Patent Publication Number: US-2007095859-A1

Title: Controller-based management of a fluid dispensing system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is related to subject matter disclosed in U.S. patent application for MONITORING OPERATION OF A FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM, Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 00163.2001-US-I2), U.S. patent application for CLEANING PROCESSES FOR A FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM, Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 00163.2001-US-13) and U.S. patent application for CONTROLLER-BASED MANAGEMENT OF A FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 00163.2001-US-I4), each of which are filed on even date herewith and hereby incorporated by reference by their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention generally relates to fluid dispensing systems, and more particularly to managing operation of fluid dispensing systems.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Conventional beer dispensing systems include beer lines through which beer is supplied from kegs to taps, which are operable to dispense the beer to drinking containers such as steins, pilsner glasses and frosty mugs. When a tap is opened, beer is dispensed from the system as a pressure is exerted into the associated keg thereby forcing beer out of the keg and into a beer line fluidly coupled to the keg by way of a keg coupler. The pressure is typically supplied by a gas source such as, for example, a tank of carbon dioxide or nitrogen or a gas blender providing a mixture of gases. Regardless of the type of gas source employed, the keg coupler interfaces the applied pressure to the keg, which is thus pressurized such that any beer contained therein is pushed up to the beer lines through the coupler. The associated tap at the other end of the beer line from the keg may then be opened thereby allowing beer to be dispensed therefrom.  
      Monitoring operation of such conventional beer dispensing systems is purely a manual process. As such, bartenders and restaurant managers typically spend countless hours each month performing various maintenance and operating tasks such as, for example, switching between kegs, monitoring beer usage and estimating future demand figures. In addition to standard operating tasks, beer dispensing systems require periodic cleaning. Conventional cleaning approaches involve the use of portable chemical dispense systems. In this regard, a cleaning technician will manually disconnect the beer lines from each individual keg coupler and then apply cleaning chemicals to the beer lines with the taps in the open position such that the chemicals will be distributed through the lines. Thus, a technician is required to disconnect the beer line from each keg in a beer dispensing system being cleaned, which is a daunting task indeed. Because current approaches require so much time and effort on part of the cleaning technicians, beer dispensing systems are commonly cleaned on rather lengthy time intervals. Such lengthy cleaning intervals tend to facilitate the collection of bacteria and soil in the beverage lines thereby risking contamination with the beer and potentially making it somewhat unsafe for human consumption.  
      Further contributing to an already inefficient process are changes to the structural configuration of conventional beer dispensing systems. For example, splitters are sometimes used to carry beer from one keg to different taps in completely different areas in a restaurant or bar. While the splitters provide certain advantages namely with respect to fewer kegs, the use of splitters in a beer dispensing system results in lengthier durations for applied cleaning processes. Another such configuration change involves the addition of fob detectors in beer lines. The fob detectors detect the presence of foamy beer in the beer lines and subsequently shut off the beer lines such that the foamy beer is not provided to the customer. Like splitters, fob detectors have certain advantages, however these devices also provide further obstacles for cleaning particularly due to the fact that, during cleaning, functionality of each fob detector in the system must be manually overridden. Accordingly, the more fob detectors, the more time a service technician must spend cleaning the system.  
      While only beer dispensing systems are described above, these drawbacks are commonly known to exist with respect to other types of fluid dispensing systems. As such, it is against this background that the present invention has been made relative to all types of fluid dispensing systems.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is generally directed to a computer-implemented approach to managing operation of a fluid dispensing system. Such management may be directed to fluid dispensing processes or cleaning processes thereby providing automated control over a wide range of system functionality. To accomplish this, the fluid dispensing system includes a controller operable to receive and track information regarding operation of the system relative to both processes.  
      In an embodiment, the fluid dispensing system includes a fluid container having an attached coupler that interfaces the container to a fluid line for communication of fluid from the container to one or more dispense units. The coupler enables flow of the fluid from the fluid container to the fluid line in response to receipt of control gas from a controller. Management over this fluid dispensing system is administered according to an embodiment by a method that involves monitoring whether the fluid is flowing in the fluid line and, in response to detecting flow of the fluid in the fluid line, determining whether the control gas is being provided to the coupler. If the control gas is not being provided to the coupler, then a notification that the coupler is malfunctioning is issued to responsible personnel. In another embodiment, the method further involves determining whether a cleaning process is being applied to the fluid line. In this embodiment, the malfunction notification is only issued if neither the cleaning process nor the control gas are being applied to the coupler.  
      In another embodiment, the fluid line includes a split line valve having an input and two outputs. The first output is fluidly connected to a first dispense unit via a first output fluid line and the second output is fluidly connected to a second dispense unit via a second output fluid line. In this embodiment, the method further involves receiving an instruction that requests cleaning of the first output fluid line but that does not request cleaning of the second output fluid line. In response to such an instruction, the split line valve is controlled such that fluid is operable to flow between the fluid line and the first output fluid line but precluded from flowing between the fluid line and the second output fluid line, thereby disabling flow of fluids to and through the second dispense unit. Also, in this embodiment, the method involves issuing the malfunction notification only if neither the cleaning process nor the control gas are being applied to the fluid line.  
      In yet another embodiment, the fluid dispensing system includes a plurality of fluid containers each having attached couplers interfacing the containers to fluid lines for communication of fluid to a plurality of dispense units. In accordance with this embodiment, each of the plurality of fluid lines are categorized in one of a plurality of zones. The method involves monitoring whether fluid is flowing in any one of the plurality of fluid lines and, in response to detecting flow of fluid in a specific fluid line, determining which of the plurality of zones into which the specific fluid line is categorized. Next, the method involves determining whether control gas is being provided to the couplers in the determined zone. If the control gas is not being provided to the determined zone, then a notification that the coupler is malfunctioning is issued to responsible personnel. Again, in this embodiment, the method may further involve determining whether a cleaning process is being applied to the determined zone and only issuing the malfunction notification if neither the cleaning process nor the control gas are being applied to that zone.  
      Furthermore, in accordance with yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to an improved configuration for a fob detector for use in assisting with the cleaning process of a fluid dispensing system that utilizes one or more fob detectors. In this embodiment, the fluid dispensing system includes a fluid container from which a fluid is supplied to a dispense unit via a fluid line, a controller and a coupler that interfaces the fluid container to the fluid line and that is controllable by the controller to enable flow of the fluid from the fluid container to the fluid line, consistent with the embodiments described in the paragraphs above. Additionally, the fluid system includes at least one fob detector and at least one controllable valve having an output and two inputs. The output is fluidly connected to the dispense unit by a first portion of the fluid line. The controller is operable to select one of the two inputs to enable alternative means of communicating fluid through the controllable valve to the output port. Accordingly, these inputs are referred to herein as “selectable” inputs.  
      Also, in this embodiment, the fob detector includes a chamber, an input port, an output port and a cleaning port. The input port, which is fluidly connected to the coupler by way of a second portion of the fluid line, accepts the fluid from the coupler and provides the accepted fluid to the chamber. The output port is fluidly connected to the first selectable input on the controllable valve by way of an intermediate fluid line. The cleaning port is fluidly connected to the second selectable input on the controllable valve by a bypass fluid line. Using this improved configuration and the controllable valve, the controller is operable to select the second selectable input to cause fluid provided to the chamber by way of the input port to substantially fill the chamber and drain out of the cleaning port to the first portion of the fluid line. As such, the chamber of the fob detector may be cleaned along with the couplers, fluid lines and other components in the system during any applied cleaning processes.  
      These and various other features as well as advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a fluid dispensing system having an integrated controller-based chemical dispense system for cleaning components of the fluid dispensing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  depicts a gas-fluid junction and a coupler, and an exemplary connection therebetween for use in the fluid dispensing system shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates in block diagram form a system for managing operation of a fluid dispensing system, such as the fluid dispensing system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the fluid dispensing system of  FIG. 1  as configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention to include a plurality of sensors for detecting malfunction in a coupler in the system.  
       FIG. 5  is a fluid dispensing system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention to include a plurality of fluid lines that carry fluid from single fluid container to various points of use.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates modifications that may be made to a fob detector according to an embodiment of the present invention in order to assist with cleaning a fluid dispensing system into which the fob detector is installed in a fluid line.  
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating operational characteristics for managing operation of the fluid dispensing system shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating operational characteristics for managing operation of the fluid dispensing system shown in  FIG. 5  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating operational characteristics according to an embodiment of the present invention in which at least one fob detector is controlled using the modifications shown in  FIG.6 .  
       FIG. 10  depicts a general-purpose computer that may be configured to implement logical operations of the present invention in accordance with an embodiment thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The present invention and its various embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the figures. When referring to the figures, like structures and elements shown throughout are indicated with like reference numerals. Objects depicted in the figures that are covered by another object, as well as the reference annotations thereto, are shown using dashed lines.  
      The present invention is generally directed to managing operation of a fluid dispensing system, and in accordance with a specific embodiment, a beverage dispensing system (e.g.,  100  shown in  FIG. 1 ). The beverage dispensing system  100  administers beverage-dispensing processes during which beverages are provided to dispense units  102 , or “taps,” for dispensing to cups, mugs, glasses or steins for consumption by a user. Embodiments of the present invention relate to monitoring and controlling these dispensing processes in automated fashion as described in greater detail below with reference to the figures.  
      Also, in an embodiment, the present invention involves monitoring and controlling a chemical dispense system for use in cleaning the beverage dispensing system  100 , as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/985,302 (filed Nov. 9, 2004) and Ser. No. 11/142,995 (filed Jun. 1, 2005), each of which are entitled “CHEMICAL DISPENSE SYSTEM FOR CLEANING COMPONENTS OF A FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM” and incorporated by reference herein by their entirety. The chemical dispense system is integrated into the beverage dispensing system  100 , and thus, referred to as an “in-line” cleaning system. In operation, the in-line cleaning system administers a “cleaning process” to the beverage dispensing system  100  in which the various fluid-carrying lines and components are cleaned in accordance with embodiments described in the above-referenced patent applications. With that said, the beverage dispensing system  100  is described generally below in accordance with embodiments of the present invention to include the in-line cleaning system and, thus, the present invention is applicable to monitor and control not only beverage dispensing processes, but cleaning processes as well. Those of skill in the art will therefore recognize applicability of the various embodiments of the present invention to both a stand-alone beverage dispensing system  100  and also a beverage dispensing system  100  having an in-line cleaning system.  
      While many different types of beverages and beverage dispensing systems are contemplated within the scope of the present invention, the beverage dispensing system  100  is described as being a beer dispensing system used to dispense beer to a bar area of a restaurant. Indeed, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the beverage dispensing system  100  is operable to dispense any other type of beverage, such as, for example, soda, juices, coffees and dairy products. Even further, the beverage dispensing system  100  may be utilized to dispense fluids other than beverages such as, for example, paint.  
      With the above-described environment in mind,  FIG. 1  shows a beverage dispensing system  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage dispensing system  100  dispenses different labels of beer through individual dispense units  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1  in the form of conventional beer taps. The dispense units  102  include handles  103  that may be toggled between an “off” position  103   b  and an “on” position  103   a , the latter of which is shown using dashed lines. While the handles  103  are in the “off” position  103   b , the dispense units  102  preclude the flow of beer therefrom. Conversely, while the handles  103  are in the “on” position  103   a , the dispense units  102  enable the flow of beer therefrom and preferably to some form of drinking article, such as a stein or mug  112 . To illustrate embodiments of the present invention, the dispense units  102  are shown in  FIG. 1  with the handles  103  in the “on” position  103   a.    
      Prior to being dispensed, the beverages are contained in beverage containers  104 . The beverage containers  104  are illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being conventional-sized kegs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. However, any other type and size of container from which a beverage may be supplied will suffice. Whereas the dispense units  102  are preferably located in the bar area, the beverage containers  104  are stored in a cooling room, such as walk-in cooler  162 , in order to direct and maintain the temperature of the beverages at a desired temperature.  
      Each dispense unit  102  is fluidly connected to a beverage container  104  by a beverage line  108 . In accordance with an embodiment, each beverage line  108  includes a fob detector  180  (i.e., “fob”) integrated therein. Generally speaking, a fob  180  is device that detects the absence of beverages in the beverage line  108  into which it is installed and precludes further flow through the line  108  until a beverage is subsequently detected. Fobs  180  are therefore used to overcome problems realized when an associated beverage container  104  empties and any remaining beverage therein is forced out of the container  104  as a foamy substance. As is known to those skilled in the art, a fob  180  is constructed of an enclosed chamber  186  having an internal float  185  (shown in position when the fob  180  is devoid of beverage).  
      The enclosed chamber  186  is fluidly coupled to the associated beverage line  108  by way of a beverage input port  182  and a beverage output port  184 . As beverage flows through the associated beverage line  108 , the internal float  185  floats within the chamber  186  based on conventional buoyancy principles. As the associated beverage container  104  empties, gas applied to the container  104  begins to fill the beverage line  108  thereby terminating the buoyancy effect within the chamber  186 , which causes the internal float  185  to drop within the chamber  186  and seal off the beverage output port  184 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As a result, any foamy substance accompanying the gas is not allowed to pass to the associated dispense units  102 .  
      After the emptied beverage container  104  is replaced or, alternatively, replenished, beverage once again flows through the associated beverage line  108 . Consequently, beverage begins to fill the chamber  186  thereby causing the internal float  185  to float therein and terminate the seal over the beverage output port  184 . Beverage is then allowed to flow to and through the associated dispense unit  102  for dispensing to the mug  112 .  
      Each beverage line  108  is connected to an associated beverage container  104  by a coupler  110 . The couplers  110  are affixed to beverage ports  114  on the associated beverage containers  104  through which the beverages are output for direction by the couplers  110  to the associated beverage lines  108 . Each coupler  110  provides functionality for opening the beverage port  114  to which the coupler  110  is affixed and introducing a pressure into the associated beverage container  104  to force the beverage contained therein through the beverage port  114  and to the associated beverage line  108 . The connection provided by the coupler  110  between the beverage port  114  and the beverage line  108  is preferably air tight, and thereby operable to force the beverage through the associated beverage line  108  and to the associated dispense unit  102 . Depending on the position of the dispense unit  102 , dispensing of the beverage from the unit  102  is either precluded (i.e., handle  103  in “off” position  103   b ) or enabled (i.e., handle  103  in “on” position  103   a ).  
      The pressure used to force beverages from the beverage containers  104  to the dispense units  102  via the beverage lines  108  is supplied to the couplers  110  from one or more pressure sources, e.g.,  116  and  118 . These pressure sources  116 ,  118  are shown in accordance with an embodiment as being compressed gas tanks having different reference numerals (i.e.,  116  and  118 ) to differentiate between the different types of gas contained by each. For example, pressure source  116  includes carbon dioxide and pressure source  118  includes nitrogen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.  
      Each gas tank  116  and  118  includes a primary regulator  120 . The primary regulators  120  regulate the flow of gas from the gas tanks  116 ,  118  to a gas blender  124  via gas lines  122 . The gas blender  124  blends the gases from the gas tanks  116  and  118  and provides a mixed gas compound to secondary regulators  126 . Each of the secondary regulators  126  regulate the flow of the mixed gas compound from the gas blender  124  to individual couplers  110 , thereby providing the requisite pressure to force the beverages from the beverage containers  104  to the dispense units  102 . As such, there exists a 1:1 correlation between secondary regulators  126  and beverage containers  104 . In accordance with alternative embodiments, a single secondary regulator  126  may regulate the flow of the mixed gas compound to more than one beverage container  104 .  
      As described above in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the beverage dispensing system  100  includes an in-line cleaning system that administers a cleaning process applied to the beverage dispensing system  100 . The in-line cleaning system encompasses various components of the beverage dispensing system  100  such as, without limitation, the couplers  110 , as well as a control system  128 , a zone controller  130  (optional), various data communications lines (e.g.,  150  and  144 ), various substance communication lines (e.g.,  146  and  148 ) and gas-fluid junctions  132 , each of which are shown generally in block diagram form in  FIG. 1 .  
      The control system  128  is a controller-based system that manages the overall administration of cleaning processes applied to the beverage dispensing system  100 . In this regard, the beverage dispensing system  100  includes a controller  152  (internal to the control box  128 ) that controls and monitors various tasks administered by the control system  128  in performance of beverage dispensing and system cleaning processes. In accordance with an embodiment, the controller  152  is a PLC (programmable logic controller) providing hardened I/O (inputs/outputs) for the control system  128 .  
      The control system  128  also includes one or more display devices or modules, such as, without limitation, a graphical user interface (GUI)  158 . The GUI  158  allows a user to monitor and control operation of the control system  128  through a touch screen interface. For instance, the GUI  158  may present information to a user that represents the operational status of the beverage dispensing system  100  in performance of beverage dispensing processes or the in-line cleaning system in performance of cleaning processes. Such information may be in the form of icons selectable to control either process. For example, the GUI  158  may include icons selected by a user to initiate or suspend either the dispensing process or the cleaning process. Furthermore, the GUI  158  may present to the user a selection screen that enables the user to control aspects of the cleaning process by defining or modifying the phases of the cleaning process or the amount of time that each phase is to be administered. In addition, the GUI  158  may function as a security mechanism for limiting access to the control system  128  to authorized users.  
      Alternatively, users may interact with the controller  152  by way of an external computer source, such as a handheld device, which may be wireless or wire-based. To effectuate the use wireless handheld devices, the control system  128  includes an infrared port  129  for communicating data to and from these devices. In yet another embodiment, the dispensing control system also includes a switching mechanism (not shown) for use in activating cleaning processes in desired zones, as described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 8 of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/985,302 and 11/142,995, which, again, are incorporated by reference above.  
      The zone controller  130 , which is also referred to as a “multiplier,” is a stand-alone component of the in-line cleaning system that works in combination with the GUI  158  or other data input means (e.g., external computer or switching mechanism) to activate the cleaning process in certain zones. As such, the zone controller  130  accepts user input from a source requesting the administration of one or more phases of the cleaning process to a zone and activates the phase(s) in that zone. The zone controller  130  is either an integrated circuit (IC) operable to receive and transmit signals for purposes of selecting the gas-fluid junctions  132  for activation, as described below, or a controller (e.g., PLC) programmed to receive and transmit data for these same purposes. In an alternative embodiment, the zone controller  130  may be a module integrated with the controller  152 , and thus, contained within the housing of the control system  128 .  
      The control system  128  is powered by a power source (not shown), which may be any conventional power source known to those skilled in the art. The control system  128  includes a first fluid input port  133  and a second fluid input port  135  through which water and chemical solutions, respectively, are input to the system  128 . Water provided to the first fluid input port  133  is supplied by a potable water source  134  via a water input line  136 . In an embodiment, a backflow prevention device  131  is positioned in the water input line  136  in order to preclude chemical solutions and contaminated water used during cleaning processes from backflowing into the potable water source  134 .  
      Chemical solutions provided to the second fluid input port  134  are supplied from a solution container, such as a jug  138 , via a solution input line  140 . The control system  128  also includes a fluid output port  137  through which the water and chemical solutions are dispensed out of the system  128  by way of a fluid manifold  142 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the control system  128  includes pumps, regulators or the like for enabling the flow of water and chemical solution into the system  128  via the water input line  136  and the solution input line  140  and subsequently out of the system  128  via the fluid manifold  142 .  
      Water and one or more chemical solutions are provided by the control system  128  to the gas-fluid junctions  132  by way of the fluid manifold  142 . The gas-fluid junctions  132 , when activated by the zone controller as described below, distribute water and chemical solutions from the fluid manifold  142  to couplers  110  for distribution through the beverage lines  108 , the dispense units  102  and any other component through which beverages flow. For illustration purposes, the gas-fluid junction  132  of zone  1  is shown as being connected to the beverage containers  104  by junction-coupler fluid lines  146  that carry the water and chemical solutions from this gas-fluid junction  132  to the couplers  110  when the gas-fluid junction  132  is activated.  
      The in-line cleaning system also includes junction-coupler gas lines  148  that carry a “control” gas from the gas-fluid junctions  132  to the associated couplers  110 . Supply of the control gas to a coupler  110  dictates whether the beverage port  114  on the associated beverage container  104  is “open” or “closed,” and thus whether pressure from the gas blender  124  is allowed to enter the container  104 . Consequently, the control gas dictates whether that beverage is operable to flow from the associated container  104  to the one or more corresponding dispense units  102  depending on the position (i.e.,  103   a  or  103   b ) of the dispense unit(s)  103 . To accomplish this, each of the couplers  110  includes a piston (not shown) that is responsive to the control gas to open the associated beverage port  114 . The pressure from the gas blender  124  is constant and, as such, is substantially immediately introduced into the beverage container  104  in response to the piston opening the beverage port  114  under direction of the control gas. Conversely, termination of the supply of control gas to the couplers  110  results in the couplers  110  closing the associated beverage ports  114 .  
      The operational state of the beverage dispensing system  100  involves the application of control gas to the couplers  110  and, during such application, beverages are operable to flow from the associated beverage containers  104  to the associated beverage lines  108  (depending, of course, on the positioning of the handles  103 ). Before any chemicals or water are supplied to a zone in the beverage dispensing system  100  for cleaning, supply of control gas to the couplers  110  in that zone is terminated and maintained terminated for the duration of the cleaning process. In effect, the non-application of control gas to these couplers  110  is intended to disable the flow of beverage from the associated beverage containers  104  to the associated beverage lines  108 , at which time, the cleaning process may commence.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 2 , the gas-fluid junctions  132  and the couplers  110  are described in further detail. Each of the couplers  110  includes a beverage output port  177  from which beverages are supplied to an associated beverage line  108  during the beverage dispensing process. The beverage output ports  177  are fluidly coupled to the beverage lines  108  such that pressure supplied by the gas blender  124  is operable to force beverages from the beverage containers  104  to the beverage lines  108  with minimal loss.  
      Each of the gas-fluid junctions  132  include a fluid input port  164  and a gas input port  166 . The fluid input port  164  is fluidly coupled to the fluid manifold  142  and thus accepts fluids (e.g., water and chemical solution) therefrom. In an embodiment, the gas input port  166  is coupled to the gas blender  124  by way of a control gas line  171 , which is provided to each of the gas-fluid junctions  132  as generally depicted in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the gas input port  166  may be coupled directly to either gas tank  116  or  118  without going through the gas blender  124 . The gas-fluid junctions  132  also include a plurality of gas output ports  160  and a plurality of fluid output ports  162 . Each of the plurality of gas output ports  160  are paired with one of the plurality of fluid output ports  162 .  
      A gas control valve  172 , generally represented using dashed lines, is situated internal to each gas-fluid junction  132  and provides functionality for the gas-fluid junctions  132  to accept and reject gas from the gas blender  124 . In this regard, the gas control valve  172  fluidly connects the gas input port  166  to the plurality of gas output ports  160  such that gas from the blender  124  is operable to flow therebetween. Each of the gas output ports  160  is coupled to a gas input port  178  on a coupler  110  via a junction-coupler gas line  148  such that gas may flow therebetween. The communication of gas between the output ports  160  on a gas-fluid junction  132  and the gas input ports  178  on the couplers  110  served by that gas-fluid junction  132  operates to maintain the “open” state of the beverage ports  114  on the associated beverage containers  104 , as described above. Conversely, terminating supply of gas between the output ports  160  and the gas input ports  178  operates to close the beverage ports  114  on the containers  104 , also as described above. By effectively providing such control, this gas is appropriately referred to throughout this description as “control gas.” 
      A fluid control valve  174 , also generally represented using dashed lines, is situated internal to each gas-fluid junction  132  and provides functionality for the gas-fluid junctions  132  to accept and reject water and chemical solutions from the control system  128 . Thus, with similar reference to the gas control valve  172 , the fluid control valve  174  fluidly connects the fluid input port  164  to the plurality of fluid output ports  162  such that water and chemical solutions are operable to flow therebetween. Each fluid output port  162  is coupled to a fluid input port  176  on a coupler  110  via a junction-coupler fluid line  146  such that the water and chemical solutions may flow therebetween.  
      The gas control valve  172  and the fluid control valve  174  are controlled by the zone controller  130  via a low voltage line  144  input to the gas-fluid junction  132  from the zone controller  130 . In normal state, i.e., when the beverage dispensing system  100  is in beverage dispensing mode, the zone controller  130  does not issue a current to any of the gas-fluid junctions  132 . In response to direction from the control system  128  to apply the cleaning process to a specific zone, the zone controller  130  issues a current to the gas-fluid junction  132  served by the specified zone thereby “activating” that gas-fluid junction  132 . Such activation causes the gas control valve  172  of that gas-fluid junction  132  to close, thereby rejecting gas from the gas blender  124 . Consequently, the supply of control gas to the couplers  110  served by the activated gas-fluid junction  132  (i.e., the couplers  110  within the associated zone) is terminated thereby causing the pistons internal to the couplers  110  to disengage the beverage ports  114  on the associated beverage containers  104 . Substantially concurrently, the issued current opens the fluid control valve  174  to enable the communication of water and chemical solutions to the associated couplers  110 . However, these fluids are not provided to the activated gas-fluid junction  132  unless and until the controller  128  initiates a cleaning process within that zone.  
      In an embodiment, each of the couplers  110  include a pressure input port  175  through which the gas pressure supplied from the gas blender  124  is introduced to the couplers  110 . As noted above, gas is provided to the pressure input ports  175  in constant fashion and used to force beverages from the beverage containers  104  to the beverage lines  108  when the pistons internal to the couplers  110  are engaged (i.e., when the control gas is “on”). In an alternative embodiment, application of the control gas by itself may provide a sufficient amount of pressure to force beverages from the containers  104  to the beverage lines  108  without the added need for pressure from the gas blender  124 . In accordance with this embodiment, the gas line  171  directly connects between the gas blender  124  and the pressure input port  175  as well as the secondary regulators  126  and the connections between these regulators  126  and the couplers  110  are not necessary. The implementation is a manner of choice and, regardless of how such control is administered, termination of the control gas to a specific zone results in the same functionality, i.e., sealing the associated beverage ports  114 , such that the couplers  110  in that zone exit the beverage dispensing mode and enter the cleaning mode (thus awaiting possible initiation of a cleaning process).  
      The couplers  110  include o-rings (not shown) or other equivalent sealing mechanisms (e.g., lip seals) operable to seal off the applicable beverage ports  114  while the couplers  110  are in the cleaning mode such that any chemicals and water applied to the couplers  110  during the cleaning process are precluded from entering the beverage containers  104 . Likewise, these o-rings or equivalent sealing mechanisms are operable to seal the fluid input ports  176  while the couplers  110  are in the beverage dispensing mode such that any chemical or water residue remaining in the fluid lines  146  are precluded from mixing with beverages during the beverage dispensing process. As known to those in the art, the o-rings are round, circular membranes that perform functionality for sealing off various apertures within mechanical devices.  
      The o-rings, which may be constructed using a plastic or rubber material, actually serve as a secondary measure for preventing cross-contamination of water and chemicals with the beverages contained in the beverage containers  104 . Indeed, the first measures for such prevention are the pistons internal to the couplers  110  or equivalent metal and/or plastic mechanical structures that move between beverage dispensing position and cleaning position in response to application and termination, respectively, of the control gas. The o-rings serve as gaskets as support to the pistons or other metal and/or plastic mechanical structures. Those of skill in the art will recognize functionality of o-rings with respect to beverage dispensing couplers as well as any viable alternatives therefor. While being secondary measures, however, failure of an o-ring can result in beverage being dispensed from the associated beverage container  104  into the beverage line  108  during cleaning as well as cleaning chemical and water residue seeping into the beverage during beverage dispensing.  
      With the general environment in which embodiments of the present invention are applicable provided above,  FIG. 3  depicts, in block diagram form, a system for monitoring and controlling (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “managing”) operation of the beverage dispensing system  100  of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The system  300  includes a plurality of sensors (e.g., flow sensors  302  and pressure sensors  304 ) and a plurality of electronically controllable valves (e.g., split line valves  306  and fob valves  516 ), each of which are communicatively connected to the controller  152  by way of data communication connections  310 . In an embodiment, the data communication connections  310  are wire-based communication media operable to carry a current indicative of sensed information from the sensors  302  and  304  to the controller  152  as well as a current indicative of instructions from the controller  152  to the controllable valves  306  and  308 . These data communication connections  310  may additionally or alternatively embody wireless communication technology. It should be appreciated that the manner of implementation of the data communication connections  310  is a matter of choice and the present invention is not limited to one or the other, but rather, either wireless or wire-based technology may be employed alone or in combination with the other.  
      The controller  152  receives information sensed by the flow sensors  302  and the pressure sensors  304  (and any other sensors) and stores this information to memory  153 . The memory  153  is shown as internal to the controller  152  and embodies any form of solid state, non-volatile memory known to those skilled in the art such as, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), Flash Memory and Programmable ROM, etc. Alternatively, the memory  153  may take the form of storage medium readable by an external peripheral device such as, for example, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a storage tape, etc.  
      Regardless of the memory implementation, the controller  152  is operable to access the data stored on the memory  153  and analyze the data to monitor operation of the beverage dispensing system  100  by rendering conclusions regarding operation of the system  100 . Furthermore, the controller  152  is operable to utilize this data along with other forms of generated or collected information to provide control over operation of the system  100 . Exemplary analyses are described in greater detail in connection with  FIGS. 4-9  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
      The monitoring system  300  is shown to include parts of the dispensing control system  128  in addition to the controller  152  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the monitoring system  300  also includes the zone controller  130  (again, optional), the GUI  158  and the IR port  129 . The GUI  158  and the IR port  129  provide users with access to data captured by the sensors  302  as well as any analyses performed by the controller  158  thereon. As such, user interaction is provided by touch screen interface (on GUI  158 ) or by way of a mobile computer such as a laptop, PDA or other handheld computing device (via IR port  129 ). Using the GUI  158  and/or a mobile computer interacting through the IR port ( 129 ), a user is provided with functionality for monitoring operation of the beverage dispensing system  100  as well as to view reports prepared using the sensed information.  
      In addition to the local user interaction provided by the GUI  158  and the IR port  129 , the monitoring system  300  also provides users with the capability to monitor operation of the beverage dispensing system  100  from remote locations. To accomplish this, the monitoring system  300  includes a remote, or “server,” computer  310  communicatively connected to the controller  152  by way of a communications network  313 . The server computer  311  communicates with the controller  152  to retrieve data stored on the memory  153 , which may include any information sensed from the flow sensors  302  or the pressure sensors  304  and any other sensors and/or information embodying analyses (e.g., reports) of such data performed by the controller  152  including, for example, data related to control over both the beverage dispensing process and the cleaning process. Once retrieved, the information is stored on a database  312  for future access by users. In this regard, the server computer  311  functions as a user interaction mechanism much like the GUI  158  and the IR port  129 , but from a remote location relative to the actual location of the system  100 .  
      The controller  152  connects to the communications network  313  by way of a communication device  309 . The communication device  309  may be a modem, a network interface card (NIC) alone or in combination with a router, hub or Ethernet port, a wireless transmitter, etc. In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device  309  periodically accesses the server computer  311  to provide data, e.g., raw sensed data (e.g., flow readings) or reports characterizing monitoring operations, for storage in the database  312 . As such, the communication device  309  may access real-time data received by the controller  152  and any historical data stored on the local memory  153  for transfer to the database  312 . In an alternative embodiment, the communication device  309  maintains communications with the server computer  311  over the communications network  313  continually; therefore, the local memory  153  is unnecessary for storing sensed data. Instead, the communication device  309  continually transmits real-time sensed data to the server computer  311 .  
      In addition to data retrieval services, the server computer  311  is also operable to perform analyses on information retrieved from the controller  152  and prepare reports characterizing these analyses in similar fashion to the functionality described for the controller  152  above. That is, the server computer  311  retrieves raw sensed data (e.g., pressure readings and flow readings) stored on the memory  153  and analyzes the retrieved information to render conclusions regarding operation of the beverage dispensing system  100  with respect to at least temperature, pressure, gas detection and flow characteristics. These conclusions are preferably placed into report format and stored on the database  312  for future access by users.  
      The controller  152  can also receive commands from the server computer  311  via the communications network  313  to provide a feedback loop to the control system  128 . These commands may be used to control processes and operations of the beverage dispensing system  100 . Such commands may include calibration commands, test commands, alarm commands, interactive communications between the system ( 100 ) operator or service technician and the server computer ( 311 ), and other remote control commands. This capability facilitates the management of multiple, geographically dispersed beverage dispense systems  100  by allowing an operator or the service technician to distribute control commands from a central location via the communications network  313 .  
      A client computer  314 , e.g., a thick or thin client, is connected to the server computer  311  by way of communication link  315  or, alternatively, the communications network  313 , as shown in dashed lines. The client computer  314  communicates with the server computer  311  to retrieve data from the database  312  for presentation to a user. As such, the client computer  314  receives reports stored in the database  312  and provides these reports to a user. Alternatively, the client computer  314  may include an analysis application operable to receive raw sensed data (e.g., pressure readings, flow readings) stored in the database  312  and analyze this data to generate reports, as described above with reference to the controller  152  and the server computer  311 .  
      An exemplary layout of the flow sensors  302  and the pressure sensors  304  within the beverage dispensing system  100  is shown in  FIG. 4  and described in conjunction therewith. More specifically,  FIG. 4  depicts a system  400  for detecting failure by o-rings in the beverage dispensing system  400  using the flow sensors  302  and the pressure sensors  304  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Configured in this manner, the pressure sensors  304  are operable to detect the presence and absence of the control gas to the couplers  110  and provide such information to the controller  152  by way of data communication lines  310 . The controller  152  utilizes this information to determine whether the couplers  110  are internally positioned in the beverage dispensing mode. The flow sensors  302  are operable to detect the presence and absence of beverages and other fluids through the beverage lines  108  and provide such information to the controller  152  by way of data communication lines  310 . As described in connection with  FIG. 7 , the combination of information from the pressure sensors  304  and the flow sensors  302  is used by the controller  152  to determine whether any of the o-rings in the couplers  110  within the beverage dispensing system  400  have potentially failed and thus require maintenance or servicing visit.  
      In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensors  304  are shown in  FIG. 3  to detect the presence or absence of the control gas within the junction-coupler gas lines  148 . However, the present invention is not limited to such placement. Rather, these pressure sensors  304  may be located in various other locations within the beverage dispensing system  400 . For example, in a system  400  that does not include a zone controller  130 , a single pressure sensor  304  may be used within the control system  128  that detects application/non-application of control gas to the gas-fluid junctions  132  used in the system  100 .  
      Even further, the controller  152  may serve the function of the pressure sensors  304  such that stand alone pressure sensors  304  are not required in the system  100 . In this embodiment, the controller  152  is imparted with knowledge (through its normal control processing) of which zones are currently being applied the control gas. Such an implementation is particularly effective if the zone controller  130  is an integrated feature of the controller  152 . Yet further, in a beverage dispensing system  400  having only a single zone of couplers  110 , the controller  152  is operable to determine whether the control gas is being applied based on the position (i.e., on or off) of the pressure valve on the gas blender  124  or, alternatively, a CO 2  tank if a single tank (e.g.,  116  and  118 ) is used. The implementation is a matter of choice provided that the controller  152  can detect the presence and absence of control gas to the couplers  110  within the beverage dispensing system  400 .  
      The location of the flow sensors  302 , on the other hand, is more limited in that these sensors  302  are preferably positioned to detect flow through the beverage lines  108 . An alternative location in accordance with at least one embodiment would be a position internal to the dispense units  102  such that detection of the beverages, cleaning chemicals and water occurs as these fluids are being output at the point of use (e.g., mug, stein, glass, cup, etc.). Regardless of the implementation, however, the resultant functionality is the detection of flow through the beverage lines  108  and the communication of such detection to the controller  152  for use thereby as described below in conjunction with  FIG. 7 .  
      With the exemplary system  300  of  FIG. 3  in mind,  FIG. 7  illustrates a process  700  for monitoring operation of the beverage dispensing system  400  to detect o-ring failure therein according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the monitoring process  700  embodies a sequence of computer-implemented operations performed by the controller  152 , the server computer  311  and/or the client computer  314 , or a combination of any of these three computing modules, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For illustrative purposes, however, the monitoring process  700  is described herein as performed by the controller  152 .  
      The monitoring process  700  is performed using an operation flow that begins with a start operation  702  and concludes with a terminate operation  712 . The start operation  702  is initiated in response to receipt by the controller  152  of a flow reading from any one of the sensors  302  in the system  300 . The flow reading indicates that a substance has been detected within a beverage line  108  to which the communicative sensor  302  is attached. In an embodiment, the flow reading further indicates not only detection of flow of a beverage, but also the volumetric rate of flow of the detected beverage. From the start operation  702 , the operation flow passes to an associate operation  704 .  
      The associate operation  704  determines the zone and, more particularly—the sensor  306 , from which the flow reading originated. In an embodiment, such information is included within the communication that includes the flow reading. For example, information identifying the sensor  302  that generated the flow reading may be embodied in data transmitted by packet in conjunction with the flow reading. Alternatively, the identifying information may be the only information received within the flow reading and the controller  152  is programmed to understand that receipt of such identifying information indicates that the identified sensor  302  has measured flow at least to some extent. After the origination sensor  302  has been determined, the associate operation  704  associates the reading with the particular zone to which the determined sensor  302  belongs. If no zone controller  130  is utilized, the individual beverage lines  108  embody “zones” and, thus, the determined sensor  302  itself represents the applicable zone for purposes of the present monitoring process  500 . From the associate operation, the operation flow passes to a first query operation  706 .  
      The first query operation  706  determines whether the control gas is enabled to the zone associated with the determined sensor  302 . If not, the operation flow terminates at the conclude information  712  as the detected flow is expected with the control gas “on” and, consequently, the detected flow reading does not indicate o-ring failure. Otherwise, the first query operation  706  passes the operation flow to a second query operation  708 . The second query operation determines whether a cleaning process is being applied to the zone associated with the determined sensor  712 . If so, then the detected flow is expected as water and/or chemical solution are currently being provided to the beverage line  108  for cleaning and, thus, the detected flow reading does not indicate o-ring failure. Otherwise, however, such a flow is not expected thereby indicating a potential o-ring failure as described above. In this instance, the operation flow passes to a notify operation  710 , which notifies the appropriate personnel of the potential failure.  
      In an embodiment, the notify operation  710  issues an alarm to a user through the GUI  158  or server computer  311  notifying him/her of a potential o-ring failure in the beverage dispensing system  300 . In particular, the notify operation  710  instructs the user of the zone in which the potential failure has been determined by specifically identifying the beverage line  108  from which the flow reading was read. From the notify operation  702 , the operation flow concludes at the terminate operation  712 .  
      With reference back to  FIG. 3 , embodiments of the present invention involve the use of controllable valves (e.g., split line valves  306  and fob valves  308 ) to assist in managing both the beverage dispensing process and the cleaning process.  FIG. 5  illustrates a beverage dispensing system  500  having a split line valve  306  positioned in a beverage line  108  and serving two dispense units  102  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For illustration purposes, these dispense units  102  are separately identified in  FIG. 5  using reference numerals  501  and  502 . The split line valve  306  accepts beverages and other fluids (e.g., water and cleaning solutions) from the beverage line  108  and distributes the fluids to both of the dispense units  501  and  502  by way of separate output beverage lines  108   a  and  108   b . In accordance with an embodiment, this system  500  also includes flow sensors  302  in each of the output beverage lines  108   a  and  108   b  and both of these flow sensors  302  communicate flow information to the controller  152 . The split line valve  306  is controllable by the controller  152  over data communication lines  310  to selectively open and close the output beverage lines  108   a  and  108   b . By virtue of such control, the controller  152  manages operation of the split line valve  306  to dictate whether beverages and other fluids (e.g., water and cleaning solutions) are allowed to flow to the individual dispense units  102 , which is particularly advantageous with respect to the cleaning process, as described below in greater detail below in conjunction with  FIG. 8 .  
      With that said,  FIG. 8  illustrates a process  800  for controlling operation of the beverage dispensing system  500  having the split line valve  306  in order to administer performance of a cleaning process. In particular, the control process  800  embodies a sequence of computer-implemented operations performed by the controller  152 , the server computer  311  and/or the client computer  314 , or a combination of any of these three computing modules, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For illustrative purposes, however, the control process  800  is described herein as performed by the controller  152 .  
      The control process  800  is performed using an operation flow that begins with a start operation  802  and concludes with a terminate operation  814 . The start operation  802  is initiated in response to receipt by the controller  152  of a request to initiate a cleaning process relative to any one zone in the beverage dispensing system  500 . Such a request may embody instructions received through the GUI  158 , the IR Port  129 , the communication device  309  (e.g., by way of server computer  311  or client computer  314 ) or by way of key switches, as described in greater detail in as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/985,302 (filed Nov. 9, 2004) and Ser. No. 11/142,995 (filed Jun. 1, 2005), each of which are entitled “CHEMICAL DISPENSE SYSTEM FOR CLEANING COMPONENTS OF A FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM” and incorporated by reference herein by their entirety. After this request has been received, the operation flow passes from the start operation  802  to a first query operation  804 .  
      The first query operation  804  determines whether any dispense units  102  in the specified zone are coupled indirectly to a split line valve  306  by way of an output beverage line, e.g.,  108   a  and  108   b . In this case, the dispense unit  102  is said to include a “sibling” dispense unit  102  that is indirectly coupled to the same split line valve  306  by way of another output beverage line, e.g.,  108   a  and  108   b . These “paired” dispense units  102  may reside in different zones within the beverage dispensing system  500  and, as such, an embodiment involves applying the cleaning process to one of the paired dispense units  102 , but not the other. In this regard, the first query operation  804  passes the operation flow to a disable operation  808  if a sibling dispense unit  102  is identified within the specified zone. Otherwise, the first query operation  804  passes the operation flow to a clean operation  806 , which initiates application of the cleaning process to the specified zone per the received request. For illustration purposes, the management process  800  is described below with reference to the dispense unit  501  being within the specified zone and the dispense unit  502  being its “sibling” dispense unit.  
      The disable operation  808  disables the sibling dispense unit  502  by closing the internal connection within the split line valve  306  that fluidly couples the beverage line  108  to the output beverage line  108   b  for the sibling dispense unit  502 . In an embodiment, the disable operation  808  is administered by the controller  152  issuing an instruction to the split line valve  306  over a data communication line  310 , as shown and described in connection with  FIG. 3 . After the sibling dispense unit  502  within the specified zone has been disabled, the operation flow passes to the clean operation  806 , which as noted above, initiates application of the cleaning process in the specified zone. As such, only one of the paired dispense units (i.e.,  501 ) and its associated output beverage line  108   a  are cleaned during the specified cleaning process. From the clean operation  806 , the operation flow passes to a second query operation  810 .  
      The second query operation  806  determines whether the cleaning process is complete and, if so, passes the operation flow to an enable operation  812 . Otherwise, the second query operation  806  passes the operation flow in a loop during which the second query operation  806  is repetitively performed until the cleaning process is complete. After such completion, the enable operation  812  enables the sibling dispense unit  502  by re-opening the internal connection within the split line valve  306  that fluidly couples the beverage line  108  to the output beverage line  108   b  for the sibling dispense unit  502 . Like the disable operation  808 , the enable operation  812  is administered by the controller  152  issuing an instruction to the split line valve  306  over a data communication line  310 , as shown and described in connection with  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
      With further reference back to  FIG. 3 , embodiments of the present invention involve the use of fob valves  308  to assist in managing the cleaning process with respect to a beverage dispensing system  100  having fobs  180 . Specifically,  FIG. 6  illustrates modifications that may be made to a fob  180  to assist with the application of cleaning processes to a beverage dispensing system  100  into which the fob  180  is integrated. With that said, these modifications involve adding a cleaning port  511  to the fob  180  and coupling the cleaning port  511  to a fob valve  308  by way of a fob cleaning line  512 .  
      In accordance with an embodiment, the fob valve  308  is a split line valve  306  having two inputs and one output and which is electrically controlled by the controller  152  by way of data communication lines  310 , as described above in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 5 . A first input  520  is fluidly coupled to the fob cleaning line  512  and the second input  522  is fluidly coupled to the beverage output port  184  either directly (not shown) or by way of an intermediate fluid line  514 . The output  524  is fluidly coupled to the beverage line  108 . Configured in this manner, the controller  152  manages operation of the fob valve  308  to force the operational state of the fob  180  into the cleaning mode (for use during the cleaning process) from its default beverage dispensing mode (for use during the beverage dispensing process), as described below in greater detail below in conjunction with  FIG. 9 .  
      Turning now to  FIG. 9 , a process  900  for controlling the operational state of a fob  180  in order to administer performance of a cleaning process to a resident beverage dispensing system  100  is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the control process  900  embodies a sequence of computer-implemented operations performed by the controller  152 , the server computer  311  and/or the client computer  314 , or a combination of any of these three computing modules, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For illustrative purposes, however, the control process  900  is described herein as performed by the controller  152 . Furthermore, while the control process  900  is described in connection with the toggling of the operational state of a single fob  180  into cleaning mode, it should be appreciated that the control process  800  may be implemented in numerous instances to thereby force multiple fobs  180  into cleaning mode. Indeed, such iterative or concurrent performances of the control process  900  are not only contemplated within the scope of the present invention, but expected with regard to beverage dispensing systems  100  having multiple beverage lines  108  per zone, as shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
      The control process  900  is performed using an operation flow that begins with a start operation  902  and concludes with a terminate operation  912 . As with the control process  800  ( FIG. 8 ), the start operation  902  is initiated in response to receipt by the controller  152  of a request to initiate a cleaning process relative to any one zone in the beverage dispensing system  500 . That said, the control process  900  ( FIG. 9 ) may be performed concurrently or sequentially with respect to the control process  800  ( FIG. 8 ). As both processes are mutually exclusive relative to one another, the implementation in this regard is a matter of choice. Also, as noted with the control process  800  ( FIG. 8 ), requests to perform a cleaning process in a specified zone may embody instructions received through the GUI  158 , the IR Port  129 , the communication device  309  (e.g., by way of server computer  311  or client computer  314 ) or by way of key switches, as described in greater detail in as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/985,302 (filed Nov. 9, 2004) and Ser. No. 11/142,995 (filed Jun. 1, 2005), each of which are entitled “CHEMICAL DISPENSE SYSTEM FOR CLEANING COMPONENTS OF A FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM” and incorporated by reference herein by their entirety. After this request has been received, the operation flow passes from the start operation  902  to a disable operation  904 .  
      The disable operation  904  disables the internal connection within the fob valve  308  that fluidly couples the intermediate beverage line  514  to the beverage line  108 . As such, the beverage output port  184  is effectively closed such that water and any cleaning solutions provided to the input port  182  of the fob  180  during the cleaning process are not communicated through the fob  180  to the dispense unit  102 , but rather are directed through the cleaning port  511 . Consequently, any such fluids are directed through the beverage cleaning line  512  to the beverage line  108  and out the dispense unit  102  thereby cleaning the chamber  186 . In an embodiment, the disable operation  904  is administered by the controller  152  issuing an instruction to the split line valve  306  over a data communication line  310 , as shown and described in connection with  FIG. 3 . After the connection between the intermediate beverage line  514  and the beverage line  108  has been disabled, the operation flow passes to the clean operation  906 .  
      The clean operation  906  embodies the clean operation  806  ( FIG. 8 ) and, therefore, initiates application of the cleaning process to the specified zone per the received request. During the cleaning process, the chamber  186  fills with water and cleaning fluids by virtue of the fob valve  308  disabling the connection between the intermediate fluid line  512  and the beverage line  108 . Consequently, the applied water and fluids exit the chamber  186  through the beverage cleaning port  511  and proceed to the beverage line  108  through the beverage cleaning line  512  and the fob valve  308 .  
      From the clean operation  906 , the operation flow passes to a query operation  908 . The query operation  908  determines whether the cleaning process is complete and, if so, passes the operation flow to an enable operation  910 . Otherwise, the query operation  908  places the operation flow in a loop during which the first query operation  908  is repetitively performed until the cleaning process is complete. After such completion, the enable operation  910  re-opens the internal connection within the fob valve  308  that fluidly couples the intermediate fluid line  514  to the beverage line  108 . Like the disable operation  904 , the enable operation  910  is administered by the controller  152  issuing an instruction to the fob valve  308  over a data communication line  310 , as shown and described in connection with  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
      Having described the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the figures above, it should be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made to the present invention that will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims. Indeed, while a presently preferred embodiment has been described for purposes of this disclosure, various changes and modifications may be made which are well within the scope of the present invention. For example, while described in accordance with an exemplary embodiment as applicable to beverage dispensing, as noted above, the embodiments described above are also applicable to other forms and purposes of fluid dispensing, such as, without limitation, for use in endoscope cleaning, paint dispensing and slush (e.g., ice fluid) dispensing.  
      In addition, embodiments for controlling fobs are illustrated herein using a conventional type fob detector  180  having a chamber  186  and an internal float  185 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 4  and  5  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention as it relates to fob controlling is not limited to this specific type of fob that shown in the figures and described above, but rather, it should be appreciated that controller-based management over other types of fobs are well within the scope of the present invention.  
      Even further, the controller  152  is described herein as conventional electrical and electronic devices/components, such as, without limitation, programmable logic controllers (PLC&#39;s) and logic components, but may alternatively be a processor  1001  integrated into a computer readable medium environment as optionally shown in  FIG. 10 . As such, the logical operations of the present invention described in  FIGS. 7-9  may be administered by the processor  1001  in this computer readable medium environment.  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , such an embodiment is shown by a computing system  1000  capable of executing a computer readable medium embodiment of the present invention. In such a system, data and program files may be input to the computing system  1000 , which reads the files and executes the programs therein. Some of the elements of a computing system  1000  are shown in  FIG. 10  wherein the processor  1001  includes an input/output (I/O) section  1002 , a microprocessor, or Central Processing Unit (CPU)  1003 , and a memory section  1004 . The present invention is optionally implemented in this embodiment in software or firmware modules loaded in memory  1004  and/or stored on a solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013 , a configured CD-ROM  1008  or a disk storage unit  1009 . As such, the computing system  1000  is used as a “special-purpose” machine for implementing the present invention.  
      The I/O section  1002  is connected to a user input module  1005 , e.g., a keyboard, a display unit  1006 , etc., and one or more program storage devices, such as, without limitation, the solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013 , the disk storage unit  1009 , and the disk drive unit  1007 . The solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013  is an embedded memory device for storing instructions and commands in a form readable by the CPU  1003 . In accordance with various embodiments, the solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013  may be Read-Only Memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a Flash Memory or a Programmable ROM, or any other form of solid state, non-volatile memory. In accordance with this embodiment, the disk drive unit  1007  may be a CD-ROM driver unit capable of reading the CD-ROM medium  1008 , which typically contains programs  1010  and data. Alternatively, the disk drive unit  1007  may be replaced or supplemented by a floppy drive unit, a tape drive unit, or other storage medium drive unit. Computer readable media containing mechanisms (e.g., instructions, modules) to effectuate the systems and methods in accordance with the present invention may reside in the memory section  1004 , the solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013 , the disk storage unit  1009  or the CD-ROM medium  1008 . Further, the computer readable media may be embodied in electrical signals representing data bits causing a transformation or reduction of the electrical signal representation, and the maintenance of data bits at memory locations in the memory  1004 , the solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013 , the configured CD-ROM  1008  or the storage unit  1009  to thereby reconfigure or otherwise alter the operation of the computing system  1000 , as well as other processing signals. The memory locations where data bits are maintained are physical locations that have particular electrical, magnetic, or optical properties corresponding to the data bits.  
      In accordance with a computer readable medium embodiment of the present invention, software instructions stored on the solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013 , the disk storage unit  1009 , or the CD-ROM  1008  are executed by the CPU  1003 . In this embodiment, these instructions may be directed toward administering application of a cleaning process, customized or non-customized, to a beverage dispensing system. Data used in the analysis of such applications may be stored in memory section  1004 , or on the solid state, non-volatile memory device  1013 , the disk storage unit  1009 , the disk drive unit  1007  or other storage medium units coupled to the system  1000 .  
      In accordance with one embodiment, the computing system  1000  further comprises an operating system and usually one or more application programs. Such an embodiment is familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art. The operating system comprises a set of programs that control operations of the computing system  1000  and allocation of resources. The set of programs, inclusive of certain utility programs, also provide a graphical user interface to the user. An application program is software that runs on top of the operating system software and uses computer resources made available through the operating system to perform application specific tasks desired by the user. The operating system is operable to multitask, i.e., execute computing tasks in multiple threads, and thus may be any of the following: any of Microsoft Corporation&#39;s “WINDOWS” operating systems, IBM&#39;s OS/2 WARP, Apple&#39;s MACINTOSH OSX operating system, Linux, UNIX, etc.  
      In accordance with yet another embodiment, the processor  1001  connects to the communications network  313  by way of a network interface, such as the network adapter  1011  shown in  FIG. 10 . Through this network connection, the processor  1001  is operable to transmit information to the remote computer  310 , as described in connection with the controller  152  shown in  FIG. 3 . Various types of information may be transmitted from the processor  1001  to the remote computer  310  over the network connection. In addition, the network adaptor  1011  enables users at the remote computer  310  or the client computer  314  the ability to issue commands to the processor  1001  if so desired, also as described above in connection with the controller  152  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 .  
      Additionally, while the flow sensors  306  are described herein as being operable to detect the presence or absence of fluid through the beverage lines  108 , it should be appreciated that the flow sensors  306  may be as advanced as to determine the type and rate of flow (rather than just presence or absence thereof) of fluids through the beverage lines  108 . In accordance with such an embodiment, the flow sensors  306  may also be operable (in connection with processes in the controller  152 ) to determine the percent concentration of fluids through the beverage line  108  such that identification of cleaning chemicals or water within dispensed beverages may be identified or vice-versa. Such advanced information may therefore be used in the detection process  700  to detect o-ring failure.  
      Furthermore, the management process  800  is described in connection with the zone specified for cleaning having only one pair of sibling dispense units  501  and  502  for illustration purposes. It should be appreciated, however, that more pairs are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Indeed, if the specified zone includes more than one set of paired dispense units (e.g.,  501  and  502 ), then the disable operation  808  disables the split line valve  306  for each of these pairs and subsequently, the enable operation  812  enables the split line valve  306  for each of these pairs.  
      In addition, while the management process  800  is described with reference to controlling one or more split line valves  306  for use in applying the cleaning process to a specified zone, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention involve other forms of monitoring and controlling that may be administered over the split line valves  306 . For example, the controller  152  may selectively open and close the internal connection between either of the output beverage lines  108   a  or  108   b  and the input beverage line  108  as a means to enable the beverage dispensing process with respect to one of the paired dispense units, e.g.,  501 , but not the other, e.g.,  502 .