Capsule Image Sharing for Remote Beverage Machine Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage preparation machines face challenges in determining capsule characteristics and tracking usage, as they need to decode machine-readable codes on capsules, which can be complex and require additional processing capabilities, and there is a need for efficient capsule replenishment notifications based on usage patterns.
Innovation Solution
The system captures images of capsule indicia using an imaging device and transmits them to a remote computer for decoding, allowing the remote system to determine capsule characteristics and track usage, while also sending beverage preparation parameters, enabling remote monitoring and automatic replenishment notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the beverage preparation machine decodes machine-readable codes on capsules locally, then capsule characteristics can be determined, but the machine's processing requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The code decoding function is extracted from the beverage preparation machine and transferred to a remote server. The machine only captures images of capsule codes and transmits them externally, removing the complex decoding processing from the local device while maintaining the ability to determine capsule characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote server acts as an intermediary between the beverage preparation machine and the capsule code database. The server receives image data, performs decoding processing, and returns capsule characteristic information, thereby relieving the machine of complex processing tasks.
2Loss of information
If the beverage preparation machine captures and processes capsule images locally, then capsule information can be identified, but the machine's computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computationally intensive image decoding and capsule information retrieval processes are extracted from the beverage preparation machine and performed remotely on a server, reducing the machine's computational energy consumption while ensuring complete capsule information is obtained.
3Productivity
If the system tracks capsule usage locally, then replenishment can be monitored, but the machine requires additional storage and processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The remote server serves as an intermediary for storing and processing capsule usage data. The beverage preparation machine simply transmits usage information to the server, which handles storage, analysis, and replenishment notifications, thereby maintaining high productivity without increasing machine complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for sharing capsule image data and beverage preparation parameters, from one or more beverage preparation machines with a remote computer system via a network, such as the Internet, is disclosed. The remote computer system may process the capsule image data to determine characteristics of the capsule (e.g., a type of capsule, such as a brand, or beverage ingredients in the capsule), thereby relieving the beverage preparation from having to determine information about the capsule. The remote computer may track a user's consumption of capsules, may compare this value to the user's past capsule purchase history, and may determine if the user's supply of capsules is below a threshold value (e.g., below a week's worth of capsules).