Abstract: A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

Abstract: An IP network service node is disclosed for establishing direct IP bi-directional or unidirectional connectivity between communication devices (6,24), accommodating the circumstance of either or both communication devices residing behind a Network Address Translator (NAT). When a communication device requests IP connectivity to another communication device, either the local or remote communication device's associated service node (26,28) or their agents (41,42) (or another node 29, using information collected by the devices' associated service nodes), formulates an appropriate direct IP pathway (40) to traverse any pertinent NATs and instructs the applicable communication devices (30,32,34,44,45,46,47) to self-configure to establish the pathway (40).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for establishing direct IP bi-directional or unidirectional connectivity between communication devices (6,24), accommodating the circumstance of either or both communication devices residing behind a Network Address Translator (NAT). When a communication device requests IP connectivity to another communication device, either the local or remote communication device's associated service node (26,28) or their agents (41,42) (or another node 29, using information collected by the devices' associated service nodes), formulates an appropriate direct IP pathway (40) to traverse any pertinent NATs and instructs the applicable communication devices (30,32,34,44,45,46,47) to self-configure to establish the pathway (40).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for establishing direct IP bi-directional or unidirectional connectivity between communication devices (6,24), accommodating the circumstance of either or both communication devices residing behind a Network Address Translator (NAT). When a communication device requests IP connectivity to another communication device, either the local or remote communication device's associated service node (26,28) or their agents (41,42) (or another node 29, using information collected by the devices' associated service nodes), formulates an appropriate direct IP pathway (40) to traverse any pertinent NATs and instructs the applicable communication devices (30,32,34,44,45,46,47) to self-configure to establish the pathway (40).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for establishing direct IP bi-directional or unidirectional connectivity between communication devices (6,24), accommodating the circumstance of either or both communication devices residing behind a Network Address Translator (NAT). When a communication device requests IP connectivity to another communication device, either the local or remote communication device's associated service node (26,28) or their agents (41,42) (or another node 29, using information collected by the devices' associated service nodes), formulates an appropriate direct IP pathway (40) to traverse any pertinent NATs and instructs the applicable communication devices (30,32,34,44,45,46,47) to self-configure to establish the pathway (40).