Networked draft beverage system

Abstract

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for smart draft beer taps that can dynamically vary flow rate and control the amount of dispensed head based on one or more of sensed parameters of the beer, the draft beer environment, characteristics of the beer, and on brewery specified pouring standards. The disclosed systems provide networked data communication relating to bar draft beer pouring conditions.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A networked draft beverage system comprising:
 a fluid dispensing tap configured to dispense a beverage, the fluid dispensing tap including a housing having a fluid path extending therethrough from an input aperture to an output aperture in a spout of the tap;   at least one sensor positioned along the fluid path and configured to generate parameter data representing a parameter of fluid flowing along the fluid path and/or at least one sensor positioned along a beverage delivery fluid path of a fluid delivery system providing beverage to the tap and configured to generate parameter data representing a parameter of the fluid flowing along the beverage delivery fluid path;   a network connectivity module configured to transmit the parameter data over a network; and   a server remote from the fluid dispensing tap and configured to:
 receive the parameter data; 
 determine a remaining inventory of the beverage based on the parameter data; and 
 compare the remaining inventory to ordering settings of a venue of the fluid dispensing tap. 
   
     
     
         2 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 in response to determining that the remaining inventory is less than an amount specified in the ordering settings, automatically place an order for at least one additional keg of the beverage with a producer of the beverage or a distributor of the beverage.   
     
     
         3 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 in response to determining that the remaining inventory is less than an amount specified in the ordering settings, provide an alert to a user regarding the remaining inventory.   
     
     
         4 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 3 , further comprising a mobile device configured to receive the alert. 
     
     
         5 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 4 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to in response, display a user interface including a user-selectable element that enables the user to place an order for at least one additional keg of the beverage with a producer of the beverage or a distributor of the beverage. 
     
     
         6 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 5 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to display a purchasing order user interface responsive to the user placing the order, wherein the purchasing order user interface comprises an additional user-selectable element that enables the user to approve the purchase order. 
     
     
         7 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to send the approved purchase order to the server for forwarding to the producer or distributor or to send the approve purchase order to the producer or distributor. 
     
     
         8 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispensing tap comprising a controller configured to:
 receive parameter data from the at least one sensor; and   generate an output for presentation on a display in real time based on the parameter data.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to output sensed fluid parameters, maintenance reminders, and alerts when sensed parameters indicate potential problems with a keg, beverage line, beverage, cooling system, gas pressure, draft beverage tower, or tap within a draft beverage system. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to identify specific problems that are likely occurring based on the sensed parameters and to recommend corrective actions to fix the problems. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to output alerts or status indicators on a network-equipped computing device including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, gaming consoles in real time based on the parameter data. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to output information regarding keg status, keg levels, quality, beverage brands, how many gallons sold vs how many gallons poured, keg yield, when a keg was tapped, pricing information, sales date and time, sales with respect to staffing. 
     
     
         13 . A networked draft beverage system comprising:
 a fluid dispensing tap configured to dispense a beverage, the fluid dispensing tap including a housing having a fluid path extending therethrough from an input aperture to an output aperture in a spout of the tap;   at least one sensor positioned along the fluid path and configured to generate parameter data representing a parameter of fluid flowing along the fluid path and/or at least one sensor positioned along a beverage delivery fluid path of a fluid delivery system providing beverage to the tap and configured to generate parameter data representing a parameter of the fluid flowing along the beverage delivery fluid path;   a network connectivity module configured to transmit the parameter data over a network; and   a server remote from the fluid dispensing tap and configured to:
 receive the parameter data; 
 determine actual volume of dispensed beverage based on the parameter data; and 
 compare the actual volume of dispensed beverage to actual sales of beverage of a venue of the fluid dispensing tap. 
   
     
     
         14 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 13 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 in response to determining that the actual sales of beverage is less than the actual volume of dispensed beverage in a volume above a threshold or at volumes exceeding a predetermined rate of change over a window of time, provide an alert or report to a user regarding fraud.   
     
     
         15 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 13 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 determine the difference between the actual volume of dispensed beverage and the actual sales of beverage of a venue of the fluid dispensing tap is due to spillage, over-pouring or foam pour-out based on the parameter data.   
     
     
         16 . The networked draft beverage system of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid dispensing tap comprising a controller configured to:
 receive parameter data from the at least one sensor; and   generate an output for presentation on a display in real time based on the parameter data.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to output sensed fluid parameters, maintenance reminders, and alerts when sensed parameters indicate potential problems with a keg, beverage line, beverage, cooling system, gas pressure, draft beverage tower, or tap within a draft beverage system. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to identify specific problems that are likely occurring based on the sensed parameters and to recommend corrective actions to fix the problems. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to output alerts or status indicators on a network-equipped computing device including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, gaming consoles in real time based on the parameter data. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid dispensing tap of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to output information regarding keg status, keg levels, quality, beverage brands, how many gallons sold vs how many gallons poured, keg yield, when a keg was tapped, pricing information, sales date and time, sales with respect to staffing.