US Patent 11893757 Self-serve beverage detection and assignment

An image sensor is positioned such that a field-of-view of the sensor encompasses portion of a beverage machine. The field-of-view includes a zone associated with operating the beverage machine. A subsystem receives a signal indicating beverage is dispensed and angled-view images from the image sensor. First image(s) associated with a start of beverage being dispensed are determined by detecting a hand of a person entering the zone associated with operating the beverage machine. A first identifier is determined for the person in the first image(s). Second image(s) associated with an end of the beverage being dispensed are determined by detecting a hand of the person exiting the zone. A second identifier is determined for the person in the second image(s). If the first identifier is the same as the second identifier, the beverage is assigned to the person with the first identifier.