Method for transmitting a data set from an operator to a beverage preparation machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage preparation machines require cumbersome pairing procedures or direct communication connections for transmitting user recipes, which can be inconvenient and insecure.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves capturing user inputs, detecting an operating mode for indirect data transmission, transmitting a machine address and data record to a coordination server, and then securely sending the data record to a beverage preparation machine without direct communication, using a coordination server to manage and authenticate the transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If direct communication connection or pairing procedure is used for transmitting user recipes, then security and authorization are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthorization securityVSAvoidoperation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that facilitates indirect communication between the operating device and beverage preparation machine. The server receives the user recipe from the operating device, stores it temporarily, and then transmits it to the target machine, eliminating the need for direct pairing while maintaining secure authenticated communication channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the communication and authentication functions from the direct device-to-device connection and relocates them to a centralized server. This separation allows the operating device and beverage preparation machine to communicate indirectly through the server, simplifying the user experience while maintaining security through centralized authentication management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If direct communication connection is established between operating device and beverage preparation machine, then transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to communication setup requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication setup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as a communication intermediary that handles all authentication, connection management, and data routing. This eliminates the need for complex direct communication setup between devices, as the server pre-establishes secure channels and manages the entire transmission process, reducing device complexity while maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If pairing procedure is required for authorized transmission, then security is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional authentication steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthorization securityVSAvoidauthentication time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs authentication and authorization checks in advance before the actual recipe transmission. User accounts and device permissions are pre-configured and verified on the server side, so when a transmission request is made, the authentication is already complete or can be quickly validated, significantly reducing the time users experience compared to real-time pairing procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If indirect transmission via server is used, then ease of operation is improved by eliminating pairing procedures, but device complexity increases due to server dependency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation convenienceVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server provides multiple functions including authentication, data storage, transmission routing, and device management through a single centralized platform. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems and procedures at each device, actually reducing overall system complexity while enabling simplified user operations through indirect transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3614891B1Method for transmitting a data set from an operator to a beverage preparation machine
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 TCHIBO GMBH
  • EP3614891B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3614891B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for transmitting a data record from an operating appliance (4) to a beverage preparation machine (1), said method comprising the following steps: detection of an input or a selection that specifies the data record by means of the operating appliance (4); transmission of a machine address (62) of the beverage preparation machine (1) to the operating appliance (4), by means of the beverage preparation machine (1), triggered by a user; reception of the machine address (62) and transmission of the data record and the machine address (62) to a coordination server (6) by means of the operating appliance (4); storage of the machine address (62) and the associated data record by means of the coordination server (6); transmission of said data record to the beverage preparation machine (1) by means of the coordination server (6); and storage of the data record and/or implementation of an action according to the data record by means of the beverage preparation machine (1).