Abstract: Capsule for preparing a beverage, in particular a hot beverage, comprising a core material in the form of a compact or a bulk material, wherein the core material is a beverage substance, and a shell encasing the core material, the shell comprising a protein.

Abstract: The invention is a system for detecting and reporting the presence and/or weight of inventory items. The system includes a storage unit having a surface for storing inventory items, one or more sensors positioned on the surface, and a reporting unit for receiving and transmitting the first signal. The sensors may detect and send one or more signals to the reporting unit indicative of the presence and/or weight of inventor items on the surface. The reporting unit then transmits this signal to a controller which uses the presence and/or weight data to determine the presence of items on the surface, the weight of items on the surface and/or the pattern of items on the surface. By knowing presence, weight, and/or pattern of items, the controller is better able to determine the identity and quantity of items in the storage unit.