Beverage Coaster, System Having a Beverage Coaster, and Method for Data Communication in a System Having a Beverage Coaster

Abstract

The present invention concerns a drinks coaster comprising a housing which is so designed that a drinking vessel can be placed thereon, and a wireless electronic communication device arranged in the housing, wherein the communication device is of such a configuration and design that a first wireless communication connection with an interface can be provided by the communication device in operation of the drinks coaster, wherein data can be transmitted at least from the communication device to the interface. In comparison the object of the present invention is to provide a drinks coaster which in a simple fashion makes it possible to also acquire and/or process information about a drinking vessel placed on the drinks coaster and/or about a drink in the drinking vessel. To attain that object it is proposed that the drinks coaster is further developed in such a way that the communication device is further configured and designed that a second wireless communication connection with a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier mounted on a drinking vessel can be provided by the communication device in operation of the drinks coaster, wherein data can be read at least out of the electronic information carrier and transmitted to the communication device.

Claims

1. A drinks coaster (1) comprising a housing (2) which is so designed that a drinking vessel (5) can be placed thereon, and a wireless electronic communication device (11) arranged in the housing (2), wherein the communication device (11) is of such a configuration and design that a first wireless communication connection (22) with an interface (19) can be provided by the communication device in operation of the drinks coaster (1), wherein data can be transmitted at least from the communication device (11) to the interface (19), characterised in that the communication device (11) is further configured and designed that a second wireless communication connection (23) with a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier (17) mounted on a drinking vessel (5) can be provided by the communication device in operation of the drinks coaster (1), wherein data can be read at least out of the electronic information carrier (17) and transmitted to the communication device (11).

2. A drinks coaster (1) according to the preceding claim characterised in that the communication device (11) is so designed and adapted that the first wireless communication connection (22) operates in accordance with a first transmission method and the second wireless communication connection (23) operates in accordance with a second transmission method different from the first transmission method.

3. A drinks coaster (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the communication device is so designed and adapted that the first wireless communication connection (22) is a wireless LAN connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile radio connection or an LPWA connection and that the second wireless communication connection (23) is a connection for reading out a RFID transponder.

4. A drinks coaster (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the drinks coaster (1) has a measuring device (12) for detecting a measurement parameter, wherein the measuring device (12) is operatively connected to the communication device (11) so that the measurement parameter can be transmitted in the form of data to the interface at least by way of the first communication connection (22).

5. A drinks coaster (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the drinks coaster (1) has a filling level measuring device (12) arranged in the housing (2), wherein the filling level measuring device (12) is so designed and adapted that a filling level of a drinking vessel (5) placed on the housing (2) can be detected with the filling level measuring device (12) and wherein the filling level measuring device (12) is so connected to the communication device (11) that measurement data generated by the filling level measuring device (12) can be transmitted to the communication device (11).

6. A drinks coaster (1) according to the preceding claim characterised in that the filling level measuring device (12) is selected from a force sensor which is so adapted and arranged that in operation of the drinks coaster (1) a weight of a drinking vessel (5) placed on the drinks coaster (1) can be detected with the force sensor (12), a capacitive sensor which is so adapted and arranged that in operation of the drinks coaster (1) an electrical capacitance dependent on the filling level of the drinking vessel (5) placed on the drinks coaster (1) can be detected with the capacitive sensor, or an optical sensor.

7. A drinks coaster (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the communication device (11) is further so designed and adapted that in operation of the drinks coaster (1) a third wireless communication connection (24) with a mobile terminal device (22) can be provided by the communication device, wherein data can be read at least out of the mobile terminal device (26) and transmitted to the communication device (11).

8. A drinks coaster (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the housing (2) has a top side (3) with a carrier surface (4) and an rim (8) which at least portion-wise surrounds the carrier surface (4) and projects with respect to the carrier surface (4) so that a beer mat (6) can be received on the carrier surface (4) and within the rim (8).

9. A drinks coaster (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the drinks coaster (1) has a display element connected to the communication device (11), wherein the display element is preferably a display or a light emitting diode or has a vibration alarm connected to the communication device.

10. A drinks coaster (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the drinks coaster (1) has a power supply (13), in particular an accumulator, which is arranged in the housing and connected to the communication device (11).

11. A system (27, 27) comprising a drinks coaster according to one of the preceding claims, an interface (19) and a drinking vessel (5), having a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier (7) fitted thereon, wherein a first wireless communication connection (22) is provided between the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1) and the interface (19) so that data can be transmitted at least by the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1) to the interface (19) and wherein a second wireless communication connection (23) is provided between the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1) and the information carrier (17) so that data can be read at least out of the electronic information carrier (17) and transmitted to the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1).

12. A system (27, 27) according to the preceding claim characterised in that the interface (19) is an access point of a data network (20), preferably an access point or a router, or that the interface is an interface of a mobile terminal device, preferably a mobile telephone.

13. A system (27, 27) according to claim 11 or claim 12 characterised in that the system includes a mobile terminal device (26), wherein a third wireless communication connection (24) is provided between the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1) and the mobile terminal device (26) so that data can be read out at least from the mobile terminal device (26) and transmitted to the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1).

14. A system (27, 27) according to one of claims 11 to 13 characterised in that the system further has a table having a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier mounted thereto or a stand having a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier mounted thereto for setting up on a table, wherein by way of a wireless communication connection between the communication device of the drinks coaster data can be at least read out of the electronic information carrier and transmitted to the communication device of the drinks coaster.

15. A method of data communication in a system (27, 27) comprising a drinks coaster (1) having a housing (2) which is so adapted that a drinking vessel (5) can be placed thereon, and a wireless electronic communication device (11) arranged in the housing (2), an interface (19) and a drinking vessel (5) with a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier (17) mounted thereto, wherein by way of a first wireless communication connection (22) data can be transmitted at least from the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1) to the interface (19) and wherein by way of a second wireless communication connection (23) data are read at least out of the electronic information carrier (17) and transmitted to the communication device (11) of the drinks coaster (1).

Description

[0077] Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention will be apparent from the description of embodiments hereinafter and the accompanying Figures.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a drinks coaster according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a system with the drinks coaster of FIG. 1, and

[0080] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of a system with a drinks coaster as shown in FIG. 1.

[0081] In the Figures identical components are denoted by the same references.

[0082] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a drinks coaster 1 according to the invention.

[0083] The drinks coaster 1 includes a housing 2 which is of a shallow structure, of a height markedly less than its length and its width. The housing 2 at its top side 3 has a carrier surface 4 serving as a surface for a drinking vessel, here a drinking glass 5, to stand thereon.

[0084] In the illustrated embodiment the carrier surface 4 is such that a beer mat 6 is received thereon, the beer mat extending between the bottom 7 of the drinking glass 5 and the carrier surface 4 of the housing after the drinking glass 5 has been put down. In the illustrated embodiment the beer mat 6 is a round beer mat of a diameter of 107 mm which is made from wood pulp cardboard. The carrier surface 4 is surrounded by a circular rim 8 so that the beer mat 6 cannot slip off the carrier surface 4 or slide in relation thereto. The rim 8 is substantially of a height in relation to the carrier surface 4, that is equal to the thickness of the beer mat 6. The beer mat 6 serves to absorb condensation water and any spilt drops of the drink 9 in the drinking glass 5.

[0085] Disposed in the interior of the housing 2 is a compartment 10 in which an electronic circuit having a plurality of elements is received. In the illustrated embodiment the electronic circuit includes a communication device 11, a force sensor 12, a processor 15 and an inductively chargeable accumulator 13.

[0086] The accumulator 13 serves to supply electric power to the force sensor 12 and the communication device 11. The force sensor 12 is arranged beneath the carrier surface 4 of the housing so that it detects a force acting on the carrier surface 4 and thus on the housing 2. The force sensor 12 is then supported at the opposite wall 14 of the compartment 10. When now the drinking glass 5 is put down on the beer mat 6 on the carrier surface 4 the force due to the weight of the drinking glass 5 and the drink 9 therein presses against the carrier surface 4 and by way thereof against the force sensor 12. The force detected by the force sensor 12 is proportional to the weight or mass of the drinking glass 5 with the drink 9 therein. If the tare weight of the drinking glass 5 is known then it is possible from the force measurement of the force sensor 2 to arrive at the mass of the drink 9 in the drinking glass 5 or the filling level of the drinking glass 5.

[0087] In the illustrated embodiment the sensor 12 is operatively connected to a logic means, that is to say on the processor 15, which causes a fresh order for a drink to the bar staff when the filling level falls below a predetermined level.

[0088] In principle the glasses 5 placed on the drinks coaster 1 can be of quite different shapes and sizes and thus masses. So that the respectively correct tare weight for filling level measurement can be implemented by means of the force sensor 12 the drinks coaster 1 has a communication device 11 which on the one hand includes an RFID reader 16. It serves to read out a RFID transponder 16 on the glass 5. The RFID transponder 17 using the terminology employed in the present application is a contactlessly readable electronic information carrier, in the illustrated embodiment involving specific information in the form of data which one-to-one identify the type of glass 5, the tare weight of the glass 5 and the type of drink 9. On the basis of that information which the RFID reader 16 reads out and transmits to the logic means 15 the logic means 15 can evaluate the measurement data from the force sensor 12 and determine when a fresh order has to be initiated. The further order 15 is transmitted to the communication device 11 by means of a command in the form of data and forwarded by the device 11. For that purpose the communication device 11 has a Bluetooth module 18 which provides a communication connection to a network interface 19.

[0089] FIG. 2 now shows a diagrammatic view of a system 27 having a multiplicity of drinks coasters 1 of the configuration of that shown in FIG. 1. A drinking glass 5 with an RFID transponder 17 fitted thereto is arranged on each of the drinks coasters 1. The respective communication device 11 provides a first wireless communication connection between the drinks coaster and the interface 19. In that respect the interface 19 is a Bluetooth access point for a data network 20 connecting the access point 19 to a computer 21. The data network is an LAN network, wherein the computer 21 can also communicate with a server by way of the Internet 25 (this is not shown). The Bluetooth connections 22 form first wireless communication connections between the communication devices 11 and the interfaces 19 using the terminology of the present application.

[0090] The NFC connections between the communication devices 11 and the RFID transponder 17 on the drinking glasses 5 form the second wireless communication connection 23 using the terminology of the present application.

[0091] The architecture diagrammatically shown for three drinks coasters 1 in FIG. 2 is suitable for a large number of drinks coasters, in which respect not only every RFID transponder 17 and thus each drinking glass 5 has an individual one-to-one identification, but also each drinks coaster 1 has a one-to-one identification. In that case, when putting out the drinks coasters an association of the respective drinks coaster 1 with the table or a customer is stored in the database of the computer 21. If the filling level of one of the drinking glasses 5 falls below a predetermined threshold the drinks coaster 1 on which the drinking glass 5 is disposed initiates a further order, more specifically for that drink which is identified by means of the RFID transponder on the drinking glass 5.

[0092] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged architecture of the system 27, in which each of the communication devices 11 additionally provides a third communication connection 24 from the drinks coaster 1 to a smartphone 26 of the customer or consumer. Personal data about the consumer can be interrogated by way of that communication connection 24 and passed for statistical evaluation. For example an age query for preventing sale of alcohol to minors can also be implemented.

[0093] While the embodiment of the drinks coaster 1 of FIG. 1 does not have any user interfaces besides the force sensor 12 embodiments are also conceivable in which the drinks coaster additionally has a display element, for example in the form of a light emitting diode, and an operating element, for example a button. In that way further orders can be manually initiated or catering services provided.

[0094] For the purposes of the original disclosure it is pointed out that all features as can be seen by a man skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the claims, even if they are described in specific terms only in connection with certain other features, can be combined both individually and also in any combinations with others of the features or groups of features disclosed here insofar as that has not been expressly excluded or technical aspects make such combinations impossible or meaningless. A comprehensive explicit representation of all conceivable combinations of features and emphasis of the independence of the individual features from each other is dispensed with here only for the sake of brevity and readability of the description.

[0095] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description that illustration and description is only by way of example and is not deemed to be a limitation on the scope of protection as defined by the claims. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0096] Modifications in the disclosed embodiments are apparent to the man skilled in the art from the drawings, the description and the accompanying claims. In the claims the word have does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article a does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are claimed in different claims does not exclude the combination thereof. References in the claims are not deemed to be a limitation on the scope of protection.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0097] 1 drinks coaster [0098] 2 housing [0099] 3 top side of the housing 2 [0100] 4 carrier surface of the housing 2 [0101] 5 drinking glass [0102] 6 beer mat [0103] 7 bottom of the drinking glass 5 [0104] 8 rim [0105] 9 drink [0106] 10 compartment [0107] 11 communication device [0108] 12 force sensor [0109] 13 accumulator [0110] 114 wall [0111] 15 processor [0112] 16 RFID reader [0113] 17 RFID transponder [0114] 18 Bluetooth module [0115] 19 interface [0116] 20 data network [0117] 21 computer [0118] 22 Bluetooth connection (first communication connection) [0119] 23 RFID connection (second communication connection) [0120] 24 RFID connection (third communication connection) [0121] 25 Internet [0122] 26 smartphone (mobile terminal device) [0123] 27, 27 system