Patent ID: 6799085
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: B67D,F25D,G06Q

Abstract:
A refrigerator having a processor operable to communicate with an order processing system, said refrigerator comprising:a housing; a support member connected to the housing, the support member operable to support a plurality of containers, each of the containers containing a drink supply of a different flavor; an apparatus connected to the housing, the apparatus operable to produce a plurality of different flavors of beverages, each of the beverages derived, at least in part, from one of the drink supplies; a sensing device communicating information to said processor and determining an amount of drink supply dispensed by said apparatus; an input device operable with the processor to enable a user to input an order for a supply of an amount of one or more of the drink supplies; at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the memory device storing a plurality of conditions associated with the containers, one of the conditions relating to an amount of the drink supply remaining in one of the containers and another one of the conditions relating to an amount of the drink supply remaining in another one of the containers, based upon the information communicated by said sensing device to said processor, the memory device storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to: (a) receive an input signal from the input device, the input signal associated with the user's order for an amount of one or more of the drink supplies; (b) send data to the order processing system, said data associated with the user's order, thereby causing said amount of said one or more drink supplies to be delivered to an address associated with the refrigerator; (c) acquire data related to an amount of the drink supply remaining in each of the containers; (d) determine, for each of the containers, when the condition associated with said container is met; (e) send data to the order processing system after one of the conditions is met, said data associated with an order for an amount of the drink supply for one of the containers, thereby causing said amount of said drink supply to be delivered to an address associated with the refrigerator; and (f) send data to the order processing system after another one of the conditions is met, said data associated with an order for an amount of the drink supply for another one of the containers, thereby causing said amount of said drink supply to be delivered to an address associated with the refrigerator wherein said instructions permit the steps of send data for said one and said another containers to occur independent of one another.