Sensing devices and systems including examples of pairing sensing devices to containers

Abstract

Examples of systems and methods are described herein including sensing devices and pairing sensing devices to containers. In some examples, sensing devices may be used to weigh liquid-containing containers. Responsive to changes in weight readings indicative of a change in a container being weighed by a sensing device, a user may be prompted on a user device to associate updated container size and contents with the sensing device. Systems and methods described herein may facilitate accurate inventory management and menu display of liquid available in containers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a notification, at a user device, that a first container monitored by a sensing device positioned under the first container has been replaced by a second container;   receiving, at the user device, an indication of a size and contents of the second container; and   transmitting the indication of the size and contents of the second container to a computing system, wherein the computing system is configured to associate the size and contents of the second container with the sensing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first container and the second container are kegs. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sensing device is configured to periodically transmit an ID of the sensing device and an indication of a weight of the second container. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the computing system is configured to associate the size and contents of the second container with the ID of the sensing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the notification is received responsive to a weight of the first container falling below a first threshold and a weight of the second container being above a second threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user device is a mobile communication device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing, by the user device, suggested sizes and contents of the second container based, at least in part, on a weight of the second container. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the suggested sizes and contents of the second container are based, at least in part, on an inventory at a location housing the second container. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the suggested sizes and contents of the second container are displayed in an order based, at least in part, on popularity of certain contents in a region including a location housing the second container. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sensing device is associated with a tap. 
     
     
         11 . A computing system comprising:
 one or more processing units;   memory accessible to the one or more processing units, the memory configured to store associations between sensing devices and sizes and contents of containers positioned above the sensing devices;   at least one computer readable medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by the one or more processing units cause the computing system to perform actions, the actions including:
 receiving periodic transmissions from at least one of the sensing devices, the periodic transmissions including an ID of the sensing device and an indication of a weight of a container positioned above the sensing device; 
 responsive to a transmission from the sensing device indicative of a weight below a first threshold and a subsequent transmission from the sensing device indicative of a weight above a second threshold, transmitting a notification to a user device that the container has been replaced with a next container; 
 receiving, from the user device, an indication of a size and contents of the next container; and 
 updating the memory to associate the sensing device with the size and contents of the next container. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing system of  claim 11  wherein the container and the next container comprise kegs. 
     
     
         13 . The computing system of  claim 11  wherein the indication of the size and contents of the container comprise a type of beer in the container. 
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 11 , the actions further including:
 associating a location with the sensing device based on the ID of the sensing device and a gateway from which the periodic transmissions were received.   
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 14 , the actions further including:
 transmitting indications of available inventory at the location to the user device; and   wherein the indication of the size and contents of the next container comprises a selection from the available inventory.   
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 14 , the actions further including:
 transmitting suggested sizes and contents to the user device, wherein the suggested sizes and contents are based, at least in part, on consumption data in a region including the location.   
     
     
         17 . The computing system of  claim 11 , the actions further including:
 transmitting suggested sizes and contents to the user device, wherein the suggested sizes and contents are based, at least in part, on the periodic transmissions from the sensing device.   
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensing device is associated with a tap. 
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a keg and wherein the sensing device is positioned beneath the keg and configured to weigh the keg. 
     
     
         20 . The computing system of  claim 11 , the actions further including:
 transmitting an indication of the contents and level of the container to a display device.