Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vending machine and/or kiosk. The methods comprise: detecting a presence of a person in a seat of the vending machine; obtaining a full or partial body heat map for the person that was created based on sensor data generated by at least one sensor of the vending machine or at least one sensor located in proximity to the vending machine (the full or partial heat map showing relative temperatures of different parts of a body of the person); selecting at least one vending service parameter for the vending machine using information obtained based on the full or partial body heat map; and causing the vending machine to provide the person with a vending service in accordance with the at least one vending service parameter that was selected.

Abstract: Systems/methods for user control of a vending massage chair. The methods comprise: detecting, by the vending massage chair, when a mobile communication device is located in proximity to the vending massage chair; triggering operations by the vending massage chair to relinquish operational control to the mobile communication device, in response to a detection that the mobile communication device is proximate to the vending massage chair; receiving, by the vending massage chair, a wireless signal that was transmitted from the mobile communication device; performing operations, by the vending massage chair, to relinquish control of at least one massage chair operation to the mobile communication device in response to a reception of the wireless signal; and performing the at least one massage chair operation by the vending massage chair in response to a wireless command issued by the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A reusable bottle cap includes a panel having a top surface and a bottom surface. A sidewall extends downwardly from a periphery of the panel away from the bottom surface. The sidewall is configured to engage with an outer surface of a bottle neck proximate a rim of the bottle when the reusable bottle cap is coupled to the bottle neck. A peg extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the panel and is spaced from the sidewall. The peg is configured to be spaced from an inner surface of the bottle neck when the reusable bottle cap is coupled to the bottle neck.

Abstract: A system for processing a batch job comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a batch job comprising a sequential or parallel flow of operations, wherein each operation has a defined input type and a defined output type. The processor is further configured to verify that the batch job can run successfully, wherein verifying includes checking that a first operation output defined type is compatible with a second operation input defined type when a first operation output is connected to a second operation input, and wherein verifying includes checking that a parameter used by a calculation in an operation is input to the operation. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Abstract: A system for processing a batch job comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a job name for a job submitted to execute, to receive one or more job parameters, and to determine one or more nodes to run the job. The processor is configured to determine one or steps, where for each step: a step is executed on a node using a state of data associated with a start state of the step; and upon completion of executing the step, a result is stored to a durable storage. The durable storage stores the state of data associated with the start state of the step and the completion state of the step and are accessible by other execution processes as associated with either the start state of the step or the completion state of the step. The memory of the system is coupled to the processor and configured to provide processor with instructions.