Automated beverage generating system and method of operating the same

Abstract

A method of operating an automated beverage generating system. The method comprises receiving one or more electrical signals representative of an order for a specified beverage. The method further comprises translating the order into one or more steps required to generate the specified beverage. The method still further comprises entering at least one of the required steps into a dynamic sequence corresponding to a module of the system configured to perform that particular step, the dynamic sequence representing an order in which one or more steps in the dynamic sequence will be performed by the module for one or more beverages to be generated by the system.

1 . A method of operating an automated beverage generating system, comprising:
 receiving one or more electrical signals representative of an order for a first beverage;   translating the order into one or more required steps for generating the first beverage;   entering a required step for generating the first beverage into a dynamic sequence that contains a step required for generating a second beverage, wherein a plurality of process modules are each configured to perform the required step for generating the first beverage and the step required for generating the second beverage, and further wherein:
 each of the plurality of process modules is configured to perform a common chemical or mechanical process contributing to the production of beverages that corresponds to the required step for generating the first beverage and the step required for generating the second beverage; and 
 the dynamic sequence represents an order in which a plurality of steps in the dynamic sequence will be performed by the plurality of process modules for beverages to be generated by the system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing, by a first one of the plurality of process modules, the required step for generating the first beverage; and   performing, by a second one of the plurality of process modules, the step required for generating the second beverage.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising performing the required step for generating the first beverage while performing the required step for generating the second beverage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a priority for the required step for generating the first beverage, wherein the determined priority is used to determine a position of that step within the dynamic sequence relative to one or more other steps in the dynamic sequence for generating one or more other beverages to be generated by the system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the determined priority and the position of the required step in the dynamic sequence results in a change in the order in which the plurality of process modules perform the steps contained in the dynamic sequence. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising periodically updating the priority for the required step for generating the first beverage, and therefore, the position of that step in the dynamic sequence. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entering step comprises:
 accessing a queue containing the dynamic sequence; and   entering the required step for generating the first beverage into an empty slot in the queue, the empty slot corresponding to a position in the queue at which the required step will be performed by one of the plurality of process modules relative to one or more other steps in the queue.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the empty slot is at the end of the queue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the empty slot is between two occupied slots. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entering step comprises entering the required step for generating the first beverage in a position of the dynamic sequence that is ahead of the step required for generating the second beverage. 
     
     
         11 . An automated beverage generating system, comprising:
 an electronic processing unit;   an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processing unit and having instructions stored therein; and   a plurality of process modules electronically connected to the electronic processing unit, wherein each of the plurality of process modules is configured to perform a common chemical or mechanical process contributing to the production of beverages, and is configured to receive a command from the electronic processing unit to perform the chemical or mechanical process and to perform the chemical or mechanical process in response to that command, and the system includes a dynamic sequence representing an order in which the plurality of process modules will perform steps in the dynamic sequence for beverages to be generated by the system;   wherein the electronic processing unit is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is configured to:
 receive one or more electrical signals representative of an order for a first beverage; 
 translate the order into one or more required steps for generating the first beverage; and 
 enter a required step for generating the first beverage into the dynamic sequence, 
 wherein the dynamic sequence also contains a step required for generating a second beverage, and the required step for generating the first beverage and the step required for generating the second beverage both comprise the chemical or mechanical process each of the plurality of process modules is configured to perform. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic processing unit is configured to cause a first one of the plurality of process modules to perform the required step for generating the first beverage and a second one of the plurality of process modules to perform the step required for generating the second beverage. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic processing unit is configured to cause the required step for generating the first beverage to be performed while the required step for generating the second beverage is being performed. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic processing unit is configured to determine a priority for the required step for generating the first beverage, wherein the determined priority is used to determine a position of that step within the dynamic sequence relative to one or more other steps in the dynamic sequence for generating one or more other beverages to be generated by the system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the determined priority and the position of the required step in the dynamic sequence results in a change in the order in which the steps contained in the dynamic sequence are performed by the plurality of process modules. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic processing unit is configured to periodically update the priority for the required step for generating the first beverage, and therefore, the position of that step in the dynamic sequence. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic processing unit is configured to enter the required step in the dynamic sequence by:
 accessing a queue containing the dynamic sequence; and   entering the required step for generating the first beverage into an empty slot in the queue, the empty slot corresponding to a position in the queue at which the required step will be performed by one of the plurality of process modules relative to one or more other steps in the queue.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the empty slot is at the end of the queue. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the empty slot is between two occupied slots. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic processing unit is configured to enter to required step for generating the first beverage in a position of the dynamic sequence that is ahead of the step required for generating the second beverage. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that when executed by an electronic processing unit of an automated beverage generating system causes the electronic processing unit to:
 receive one or more electrical signals representative of an order for a first beverage;   translate the order into one or more required steps for generating the first beverage;   enter a required step for generating the first beverage into a dynamic sequence that contains a step required for generating a second beverage, wherein a plurality of process modules are each configured to perform the required step for generating the first beverage and the step required for generating the second beverage, and further wherein:   each of the plurality of process modules is configured to perform a common chemical or mechanical process contributing to the production of beverages that corresponds to the required step for generating the first beverage and the step required for generating the second beverage; and
 the dynamic sequence represents an order in which a plurality of steps in the dynamic sequence will be performed by the plurality of process modules to be generated by the system. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein execution of the instructions stored thereon by the electronic processing unit causes the electronic processing unit to cause:
 the required step for generating the first beverage to be performed by a first one of the plurality of process modules; and   the required step for generating the second beverage to be performed by a second one of the plurality of process modules, wherein the required step for generating the first beverage is performed while the required step for generating the second beverage is being performed.