Abstract: A system is provided for selecting and dispensing a cosmetic material. The system includes a dispensing apparatus configured to hold a plurality of cartridges each having a different cosmetic material and to dispense at least one cosmetic material from at least one of the cartridges; a user interface configured to receive a selection of a color from a user; and circuitry configured to receive the selection of the color received at the user interface, determine an amount of each of one or more cosmetic materials to form the selected color, transmit the determined amount of each of the one or more cosmetic materials to the dispensing apparatus, and control the dispensing apparatus to dispense the determined amount of each of the one or more cosmetic materials from the plurality of cartridges.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dispensing cosmetic material. The apparatus includes a dispensing assembly configured to receive at least one cartridge that contains a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area; a memory configured to receive and store dispensing information which includes the specified amount of the cosmetic material to be dispensed for each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly to achieve a specified single use of a cosmetic application; and circuitry configured to obtain the dispensing information from the memory and to control the dispensing assembly to dispense the cosmetic material from each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly into the receiving area according to the one or more specified amounts included in the dispensing information.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting and dispensing a cosmetic material. The system includes a dispensing apparatus configured to hold a plurality of cartridges each having a different cosmetic material and to dispense at least one cosmetic material from at least one of the cartridges; a user interface configured to receive a selection of a color from a user; and circuitry configured to receive the selection of the color received at the user interface, determine an amount of each of one or more cosmetic materials to form the selected color, transmit the determined amount of each of the one or more cosmetic materials to the dispensing apparatus, and control the dispensing apparatus to dispense the determined amount of each of the one or more cosmetic materials from the plurality of cartridges.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dispensing cosmetic material. The apparatus includes a dispensing assembly configured to receive at least one cartridge that contains a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area; a memory configured to receive and store dispensing information which includes the specified amount of the cosmetic material to be dispensed for each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly to achieve a specified single use of a cosmetic application; and circuitry configured to obtain the dispensing information from the memory and to control the dispensing assembly to dispense the cosmetic material from each cartridge disposed in the dispensing assembly into the receiving area according to the one or more specified amounts included in the dispensing information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ejecting cartridges from single-serve beverage preparation machines are disclosed. In some embodiments, an ejection system is configured to facilitate ejection of the cartridge from a chamber in a rotatable basket unit. The ejection system can encourage the cartridge out of the chamber during the rotation of the basket unit, such as by force or gravity, by spring-loaded pins, or otherwise.

Abstract: Machines and methods for preparing single-servings of a beverage. The machine can include a housing and a basket assembly positioned in the housing. The basket assembly defines a chamber capable of receiving a cartridge containing a beverage precursor. A screen having a plurality of openings can be positioned at a bottom portion of the chamber. A first plate having a single restricting orifice can be secured to the screen.

Abstract: Machines and methods for preparing single-servings of a beverage. The machine can include a housing and a basket assembly positioned in the housing. The basket assembly defines a chamber capable of receiving a cartridge containing a beverage precursor. A screen having a plurality of openings can be positioned at a bottom portion of the chamber. A first plate having a single restricting orifice can be secured to the screen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ejecting cartridges from single-serve beverage preparation machines are disclosed. In some embodiments, an ejection system is configured to facilitate ejection of the cartridge from a chamber in a rotatable basket unit. The ejection system can encourage the cartridge out of the chamber during the rotation of the basket unit, such as by force or gravity, by spring-loaded pins, or otherwise.

Abstract: Provided herein are products and processes for detecting the presence or absence of multiple target nucleic acids. Certain methods include amplifying the target nucleic acids, or portion thereof; extending oligonucleotides that specifically hybridize to the amplicons, where the oligonucleotides include distinguishable labels and a capture agent; capturing the extended oligonucleotides to a solid phase via the capture agent; releasing and detecting the distinguishable label, and thereby determining the presence or absence of each target nucleic acid by the presence or absence of the distinguishable label.

Abstract: The present invention provides a customer service gateway acting as an interface between various customer premise equipment for a customer and a local access network. The customer service gateway has one or more customer agents and network agents. A network agent is a secure and trusted agent of the service providers, and is not accessible by the customer or the customer premise equipment for manipulation. The customer service gateway may support different types of services using different types of media from the different service providers. In operation, the service providers may sent applications to a network agent, which will run the applications to implement functions to monitor or control services or service flows for the services. The monitoring and control functions may be used to implement various types of service or service flow analysis, as well as any type of tagging, characterization, or processing of the service flows.

Abstract: The present invention allows different types of services to be implemented over a common local access network, wherein each service can be ensured the resources necessary to provide the service, and unauthorized use can be prevented. Accordingly, various types of media services may be provided to various types of customer premise equipment, and the packet flows for each of these services may be individually controlled. On either side of the local access network, a customer service edge and a network service edge are provided to establish virtual communication pipes for the respective services. The customer and network service edges will establish the virtual communication pipes and control traffic flow over the virtual communication pipes in light of policy parameters provided by a network policy server.