Patent Description:
Draft beer and other malt beverages (hereinafter, collectively referred to as beer) are commonly available in kegs ("on tap") when sold in bars, restaurants, and other points of sale. Draft beer is popular for its higher quality and in some cases a larger serving size compared with the same beer served in a bottle or can at the same price. Kegs are tapped with a tap that mounts to the opening (bung) of the keg, typically formed in a neck (collar) that protrudes from one end of the keg. Taps are often manufactured to indicate a beer manufacturer's brand, beer style, etc., so that a specific tap can be installed on a keg and used to identify the beer contained in the keg.

Kegs are often stored in a dedicated storage area or room and retrieved as needed to serve customers. Assuring that a tap installed on a keg correctly identifies the beer contained in the keg, referred to herein as pairing, is important since at the point of dispensing of the beer only the tap identifies the beer. On occasion, due to unintentional or intentional errors, a specific branded beer tap may be installed on a non-matching keg, in other words, incorrectly paired because the contents of the keg do not match the beer brand indicated by the tap. In such cases, a lower priced or grade of beer may be served through a branded tap, which defrauds the customer and damages the beer manufacturer's brand if a lower quality beer is dispensed.

There are several technologies that are capable of providing automatic identification (ID) for purposes of monitoring and verifying proper pairing of a keg and tap. The keg and tap can each be equipped with an electronic ID device that enables pairing authentication performed by an electronic device integrated with the tap and/or placed in the keg storage room or other remote location. The electronic device communicates with the keg and tap electronic ID devices through a wireless or possibly a wired link. For practical considerations and ease of operation, it is preferred to have a non-contact or wireless data link between the keg and tap electronic ID devices regardless of where their pairing authentication is performed. One approach is to use wireless devices with far-field radio frequency (RF) data-link connectivity. The challenge with application of this technology is the likelihood of crosstalk between kegs that are adjacent to each in the same storage or tapping area. To address this issue, an automatic ID device (tag) that utilizes a non-contact data link technology having a limited range, as nonlimiting examples, devices that utilize acoustic, near-field radio frequency (RF) including inductively or capacitively coupled wireless, or optical/vision technologies, can be integrated with a keg along with a keg auto-identification (auto-ID) receiving device integrated with the tap as an add-on module attached to the exterior of the tap or embedded within the handle of the tap. However, because taps are typically threaded onto a keg, when a tap is installed on a keg the rotational position of the tap relative to the keg will vary depending on the start and end of the thread turns. This variation in the position (or relative location) of the auto-ID receiving device integrated onto a tap may result in a longer distance to the tag integrated onto the keg, which may make the pairing error rate non-negligible and unacceptable depending on the position of the tap.

The subject matter of this invention includes systems, devices, and methods that are capable of accurately identifying and verifying the proper pairing of kegs and taps regardless of the position of a tap relative to a keg on which it is installed.

According to one aspect of the invention, an automatic identification and pairing authentication system is provided that comprises an identification (ID) unit integrated onto a keg and a pairing device integrated onto a tap, wherein the ID unit and the pairing device communicate through a wireless connection.

According to another aspect of the invention, an automatic identification and pairing authentication system for pairing a keg with a tap installed on the keg includes an identification unit compromising at least a first short-range wireless identification device integrated onto an end wall of the keg, and a pairing device on the tap and comprising a receiver for receiving short-range wireless information from the first short-range wireless ID device of the identification unit. The short-range wireless identification device surrounds an opening of the keg in which the tap is installed so that the pairing device identifies and verifies pairing of the keg and the tap regardless of a rotational position of the tap relative to the keg.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of automatically identifying and pairing a keg with a tap installed on the keg includes using at least a first short-range wireless ID device associated with an identification unit to provide short-range wireless information, and using a pairing device on the tap to receive the short-range wireless information from the first short-range wireless ID device. The first short-range wireless identification device is integrated onto an end wall of a keg, and identifying and verifying pairing of the keg and the tap is performed with the pairing device regardless of a rotational position of the tap relative to the keg.

Technical aspects of systems, devices, and methods having features as described above preferably include the ability for a tap to identify a keg on which it is installed for purposes of identifying the contents within the keg, with reduced likelihood of crosstalk with adjacent kegs. Such a capability is advantageous when performing automatic identification and pairing of kegs with their corresponding taps in a restaurant or bar setting. The systems, devices, and methods help to prevent errors or misuses if a tap is installed on a keg whose contents do not match the identify of the beverage associated with the tap. The systems, devices, and methods are capable of providing high accuracy of authentication, while optionally providing additional functionality for actions or data capture when a tap is paired with a keg and activated.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description.

The following disclosure describes various aspects of systems, devices, and methods schematically represented in <FIG> and adapted to accurately identify and verify the proper pairing of kegs and taps regardless of the position of the tap relative to a keg on which it is installed. Physical embodiments of systems and devices represented in <FIG> are shown as used in association with kegs <NUM> having a generally common configuration, in which each keg <NUM> has an opening (bung) to which a tap <NUM> can be mounted to dispense the contents of the keg <NUM>, and each opening is represented as formed in a neck (collar) <NUM> that protrudes from one end of the keg <NUM>. While the kegs <NUM> are believed to be of a conventional form, the systems and devices described herein can be used with kegs having configurations other than what is shown in <FIG>.

Overviews of two nonlimiting embodiments of automatic identification and pairing authentication systems are represented in <FIG>. In each of <FIG>, the systems are represented as comprising a keg identification (ID) unit <NUM> integrated onto the keg <NUM> in the vicinity of the neck <NUM> of the keg <NUM> in which the opening (bung) of the keg <NUM> is disposed, and a pairing device <NUM> integrated onto the tap <NUM> installed in the opening of the keg <NUM>. The ID unit <NUM> of <FIG> is represented as being mounted on the end wall <NUM> of the keg <NUM> in which the neck <NUM> is formed, and as completely and continuously encircling the neck <NUM>. The ID unit <NUM> of <FIG> is represented as mounted directly on and around the perimeter of the neck <NUM> and completely and continuously encircling the neck <NUM>. The ID unit <NUM> of <FIG> and/or <NUM> may be separately manufactured and then permanently attached to its keg <NUM>, though it is foreseeable that portions of the units <NUM> could be incorporated directly into the design of the keg <NUM>. As discussed below in reference to <FIG>, each ID unit <NUM> may comprise one or more short-range wireless identification (ID) devices <NUM> that are packaged or embedded within a housing or enclosure <NUM>. The ID devices <NUM> create a field that may encompass the entire perimeter of the neck <NUM> or up to and including the entire end wall <NUM> of the keg <NUM>. If the ID unit <NUM> comprises multiple ID devices <NUM>, the ID devices <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other within the enclosure <NUM>. The enclosure <NUM> may include openings or channels to allow any contents of the keg <NUM> that leak or spill to be able to pass behind, beneath, or through the enclosure <NUM> and not accumulate behind or above the enclosure <NUM>, as would be the case if the end wall <NUM> slopes downward from the neck <NUM>.

The taps <NUM> are represented in <FIG> as each having a handle <NUM> that contains the pairing device <NUM> or to which the pairing device <NUM> is otherwise mounted, for example, below the handle <NUM> as shown, or above or to one side of the handle <NUM>. The pairing devices <NUM> function as authentication units to confirm the identity of its respective keg <NUM> through its associated ID unit <NUM>. The pairing devices each include a receiver for receiving short-range wireless information from one or more short-range wireless ID devices <NUM> of the ID unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the wireless information is a short-range wireless transmission such as a near-field RF (also known as inductively coupled) link such as low-frequency (LF) or high-frequency (HF) radio identification device, in which case the one or more ID devices <NUM> of the ID unit <NUM> are radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices (discussed in reference to <FIG>, <FIG>). Alternatively the short-range wireless information may be an image transmitted by an optical/vision link, for example, as a result of the one or more short-range wireless ID devices <NUM> of the ID unit <NUM> comprising barcodes (discussed in reference to <FIG>). It is noted that other short-range wireless information links could be employed, as nonlimiting examples, acoustic or vibration links or capacitive coupling between the ID units <NUM> and pairing device <NUM>. In the case of an acoustic or vibration link, the ID devices <NUM> of the ID unit <NUM> are acoustic or vibration devices that transmit unique acoustic or vibration signals that can be detected by a microphone or accelerometer associated with the pairing device <NUM>.

The reliability of automatic ID pairing between the ID units <NUM> and pairing devices <NUM> described above is obtained by using a short-range wireless information link between the ID unit <NUM> located on the keg <NUM> and the pairing device <NUM> located on the tap <NUM> to reduce the likelihood of crosstalk between pairing devices <NUM> and the ID units <NUM> of adjacent kegs <NUM>. In particular, the embodiments of automatic identification and pairing authentication systems represented in the drawings utilize short-range wireless ID devices <NUM> with sufficiently short-range wireless transmission capabilities so that a pairing device <NUM> mounted on a tap <NUM> does not automatically identify and pair with a second keg that is immediately adjacent and possibly even abutting the keg <NUM> on which the tap <NUM> is installed. Reliability of the automatic ID pairing between an ID unit <NUM> and pairing device <NUM> is promoted as a result of the ID unit <NUM> surrounding the opening of the keg <NUM>, such that the pairing device <NUM> is never misaligned with the ID unit <NUM> and instead the unit <NUM> is always in proximity to its pairing device <NUM> regardless of the rotational position of the pairing device <NUM> on the keg <NUM>, a situation that inherently occurs due to the rotational position of the tap <NUM> relative to the keg <NUM> varying depending on the start and end of the thread turns that secure the tap <NUM> to the keg <NUM>.

<FIG> represent an embodiment in which short-range wireless transmission is utilized and based on inductive-coupling as a result of the short-range wireless ID device <NUM> of the ID unit <NUM> comprising a single RFID device <NUM> with which the pairing device <NUM> is able to inductively couple. Examples of international standardized links are low-frequency (LF) (<NUM>-<NUM>) such as ISO <NUM>/<NUM> and ISO <NUM>, and high-frequency (HF) (<NUM>) such as ISO15693 and NFC. The RFID device <NUM> comprises an RFID chip <NUM> connected to an antenna <NUM>, both of which are encased or enclosed in a housing or enclosure <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> may be a multi-turn coil shown as encompassing the entire perimeter of the keg neck <NUM>. The pairing device <NUM> comprises, as a receiver, an RFID reader (interrogator) <NUM> and an interrogator antenna <NUM>, for example, a multi-turn square or circular winding coil, which for improved operation is placed at the bottom of the pairing device <NUM> facing the antenna <NUM> of the ID device <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> is packaged or embedded within the enclosure <NUM> so that a gap <NUM> filled with air or a dielectric material is present between the antenna <NUM> and the surface of the end wall <NUM> of the keg <NUM>, which is ordinarily formed of steel, aluminum, or possibly another metal. The gap <NUM> provides a better path for the RF field of the interrogator antenna <NUM> that intersects the antenna <NUM>, as needed for its operation. The antenna <NUM> may have various forms and its radius may be such that it is directly below the interrogator antenna <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, though it is foreseeable that the antenna <NUM> may be located radially inward or outward of the antenna <NUM>.

<FIG> represent another embodiment in which the ID unit <NUM> utilizes short-range wireless transmission based on RFID technology, but in this case multiple individual RFID devices (tags) <NUM> are used whose operations with the pairing device <NUM> are based on inductive-coupling. Nonlimiting embodiments of RFID devices <NUM> for this purpose include glass-encapsulated LF RFID tags of the types used for animal tracking and small NFC chips and labels with integrated antennae, the latter of which may be folded inside the enclosure <NUM>. Each RFID device <NUM> comprises an RFID chip <NUM> connected to an antenna <NUM>, both of which are encased or enclosed in the enclosure <NUM> such that an air or dielectric gap <NUM> is present between the antenna <NUM> and the metal surface of the end wall <NUM>. The RFID devices <NUM> are distributed along the perimeter of the keg neck <NUM> to provide distributed coverage around the entire neck <NUM> and capable of reliably pairing with the interrogator antenna <NUM> of the pairing device <NUM> mounted to the tap handle <NUM>, regardless of the rotational position of the handle <NUM> relative to the keg neck <NUM>.

<FIG> represent an embodiment in which the short-range wireless information is an image transmitted by an optical/vision link based on optics as a result of the short-range wireless ID device <NUM> of the ID unit <NUM> comprising one or more optical ID devices and the link between the ID devices <NUM> and pairing device <NUM> being established optically (i.e., vision). <FIG> show such an embodiment in which multiple individual optical devices <NUM> each comprise a two-dimensional barcode <NUM> embedded in a translucent enclosure <NUM> that renders the barcodes <NUM> not visible or at least not readily visible to the human eye, but is visible to, as a nonlimiting example, an infrared camera module <NUM> as the receiver of the pairing device <NUM> mounted to the tap handle <NUM>. The pairing device <NUM> further includes a lens <NUM> that, depending on the rotational position of the tap <NUM>, is able to capture and read at least one of the barcodes <NUM>. The image of the barcode <NUM> can then be decoded at the pairing device <NUM> or transmitted to a remote device for further processing and pairing.

The RFID and optical links of the embodiments of <FIG>, <FIG>, and 5C may be replaced with an acoustic or vibration link, in which the short-range wireless ID devices <NUM> of their ID units <NUM> are acoustic or vibration-producing ID devices that transmit a unique acoustic or vibration signal that can be detected by a microphone or accelerometer associated with the pairing device <NUM> in place of the RFID reader (interrogator) <NUM> and camera module <NUM>.

The above embodiments are all preferably capable of operating without requiring a battery for powering the ID unit <NUM> mounted to the keg <NUM>. This is desirable due to cost and to mitigate any concerns regarding high temperature exposure during washing and cleaning the keg <NUM>. Even so, it is foreseeable that a battery-powered ID unit <NUM> could be used, as a nonlimiting example, battery-assisted RFID tag(s).

In the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, the pairing device <NUM> integrated with the tap <NUM> identifies the keg <NUM> by interrogating the ID device(s) <NUM> of its ID unit <NUM>. The ID unit <NUM> transmits an ID code associated with the keg <NUM> to the pairing device <NUM>, after which the pairing device <NUM> may compare the code with a digitally pre-stored set of valid ID codes in an on-board memory device to make the authentication, or the pairing device <NUM> may transmit the ID code of the keg <NUM> and its own ID code to a network gateway (as shown in <FIG>) or directly to a remote data server (as illustrated in <FIG>). In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, a local wireless link can be realized by a low-power local wireless network such as Bluetooth, WiFi, or proprietary wireless. The embodiment shown in <FIG> requires a wide-area wireless link such as cellular or LoRa.

The cloud data servers of <FIG> may include the digitally pre-stored set of valid ID codes of any number of kegs <NUM>, as well as data related to any number of taps <NUM> including their assigned locations, and performs the pairing authentication using software. The cloud data sever may also include a user dashboard and business rules engine that, depending on its settings, may issue alerts via a software dashboard or by email, an SMS text message, or an automated phone call. Alternatively or in addition, cloud data sever may issue reports and take actions such as shutting down the tap <NUM> if it includes an internal valve that can be actuated with a solenoid or other suitable device.

As represented by the nonlimiting embodiment of <FIG>, the pairing device <NUM> optionally but preferably is battery powered, and therefore the electronic components of the device <NUM> are preferably designed to be power efficient to increase battery life. <FIG> is a block diagram of the pairing device <NUM> with various functional block options. For example, in addition to an RFID reader (interrogator) <NUM> or camera module <NUM>, the device <NUM> may employ trigger sensors capable of triggering the pairing device <NUM> to power up and operate only when an action or sequence of actions occurs, such as activating the tap <NUM> by pressing the tap handle <NUM>, and/or when certain motions or orientation profiles are observed. The device <NUM> is also shown as including a microcontroller and memory, which may have different degrees of capability and size to perform simple functions such as storing the set of valid ID codes and performing basic system operation commands, to having a dynamic database of valid keg ID codes and performing authentication and pairing. Complex operations increase the battery draw and increase the complexity and cost of the pairing device <NUM>, which may not be preferred for some situations. The pairing device <NUM> may also generate an alert if an authentication failure occurs. Such an alert may be performed locally by including a speaker as part of the device <NUM> for emitting a buzzer or other audible alert, performed remotely at a remote server, or both. Other actions in the case of lack of authentication may include shutting off an electronic valve within the tap <NUM>. Such actions require two-way communications between the pairing device <NUM> and a server if a pairing check is performed remotely or additional server verification is required. The pairing device <NUM> may also include a flowmeter to monitor and measure the beer usage, manage keg replacement, billing, and operational data analytics or control beer flow through a valve within the tap <NUM>, and may close the valve in the event that the tap <NUM> is incorrectly paired with a keg. In some embodiments the microcontroller includes a real-time clock used to record time and location of incorrect pairing of the tap <NUM> with a non-original keg. Location information of the pairing device <NUM> may be derived from a network gateway (<FIG>), cellular triangulation (<FIG>), time-location history, etc. Communications between the ID device <NUM>, pairing device <NUM>, and a server may also be used to provide automatic identification of kegs and taps in a keg supply chain, including with respect to factory cleaning, refilling, transportation, and storage. Though the features described above may be desirable for many applications, the pairing device <NUM> is not required to include all of the various functional blocks represented in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
An automatic identification and pairing authentication system for pairing a keg (<NUM>) with a tap (<NUM>) installed on the keg (<NUM>), the keg (<NUM>) having an end wall (<NUM>) surrounding an opening of the keg (<NUM>) in which the tap (<NUM>) is installed, the system comprising:
an identification unit (<NUM>) compromising at least a first short-range wireless identification device (<NUM>) integrated onto the end wall (<NUM>) of a keg (<NUM>), the short-range wireless identification device (<NUM>) surrounding the opening of the keg (<NUM>) in which the tap (<NUM>) is installed; and
a pairing device (<NUM>) on the tap (<NUM>), the pairing device (<NUM>) comprising a receiver (<NUM>,<NUM>) for receiving short-range wireless information from the first short-range wireless ID device (<NUM>) of the identification unit (<NUM>);
wherein the short-range wireless identification device (<NUM>) surrounds the opening of the keg (<NUM>) so that the pairing device (<NUM>) identifies and verifies pairing of the keg (<NUM>) and the tap (<NUM>) regardless of a rotational position of the tap (<NUM>)relative to the keg (<NUM>).