A method of dispensing fluids with variable carbonation. The method includes receiving a selection of a carbonation level of a beverage and determining a valve timing scheme to achieve the selected carbonation level.

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.

Methods, systems, and devices disclosed herein may be collectively referred to as a platform. A platform consistent with embodiments herein may be used by individuals or companies to track an amount of liquid poured from at least one liquid container. The platform may comprise a tracking device and a computing hub in operative bi-directional communication. The device that may be configured to a liquid dispensing container such as, but not limited to, a bottle. The device may be configured to receive a liquid from the container and transfer the liquid through a chamber within the device. As the liquid is transferred through the device, a computing element and sensing component integrated within the device may be configured to track an amount of liquid dispensed through the device. A communications module may then communicate the data with the hub.

An automation system for tracking beverage consumption and methods of its operation are provided herein. The automation system monitors the consumption of beverages with a focus on beverages, such as beer, cider and wine, that are housed in a barrel-like container such as a beer keg. The automation system consists of a sensor plate, cloud application service or local application services, communications services, real-time display, and integration with a mobile form factor. The sensor plate includes electronics, such as weight sensors, battery voltage sensors, and environmental sensors, as well as software to calculate the volume of the beverage based on data captured from the sensors and on-board algorithms. The cloud or local device will send and receive messages and their services will be utilized to parse and analyze the data captured by the sensor plate. The mobile form factor will then display to the user through a user interface the reports generated from the analyzed data. The real-time display will display current readings and calculations.

A system and method for dispensing beverage from a container, such as wine from a wine bottle. Dispensing may be automatically controlled based on a detected orientation of the container, e.g., dispensing may occur when a bottle is tilted as if to pour from the bottle and stopped when the bottle is oriented upright. Dispensing may be stopped when the container is rotated about its longitudinal axis even while in a pour orientation. A remaining amount of beverage in the container and/or an amount of pressurized gas used to drive dispensing may be detected and beverage dispensing controlled accordingly.

A controlled pourer that may include a locking mechanism for locking the controlled pourer to a bottle; a communication module; a flow control mechanism that is configured to control an output of fluid, during a liquid consumption iteration, from the bottle under a control of one or more commands received by the communication module; and a flow meter for monitoring an amount of fluid outputted by the flow control mechanism during the fluid consumption iteration. The communication module is configured to output information regarding the amount of fluid consumed during the fluid consumption operation. Once locked to the bottle the controller pourer prevents a bypass of the fluid control mechanism.

An electronic pourer can be used with an inventory system for inventory and/or accounting purposes. In one embodiment, the electronic pourer includes an orientation determining subsystem configured to determine an orientation of the electronic pourer, a wireless communication subsystem, a processing subsystem having at least one processing core, and a power source configured to power up the electronic pourer. The processing subsystem can be coupled to the orientation determining subsystem and the wireless communication subsystem to determine whether liquid has been dispensed from the electronic pourer based on the angular displacement of the orientation determining subsystem, and transmit information to an external computing device via the wireless communication subsystem. In another embodiment, the electronic pourer is equipped with a subsystem.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide improved liquid systems, as well as improved liquid system techniques. For example, a liquid system may include a liquid blending system and a liquid dispensing system that more efficiently meets the demands of consumers/users. Specifically, liquid blending and dispensing systems described herein may facilitate user blending of various liquids, accurate user identification of sensory characteristics associated with various liquid blends and liquid blend components, efficient handling of user feedback and refinement of subsequent liquid blends, etc. For instance, a liquid blending system may take user selection input and provide a liquid. The liquid system may store data describing the provided liquid in a database. Further, the liquid system may receive and analyze user input regarding the provided liquid and provide a subsequent liquid blend recipe based on the user input and the stored data describing the original blend.

A beverage dispensing system including a control unit and a touch screen. Inputs are made to the touch screen to dispense beverages and apply system adjustments. The control unit controls a plurality of beverage dispensing valves according to inputs made to the touch screen.

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.