The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for parallel and scalable processing of messages containing telemetry data at an administrator system. The administrator system can receive a large number of messages containing telemetry data from many dispenser machines in a short amount of time. To receive and process those messages, the systems and methods of the present disclosure provide a message queuer to queue the messages (or at least the telemetry data in the messages) in a plurality of queues and a different thread or process for each of the plurality of queues. Each thread or process can pull messages out of its assigned queue in order and process the telemetry data of the messages. The threads or processes can run on one or more central processing unit cores at the administrator system. This setup allows for horizontal scaling in terms of message processing throughput.

Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods for providing dynamic ingredient matrix reconfiguration in a product dispenser. In one example, a method for configuring a dispenser apparatus may include determining one or more current associations between some or all of a plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of a plurality of dispensing devices associated with the dispenser apparatus. The method may include determining whether a current association of the one or more current associations has changed with respect to at least one previous association between some or all of the plurality of ingredient packages and one or more of the plurality of dispensing devices, and in response to ascertaining that the current association has changed, modifying an association table based at least on the one or more current associations, the association table being representative of the at least one previous association.

A system and method determines an amount of water and water flow rate in a water dispenser system including a container/bottle, using a strain gage device(s) mounted on a structure or plane in relationship to the container/bottle. One or more strain gages are configured in a position to measure force per unit area, exerted by a portion of the water container/bottle in a normal or direction substantially perpendicular to a surface or plane on which the strain gage device(s) are mounted. The portion of the container/bottle is positioned in direct or indirect contact with the one or more strain gages to produce a strain gage signal representative of the amount of water in the container/bottle and periodic sampling of the strain gage signal is representative of flow rate of water from the container/bottle. Signals from the strain gage(s) are processed in a manner that allows the amount and rate of consumption of water to be monitored and determined automatically on-site or remotely.

Supply chain systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring fluid levels in liquid containers, such as kegs. Embodiments include sensors that fit within a keg's false bottom, measure the weight of the keg, and transmit the weight information to a computer database via a wireless network. Other embodiments include an RFID device with information about a characteristic of the liquid within a keg (such as brand and/or type of beer) that may be attached to the keg and paired with the sensor so the sensor can transmit information about the characteristic of the liquid in the keg. In alternate embodiments, the sensor's transmitter is short range and an uplink/gateway is used to receive information from the sensor and relay that sensor's information to a broader wireless network. Multiple containers in close proximity may each be fitted with an RFID device and sensor and communicate their individual information to the database.

A master control device in the configuration of a wand may control pre-programmed aspects of the user's environment using RFID/NFC tags and RFID/NFC readers to initiate pre-programmed behavior in a computer database. This pre-programmed behavior be the control of items that rely on electricity and/or gas, such as lights, electric fireplaces, electric valves, activating the listening feature on a home assistant, accruing a balance, paying for items with a topped-up balance, and locking and unlocking doors. This master control device can be used in the connected home or business, such as a pub, restaurant, hotel, or immersive experience.

The invention relates to a water dispenser intermediate part, wherein the water dispenser intermediate part has first connecting means for connecting a water tank to the water dispenser intermediate part, and the water dispenser intermediate part has second connecting means for connecting the water dispenser intermediate part to a water dispenser device. The water dispenser intermediate part has a water pipe piece which connects the first connecting means to the second connecting means. The water dispenser intermediate part has a water consumption meter and/or a water level sensor for determining water consumption via the water pipe and/or a water level in the water container, The water dispenser intermediate part has at least one transmitter part for wireless transmission of water consumption values and/or water level reports from the water tank.

A measurement system for providing real-time tracking. The measurement system includes a system tracking measurement unit, a system tracking processing unit, and a user interface device for receiving data corresponding to one or more system conditions over an electronic communications channel, the user interface device including a display. The system tracking measurement unit calculates temporal flow data when the orientation of one or more objects corresponds to an event trigger value and transmits the data to the system tracking processing unit. The system tracking processing unit determines one or more tracking parameters based on the temporal flow data. In addition, the system tracking processing unit determines one or more system conditions based on the one or more tracking parameters. The system tracking processing unit transmits data corresponding to the system conditions for display on a user interface device.

A networked system for providing and maintaining a set of liquid dispenser stations is described. The fluid dispensers communicate with a managing/supervisory cloud server via an interposed base station. The fluid dispensers communicate locally with the base station via wireless communication network links. The base station operates as an accumulator of status/usage information provided by the dispenser stations and bridge for passing information and control commands between the cloud server and the individual dispenser stations. The dispenser stations are configured with control processors (controllers) to facilitate performing a variety of local control operations associated with dispensing liquids that have been cooled (or heated) prior to dispensing by the dispenser stations. Additionally, the dispenser stations cooperatively operate with the cloud server (via the base station) to support a variety of real time control and maintenance operations relating to the dispenser stations operating at potentially thousands of distinct geographic locations.

Disclosed are various embodiments for dispensing and tracking beverages. An identifier associated with a user can be read by an identification device. Beverage availability information for the user can be determined. The beverage availability information can specify categories of beverages that the user is authorized to dispense. Valves can be selected that correspond to the authorized beverage categories. The valves can be enabled to allow the user to dispense beverages from the authorized beverage categories. The quantity of beverages dispensed can be tracked.

A beverage dispenser and method for operating a beverage dispenser may include receiving a handshake request from a mobile device of a user. A communications link may be established with the mobile device. Responsive to receiving control data associated with a beverage order from the mobile device, a physical function may be caused to be performed by the beverage dispenser.