Method and Apparatus for Automated Messaging in Beverage Containers

Abstract

An apparatus generates an audio and/or visual signal or message when a container having an opening mechanism is opened. An activation trigger is coupled to the container to determine when the container has been opened. An integrated circuit is mounted on or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled to the activation trigger to determine the sealing status of the container and to generate the audio and/or visual signal or message when a determination is made that the container has been opened. An output device is coupled to the integrated circuit for outputting a signal related to a status of container usage, a last opening of the container and/or scheduled next opening of the container.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for generating an audio and/or visual signal or message when a container having an opening mechanism is opened comprising:
 an activation trigger coupled to the container to determine when the container has been opened, the trigger characterized by an electrical parameter which is dependent on the sealing status of the container;   an integrated circuit mounted on or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled to the activation trigger to measure the electrical parameter to determine the sealing status of the container and to generate the audio and/or visual signal or message when a determination is made that the container has been opened;   an acoustic transducer coupled to the integrated circuit; and   a battery coupled to the integrated circuit, where the integrated circuit, acoustic transducer and battery are combined into a laminated stacked assembly coupled to the container and coupled to the opening mechanism provided in or on the container.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stacked assembly is integrated into the opening mechanism provided in or on the container. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stacked assembly comprises the opening mechanism provided in or on the container. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the opening mechanism of the container has a closure with a separable seam, the stacked assembly being included on or in the closure and having a conductive path through or across the seam, where the stacked assembly is activated by separation of the seam upon opening of the closure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stacked assembly is disposed on or in a resealable closure of a container through which closure a interruptible circuit path is defined. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a clock to measure or record the time, since the last loss of continuity on container, where the assembly audible announces the time elapsed since the last time container was opened. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in combination with a plurality of stacked assemblies forming a peer-to-peer network or to a local computer network and further comprising an RF communication module included in the stacked assembly, which wirelessly communicates information pertaining to container and/or opening mechanism and its opening or closure to other ones of the plurality of stacked assemblies forming the peer-to-peer network or to the local computer network. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the stacked assembly is provided with isolated onboard or intercommunicated intelligence from other sources to interact with a user according to usage of the containers as detected by the stacked assemblies. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the container comprises a dispenser of an item and is arranged and configured not only to allow detection of opening or closure of container, but dispensing of the item. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for generating an audio and/or visual signal or message when a container having an opening mechanism is opened comprising:
 an activation trigger coupled to the container to determine when the container has been opened;   an integrated circuit mounted on or within the container or opening mechanism and coupled to the activation trigger to determine the sealing status of the container and to generate the audio and/or visual signal or message when a determination is made that the container has been opened; and   an output device coupled to the integrated circuit for outputting a signal related to a status of container usage, a last opening of the container and/or scheduled next opening of the container.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  where the trigger is a membrane switch and where the opening mechanism is a cap for the container, the membrane switch being disposed between the cap and container and activated by the closure or opening of the container by the cap. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising an adapter ring, where the cap comprises a standardized design and where the adapter ring couples the cap to the container, the container having one predetermined design of a plurality of possible designs for sealing the container, and where the adapter ring adapts the standardized cap to the one predetermined design of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a data connector included within or on the opening mechanism or container and coupled to the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a wireless transceiver included within or on the opening mechanism or container and coupled to the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a battery and an inductive charging circuit coupled to the battery included within or on the opening mechanism or container and coupled to the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a debouncing circuit coupled to the integrated circuit to reliably detect opening or closure of the opening mechanism by delaying activation of the trigger by a predetermined time period after first detection of an opening or closure. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a replaceable overlay disposed on the standardized cap, the overlay selectively provided with a symbol, word or graphic for identification of the container to a user. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a security device coupled to the opening mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the opening mechanism based on user presentation of a security key to the security device. 
     
     
         19 . A method of management of drug or medicament usage comprising:
 providing a container for holding or dispensing the drug or medicament, the container having an opening mechanism for selectively closing and opening the container;   detecting a usage status of the container, including an opening or closing of the container, by means of a sensor included on or within the opening mechanism or container;   communicating the detected usage status of the container from the sensor to an integrated circuit included on or within the opening mechanism or container; and   automatically outputting a message to a user dependent on the detected usage status of the container and dependent on an intended usage of the drug or medicament by means of the integrated circuit and an output device included on or within the opening mechanism or container.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising communicating with the integrated circuit with a computer or data source separate from the opening mechanism and container to determine the message communicated to the user by the integrated circuit and output device.