Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating consumable data with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system adjusts one or more steps of an assay protocol based on consumable data specific for that consumable. Various types of consumable data are described, as well as methods of using such data in the conduct of an assay by an assay system. The present invention also relates to consumables (e.g., kits and reagent containers), software, data deployable bundles, computer-readable media, loading carts, instruments, systems, and methods, for performing automated biological assays.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for virtualized proxy services are disclosed herein. Specifically, on one embodiment, a virtual proxy may be implemented in a virtual machine host. The virtual proxy may reside within a dedicated or shared virtual partition and may include a set of access restrictions. In one embodiment, a network including virtual machine hosts having virtual proxies may also provide additional peer-to-peer services. More specifically, a virtual proxy on a virtual host may be configured to broadcast/multicast content requests to other virtual hosts on the network prior to accessing the content from a remote location. If the content has previously been downloaded by another virtual host on the network, the virtual proxy on the requesting host may copy the content from the peer virtual host, instead of downloading the content from the remote location again. A variety of security measures may be implemented in one embodiment to ensure data integrity.

Abstract: An improved portable and hand-held beverage chilling device, having water utilized as a coolant that can be frozen between non-permanently sealed walls of the device, is intended for chilling and subsequent maintenance of a canned or bottled beverage at its coldest liquid state, while providing direct consumption from its container. The beverage cooler features two cylindrical receptacles that are enclosed on one end. These receptacles, called shells, are of different diameter and height such that the inner is placed within the outer and a coolant is contained in the spacial void created. A beer or soft drink container is inserted within a cavity defined by the inner shell, thereby facilitating cooling. A threaded circular cap, with a circular hole of comparable diameter to that of the inner shell, is assembled by hand to the top of the inner shell in a snap-on interlocking fashion. The cap is secured by hand to the outer shell by means of mutually mating threads.