Touchless Beverage Dispensing With Mobile Interface Mirroring

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional beverage dispensing systems require physical interaction, leading to contamination and germ spread, especially in high-traffic areas like workplaces and cafeterias, due to frequent touching and lack of touchless operation.

Innovation Solution

A touchless beverage dispensing system that allows users to connect their mobile device wirelessly to the dispenser via a QR code or similar digital graphic, enabling selection and control through a mobile app or web platform, establishing a WebSocket Secure connection for remote operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If physical interaction with the beverage dispenser is required for operation, then the device complexity remains low and ease of operation is simple, but contamination risk increases and hygiene deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical contact-based operation with wireless communication technology. Users interact with the beverage dispenser through a mobile device that communicates wirelessly with the dispenser's control system, eliminating the need for physical contact with buttons, levers, or touchscreens on the dispenser itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the user and the beverage dispenser. The mobile device serves as a mediator that transmits user commands wirelessly to the dispenser and receives status information, thereby preventing direct contact between the user's hands and the dispenser surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple users frequently use the beverage dispenser in high-traffic areas, then productivity and user convenience are maintained, but the dispenser becomes dirty and germ spread increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing volumeVSAvoidgerm spread

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical contact-based operation with wireless communication technology. Users interact with the beverage dispenser through a mobile device that communicates wirelessly with the dispenser's control system, eliminating the need for physical contact with buttons, levers, or touchscreens on the dispenser itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows each user to independently control the dispenser through their own mobile device, with the dispenser automatically processing requests without requiring manual intervention or cleaning between uses. The wireless interface remains contamination-free while handling high volumes of user requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a touchscreen display is used on the beverage dispenser for user interface, then ease of operation improves and information display is enhanced, but contamination risk increases due to frequent touching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface usabilityVSAvoidsurface contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical contact-based operation with wireless communication technology. Users interact with the beverage dispenser through a mobile device that communicates wirelessly with the dispenser's control system, eliminating the need for physical contact with buttons, levers, or touchscreens on the dispenser itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the user interface on the user's mobile device that mirrors the dispenser's touchscreen interface. This virtual replica allows users to interact with the same controls and displays without physically touching the dispenser's screen, transferring the interface functionality to a personal device that the user already handles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11634313B2Touchless beverage dispensing

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 HYDRATION LABS INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for beverage dispensing are disclosed herein. The beverage dispensing system can receive a connection request to pair a mobile computing device with a beverage dispensing device via a network. The connection request can include an identifier that can be verified to match a current identifier associated with the beverage dispensing device. The beverage dispensing system can generate a session between the mobile computing device and the beverage dispensing device that replicates a user interface of the beverage dispensing device on the mobile computing device. The beverage dispensing system can receive inputs from the mobile computing device during the session to obtain configuration parameters for a beverage and dispense the beverage from a nozzle based on the configuration parameters.