Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and tracking computer devices using a secure communication path between a central database and a device control-file watchdog program. One or more device control-files can be generated to control, limit and track a computer device using a device control-file watchdog program. The system sets limits on the computer device to ensure the user operating the computer device stays within a restricted set of usage limitations. The device control-file watchdog program protects the one or more device control-files and additionally can report on all activities performed by the computer device to the central database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a wipe dispensing system that includes a wipe supply, a drive assembly disposed in operational communication with the wipe supply, a fluid dispensing assembly, and a wipe dispensing controller disposed in electrical communication with the drive assembly and the fluid dispensing assembly. The wipe dispensing controller is configured to receive a wipe criterion which defines a characteristic of a wipe to be provided by the wipe dispensing system, dispose a portion of the wipe supply between a first position and a second position relative to the fluid dispensing assembly via the drive assembly and based upon the wipe criterion, and apply a fluid to the portion of the wipe supply via the fluid dispensing assembly based upon the wipe criterion to generate the wipe.

Abstract: A device includes a reservoir for holding an article that has thereon and a dispenser for dispensing the articles from the reservoir. A deactivation mechanism may deactivate medicament held within the reservoir.

Abstract: The subject technology provides at least a system and method for accessing a medication based on near-field communication (NFC). An NFC connection is established between a medical device and NFC circuitry associated with a user separate from the medical device and, based on information obtained from the NFC connection, pairing information for a mobile device to connect to the medical device is determined. A short range wireless connection is automatically established between the medical device and the mobile device associated with the user based on the determined pairing information, and a request for access to a medication provided by the medical device is sent from the mobile device to the medical device via the short range wireless connection.

Abstract: Portable pill dispensers are disclosed herein. The portable pill dispenser may include a container configured to house at least one pill therein, a housing attachable to the container, and a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing. In one configuration, the dispensing mechanism includes an oscillating member configured to dispense the at least one pill from the container.

Abstract: A method for supplying products for electrically operated smoking systems is provided, including: delivering to a remote user device from a central server over a network connection order option information associated with a vending machine; receiving an order from the remote user device, the order including an indication of a product available from the vending machine, and user identification information; retrieving registered user information, including user authentication information associated with user identification information; receiving user authentication information from a user; and if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, delivering the product to the user at the vending machine.

Abstract: A system for dispensing one or more products can include one or more product containers, each with a port for dispensing a product, a housing with one or more container cavities for removably receiving the product containers, one or more quantity sensors for detecting a quantity of product within one or more product containers, one or more actuators for dispensing product from one or more product containers, and a controller configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of the system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing authentication of dispensed prescriptions include utilizing one or more authenticator indicia, wherein the authenticator indicia have a plurality of indicia components including unique identification number for associating a dose of medication in a database. The authenticator indicia are configured on dose containers, such as blister packs and pill packs, to be scannable by a third-party scanning tool. The scanned information can be received by an authentication communication system to establish authenticity and other information such as adherence and compliance information related to the dispensed prescriptions.

Abstract: A controlled dispensing system includes a dispensing fixture having or in communication with a display screen, a scanning device communicatively coupled to the dispensing fixture, one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs including instructions for obtaining one or more identifiers of one or more respective controlled products, determining whether the one or more controlled products meet a bulk limit for dispensing, obtaining identification information, determining whether the identification information meets an age threshold and/or an identity requirement associated with the one or more controlled products; and in accordance with a determination that the bulk limit is met, and the age threshold and/or identity requirement is met, transmitting a dispensing instruction to the dispensing fixture to dispense the one or more controlled products.

Abstract: A needle retention and disposal device including a cup having an interior compartment for receiving and retaining used needles and a skirt having a bottom open end. The cup is positioned inside the skirt and is springedly attached to the skirt. Two doors are rotatably attached to the interior compartment of the cup and are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The bottom open end of the skirt receives the neck of a sharps container such that the neck of the sharps container contacts the bottom surface of the cup. The doors are moveable from the closed position to the open position to release the used needles when the skirt is pushed down over the neck of the sharps container.

Abstract: A controlled dispensing fixture including a display screen, a scanning device, and one or more processors is configured to: obtain via the display screen or remote scanner a selection of one or more controlled products; update a user interface on the display screen based on the selection; determine whether the one or more controlled products meet a purchase limit associated with the one or more controlled products for dispensing; obtain via the scanning device consumer identification information; determine whether the consumer identification information meets an age threshold and/or an identity requirement associated with the one or more controlled products; and in accordance with a determination that (i) the one or more controlled products meet the purchase limit for dispensing, and (ii) the consumer identification information meets the age threshold and/or the identity requirement, transmit a dispensing instruction to the dispensing fixture to dispense the one or more controlled products.

Abstract: A pill-dispensing system includes a base including a first processor and a storage, a container for pills carried by the base, and a dispenser mechanism. A data store includes an authorization code and instructions. A second processor is coupled to the data store, is in communication with the first processor, and is programmed to receive from the first processor a code associated with the container, compare the code to the authorization code, and retrieve and serve the instructions to the first processor upon the code matching the authorization code. The first processor is programmed, upon receiving the instructions from the second processor, to download to the storage the instructions that when executed by the first processor cause the first processor to effectuate a dispensing of pills from the container by the dispenser mechanism.

Abstract: A user health profile is created at a personal food item customization system. The personal food item customization system receives a food item recipe including a plurality of ingredients, identifies at least one ingredient that includes a nutritional value that places the food item outside of a nutritional parameter range in the user health profile, modifies one or more identified ingredients in the food item recipe to bring the nutritional value of the nutrient in the food item within the nutritional parameter range, and generates a user specific food item recipe.

Abstract: A beverage brewer spray apparatus includes a lid, dispersal members, and a skirt. The lid has an obverse and converse surfaces. The dispersal members extend from the converse surface of the lid at open proximal ends of the dispersal members. The skirt has a proximal end fixed to and extending outward from the converse surface of the lid. Each dispersal member has a sidewall and a distal end defining an interior of the dispersal member. The sidewall has apertures arranged in a distal section of the sidewall. The lid has through-holes formed between the obverse and converse surfaces, and the dispersal members are fixed to the converse surface such that the through-holes provide fluid communication from the obverse surface of the lid to the apertures through the interiors of the dispersal members. The apertures are configured to direct liquid outward from the dispersal members.

Abstract: A medication dispensing cabinet provides controlled access to medications and supplies stored in it. The cabinet may include at least one lockable storage compartment, and a controller that controls access to the at least one lockable storage compartment. The cabinet may include multiple printers integrated into the cabinet. The cabinet may include a camera operably coupled to the controller. The cabinet may include a set of cabinet electronics, and a power distribution and communications circuit board. The cabinet may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein the controller conditions access to the at least one lockable storage compartment on receipt of information from the RFID reader. Data may be stored in the controller according to an implementation of RAID technology. The controller may include multiple electronic communications network interfaces, and may include an out of band network communication channel. A dispensing cabinet may facilitate printing of labels for medications.

Abstract: A medication dispensing system includes an automated dispensing device that includes cells with electronically activated locks. The device is configured to detect when medication counts in the cells fall below predetermined thresholds. The system further includes a plurality of first electronic devices that are associated with some of the cells and that have imagers. In response to any of the medication counts in the cells being below the predetermined threshold, the automated dispensing device is configured to automatically send a replenishment needed notification to the first electronic device associated with the cell. That first electronic device is configured to transmit a picture of a medication to a second electronic device. In response to a positive verification by a user of the second electronic device that the medication in the picture is the correct medication, the second electronic device is configured to transmit an unlock signal to the automated dispensing device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a beverage preparation apparatus (100), said apparatus comprising at least one chamber (1) for receiving and mixing an aqueous liquid and at least one soluble beverage ingredient, said chamber comprising: —a lateral side wall (11) comprising a liquid inlet (2), —a bottom wall (12) comprising a beverage outlet (3), and wherein the liquid inlet is positioned close to the bottom of the chamber, and wherein the liquid inlet is configured so that the liquid is introduced in the chamber as a straight jet of liquid, said introduced straight jet extending transversely through the internal volume of the chamber along a line L, said line L being offset relative to the longitudinal central axis (XX?) of the chamber, wherein, at the area of the cylindrical lateral side wall opposed to the liquid inlet and crossed by the line L, the chamber comprises a bump (4) extending from the cylindrical lateral side wall inside the chamber, said bump presenting a shape designed: —to convert the introduced strai

Abstract: A modular smart packaging case comprising reversibly attachable electronics and detection modules is disclosed. The detection module includes a sensor array for monitoring the state of a blister pack containing a plurality of product units. The electronics module contains the high-value electronics required to read the sensors of the array, process the sensor output, and enable communications to and from the case. The electronics module and detection module are operatively coupled via a universal interface that enables the same electronics module to operate with a plurality of detection modules of different configurations. In some embodiments, the electronics module operatively couples with multiple detection modules.

Abstract: A beverage producing apparatus configured to produce a beverage using an extraction target as a raw material, includes: a housing configured to form an exterior of the beverage producing apparatus; a control unit configured to control each producing operation of the beverage producing apparatus; and an operation unit configured to accept an operation of an operator. The housing includes a transmissive portion configured to make an interior of the housing visible from an outside. The control unit can control each producing operation in an automatic mode or a manual mode. In the automatic mode, each producing operation is automatically controlled in accordance with a condition set in advance. In the manual mode, each producing operation is controlled in accordance with an operation for the operation unit.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for systems and methods related to kiosks for personalizing a packaged article. The kiosks may also be used for storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of packaged articles. The kiosks discussed herein differ from non-kiosk personalization systems, such as personalization systems installed on a factory or warehouse floor, in that the kiosks are self-contained personalization systems. In some embodiments, the kiosks are portable and can be moved between different sites or events. This portability allows the kiosks to personalize packaged articles for concerts, festivals, conventions, trade shows, and the like.