System and method for monitoring and control of beverage dispensing equipment

Abstract

A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote beverage dispensing equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network, and the application host can communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network interface.

1 - 50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . A remote data acquisition and transmission system comprising: 
 an application controller coupled to and interfacing with equipment to acquire inventory data and equipment status data from the equipment;    an application host connected to and associated with the application controller;    the application host including a WAN wireless transceiver operable to communicate across a wireless data network;    the application host including a wide area network interface for communicating with a network operations center;    the network operations center communicating with the application host via the wide area network to receive data acquired by the application controller from the equipment; and    the network operation center maintaining a database storing the data from the equipment and providing secure third party access to the database.    
   
   
       52 . A remote data acquisition and transmission system for beverage dispensing devices, comprising: 
 at least a first application controller interfacing with a beverage dispensing controller associated with a respective beverage dispensing device from which operation data is acquired by the first application controller;    at least a second application controller interfacing with a beverage dispensing controller associated with a respective beverage dispensing device from which operation data is acquired by the second application controller;    an application host communicating with at least one of the application controllers via at least one local area network to receive the operation data from the associated beverage dispensing devices;    the application host including a wide area network interface for communicating with a network operations center;    the network operations center communicating with the application host via the wide area network to receive the operation data acquired by the application controllers from the respective beverage dispensing devices;    the network operations center maintaining a database storing the operation data from the respective beverage dispensing devices and providing third party access to the database;    the network operations center communicating with the application host via the wide area network to transmit operation data to the application controllers for the respective beverage dispensing devices;    the operation data including configuration information, firmware and other information used to operate the respective beverage dispensing devices; and    the network operations center having at least one device monitoring and control unit.    
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 the local area network supported by wireless transmissions; and    the application host and each application controller comprise a wireless LAN transceiver for communicating via the local area network.    
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 the local area network supported by wire-line transmissions; and    the application host and each application controller comprise a wire-line LAN transceiver for communicating via the local area network.    
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising the application host directly connected to and associated with one of the first and second application controllers.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising the wide area network interface of the application host comprises a narrowband PCS wireless link to connect the local area network with the network operations center.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising each application controller interfaces via a serial interface having at least one direct sensor coupled with a component of at least one beverage dispensing device.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the operation data acquired from each beverage dispensing device comprises product dispensing and inventory data and cash levels.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the operation data acquired from each beverage dispensing device comprises equipment status data.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising the third party access provided to the network operations center via a web browser connecting across an internet based network.  
   
   
       61 . A remote data acquisition and transmission system operable to manage devices that collect data from remote corporate assets, comprising: 
 a first application controller interfacing with a first device to acquire operation data from the first device;    a second application controller interfacing with a second device to acquire operation data from the second device;    an application host communicating with at least one of the application controllers via a local area network (LAN) to receive the operation data from the first and second devices;    a wide area network (WAN) interface in the application host for communicating with a network operations center;    a first transceiver in the first application controller operable to transmit the operation data from the first device to the second application controller;    a second transceiver in the second application controller operable to transmit the operation data from the second device to the first application controller;    the first transceiver operable to receive the operation data from the second application controller and communicate the operation data from the second device to the application host on behalf of the second application controller when the second transceiver is not operable to transmit the operation data from the second device to the application host;    the second transceiver operable to receive the operation data from the first application controller and communicate the operation data from the first device to the application host on behalf of the first application controller when the first transceiver is not operable to transmit the operation data from the first device to the application host;    the network operations center communicating with the application host via the WAN to receive the operation data acquired by the first and second application controllers;    the network operations center transmitting data for the first and second devices via the WAN to the application host;    the application host transmitting the data to at least one of the first and second application controllers via the LAN; and    the first and second application controllers providing the data to the first and second devices, respectively.    
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 the LAN supported by wireless transmissions; and    the application host and the first and second application controllers having respective wireless LAN transceivers for communicating via the LAN.    
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 the LAN supported by wire-line transmissions; and    the application host and each application controller having respective wire-line LAN transceivers for communicating via the local area network.    
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 61  further comprising the second application controller automatically configured to operate as a relay for the first application controller when the first application controller is not within a primary communication range of the application host.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising the first application controller automatically configured to operate as a relay for the second application controller when the second application controller is not within a primary communication range of the application host.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the wide area network interface of the application host comprises a WAN wireless transceiver.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the wide area network interface of the application host comprises a WAN wire-line interface.  
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising the network operations center maintaining a database with the operation data and providing secure third party access to the database.  
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 68 , further comprising the secure third party access to the database provided via a web browser connecting across an internet based network.  
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the application host comprising a hand-held portable computer.  
   
   
       71 . A remote data acquisition and transmission system for beverage dispensing devices, comprising: 
 at least first and second application controllers;    the first application controller interfacing with a beverage dispensing controller associated with a first beverage dispensing device from which operation data is acquired by the first application controller and the second application controller interfacing with a beverage dispensing controller associated with a second beverage dispensing device from which operation data is acquired by the second application controller;    an application host communicating with at least one of the application controllers via at least one local area network to receive the operation data from the associated beverage dispensing devices;    the application host having at least one a wide area network interface for communicating with a network operations center;    the network operations center communicating with the application host via at least one wide area network to receive the operation data acquired by the first and second application controllers from the associated beverage dispensing devices;    the first application controller operating as a relay when necessary to establish communication between the application host and the second application controller, such that the first application controller relays the operation data from the second beverage dispensing device to the application host on behalf of the second application controller;    the second application controller operating as a relay when necessary to establish communication between the application host and the first application controller, such that the second application controller relays the operation data from the first beverage dispensing device to the application host on behalf of the first application controller;    the network operations center maintaining a database storing the operation data from the associated beverage dispensing devices and providing third party access to the database;    the network operations center communicating with the application host via the wide area network to transmit operation data to the first and second application controllers for the associated beverage dispensing devices; and    the operation data including configuration information, firmware and other information used to operate the associated beverage dispensing devices.    
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 71 , further comprising: 
 the local area network supported by wireless transmissions; and    the application host and each application controller having a respective wireless LAN transceiver for communicating via the local area network.    
   
   
       73 . The system of  claim 71 , further comprising: 
 the local area network supported by wire-line transmissions; and    the application host and each application controller having a respective wire-line LAN transceiver for communicating via the local area network.    
   
   
       74 . The system of  claim 71 , further comprising each application controller interfacing via a serial interface having at least one direct sensor coupled with a component of at least one beverage dispensing device.  
   
   
       75 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the operation data acquired from at least one beverage dispensing device comprises product dispensing and inventory data and cash levels.  
   
   
       76 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the operation data acquired from at least one beverage dispensing device comprises equipment status data.  
   
   
       77 . The system of  claim 71 , further comprising the third party access provided to the network operations center via a web browser connecting across an internet based network.  
   
   
       78 . A method for remote data acquisition and transmission, comprising: 
 interfacing at least two of application controller with respective remote beverage dispensing devices from which operation data is acquired by the respective application controller;    communicating between an application host and each application controller;    communicating between the application host and a network operations center using a wide area network interface;    communicating between the application host and the application controllers via a local area network; and    communicating between a network operation center and the application host via a wide area network to receive the operation data acquired by the application controllers.    
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein communicating via the local area network is supported by wireless transmissions using wireless LAN transceivers.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 78  wherein communicating via the local area comprises transmitting over a wire-line interface using wire-line LAN transceivers.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising operating at least one of the application controllers as a relay for another application controller for communications to the application host.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising auto configuring the local area network upon initialization.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the auto configuring comprises operating the application controllers as relays when necessary to establish communication between the application host and other application controllers.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising directly connecting the application host with at least one of the application controllers.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 78  wherein communicating between the application host and a network operations center uses a wide area network interface comprising a WAN wireless transceiver.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 78  wherein communicating between the application host and a network operations center uses a wide area network interface comprising a WAN wire-line interface.  
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising: 
 communicating firmware from the network operations center to the application host; and    communicating the firmware from the application host to the application controllers.    
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising: 
 maintaining a database storing the operation data and providing secure third party access to the database at the network operations center; and    providing the secure third party access via a web browser connecting across an internet based network.