering the measurement to the tap 114 for controlling the valve of the tap 114 may result in an increase in over-pouring of a beverage. As a result, the gateway 200 in an embodiment may reduce waste and save costs incurred as a result of over-pouring.

[0059] The audio / visual network interface 206 is used to synchronize a lighting control system with the draft beer taps 114 and to coordinate other special and audio / visual effects. For example, the gateway 200 may provide data to activate a lighting device or play music when a particular tap 114 is in use. Additionally or alternatively, this network interface may be used to activate a light or sound alarm if a particular problem is detected by the beverage monitoring system 10, as described elsewhere herein. Figure 2B illustrates an external view of the example gateway 200 of Figure 2A in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] As mentioned above, Figures 2A and 2B are provided as an example, and other examples are possible according to the present embodiment.

[0061] FIG. 3A illustrates a functional diagram of an exemplary sensor assembly (e.g., beverage reporting unit (BRU)) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates a diagram of a sensor assembly 300 of the beverage monitoring system 10. The sensor assembly 300 may house sensors and provide and process locally collected data to the gateway 200 for further processing. The sensor assembly 300 includes a processor 301, a sensor network interface 204 (e.g., for connecting upstream toward the gateway 200 and downstream toward the next daisy-chained sensor assembly 300, if present), one or more flow sensors 400, one or more environmental sensors 500, one or more pressure sensors 600, and one or more color sensors 800. Briefly, as described in more detail below, the flow sensor 400 provides data regarding pressure, temperature, and fluid flow within the beverage dispensing line 111. The environmental sensor 500 provides data regarding environmental conditions within a cooler in which the beverage is stored. This includes, but is not limited to, air pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, and concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other ambient gases. The pressure sensor 600 directly measures the pressure in the beverage dispensing line 111 in real time, and / or the color sensor 800 provides optical information regarding the color characteristics of the beverage to confirm operational information. The data collected is used to provide the operator with important insights regarding the operation of the beverage system.

[0062] Although two flow sensors 400, two environmental sensors 500, two pressure sensors 600, one carbon dioxide sensor 700, and two color sensors 800 are shown in FIG. 3A, any suitable number of sensors may be used depending on the number of fluid beverage dispensing lines 111 to be measured. For example, a bar may have eight taps (eight beverage supply lines). In the disclosed embodiment, the sensor assembly 300 includes eight flow sensors 400, eight pressure sensors 600, and eight color sensors 800. To accommodate additional flow sensors 400, pressure sensors 600, and color sensors 800, the sensor assembly 300 may be connected to one or more other sensor assemblies 300 via a suitable sensor network interface 204 (e.g., upstream or downstream). The number of flow sensors 400, pressure sensors 600, and color sensors 800 corresponds to the number of fluid beverage dispensing lines 111 to be specifically measured. This typically corresponds to the number of taps or distribution units, but may involve more complex configurations using line splitters. This embodiment includes one flow sensor 400, one pressure sensor 600, and one color sensor 800 per tap or distribution unit. Figure 3B shows an external view of the exemplary sensor assembly of Figure 3A according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] As mentioned above, Figures 3A and 3B are provided as an example, and other examples are possible according to the present embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 4A illustrates a functional diagram of an exemplary flow sensor 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 4A illustrates a diagram of the flow sensor 400. The flow sensor 400 includes a processor 401, an ultrasonic front-end processor 402, two ultrasonic transducers 404, and a temperature sensor 406. The ultrasonic front-end processor 402 communicates with the processor 401 via a flow pulse interface. In alternative embodiments, the ultrasonic front-end processor 402 may communicate with the processor 401 via serial data communication and / or pulse width modulation (PWM), or any combination of these methods. PWM of the flow rate may be able to transmit flow data with higher resolution and lower latency than a simple pulse flow interface. A serial data interface may be able to transmit flow and other measurement data much faster and with lower latency than a simple pulse flow or PWM interface.

[0065] As will be described in more detail below, in an example embodiment, the flow sensor 400 includes two ultrasonic transducers 404 and uses a time of flight mechanism to measure the flow rate of the dispensed beverage. The ultrasonic front-end processor 402 transmits an ultrasonic signal from one ultrasonic transducer 404 to the other ultrasonic transducer 404 at a predetermined nominal speed in one direction along a signal path of a predetermined length 440 through the fluid 420 passing through a channel 450, and then transmits the ultrasonic signal back again in the opposite direction. The measured speed of the signal is increased or decreased from the nominal speed by the flow rate of the fluid depending on whether the signal is traveling with the flow or against the flow, so that the difference in the signal travel time in each direction can be directly correlated to the flow rate of the fluid. According to the disclosed embodiment, the sensor 400 and the gateway 200 cooperate to detect the flow rate and the time difference between the leading and trailing edges of the flow, and this information is transmitted to the off-site component 118 where the volume is calculated. However, the sensing and calculations may be performed in other parts of the system. As an example of this embodiment, compensation for the effects of different temperatures, different alcohol concentrations, or different compositions (as characterized by their spectral signatures) on the nominal speed of sound in the fluid may be incorporated.

[0066] Specifically, the flow velocity is calculated as follows: The ultrasonic front-end processor 402 transmits an ultrasonic signal from the first ultrasonic transducer 404a to the second ultrasonic transducer 404b through the fluid 420 passing through the channel 450 at a predetermined nominal velocity along a signal path of a predetermined length 440. The ultrasonic front-end processor 402 transmits an ultrasonic signal from the second ultrasonic transducer 404b to the first ultrasonic transducer 404a through the fluid 420 passing through the channel 450 at a predetermined nominal velocity along a signal path of a predetermined length 440. The measured velocity of the signal is increased or decreased from the nominal velocity by the fluid flow velocity depending on whether the signal is traveling with the flow or against the flow, so that the difference in signal travel time in each direction directly correlates to the initial setting of the fluid flow velocity.

[0067] The initial fluid flow setting is then adjusted based on known characteristics of the sensed fluid, such as temperature, different alcohol concentrations, or different compositions (as characterized by the spectral signature), to arrive at a flow rate for the sensed fluid.

[0068] FIG. 4B illustrates an external view of the exemplary flow sensor 400 of FIG. 4A according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary flow sensor 400 of FIG. 4B according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, highlighting the ultrasonic signal path. As shown in FIG. 4C, the first ultrasonic transducer 404 and the second ultrasonic transducer 404 may be positioned relative to each other to establish a signal path between them through the monitoring fluid. Taking into account the material properties of the components traversed by the signal path (i.e., the transducer mount 410, the walls of the fluid channel 450, the monitoring fluid 420), the first ultrasonic transducer 404 and the second ultrasonic transducer 404 may be piezo transducers operating in the range of 100 kHz to 5 MHz. In an embodiment, the sensor may be positioned inside the tap or inside the distribution unit itself.

[0069] In addition to providing information regarding the measured flow rate as described above, the ultrasonic transducer 404 of the present disclosure also provides a baseline signal quality metric under normal operating conditions. For example, the transducer provides a baseline signal strength when the channel 450 is filled with beer or other liquid 420, or when the channel 450 is substantially filled with beer or other liquid 420. If the signal strength drops, that drop can be used to determine the amount of air or other gas in the beverage dispensing line 111.

[0070] As an example, the baseline signal quality metrics are applied to a rule-based evaluation system that is executed each time a pore (a collection of samples and population statistics) or heartbeat (a single sample) is received. For purposes of this disclosure, the evaluation system is described as being executed each time an injection is received.

[0071] Each time a poa is received, the following process is carried out: (1) The type of event (e.g., pour or heartbeat) and the event's ID are sent to a queue for asynchronous processing (to prevent long-running rules from slowing down processing). (2) The message queued in step 1 is received and some data items are retrieved. Window: The pore and the latest value (greater than 0) for this sensor. Variable: A specific numerical value, e.g. number of samples, average sample volume, standard deviation of sample signal intensity, Z-score of the average sample volume of this pore compared to the sample volume within a defined window. (3) The data from step 2 is evaluated based on the stored rules. (4) The result of step 3 (true or false) is used to initiate an action based on the stored rules (e.g., setting pore conditions, archiving the pore).

[0072] For example, if the standard deviation of the sample signal intensity is between 50 and 75, a "low pressure" condition exists and is set for injection. This condition is used in downstream analysis in evaluating the waste characteristics.

[0073] The decision criteria signal quality metric is used to notify bar staff that the draft beverage system may be out of balance, that an attached keg may be empty, or that there may be a leak in the beverage dispensing line 111 or other problem with the gas supply. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 may perform this determination and output a notification to a POS system or another computing device, trigger an alarm, or turn on a light. Based on other sensor data points, the beverage monitoring system 10 may identify the cause of the unbalanced condition. For example, if the detected temperature and flow rate are in specification (i.e., as desired) and the detected ambient pressure in the cabinet 104 is low, then the draft beverage system pressurization should be increased. As another example, if the detected temperature is higher than specification, then the environmental control (e.g., thermostat) should be used to reduce the temperature and the draft beverage system pressurization should be reduced until the temperature reaches specification. The present disclosure distinguishes between a decrease in signal strength or signal quality (e.g., indicative of air bubbles) and a complete loss of signal or a degradation of the signal below a predetermined threshold (e.g., indicative of an empty beverage dispensing line 111). In this embodiment, the beverage monitoring system 10 determines whether a container, such as a keg, is empty. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 may determine that a keg is empty by detecting a threshold amount of gas in the beverage dispensing line 111, the size of the keg, etc.

[0074] In conjunction with identifying when a keg is empty, the beer line may be provided with a solenoid that closes immediately adjacent to the keg, eliminating the need for the ball valves currently used, which, when a keg is emptied, require the beer line to be purged before another keg can be installed and beer flow resumed.

[0075] In various embodiments, the beverage monitoring system 10 determines when the beverage distribution line 111 is to be cleaned. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 determines that the beverage dispensing line 111 is being cleaned based on a particular flow pattern and / or composition of the fluid in the beverage dispensing line 111. Additionally, in this embodiment, the beverage monitoring system 10 monitors the filling of containers and / or bottles at the dispensing location. According to this embodiment, the beverage monitoring system 10 doses one or more chemicals into the fluid to achieve a particular concentration of the chemicals in the fluid.

[0076] In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 406 is a semiconductor temperature sensor, a thermocouple, a non-contact infrared sensor, or a similar device secured to the inside or outside of the sensor pipe using adhesive or other suitable attachment mechanisms. Data monitored by the temperature sensor 406 may be collected simultaneously with the flow data from the flow sensor 400 and may be collected first by the sensor assembly 300 and then forwarded to the gateway 200. These data may be reported to the off-site component 118 for storage and further analysis.

[0077] Additionally, as described in more detail herein, the flow sensor 400 may incorporate other sensing mechanisms, such as a pressure sensor 600 and a color sensor 800. The flow sensor may further include any combination of illumination sources, optical sensors, multi-channel spectral sensors, and / or lasers to monitor various aspects of the color of the beverage, the spectral characteristics of the beverage, or to identify air or other gases passing through the beverage dispensing line 111. For example, an illumination source may illuminate the beverage as it flows through the beverage dispensing line 111, and an optical sensor, multi-channel spectral sensor, laser, or the like may be used to determine changes in the flowing beverage (e.g., changes in the keg), cleanliness of the line compared to a baseline, the presence of beer stones, gases present, and the like. In another embodiment, these same sensors may be used to apply active and / or passive spectroscopy techniques to further analyze the characteristics of the beverage passing through the sensor. For example, the flow sensor 400 may utilize spectroscopy techniques to analyze contaminants in the beverage or to assess the composition of the beverage. In another embodiment, an acoustic sensor may gather additional characteristics of the fluid (e.g., density) to perform additional analysis, such as deriving the alcohol concentration. In other embodiments, spectral analysis techniques (based on comparison with or inference from pre-determined spectral characteristics of other fluids) can be used to characterize the fluid passing the sensor and automatically adjust specific tuning parameters for the particular fluid being dispensed. It can also warn that the actual contents of the keg may differ from the expected contents of the keg (e.g., drawing stout beer from the keg when the system is expecting lager).

[0078] The sensor assembly 300 includes one or more environmental sensors 500. The environmental sensors 500 measure and monitor the air pressure, humidity, and / or ambient temperature of the cooler, as well as the concentration of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gases within the cooler (e.g., to promote employee safety and prevent asphyxiation in the event of a major gas leak). For example, the environmental sensors may promote employee safety in various ways (e.g., trigger an alarm within the cooler, activate a motor to open a vent within the cooler, turn on a fan, etc.) based on the detected ambient gas concentration. The beverage monitoring system 10 may, based on the air pressure, calculate the gas pressurization adjustment required to properly balance the draft beverage system and maintain a desired amount of dissolved gas in the beverage, determine the amount of adjustment of one or more mechanical components required to make the gas pressurization adjustment, and trigger the operation of one or more mechanical components (e.g., send instructions to one or more mechanical components) to make the gas pressurization adjustment. In this embodiment, the gas regulator 108 is connected to the gateway 200 via a control network interface (not shown with respect to the gateway 200) and connection 115, allowing remote operation. For example, the gas pressure in the beverage dispensing line 111 may be remotely adjusted without the need for a technician to physically adjust the gas pressure, improving beverage dispensing performance and quality.

[0079] As mentioned above, the beverage monitoring system 10 includes a pressure sensor 600, a carbon dioxide sensor 700, and / or a color sensor 800. These sensors are described in more detail below.

[0080] According to the disclosed embodiment, the pressure sensor 600 is a commonly available pressure transducer integrated into the beverage dispensing line 111. According to the disclosed embodiment, the pressure transducer 600 is integrated into the flow sensor 400, however, the pressure transducer 600 can be located at various locations in the beverage monitoring system 10. The integration of the pressure transducer 600 allows for measurement of real-time data regarding the force (e.g., in pounds per square inch (PSI)) applied to a particular surface of the individual beverage delivery line 111. The ability to monitor PSI is useful in assisting customers in diagnosing and resolving pressure-related issues in the draft beverage system. Additionally, the measurement of real-time data regarding the PSI of the individual beverage delivery line 111 is utilized for signal quality metric evaluation.

[0081] The specific action recommendations to be taken based on the measurement of real-time data regarding the PSI of the individual beverage dispensing lines 111 will be determined by the type of gas system, i.e., whether it is strictly carbon dioxide or mixed gas. While there are general recommendations for certain types of beer, there are several variables involved in balancing a draft beverage system, and it is not possible to establish a blanket answer that says, when an operator sees "X," set the pressure to "Y."

[0082] Also provided is a carbon dioxide sensor 700 and an alarm 710. Carbon dioxide leakage is known to cause economic losses and safety hazards. The beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention addresses these issues by integrating a carbon dioxide sensor 700 and an alarm 710. The carbon dioxide sensor 700 is typically located in a cooler, where kegs and a source of carbon dioxide are stored. With the addition of the carbon dioxide sensor 700 to either the BRU cabinet 104 or the cooler, the beverage monitoring system 10 will alert the beverage system operator when the colorless, odorless, tasteless carbon dioxide gas reaches dangerous levels, which can be fatal to humans with prolonged exposure.

[0083] According to the disclosed embodiment, multiple carbon dioxide sensors 700 are placed in the cooler at the cabinet level. Placing multiple carbon dioxide sensors 700 at the cabinet level is important because the entire cooler does not need to be filled with carbon dioxide to avoid adverse effects from exposure. Unfortunately, regulations mandating the addition of carbon dioxide sensors are virtually non-existent and are often ignored to reduce costs. Carbon dioxide leaks not only pose a safety threat to employees and contractors who may be inside the cooler, but also result in significant economic losses. If a leak causes the entire carbon dioxide system to deplete, the beverage system operator must order replacement / refills of carbon dioxide cylinders, in addition to lost revenue during the period the beverage system operator is unable to serve draft products.

[0084] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets exposure limits for gases in the workplace. For carbon dioxide, OSHA sets exposure limits of 5,000 ppm for eight hours and 30,000 ppm for ten minutes. When carbon dioxide concentrations increase to 30,000 ppm, people may experience deeper breathing, decreased hearing, headaches, elevated blood pressure, and increased pulse rate.

[0085] In accordance with the disclosed embodiments of the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention, a photometer and / or a spectrophotometer is used as the color sensor 800. Although, in the disclosed embodiments, the color sensor 800 is integrated into the flow sensor 400, the color sensor 800 may be located in various locations in the beverage monitoring system 10.

[0086] The addition of the color sensor 800 provides further insight into the optimal operation of the draft beverage system. For example, information extracted from the color sensor 800 can identify the particular beverage passing through the beverage delivery line 111. According to the disclosed embodiments, this is accomplished through application of the Standard Reference Method (SRM). SRM is a standard method used by brewers to designate the color of beer. According to SRM, the attenuation of light of a particular wavelength (e.g., in the infrared range of 300 nm to 700 nm, specifically 430 nm) is measured as the light passes through the beer. The measured attenuation is correlated to a particular type of beer.

[0087] 6, each beer type has a specific color range and this information, although not universally the same for all beer types within a particular classification, is very useful for optimizing the operation of the present beverage monitoring system 10. Furthermore, the color sensor 800 not only allows the beverage system operator to see in real time the specific beverages passing through the beverage delivery line 111, but also allows the color sensor 800 to detect when changes and / or deviations occur in the specific beverages passing through the beverage delivery line 111, indicating events such as keg changes or line cleaning.

[0088] Data extracted from color sensor 800 may also be combined with other sensors and data collected by the present beverage monitoring system 10 to provide more robust processing tailored to a particular beverage. For example, beverage monitoring system 10 may detect that a beer has been changed and a beverage system operator enters a new beer by brand (e.g., Bud Light) into the beverage monitoring system 10 app. However, color sensor 800 may identify that the color of the new beer is closer to a stout. The beverage monitoring system 10 may inform the beverage system operator that the wrong beer may have been entered into the beverage monitoring system 10 app or that the wrong beer may be connected to the beverage distribution line 111.

[0089] The beverage monitoring system is further enhanced by integrating certain functionality into the cooler. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 includes a cooler control and monitoring assembly 1000 that, among other things, monitors the cooler fan, monitors the humidity within the cooler, and monitors the air pressure within the cooler. By providing a cooler control and monitoring assembly 1000 that specifically monitors the cooler fan, the beverage monitoring system of the present invention is able to maintain a service history, monitor ongoing system health, identify trends, and provide customer feedback regarding the general operation and performance of the cooler. Integrating the cooler control and monitoring assembly 1000 with the beverage monitoring system 10 can determine if the cooling cycle is deviating from normal, indicating a problem or anomaly with the draft beverage system.

[0090] As previously mentioned, the cooler control and monitoring assembly 1000 includes a sensor 1002 for monitoring air pressure within the cooler. Measurements of the BRU air pressure are applied to determine if there is a deviation in the operation of the cooler. Measurements of the BRU air pressure are also applied to alert a beverage system operator that the cooler is not working, that scheduled maintenance is overdue, or that maintenance is required to correct a problem.

[0091] In addition to specifically monitoring beer coolers, the cooler control monitoring assembly 1000 is particularly useful for multi-purpose coolers where tracking of maintenance logs can provide important insights. For example, by integrating the cooler control monitoring assembly 1000 with the beverage monitoring system 10, the beverage system operator is provided with an alert if the shared cooler (food + draft beverages) is operating outside of defined parameters (e.g., seafood needs to be kept below a certain temperature, humidity needs to be kept within a certain range). By integrating the cooler control monitoring assembly 1000 with the beverage monitoring system 10, an alert is further provided to the beverage system operator if the cooler door is left open. With the above in mind, the cooler control monitoring assembly 1000 provides the functionality to alert the beverage system operator if the cooler is not operating, is overdue for scheduled maintenance, or requires maintenance to correct an issue. Introducing the aforementioned insights into daily / weekly / monthly reports provides context as to when and why quality related issues occur in the reports.

[0092] The graph in Figure 7 shows the relationship between the cooler temperature (solid line) and the line temperature (dashed line). Note the periodic oscillation in which the cooling fan operates to lower the temperature and then repeats.

[0093] The beverage monitoring system 10 provides monitoring of a glycol cooling system that is commonly employed in long draw beer systems. Similar to the integration of the beverage monitoring system 10 with the cooler control and monitoring assembly 1000, the glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly 1100 is integrated with the glycol cooling system to ensure that the long draw beer system is operating optimally. Specifically, the glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly 1100 monitors the level of glycol solution in the glycol cooling system, monitors the flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitors the viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measures the temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine the effectiveness of the draft beverage system. These measurements are made at various locations throughout the beverage system 100.

[0094] Additionally, it is well known that glycol cooling systems require periodic maintenance, and the glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly 1100 tracks when maintenance is due for various components, including but not limited to glycol level, condenser fins, air flow, and mains insulation.

[0095] By introducing the aforementioned insights generated by the glycol cooling control monitoring assembly 1100 into the daily / weekly / monthly reports, the reports are provided with context as to when / why quality related issues exist.

[0096] The beverage monitoring system 10 may further include an automatic carbon dioxide regulator system that provides a control mechanism that works in conjunction with the pressure transducer. When integrated, a carbon dioxide regulator system provides a valve or actuator that directly interfaces with the pressure regulator and can make adjustments to the draft beverage system based on various metrics (flow rate, pressure, temperature, signal quality, etc.) observed by the beverage monitoring system 10. The carbon dioxide regulation system also knows when an "event" has occurred, such as a line being cleaned or a keg being replaced, so that erroneous adjustments cannot be made that would result in undesirable results.

[0097] According to the disclosed embodiments, information generated by the flow sensor 400, the environmental sensor 500, the pressure sensor 600, the carbon dioxide sensor 700, and the color sensor 800, as well as the beverage dispenser 114, the pressurized gas regulator 108, the POS system 12, the cooler control and monitoring assembly 1000, and the glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly 1100, is combined and processed to provide insight into the operation of the draft beverage system and ultimately optimize operation.

[0098] As discussed above, the flow sensor 400 provides specific information regarding flow rate, fluid temperature, signal quality metrics, changes in the beverage flowing (e.g., keg changes), line cleanliness compared to baseline, presence of beer stones, gases present, fluid density, alcohol percentage, etc. The environmental sensor 500 provides specific information regarding cooler air pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, and concentration of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other ambient gases. The beverage dispenser 114 provides specific information regarding pouring. The pressurized gas regulator 108 provides specific information regarding gas pressure within the system. The POS system 12 provides specific information regarding sales.

[0099] With this information in hand, the beverage monitoring system determines a wide range of operator parameters and whether the draft beverage system is operating properly. One of the biggest problems faced in serving beer is foamy beer and the associated waste. In the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention, this commercial problem is addressed using information generated by the pressure sensor 600, carbon dioxide sensor 700, and color sensor 800, as well as the beverage dispenser 114, pressurized gas regulator 108, POS system 12, cooler control and monitoring assembly 1000, and glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly 1100, in combination with computer-based algorithms.

[0100] As one example, the environmental sensor 500 determines whether there is condensation or abnormal moisture levels in the cooler (e.g., uncontrolled air is reaching the cooler through holes or an open door in the cooler) or whether there is a difference between the temperature of the cooler measured by the environmental sensor 500 and the temperature of the beer measured by the flow sensor 400 or the environmental sensor 500 (e.g., the beer is not cooled enough to reach thermal equilibrium with the cooler). In this case, too much foam will be poured (e.g., wasted). As another example, the beverage monitoring system may know that a full keg contains enough beer to pour 60 pints of beer, but upon accessing the POS system 12, the beverage monitoring system 10 may determine that only 50 pints of beer were recorded for sale by the time the keg was empty. The beverage monitoring system 10 uses data from the flow sensor 400, the temperature sensor 406 (associated with the flow sensor 400), and the environmental sensor 500 to analyze and determine if conditions exist that would result in a foamy beer, and output this information to a computer (such as a computer associated with a manager or bartender) to help prevent future waste. Additionally or alternatively, the beverage monitoring system 10 monitors for the occurrence of similar conditions and triggers an alarm or output notification indicating that the environmental conditions that previously led to waste are once again present. In this embodiment, the beverage monitoring system 10 determines the flow rate, temperature, or environmental factor changes (e.g., increasing / decreasing the temperature or humidity of a cooler or other room) required to prevent waste, and outputs this information or activates one or more flow distribution devices or environmental control devices to adjust these measurements. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 may turn an air conditioner or heater on / off (or adjust a thermostat), turn a humidifier or dehumidifier on / off, etc.

[0101] Alternatively, if analysis of the data from flow sensor 400, temperature sensor 406, and environmental sensor 500 indicates conditions that would prevent foam or other waste, beverage monitoring system 10 may determine that someone is pouring beer without paying for it or pouring it incorrectly, and output this information to a computer (e.g., a bar manager's computer). In this manner, detection and prevention of theft and waste may be readily achieved in this embodiment.

[0102] Other examples of sensor-embedded control are possible. For example, a temperature sensor 406 measuring the temperature of the liquid in the beverage dispensing line 111 may incorporate control over the temperature of a cooler from which the fluid flows, or may include another control mechanism to regulate the temperature of the liquid in the beverage dispensing line 111. The inclusion of a controller in combination with one or more sensors may provide an autonomously balanced draft beverage system based on system parameters (e.g., line length, line drop, beverage poured, and other factors described in this specification), environmental or other conditions identified by the sensors (e.g., temperature changes, changing weather patterns that cause changes in air pressure and contribute to flow anomalies). This allows the present embodiment to detect anomalies or other changes and make adjustments to automatically and autonomously correct or improve the operating conditions of the draft beverage system.

[0103] Additionally, other operations are possible in this embodiment. For example, the system described herein can generate reports containing information related to the results of the data analysis, such as identifying causes of fluid flow problems, forecasting fluid distribution, comparing net profits, etc. As specific examples, the reports may identify per keg efficiency or other per keg metrics, expected remaining life of a keg, whether a particular keg and / or beverage distribution line 111 is leaking, etc.

[0104] As mentioned above, in this embodiment, one sensor may be used per beverage dispensing line 111 (or other suitable fluid or beverage line). A bar or restaurant with a draft beverage system may have any number of taps depending on the needs of the business. This embodiment includes placing multiple flow sensors together in a sensor assembly 300 and then networking the sensor assemblies 300 via a sensor network interface 204 to streamline the installation process and reduce costs. For example, the sensor assembly 300 may be installed in a first beverage cooler. The sensor assembly 300 may include two flow sensors in one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B. A second beverage cooler includes another sensor assembly, and so does each beverage cooler in the facility location 102. The sensor assemblies 300 may be daisy-chained and communicate with each other via the sensor network interface 204 (or may be connected via other suitable mechanisms to enable communication). The final connection from the sensor assemblies 300 may be connected to a gateway 200. This network of sensor assemblies 300 may use a network protocol for communication and data collection of the sensor assemblies 300. It is designed for low latency communication to the gateway 200.

[0105] The gateway 200 acts as a protocol converter for sensor network data and can connect to off-site resources 118 via the network 116. The gateway 200 can query one or more sensor assemblies 300 ("pull"), or, optionally, one or more sensor assemblies 300 can report directly to the gateway 200 ("push"). The sensor assemblies 300 can provide data from flow sensors and environmental sensors. The gateway 200 then consolidates and processes the data using algorithms that perform analysis of the data, including detection of flow onset and flow cessation (e.g., flow onset is determined when the flow exceeds a threshold flow rate, and flow cessation is determined when the flow falls below a threshold flow rate). The gateway 200 can transmit this data to the off-site resource 118 for retention and further processing. Here, the flow and environmental data can be correlated with POS system data, and flows can be characterized based on whether they meet a pre-determined threshold flow rate (e.g., beverage dispense, leaks, system cleaning). This is done based on sensor data and other information (e.g., hours of operation offered by the bar, scheduled / activated cleaning procedures). Thus, the data flow envisioned in this embodiment includes sensors monitoring and measuring environmental conditions associated with the flow of beer as it flows to the tap and is dispensed. These sensors can provide that data to the sensor assembly 300. The sensor assembly 300 reports that data to the gateway 200, which can provide the data to the off-site resource 118 via the network 116.

[0106] The gateway 200 may poll the sensor network interface 204 (e.g., periodically, on a schedule, or continuously) to request data and receive packets from the sensor assembly 300 representing flow (e.g., flow in milliliters since the last packet) and environmental data. Using this data, the gateway 200 may perform processing to determine if fluid flow is occurring (e.g., identify various types of flow, such as pouring, leaks, line flushing, etc., based on whether the flow rate meets one or more predefined thresholds). The gateway 200 may constantly monitor the flow (e.g., in a streaming manner). The gateway 200 may perform a derivative function on the flow rate. If the gateway 200 detects a sudden rise against some threshold (e.g., a pre-determined threshold or a dynamically determined threshold), it may begin accumulating data until it detects the end of the infusion. In this manner, the accumulation of relevant data may be transmitted to an off-site resource 118, e.g., a cloud resource, for storage and / or further analysis. In this embodiment, the accumulated data may be stored in the gateway 200.

[0107] Considering that, according to the disclosed embodiment, the beverage monitoring system 10 includes a gateway 200 with data connections to the beverage dispenser 114, the POS system 12, and the flow sensor 400, the beverage monitoring system 10 is able to match pour volumes to sales and provide insights into efficient operations. However, it should be noted that the gateway 200 only has data connections to the flow sensor 400 and the "cloud" 116, and is not connected in any way to the dispenser 114, e.g., a "smart tap" (such as these are not commonly installed). The POS integration occurs downstream or "in the cloud" through another channel, without the gateway 200 being aware of it.

[0108] This is accomplished using active pours and sales, e.g., pours and sales that are not archived. Each pour and sale includes the beverage, amount, and timestamp associated with it. Pouring archiving is the process by which pours are flagged for exclusion, and can be (a) automatic based on numerical criteria (e.g., number of samples below a threshold, sample flow standard deviation above a certain threshold, negative total amount) or (b) manual based on out-of-band knowledge (e.g., sensor issues, special events). Sales archiving is the process of manually flagging a sale for exclusion based on out-of-band knowledge, e.g., a sensor is offline. In either case, archiving is used to ensure that inaccurate or improperly imbalanced data (as opposed to correctly imbalanced data, e.g., poor POS usage) is excluded and does not reduce the accuracy of associated reports.

[0109] The procedure works as follows.

[0110] Step 1. For a given integration job (e.g., a batch of POS data defined by timestamp range and location), time series data is generated for beverages and business days. The time series data consists of mixed pour volumes and sales volumes ordered by timestamp. For a "business day", the concept of "rotation" is utilized. The concept of "rotation" refers to the number of hours of "today" that extend into "tomorrow" for reporting purposes. For example, data up until 2AM tomorrow (i.e., a 2 hour "rotation") will be counted towards "today" data.

[0111] Step 2. For each time series created in step 1, pours and sales are associated as follows: Matching pours to sales (1:1 sales:pours ratio) - for each sale, match the closest (e.g., with separate thresholds for time and volume) unmatched pour (if any) (step 2.1); Matching pours to sales (m:1 sales:pours ratio, e.g., 2 16 oz sales to 1 32 oz pour) - within an order, aggregate sales into a single "sales" and repeat the process from step 2.1 (respecting matching already made) (step 2.2); Matching replenishments (matching smaller pours used to "complete" larger pours) - for matched pours, match unmatched smaller pours that occurred in the same line, within a parameterized time, as the base matched pour (step 2.3).

[0112] Step 3. Matching groups ("components" in graph theory) are extracted from the related pours and sales in step 2.

[0113] Step 4. The match groups from step 3 are stored in a database for use in analysis (described elsewhere).

[0114] The above procedure envisions that vending for processing incremental pours that are not refills can be further optimized by taking into account the 1:m ratio of pours (step 2.3), pour-to-sale relationships (pours) that may be misconnected or mis-rang, and location-specific behaviors regarding pours and sales (such as tab closure (and sale timestamps) at the end of a shift, 1:m and m:1 sale:pour practices, etc.), and applying machine learning to tune the matching algorithm.

[0115] Diagnostics may be performed on the data on the gateway 200 or on the off-site resource 118. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present embodiment may remotely diagnose potential issues (e.g., over-pressurized system, abnormal cooler temperatures) without the need for personnel at the business location 102 to make a service call. For example, the beverage monitoring system 10 may remotely diagnose beer being wasted due to an imbalance in the pressure system, cooler temperatures not being maintained, etc. Data collected may also be used to monitor prices, beer types, usage, trends, regional preferences, etc.

[0116] The beverage monitoring system 10 may also be used to monitor beverage containers, such as keg shells 112. According to this embodiment, each keg shell 112 is provided with a tracking device 112t, similar to, for example, the Air Tags sold by Apple. The Air Tags 112t are registered and monitored by the beverage monitoring system 10. Monitoring the keg shells 112 may enhance cleaning processes required for particular beers, optimize the transition of keg shells 112 for use in combination with different types of beers and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells 112.

[0117] The wide variety of data sources and information generated based on the components of the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention provides a robust user interface that provides high level overviews and highly detailed views to the end beverage system operators.

[0118] For example, referring to Figure 8, a beverage system operator can visualize an overview of the beverages currently connected to the draft beverage system in addition to the amount remaining in each keg via a keg level icon. This allows the beverage system operator to know when a new keg needs to be moved to the cooler and begin the temperature acclimation process before the keg is empty.

[0119] Referring to FIG. 8, the main components of the disclosed interface are as follows: - Organize by line identifier -Can be grouped by cooler or bar · Name of drink and associated characteristics (type / style / ABV etc.) A logo that makes your brand easily identifiable -Real-time barrel levels -Real-time cleaning indicator ·line# Elapsed time - Ability to perform "quick actions" · Change - Same Replace your current barrel with the same size and beverage If you don't have the barrel in your inventory, the interface will automatically add it and allow you to continue changing the barrel. · Change - Different - Move the beverage system operator to the keg change screen to select the next keg · Change - Add to Queue -Swap the current barrel with the next barrel in the queue Start cleaning Start line cleaning on the selected line

[0120] With reference to Figure 9, the beverage system operator can visualize more detailed information about a particular keg connected to one of the lines. The beverage system operator is provided with information that can be used to perform diagnostics in addition to taking management actions.

[0121] The main components of the interface disclosed with reference to FIG. Real-time data Barrel level (%) and remaining amount (oz / gal) ·temperature ·pressure Last pour timestamp · Barrel & Line History · Barrel filling date (barrel) Cleaning deadline (line) · Barrel cue Managers can assign kegs from inventory to specific lines, eliminating confusion for bar staff when switching between kegs. ·Beverage information Bar staff can refer to this information to provide customers with recommendations and details such as drink type, style, ABV, IBU, characteristics, etc.

[0122] 10, an administrator can perform administrative actions within the keg details section, such as modifying various attributes of the keg or reviewing the history of actions performed on the keg. An operator of the beverage system can visualize details about a particular keg that is connected to one of the beverage delivery lines 111. In addition to performing administrative actions, the beverage system operator is provided with information that can be used to perform diagnostics.

[0123] Referring to FIG. 10, the main components of the disclosed interface are as follows: Price adjustments Keg costs and keg targets directly impact the analysis, making it easy for beverage system operators to verify that the correct values ​​are set. If the beverage system operator determines a change is necessary, they can apply the change to all kegs in their inventory or set the new value as the new default for all kegs of that type going forward. Adjustment of barrel size · The size of the barrels can be easily changed since employees sometimes make mistakes. (e.g. tap 1 / 2 BBL instead of 1 / 6 BBL) -Barrel level adjustment History of the barrel · Tap date / tapper Date added / by whom Barrel level adjuster / changer Price Adjuster / Changer

[0124] Referring to Figure 11, the beverage system operator can manage and visualize the on-hand inventory grouped by keg size. The beverage system operator can see at a glance how many keg are left for each type of operator and can easily add / remove inventory based on consumption.

[0125] The main components of the interface disclosed with reference to FIG. Real-time inventory -Easy addition / removal of inventory

[0126] Referring to Figure 12, managers can perform high volume keg management, can make extensive adjustments to kegs, and can visualize exactly where inventory is currently allocated. This section expands towards presenting PAR (Periodic Automatic Replacement) which helps beverage system operators know when they need to order more product to prevent stock outs.

[0127] The main components of the interface disclosed with reference to FIG. Real-time inventory Inventory / Queue Total cost Bulk Actions · Delete (sold, mistake, skunk, etc.) Price adjustments Barrel Cost and Barrel Goal If the beverage system operator determines a change is needed, they can apply the change to a single keg, all kegs on tap, all kegs in stock, or all kegs in history, and can set the new value as the new default for all kegs of that type going forward. New reports New reports focused on providing stock on hand, stock consumed and PAR related information are currently in development.

[0128] Referring to Figure 13, managers can perform high volume keg management, can make extensive adjustments to kegs, and can visualize exactly where inventory is currently allocated. This section expands towards presenting PAR (Periodic Automatic Replacement) which helps beverage system operators know when they need to order more product to prevent stock outs.

[0129] Referring to FIG. 13, the main components of the disclosed interface are as follows: History of the barrel Ability to specify date ranges to determine how much product was consumed during a specific period Timestamped data showing who performed what on a particular barrel Price adjustments Barrel Cost and Barrel Goal If the beverage system operator decides a change is needed, they can apply the change to a single keg, all kegs in inventory, or all kegs in history, and they can also set the new value as the new default for all kegs of that type going forward. New reports ·New reports dedicated to providing inventory on hand, inventory consumed, and PAR related information are currently in development.

[0130] 14, all environmental and quality related information generated by the beverage monitoring system is presented to the beverage system operator. A concise overview is provided regarding the current status of all beverage delivery lines 111 at a particular location.

[0131] Referring to FIG. 14, the main components of the disclosed interface are as follows: - Ability to classify information by cooler Cooler Health (under development) -Graph visualization of cooler and line temperatures over time ·Humidity Line Integrity Current temperature Updated every injection or after the last heartbeat (every 5 minutes), whichever is more recent. Current pressure (Note - Pours only updated) ·Cleaning management Number of overdue cleanings Final cleaning Regular cleaning ·Average cleaning time ·Average cleaning interval Ability to toggle to see which line is currently being cleaned Line diagnosis (under development) An interactive walk-through of how to solve health-related issues in draft beverage systems · Example- Low Pressure / High Pressure.

[0132] Referring to Figure 15, a useful widget bundled with the application is the beverage monitoring system 10 draft price calculator, which allows the beverage system operator to input several variables related to the keg and general draft performance metrics to determine what the product should be priced to achieve their goals. In addition to determining pricing, customers can use this tool as a what-if scenario generator to see the impact that variances, head percentages, pour costs, etc., have on the overall profitability of the product.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 15, the main components of the disclosed interface are as follows: - Ability to calculate recommended draft prices -Ability to simulate various scenarios

[0134] From time to time, it becomes necessary to update operational firmware or calibration parameters within the sensor or within the corresponding cabinet controller circuitry including various other sensor communication interfaces. If firmware needs to be updated remotely, a "bootloader" can be implemented within the beverage sensor itself and / or within the sensor cabinet controller that communicates with the beverage sensor to receive and update an "application" firmware payload with specific commands. In this manner, various bug fixes and enhancements can be deployed without physical user intervention. If calibration coefficients need to be updated remotely, the bootloader or application firmware processes and stores the updated coefficients in the local bootloader, continually improving sensor performance and calibration as more data is collected and analyzed over time. Dynamically updated calibration coefficients result in more linear and / or more accurate responses for temperature sensors, multi-channel spectral sensors, flow sensors, etc.

[0135] In addition to the above heat balance regarding the temperature of the beer in the keg and the ambient temperature in the cooler, pressure balance may also be a factor in identifying and / or diagnosing a problem with the beer distribution. For example, line pressure is a function of multiple variables such as the length and diameter of the beverage distribution line 111, the material of the beverage distribution line 111, the regulated gas pressure, the beverage viscosity, and the beer flow rate. A draft beverage system may be equalized for each line at a set predetermined flow rate, such as 1 gallon per minute. Different line lengths and different air pressures may affect the flow rate and vary it from the set predetermined flow rate. Additionally, low pressure, high pressure, or high temperature may cause gas release. Integrating flow sensor data and environmental sensor data (e.g., temperature) at the gateway 200 or off-site resource 118 for analysis allows the beverage monitoring system to analyze different types of data, analyze what factors are affecting optimal beer flow, identify the underlying problem from the integrated data, and diagnose the problem remotely or diagnose a potential problem early.

[0136] As is evident from the above description, certain exemplary embodiments provide several technical improvements, enhancements, and / or advantages over existing technological processes. For example, one advantage of the example embodiments is that the quality and efficiency of dispensing fluids, such as draft beverages, is improved, and waste associated with dispensing is reduced. Thus, use of the example embodiments improves the functionality of fluid dispensing systems, or at least the technical field of monitoring fluid dispensing.

[0137] The embodiments disclosed above provide various parameters that may be measured, used to extrapolate data, presented to an operator, and / or used for other purposes regarding the operation of the system 100 for monitoring balance and distribution using a draft beverage system. The monitored parameters, extrapolated data, and operational insights can be used in a variety of combinations tailored specifically to meet the needs of the operator of the system 100. The information and control provided by the present beverage monitoring system 10 provides a variety of business benefits, such as tax benefits based on quantification of waste, increased efficiency through improved employee pouring techniques, optimized cleanliness based on feedback systems, enhanced monitoring of keg usage and inventory, and identification of potential theft from "house" drinks.

[0138] In addition to the many features described above, various additional features are contemplated. For example, it is envisioned that the hardware disclosed above in accordance with the disclosed beverage monitoring system 10 can be repurposed to act as the brains of other draft system equipment. Many other draft systems use turbine flow meters, which present various problems. By introducing technology such as the flow meters and pressure sensors described above, these draft systems can be retrofitted to provide more accurate data resolution as well as virtually maintenance-free, reliable hardware.

[0139] As an example, the advances in the beverage monitoring system 10 of the present invention may be applied to self-pour beverage dispensing systems. Integrating the advances in the beverage monitoring system 10 with self-pour beverage dispensing systems can improve accuracy in situations where a user is charged for a specific amount of beer poured and precision and accuracy are critical.

[0140] According to the disclosed beverage monitoring system 10, the hardware disclosed above can also be used to develop an automatic line cleaning system. According to the disclosed beverage monitoring system 10, the hardware disclosed above captures flow data and tracks the amount of flow through, thereby allowing the automatic line cleaning system to know when to open and close various valves and to turn cleaning "off." This allows the beverage system operator to know when a line cleaning has occurred and allows the customer to use a non-corrosive solution to reduce cleaning time.

[0141] Foamy draft beer can be caused by the buildup of bacteria, yeast, mold, and beer stones in the beverage distribution lines 111. Dirty beverage delivery lines result in a decrease in the quality and taste of the beer. Regular cleaning of beverage distribution lines 111, taps, and keg couplers is important to serve high quality beer. To avoid skunk beer, beverage delivery lines 111 and equipment should be cleaned regularly every two weeks. In some states, the two-week cleaning period is required by law. Proper cleaning of beverage distribution lines 111 dissolves proteins, hop resins, biofilm, mold, bacteria, and yeast. An acid clean to dissolve mineral buildup such as beer stones should also be performed every three months.

[0142] One of the many benefits that the beverage monitoring system 10 provides is the ability to digitally track when line cleaning was performed, how long it was performed, who performed it, and how effective it was. There are several different types of cleaning, ranging from a short rinse to a long soak followed by recirculation of the cleaning solution through the draft beverage system. The customer can specify the type of cleaning performed so that the information can be properly categorized and they know what to expect in terms of flow data. If the customer can quantify and prove the amount of beer lost due to line cleaning, they can deduct that loss for tax purposes. The beverage monitoring system 10 provides this beer pour data. Often times, distributors offer free line cleaning services as part of a "bundle", but unfortunately, not all employees are conscientious about their work and effective cleaning (or cleaning at all) is not performed when they go to the service location. The beverage monitoring system 10 can evaluate the effectiveness of the cleaning (or lack of cleaning) and alert the beverage system operator if the situation is not up to standard. If the beverage delivery line 111 is dirty, the customer determines that the beverage delivery line 111 is not being cleaned frequently enough. As a result, you may experience several scenarios: the customer does not order another beer, the customer asks for another beer (or gets their money back), the customer switches to bottles or cans which siphons profits, or the customer leaves (and never comes back).Some states mandate line cleaning of draft beverage systems and require submission of cleaning logs showing cleaning was performed properly.

[0143] Example embodiments of the present disclosure may be comprised of various components that are physically separated from one another, such as a gateway, a sensor assembly, a dispenser, etc. In some embodiments, one or more of these components may be combined into a single component. For example, a gateway and a sensor assembly may be combined into one component to provide the combined operations described with respect to each of the above components.

[0144] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence and addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0145] Equivalents of corresponding structures, materials, acts, and means or step-plus-function elements in the following claims include the disclosed structures, materials, or acts for performing functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the disclosed form. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and nature of the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure allows for combinations of various elements and features disclosed herein, and specific elements and features set forth in the claims and disclosed above may be combined with each other in other ways within the scope of the present application. It should be recognized that other embodiments, including other possible combinations, are also intended. The aspects of the disclosure herein have been selected and described in order to best explain the principles and practical applications of the disclosure and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the disclosure with various modifications suitable for the particular use intended.

[0146] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it is not intended that the invention be limited by such disclosure, but rather that it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A beverage monitoring system for use with a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser, comprising: at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to the sensor assembly; a sensor assembly configured to perform diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or to provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data; a cooler control and monitoring assembly for monitoring the cooler fans, monitoring humidity within the cooler, and / or monitoring air pressure within the cooler; A beverage monitoring system comprising:

2. at least one flow sensor that applies ultrasound to monitor flow; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

3. The at least one flow sensor includes a processor, an ultrasonic front-end processor, two ultrasonic transducers, and a temperature sensor. The beverage monitoring system of claim 2 .

4. the at least one flow sensor uses a time of flight mechanism to measure the flow rate of the beverage being dispensed. The beverage monitoring system of claim 3.

5. the ultrasonic front-end processor transmits an ultrasonic signal through a fluid passing through a channel at a predetermined nominal speed in one direction along a signal path of a predetermined length from one of the ultrasonic transducers to the other of the ultrasonic transducers, and then transmits the ultrasonic signal back again in the opposite direction; the measured velocity of the signal is increased or decreased from the nominal velocity by the flow velocity of the fluid depending on whether the signal is traveling with the flow or against the flow, so that the difference in signal travel time in each direction is directly related to the flow velocity of the fluid; The beverage monitoring system of claim 3.

6. the at least one flow sensor provides data regarding pressure, temperature, and flow of the fluid within the beverage dispensing line. The beverage monitoring system of claim 2 .

7. at least one environmental sensor; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

8. the at least one environmental sensor measures and monitors the ambient temperature of the cooler and the oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gas concentrations within the cooler; 8. The beverage monitoring system of claim 7.

9. at least one pressure sensor; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

10. the at least one pressure sensor measures pressure directly in the beverage dispensing line in real time; 10. The beverage monitoring system of claim 9.

11. at least one carbon dioxide sensor; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

12. at least one color sensor; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

13. the at least one color sensor is a photometer and / or a spectrophotometer; 13. The beverage monitoring system of claim 12.

14. the at least one color sensor is integrated into a flow sensor; 13. The beverage monitoring system of claim 12.

15. the at least one color sensor determining a particular beverage passing through the beverage delivery line.

13. The beverage monitoring system of claim 12.

16. a user interface that provides real-time keg levels so that an operator of the beverage system can monitor when a particular beverage is starting to get low and initiate a replacement keg and move the replacement keg to a cooler; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 .

17. A user interface that provides daily, weekly, and / or monthly reports; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

18. the sensor assembly includes at least one flow sensor, at least one environmental sensor, at least one pressure sensor, and at least one color sensor; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 .

19. the beverage monitoring system determining when to clean the beverage dispensing line; The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 .

20. The beverage monitoring system includes a glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly; the glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly monitors the level of glycol solution in the glycol cooling system, monitors the flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitors the viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measures a temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine the effectiveness of the beverage system. The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 .

21. The beverage monitoring system includes a tracking device secured to a barrel shell; The tracking device is used to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transition of the keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells. The beverage monitoring system of claim 1 .

22. 1. A beverage monitoring system for use with a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser, comprising: at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to the sensor assembly; a sensor assembly configured to perform diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or to provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data; a glycol cooling control and monitoring assembly that monitors the level of glycol solution in a glycol cooling system, monitors the flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitors the viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measures a temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine the effectiveness of the beverage system; A beverage monitoring system comprising:

23. the beverage monitoring system performs one or more actions based on the aggregate information or other information to alter fluid flow within the beverage system.

23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22.

24. at least one flow sensor that applies ultrasound to monitor flow; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22, further comprising:

25. The at least one flow sensor includes a processor, an ultrasonic front-end processor, two ultrasonic transducers, and a temperature sensor.

25. The beverage monitoring system of claim 24.

26. the at least one flow sensor uses a time of flight mechanism to measure the flow rate of the beverage being dispensed.

26. The beverage monitoring system of claim 25.

27. the ultrasonic front-end processor transmits an ultrasonic signal through a fluid passing through a channel at a predetermined nominal speed in one direction along a signal path of a predetermined length from one of the ultrasonic transducers to the other of the ultrasonic transducers, and then transmits the ultrasonic signal back again in the opposite direction; the measured velocity of the signal is increased or decreased from the nominal velocity by the flow velocity of the fluid depending on whether the signal is traveling with the flow or against the flow, so that the difference in signal travel time in each direction is directly related to the flow velocity of the fluid; 26. The beverage monitoring system of claim 25.

28. the at least one flow sensor provides data regarding pressure, temperature, and flow of the fluid within the beverage dispensing line.

25. The beverage monitoring system of claim 24.

29. at least one environmental sensor; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22, further comprising:

30. the at least one environmental sensor provides data regarding environmental conditions within the cooler in which beverages are stored; 30. The beverage monitoring system of claim 29.

31. the at least one environmental sensor measures and monitors the air pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, and / or concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gases within the cooler; 30. The beverage monitoring system of claim 29.

32. at least one pressure sensor; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22, further comprising:

33. the at least one pressure sensor measures pressure directly in the beverage dispensing line in real time; 33. The beverage monitoring system of claim 32.

34. at least one carbon dioxide sensor; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22, further comprising:

35. at least one color sensor; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22, further comprising:

36. the at least one color sensor is a photometer and / or a spectrophotometer; 36. The beverage monitoring system of claim 35.

37. the at least one color sensor is integrated into a flow sensor; 36. The beverage monitoring system of claim 35.

38. the at least one color sensor determining a particular beverage passing through the beverage delivery line.

36. The beverage monitoring system of claim 35.

39. a user interface that provides real-time keg levels so that an operator of the beverage system can monitor when a particular beverage is starting to get low and initiate a replacement keg and move the replacement keg to a cooler; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22.

40. A user interface that provides daily, weekly, and / or monthly reports; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22, further comprising:

41. The sensor assembly includes at least one flow sensor, at least one environmental sensor, at least one pressure sensor, and at least one color sensor.

23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22.

42. the beverage monitoring system determining when to clean the beverage dispensing line; 23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22.

43. The beverage monitoring system includes a tracking device secured to a barrel shell; The tracking device is used to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transition of the keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells.

23. The beverage monitoring system of claim 22.

44. 1. A beverage monitoring system for use with a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser, comprising: at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to the sensor assembly; a sensor assembly configured to perform diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or to provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data; a tracking device fixed to the keg shells to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transfer of the keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells; A beverage monitoring system comprising:

45. the beverage monitoring system performs one or more actions based on the aggregate information or other information to alter fluid flow within the beverage system.

45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44.

46. at least one flow sensor that applies ultrasound to monitor flow; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44, further comprising:

47. The at least one flow sensor includes a processor, an ultrasonic front-end processor, two ultrasonic transducers, and a temperature sensor.

47. The beverage monitoring system of claim 46.

48. the at least one flow sensor uses a time of flight mechanism to measure the flow rate of the beverage being dispensed.

48. The beverage monitoring system of claim 47.

49. the ultrasonic front-end processor transmits an ultrasonic signal through a fluid passing through a channel at a predetermined nominal speed in one direction along a signal path of a predetermined length from one of the ultrasonic transducers to the other of the ultrasonic transducers, and then transmits the ultrasonic signal back again in the opposite direction; the measured velocity of the signal is increased or decreased from the nominal velocity by the flow velocity of the fluid depending on whether the signal is traveling with the flow or against the flow, so that the difference in signal travel time in each direction is directly related to the flow velocity of the fluid; 48. The beverage monitoring system of claim 47.

50. the at least one flow sensor provides data regarding pressure, temperature, and flow of the fluid within the beverage dispensing line.

47. The beverage monitoring system of claim 46.

51. at least one environmental sensor; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44, further comprising:

52. the at least one environmental sensor provides data regarding environmental conditions within the cooler in which beverages are stored; 52. The beverage monitoring system of claim 51.

53. the at least one environmental sensor measures and monitors the air pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, and / or concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gases within the cooler; 52. The beverage monitoring system of claim 51.

54. at least one pressure sensor; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44, further comprising:

55. the at least one pressure sensor measures pressure directly in the beverage dispensing line in real time; 55. The beverage monitoring system of claim 54.

56. at least one carbon dioxide sensor; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44, further comprising:

57. at least one color sensor; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44, further comprising:

58. the at least one color sensor is a photometer and / or a spectrophotometer; 58. The beverage monitoring system of claim 57.

59. the at least one color sensor is integrated into a flow sensor; 58. The beverage monitoring system of claim 57.

60. the at least one color sensor determining a particular beverage passing through the beverage delivery line.

58. The beverage monitoring system of claim 57.

61. a user interface that provides real-time keg levels so that an operator of the beverage system can monitor when a particular beverage is starting to get low and initiate a replacement keg and move the replacement keg to a cooler; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44, further comprising:

62. A user interface that provides daily, weekly, and / or monthly reports; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44, further comprising:

63. The sensor assembly includes at least one flow sensor, at least one environmental sensor, at least one pressure sensor, and at least one color sensor.

45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44.

64. the beverage monitoring system determining when to clean the beverage dispensing line; 45. The beverage monitoring system of claim 44.

65. 1. A beverage monitoring system for use with a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser, comprising: at least one gateway having a processor, a network interface connected to the dispenser, and a network interface connected to the sensor assembly; a user interface that provides real-time keg levels so that an operator of the beverage system can monitor when a particular beverage is starting to get low and initiate a replacement keg and move the replacement keg to a cooler; A beverage monitoring system comprising:

66. the beverage monitoring system performs one or more actions based on the aggregate information or other information to alter fluid flow within the beverage system.

66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65.

67. at least one flow sensor that applies ultrasound to monitor flow; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65, further comprising:

68. The at least one flow sensor includes a processor, an ultrasonic front-end processor, two ultrasonic transducers, and a temperature sensor.

68. The beverage monitoring system of claim 67.

69. the at least one flow sensor uses a time of flight mechanism to measure the flow rate of the beverage being dispensed.

69. The beverage monitoring system of claim 68.

70. the ultrasonic front-end processor transmits an ultrasonic signal through a fluid passing through a channel at a predetermined nominal speed in one direction along a signal path of a predetermined length from one of the ultrasonic transducers to the other of the ultrasonic transducers, and then transmits the ultrasonic signal back again in the opposite direction; the measured velocity of the signal is increased or decreased from the nominal velocity by the flow velocity of the fluid depending on whether the signal is traveling with the flow or against the flow, so that the difference in signal travel time in each direction is directly related to the flow velocity of the fluid; 69. The beverage monitoring system of claim 68.

71. the at least one flow sensor provides data regarding pressure, temperature, and flow of the fluid within the beverage dispensing line.

68. The beverage monitoring system of claim 67.

72. at least one environmental sensor; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65, further comprising:

73. the at least one environmental sensor provides data regarding environmental conditions within the cooler in which beverages are stored; 73. The beverage monitoring system of claim 72.

74. the at least one environmental sensor measures and monitors the air pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, and / or concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gases within the cooler; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65.

75. at least one pressure sensor; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65, further comprising:

76. the at least one pressure sensor measures pressure directly in the beverage dispensing line in real time; 76. The beverage monitoring system of claim 75.

77. at least one carbon dioxide sensor; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65, further comprising:

78. at least one color sensor; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65, further comprising:

79. the at least one color sensor is a photometer and / or a spectrophotometer; 79. The beverage monitoring system of claim 78.

80. the at least one color sensor is integrated into a flow sensor; 79. The beverage monitoring system of claim 78.

81. the at least one color sensor determining a particular beverage passing through the beverage delivery line.

79. The beverage monitoring system of claim 78.

82. A user interface that provides daily, weekly, and / or monthly reports; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65, further comprising:

83. The sensor assembly includes at least one flow sensor, at least one environmental sensor, at least one pressure sensor, and at least one color sensor.

66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65.

84. the beverage monitoring system determining when to clean the beverage dispensing line; 66. The beverage monitoring system of claim 65.

85. 1. A method for monitoring a beverage in a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser, comprising: Sensing a property of a fluid in the beverage system; processing data generated based on the properties of the fluid sensed within the beverage system; and monitoring a cooler fan, monitoring humidity within the cooler, and / or monitoring air pressure within the cooler; performing diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or to provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data; A beverage monitoring method comprising:

86. Varying the flow of the fluid within the beverage system based on ongoing diagnostics; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

87. and detecting the characteristic includes detecting the flow of the fluid by application of ultrasound.

86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85.

88. and detecting the flow of the fluid includes using a time of flight mechanism to measure a flow rate.

88. The beverage monitoring method of claim 87.

89. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing an environmental characteristic.

86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85.

90. and detecting the environmental characteristic includes providing data related to environmental conditions within the cooler in which beverages are stored.

90. The beverage monitoring method of claim 89.

91. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing an environment; Sensing the environment includes measuring and monitoring an ambient temperature of the cooler and oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gas concentrations within the cooler.

86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85.

92. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing pressure.

86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85.

93. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing carbon dioxide.

86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85.

94. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing color.

86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85.

95. and detecting the color includes determining a particular beverage passing through the beverage dispensing line.

95. The beverage monitoring method of claim 94.

96. Providing real-time barrel levels; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

97. Providing daily, weekly and / or monthly reports; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

98. receiving data that a pour has commenced and determining when a tap is closed to terminate said pour; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

99. determining when to clean said beverage dispensing line; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

100. monitoring the cooler fan, monitoring humidity within the cooler, and / or monitoring air pressure within the cooler; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

101. monitoring the level of glycol solution in a glycol cooling system, monitoring the flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitoring the viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measuring a temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine the effectiveness of the beverage system; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

102. Tracking keg shells to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transition of the keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells; 86. The beverage monitoring method of claim 85, further comprising:

103. 1. A method for monitoring a beverage in a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser, comprising: Sensing a property of a fluid in the beverage system; processing data generated based on the properties of the fluid sensed within the beverage system; and monitoring the level of glycol solution in a glycol cooling system, monitoring the flow rate of glycol in the glycol cooling system, monitoring the viscosity of the glycol solution, and / or measuring a temperature delta of the glycol cooling system to determine the effectiveness of the beverage system; performing diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or to provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data; A beverage monitoring method comprising:

104. Varying the flow of the fluid within the beverage system based on ongoing diagnostics; 104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103, further comprising:

105. and detecting the characteristic includes detecting the flow of the fluid by application of ultrasound.

104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103.

106. and detecting the flow of the fluid includes using a time of flight mechanism to measure a flow rate.

106. The beverage monitoring method of claim 105.

107. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing an environmental characteristic.

104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103.

108. and detecting the environmental characteristic includes providing data related to environmental conditions within the cooler in which beverages are stored.

108. The beverage monitoring method of claim 107.

109. Sensing the environment includes measuring and monitoring the air pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, and / or concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gases within the cooler; 104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103.

110. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing pressure.

104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103.

111. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing carbon dioxide.

104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103.

112. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing color.

104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103.

113. and detecting the color includes determining a particular beverage passing through the beverage dispensing line.

104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103.

114. Providing real-time barrel levels; 104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103, further comprising:

115. Providing daily, weekly and / or monthly reports; 104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103, further comprising:

116. receiving data that a pour has commenced and determining when a tap is closed to terminate said pour; 104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103, further comprising:

117. determining when to clean said beverage dispensing line; 104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103, further comprising:

118. Tracking keg shells to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transition of the keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells; 104. The beverage monitoring method of claim 103, further comprising:

119. 1. A method for monitoring a beverage in a beverage system including a pressurized gas source, a pressurized gas regulator, a pressurized gas dispensing line, a beverage dispensing line, a beverage container, and a beverage dispenser, comprising: Sensing a property of a fluid in the beverage system; processing data generated based on the properties of the fluid sensed within the beverage system; and Tracking keg shells to enhance the cleaning process, optimize the transfer of said keg shells for use in combination with different types of beer and beverages, and keep a record of the contents of the various keg shells; performing diagnostic processing to diagnose potential problems with the line or to provide aggregate information for correlation with POS data; A beverage monitoring method comprising:

120. Varying the flow of the fluid within the beverage system based on ongoing diagnostics; 120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119, further comprising:

121. and detecting the characteristic includes detecting the flow of the fluid by application of ultrasound.

120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119.

122. and detecting the flow of the fluid includes using a time of flight mechanism to measure a flow rate.

122. The beverage monitoring method of claim 121.

123. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing an environmental characteristic.

120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119.

124. and detecting the environmental characteristic includes providing data related to environmental conditions within the cooler in which beverages are stored.

124. The beverage monitoring method of claim 123.

125. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing an environmental characteristic; Sensing the environment includes measuring and monitoring the air pressure, humidity, ambient temperature, and / or concentrations of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and / or other ambient gases within the cooler; 120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119.

126. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing pressure.

120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119.

127. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing carbon dioxide.

120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119.

128. Sensing the characteristic includes sensing color.

120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119.

129. and detecting the color includes determining a particular beverage passing through the beverage dispensing line.

120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119.

130. Providing real-time barrel levels; 120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119, further comprising:

131. Providing daily, weekly and / or monthly reports; 120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119, further comprising:

132. receiving data that a pour has commenced and determining when a tap is closed to terminate said pour; 120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119, further comprising:

133. determining when to clean said beverage dispensing line; 120. The beverage monitoring method of claim 119, further comprising:

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