Beverage Dispense Valve Controlled By Wireless Technology

Abstract

Methods and systems directed to dispensing fluids, such as beverages, using wireless technology are provided. Aspects relate to a beverage dispenser with a dispensing system housing, a valve housing positioned exterior to the dispensing system housing and extending from the dispensing system housing. The valve housing may be configured to dispense a beverage and include self-contained electronics disposed within an interior area of the valve housing. In some embodiments, the beverage dispenser has one or more additional valve housings positioned exterior to the dispensing system housing. The valve housing may be configured to dispense a beverage and include self-contained electronics disposed within an interior area of the valve housing.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A beverage dispensing system comprising:
 a beverage dispenser, the beverage dispenser comprising:
 a valve housing, the valve housing comprising:
 a valve configured to dispense a beverage, and 
 self-contained electronics for communication between a beverage container and the beverage dispenser; and 
 
 a button configured to illuminate in response to the communication between the beverage container and the beverage dispenser, 
   wherein the self-contained electronics are configured to transmit and receive a signal from a container wireless transceiver of the beverage container, and   wherein the self-contained electronics are configured to control the operation of the beverage dispenser without contact between the beverage container and the beverage dispenser.   
     
     
         42 . The container of  claim 41 , wherein the button is a physical push button configured to be pushed by a user, and wherein pushing the physical push button activates the beverage dispenser. 
     
     
         43 . The container of  claim 41 , wherein the button is not configured to be pushed. 
     
     
         44 . The container of  claim 43 , wherein the button illuminates in response to receiving a valid signal from the container wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         45 . The container of  claim 43 , wherein the beverage dispenser activates in response to receiving a valid signal from the container wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         46 . The container of  claim 41 , wherein the button illuminates when then the beverage dispenser is communicating with the beverage container. 
     
     
         47 . The container of  claim 41 , wherein the button illuminates in response to a valid signal from the container wireless transceiver, the valid signal indicating that the beverage container is validated. 
     
     
         48 . The container of  claim 47 , wherein the valid signal indicates that the beverage container is within a threshold distance from the beverage dispenser. 
     
     
         49 . The container of  claim 41 , wherein button illuminates when the beverage dispenser is ready to dispense the beverage. 
     
     
         50 . A beverage dispensing system comprising:
 a beverage dispenser, the beverage dispenser comprising:
 a dispensing system housing; 
 a wirelessly transmitting valve extending from the dispensing system housing, the wirelessly transmitting valve configured to communicate with a container wireless transceiver of a beverage container, the wirelessly transmitting valve configured to dispense a beverage into the beverage container; and 
 a button configured to illuminate when the valve wireless transceiver is communicating with the container wireless transceiver, 
   wherein the wirelessly transmitting valve is configured to activate the beverage dispensing system without contact between the beverage dispensing system and the beverage container.   
     
     
         51 . The beverage dispensing system of  claim 50 , wherein the valve wireless transceiver activates the beverage dispensing system when a compatible beverage container is present. 
     
     
         52 . The beverage dispensing system of  claim 51 , wherein the compatible beverage container is validated to receive the beverage. 
     
     
         53 . The beverage dispensing system of  claim 50 , wherein the valve wireless transceiver is activated when the beverage container is properly located to receive the beverage. 
     
     
         54 . The container of  claim 50 , wherein the button is a physical push button configured to be pushed by a user, and wherein pushing the physical push button activates the beverage dispenser. 
     
     
         55 . The container of  claim 50 , wherein the button is not configured to be pushed. 
     
     
         56 . A method of dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:
 sensing a beverage container in close proximity to a beverage dispenser, the beverage dispenser comprising:
 a valve housing, the valve housing comprising a valve configured to dispense a beverage, and self-contained electronics for communication between the beverage container and the beverage dispenser; and 
 a button; 
   communicating wirelessly, in response to sensing the beverage container, between the beverage container and the self-contained electronics, the wireless communication comprising:
 transmitting a first signal from the self-contained electronics to the beverage container; and 
 transmitting a second signal from the container to the self-contained electronics, 
 wherein the button illuminates in response to the second signal; and 
   dispensing the beverage from the beverage dispenser to the beverage container without contact between the beverage container and the beverage dispenser.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising:
 determining, based on the second signal, whether the beverage container is validated to receive the beverage.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the beverage is dispensed only when the beverage container is validated. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the beverage is dispensed only when the beverage container is properly located to receive the beverage from the valve. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising pushing the button to begin dispensing the beverage.