Abstract:
A system and method integrates the functions of manipulating foods/beverages and the interactions of the information related with the manipulation. The system includes a remote server, and a foodstuff equipment operation system. The operation system further includes a foodstuff equipment comprising an operation circuit; a display panel; and a computer control system comprising a network interface, an input interface, a data processing unit, and a circuit control unit. The integration system receives users&#39; commands via the input interface, and delivers the commands to the data processing unit. The data processing unit interprets users&#39; commands, and then requires the circuit control unit to make the operation circuit to manipulate foods/beverages, meanwhile, the data processing unit also sends out information to the remote server for analyzing. The remote server delivers multimedia data to the foodstuff equipment operation system, for displaying information related to foods/beverages while the equipment is idle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system for integration of foodstuff manipulating, filling and packing equipment operations and foodstuff information analysis and audio/video data as well as a method thereof; particularly, to a system which connects a foodstuff equipment and a remote server via network, such that the operational information on the foodstuff equipment and multimedia data on the remote server can be mutually transferred, facilitating information access during foodstuff equipment operation. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Currently known food/beverage manipulating, filling and packing equipments mostly provide functions of controlling foodstuff quantity manipulation, container position calibration, automatic tailoring or automatic ejection after package, which have been widely applied to commercial usage because of the simplicity during operation, and in particular extensively employed in the manipulation or cover-sealing operations for foodstuff service industry. 
     However, the presently available equipments are used merely on the applications of manipulating, filling or packing; as for the products that have been processed, the equipments have never performed any recording or statistic analysis. In case that users of the said foodstuff equipments need to do statistic analysis on the quantity or types of foodstuffs which have been manipulated, filled, packed, or else on the operation status of the foodstuff equipment, then it is inevitable to input alternatively by using other recording systems. 
     Furthermore, currently used equipments less frequently provide users with equipment status messages, or information related with the foodstuffs which have been manipulated, filled or packed therein; for the products manufactured, it is even rare to provide real-time advertisement channels. The promotion approaches that the users may adopt for the manipulated, filled or packed products by the equipments are usually restricted to merely print the product-related marketing propaganda or promotion contents onto the container or the plastic membrane for sealing. 
     To expand the application range of such foodstuff equipments, it needs to contemplate a working system for combining the manipulating, filling or packing operations in the foodstuff equipment as well as the information and data integration thereof, so as to enhance the its effect in industrial application, facilitating users to acquire richer and more practical information. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the present invention is to integrate the operations of foodstuff manipulating, filling or packing equipments with the information related with the operations thereof. During food or beverage manipulation, filling or package procedures, the system of the present invention may not only collect relevant data of the processed foodstuffs for further statistical researches or analyses, but monitor the status and conditions of the equipment, ensuring normal operation therein; meanwhile, it may also broadcast advertisement or promotion information when the foodstuff equipment operates by employing the audio/video files acquired from the server, which may enhance the features of the foodstuff equipment, and provides users with more diversified usage as well. Particularly for users who run chain restaurants or simultaneously use multiple foodstuff equipments, it is possible to facilitate exploitation of central control and real-time information effect. 
     The integrated system formed by the present system through network connection approach consists of a remote server and a foodstuff equipment operating system, wherein the foodstuff equipment operating system includes a foodstuff equipment, a display panel and a computer control system. In the foodstuff equipment there also consists of a operating circuit for controlling the foodstuff equipment to perform foodstuff package, filling and manipulation; meanwhile, the computer control system also includes a network interface, a data processing unit, an input interface and a circuit control unit. The remote server provides multimedia data, and the foodstuff equipment operating system connects to Internet via the network interface installed in the computer control system, and receives the multimedia data provided from the remote server into the computer control, system; in which the received multimedia data is organized and processed by the data processing unit and then outputs to the display panel for displaying. 
     Additionally, the said foodstuff equipment operating system may also provide features of food/beverage manipulation, filling or packing. The input interface installed in the computer control system allows users to enter instructions for manipulation, filling or package operations, and after the entry of instruction, the input interface sends a corresponding input signal to the data processing unit, which determines the operation instruction that the input signal represents, and transfers the determination to the circuit control unit to instruct the operating circuit within the foodstuff equipment, so as to enable the operating circuit to accomplish the manipulation, filling or package operations requested by users. 
     After the reception of the input signal and the performance of operating instruction determination, it executes the determination and also transfers the determined status information concerning the foodstuff information or foodstuff equipment to the remote server via the network interface. Therein the remote server may perform statistical analysis on the received data. 
     Through the above-mentioned system and technical method, it is possible to allow users to not only utilize the foodstuff equipment for foodstuff manipulation, filling and package as usual, but at the same time to achieve the objective of accessing the audio/video files from the remote server, facilitating users to perform any broadcast of propaganda or publication on the operating system; the system may further centralize the acquired application readings and data related with the recording or analysis, thus assisting users to adjust operating mode or production development policy thereof through using the statistically analyzed information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a foodstuff equipment data integration system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an operational flowchart of a foodstuff equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a data transfer flowchart of a foodstuff equipment operating system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a data transfer flowchart of a remote server according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  shows a prospect view of a foodstuff equipment opening sealer system according to an embodiment of the present invention (dual-panel); 
         FIG. 5B  shows a prospect view of a foodstuff equipment opening sealer system according to an embodiment of the present invention (single-panel). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention provides a system integrating features of foodstuff equipment operation and data information access, in which the said system in configured with a remote server and a foodstuff equipment operating system, both of them may connect via Internet and mutually access data. The said foodstuff equipment operating system includes a foodstuff equipment, a display panel and a computer control system. The foodstuff equipment operating system uses an input interface provided in the computer control system to read instructions from a user, and a data processing unit and a circuit control unit instruct the foodstuff equipment to accomplish requested foodstuff equipment manipulation; the data processing unit also transfers the information extracted from the instructions entered by the user to the remote server through a network interface, allowing the server to perform relevant statistical analysis or research based on the received information. The foodstuff equipment operating system may also receive multimedia files from the remote server or operate relevant data, and display on the display panel of the foodstuff equipment operating system, so as to provide more real-time and various information. 
     The operational method and process of the present invention will be further illustrated hereunder, in conjunction with the appended drawings, so as to facilitate the skilled ones in the art to more clearly appreciate the technical means and spirit of the present invention. However, the disclosed embodiments in the present application are merely exemplary, not for restricting the scope of the present invention thereto in any regards, thus those matching the spirit of the present invention and not exceeding beyond the technical means employed herein should be all considered as falling in the requested scope of legal protection by the present application. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , wherein a diagram of components and relationship among them in a foodstuff equipment data integration system according to the present invention is shown. The foodstuff equipment data integration system  100  consists of a remote server  105  and a foodstuff equipment operating system  115 , both connected to Internet  110  for being able to mutually access data. The remote server  105  stores files including video and/or audio multimedia for downloading. 
     The foodstuff equipment operating system  115  further includes a display panel  120 , a foodstuff equipment  125  and a computer control system  135 . The computer control system  135  provides an input interface  140  to allow users to enter requests relating to foodstuff manipulation, filling, package and/or usage of the foodstuff equipment; after the entry by the user at the input interface  140 , the input interface  140  generates an input signal to a data processing unit  155 , and the data processing unit  155  determines the operating instruction that the input signal represents; and then, after the determination of the entered instruction by the user, it will use a circuit control unit  145  installed in the computer control system  135  to transfer the request operation to the operating circuit  130  in the foodstuff equipment  125 , enabling the operating circuit  130  to practically control the foodstuff manipulation, filling or package jobs. The operating circuit  130  also monitors the operational status in the foodstuff equipment  125 , e.g. temperature control, detection of remaining raw materials or water, and transfers the aforementioned information to the data processing unit  155  via the circuit control unit  145 . 
     In addition to instructing the foodstuff equipment  125  to accomplish foodstuff manipulation, filling or package, the circuit control unit  145  in the computer control system  135  may also analyze the input signal sent by the input interface  140  for foodstuff or equipment data contained therein, such as types of manipulated foodstuffs, volume, used raw materials etc., as well as the operational status information of the foodstuff equipment  125  acquired from the operating circuit  130 , e.g. the above-mentioned temperature control, remaining raw materials and so forth, subsequently outputting to the remote server  105  through the network interface  150  for statistic data researches or any other further analyses. 
     The multimedia data in the remote server  105  will be input to the foodstuff equipment operating system  115  and processed by the data processing unit  155  in the computer control system  135  for process, such as coding or decoding, decompressing, multimedia data broadcast scheduling; the processed result will be output to the display panel  120  for display. If any multimedia files from other peripheral input devices are also stored in the memory  160  within the computer control system  135 , then the data processing unit  155  will perform thereupon the same compilation process as the data from the remote server  105 , having them displayed alternatively with the data from the remote server  105  on the display panel  120 . 
     Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of integrating the operation of the foodstuff equipment and foodstuff system information access, whose method and steps thereof can be referred to  FIG. 2 , in which: 
     The remote server  105  of the present embodiment consistently supplies data to the foodstuff equipment operating system  115  (S 201 ), and the data processing unit  155  in the system receives the said data and performs process or data type determination (S 203 ), then outputs to the display panel  120  for display (S 205 ); during the display, the foodstuff equipment operating system  115  can receive various operational instructions entered by a user through the input interface  140 , interrupt displayed data on the display panel, and generate an input signal after reception of instruction (S 207 ), then the data processing unit  155  receives the input signal and subsequently determines the operational instruction represented by the signal (S 209 ), and further extracts the appended information there from the instruction, such as quantity, type, issuance time of instruction or alarm message etc. (S 211 ). After the transmission of the extracted information to the remote server  105  (S 213 ), the interrupted data will continue to be displayed on the display panel  120  (S 215 ). 
     For more clear illustration on the integrating method of the present invention, hereunder, in conjunction with  FIGS. 3 and 4  for references, the present disclosure will take “starting with the foodstuff equipment operating system  115  receiving user input” and “starting with the foodstuff equipment operating system  115  providing data” for exemplary descriptions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the input interface  140  offers various operational instructions thereon for user&#39;s input choice. After the input interface  140  receives user&#39;s operational instruction about selection of foodstuff equipment and input (S 301 ), it generates an input signal (S 303 ), wherein the input signal is transmitted to the data processing unit  155 , and the data processing unit  155 , after reception, starts to determine the instruction represented by the signal and meaning thereof (S 305 ); the data processing unit  155  determines whether the instruction is to request the foodstuff equipment  125  to perform mechanical operation of manipulation, filling or package works (S 307 ); if it is identified that the foodstuff equipment  125  is requested to perform the operation of manipulation, filling or package works, then it uses the circuit control unit  145  to send operation instruction to the operating circuit  130  (S 309 ), enabling the operating circuit  130  to execute the appointed manipulation operation in the foodstuff equipment  125  (S 311 ); on the other hand, except the data concerns manipulation, filling, package execution, the analyzed information, such as quantity, types, issuance time of instruction or alarm message and so on, will be transferred to the remote server  105  (S 313 ). 
     In case the data processing unit  155  determines that the instruction does not request the foodstuff equipment to perform manipulation, filling or package works (S 307 ), for example, the entered instruction is to inquire the ratio of a certain foodstuff manipulation, or an ingredient description in a new product, then the data processing unit  155  will directly transfer the instruction to the remote server  105  (S 313 ). 
     The remote server  105  determines if the received instruction requires any response with related information (S 315 ); if no information is needed to respond, then it will record the received message for subsequent statistics or analysis (S 317 ), as the above-mentioned data analyzed when the foodstuff equipment  125  performed the package operation; otherwise, the remote server  105  transmits a signal responding to the contents request by the entered instruction (S 319 ), and then the data processing unit  155  receives and analyzes (S 321 ), and the display panel  120  displays (S 323 ), such as a reply to questions inquired by a user about the manipulation ratio of a certain foodstuff or introduction to ingredient description of a new product. 
     Referring now further to  FIG. 4 , at the same moment as the data processing unit  155  controls the foodstuff equipment  125  for process execution, the foodstuff equipment operating system  115  also via Internet  110  receives the information from the remote server  105  (S 401 ), and after that the multimedia data at remote server  105  has been transferred to the data processing unit  155  (S 403 ), the data processing unit  155  performs determination and process on the received data (S 405 ); if it is that the remote server  105  intends to perform remote control on the operation of the foodstuff equipment  125 , such as to adjust the temperature in the equipment or to cut off power supply when the required water for equipment usage is found to be insufficient, then the data processing unit  155  instructs the circuit control unit  145  to control the operating circuit  130  based on the analyzed instruction (S 407 ), and let the operating circuit  130  perform the instruction of remote control by the remote server  105  (S 409 ). 
     Contrarily, in case that the information analyzed by the data processing unit  155  does not require to instruct the operating circuit  130  to perform any operational activity, but merely to provide information such as advertisement clips, new product promotion news or alarm messages for prompting remaining quantity of materials therein, then the data processing unit  155  performs necessary decoding, decompression or related compilation on the said information, and processes and schedules the said multimedia date along with other information stored in the memory  160  (S 411 ), then the display panel  120  displays the resulted information for broadcast or announcement (S 413 ). 
       FIG. 5A  shows one applicable embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates a prospect view of a foodstuff equipment opening sealer system, wherein the foodstuff equipment is a foodstuff equipment opening sealer  500  (referred hereunder as a “sealer”), on both sides thereof there install an input panel  505  and a display panel  510 , as well as a sealing operating area  515  for membrane sealing of foodstuff and the sealer  500  communicates with a remote server  525  via an Internet link. The sealer  500  can seal up beverage or iced food held in a cup or bowl with a cover at the sealing operating area  515 , so as to avoid the contents held therein spilling over. Since the cover-sealing technology is well-know, further description will be omitted here. 
     The sealer  500  according to the present invention allows a user (e.g. service personnel) to enter instructions at the input interface  140  provided thereon, such as to initiate the sealer to perform sealing operation. The input panel  505  of the present invention is a touch screen, and the input interface configured on the panel allows the user to enter available instructions, like to initiate the sealer to perform sealing operation, inquire control system parameters etc. 
     As soon as the input panel  505  receives user&#39;s input, the input interface thereof issues an input signal to a data processing unit in the computer control system  520 , and the data processing unit identifies the entered instruction based on the input signal. For example, it may inquire the upper temperature limit setting in the computer control system operation parameters, and the data processing unit is instructed to display the upper temperature limit setting on the display panel. 
     Besides, the data processing unit also sends the received data, as well as information concerning heating temperature, remaining materials, water volume or any abnormal equipment status monitored by the operating circuit, to the remote server  525  through the network interface in the computer control system  520 , and the remote server  525  may perform any analysis based on the received data, such as to calculate daily sealing quantity, to compare which types of products sell better and so forth; or, upon reception of any messages like insufficient heat at the sealer  500 , abnormal equipment status, it will send instruction to the computer control system  520 , enabling the data processing unit to, based on the received instruction, control the operating circuit to perform adjustment or to present user alarm. 
     The display panel  510  may consistently play the multimedia data received from the remote server  525  and stored in the memory of the computer control system  520 , like propaganda, advertisement, promotion events or any other announcement. The benefit of downloading marketing files from the remote server  525  is, in case the sealer  500  is deployed in a branch store of a chain restaurant, it is possible to receive information related with the chain restaurant quickly and consistently. 
     In addition to receiving audio/video files, since the input panel  505  used in the present embodiment is a touch screen, it may not only receive entered instructions, but act as an output screen itself to respond to user&#39;s requests, such as the above-mentioned alarm message prompting some abnormality in the equipment; or allow the user to input on the input interface to inquire the manipulation formula of a certain beverage and, after that the data processing unit has determined the user&#39;s instruction, send the information to a remote server  525 , and the remote server  525  responds with some data or text files containing the manipulation guide to the computer control system  520 , then the data processing unit outputs the description files of the manipulation guide for the beverage to the screen originally used as an input panel  505 . Thus the user (service personnel) may read the manipulation guide for the beverage on the screen. 
       FIG. 5B  shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the foodstuff equipment  550  employs a touch screen  555  as an equipment used for instruction input and information output. The integration system of the present embodiment uses a touch screen  555  to receive instructions entered by a user and play multimedia files. During the play of multimedia files, in case it needs to enter instructions, it is possible to tap on the touch screen  555 , and an interrupting signal is sent to the computer control system  135 , a data processing unit therein then interrupts the play of multimedia files and alternatively displays the instruction entry options provided by the input interface. When the input by the user is done, the input interface will be restored back to idle status, and the data processing unit continues its play of multimedia files on the touch screen  555 . 
     In each above-disclosed embodiments of the present invention, the foodstuff equipment may be combined with computer components (see  FIG. 5B ), and only the foodstuff equipment can be seen with the computer control system invisible from outside, so as to save the occupied space of the integration system and accelerate responding time of system operations. Additionally, in each embodiment of the present invention, the foodstuff equipment may be also a beverage manipulation machine, such as a coffee or tea or beverage making device, beverage filler, ice cream providing machine etc., while the input interface thereon provides various options according to required instructions for different equipment, e.g. coffee beans, tea types, coffee mate, sugar amount, water temperature, ice cubes and so on. Hence, users may use the manipulation package operating area  560  of the foodstuff equipment to accomplish the required manipulation, filling and package operations all in one time.