A distributed ledger based utility system architecture may be configured to enable secure payments, data transmission, and meter configuration of smart sensors. The utility system architecture may be a tiered architecture including multiple nodes at different levels of the architecture where each level may contain a different portion of the distributed ledger. As information is added to the distributed ledger, each portion of the distributed ledger may be updated based on whether the information is relevant to that node. The information may include rate contract transactions, meter configuration data transactions, payment transactions, or the like.

The present technology pertains to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a beverage container, a beverage server, and an electronic device that make it possible to more simply provide a beverage using a beverage container. Provided is an information processing apparatus equipped with a processing unit that generates purchase information including a purchase condition pertaining to purchase of a beverage and a container identifier identifying a beverage container, and, on the basis of the generated purchase information, performs processing for providing the beverage using the beverage container. For example, the present technology can be applied to a beverage platform that enables an end user to purchase a beverage using a beverage container such as a reusable cup or a reusable bottle.

A dispenser is provided for dispensing a hygiene product. The dispenser includes a time-of-flight sensor for measuring a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and a controller configured to selectively operate at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser. A method of operating at least one function of a dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product is also provided. The method includes measuring with a time-of-flight sensor a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and using a controller to selectively operate the at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser.

A maintenance monitoring apparatus includes: a maintenance management part that manages, based on a monitoring result of a current or power of a vending machine that provides a beverage by extracting the beverage from a raw material, whether an operation performed on the vending machine is a predetermined maintenance operation and whether the maintenance has been executed at an appropriate time interval and as many times as necessary; and a notification part that notifies that a maintenance has been executed or not.

A maintenance monitoring apparatus includes: a maintenance management part that manages, based on a monitoring result of a current or power of a vending machine that provides a beverage by extracting the beverage from a raw material, whether an operation performed on the vending machine is a predetermined maintenance operation and whether the maintenance has been executed at an appropriate time interval and as many times as necessary; and a notification part that notifies that a maintenance has been executed or not.

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.

Provided is a liquid medication dispensing machine that can remove a liquid medication from one end of a supply pipe with higher reliability. The liquid medication dispensing machine includes a plurality of supply nozzles located at equal intervals through which liquid medications flow from a plurality of liquid medication bottles containing the liquid medications, respectively, to a prescription bottle. The plurality of supply nozzles are moved sequentially to a supply position where a supply nozzle faces an upper opening of the prescription bottle. The liquid medication dispensing machine further includes a cleaning unit that removes the liquid medication adhering to the supply nozzle. The supply nozzles are moved sequentially to a cleaning position where the cleaning unit removes the liquid medication from the supply nozzle. The cleaning position is provided at a position away from the supply position by a distance smaller than a spacing between the supply nozzles.

Provided is a liquid medication dispensing machine that can remove a liquid medication from one end of a supply pipe with higher reliability. The liquid medication dispensing machine includes a plurality of supply nozzles located at equal intervals through which liquid medications flow from a plurality of liquid medication bottles containing the liquid medications, respectively, to a prescription bottle. The plurality of supply nozzles are moved sequentially to a supply position where a supply nozzle faces an upper opening of the prescription bottle. The liquid medication dispensing machine further includes a cleaning unit that removes the liquid medication adhering to the supply nozzle. The supply nozzles are moved sequentially to a cleaning position where the cleaning unit removes the liquid medication from the supply nozzle. The cleaning position is provided at a position away from the supply position by a distance smaller than a spacing between the supply nozzles.

A system for providing treated water includes a water treatment unit including an inlet water quality probe, a worker bed, a probe to measure a parameter of water from the worker bed, a polisher bed connected downstream from the worker bed and having a probe to measure a parameter of water from the polisher bed, and a flow meter upstream of the worker bed or downstream of the polisher bed. A controller in communication with the flow meter and the probes is configured to receive data from same. A remote server in communication with the local water treatment unit is configured to receive data from the local water treatment unit. The controller or the server may determine a cumulative flow total, a billing cycle flow total, a current exchange flow total, a contaminant load, or a remaining capacity of the water treatment unit.

A fuel dispensing installation employs multiple fuel islands with fuel dispensers and multiple fuel/travel lanes. The installation employs a communication/controller system for automatically identifying a vehicle, and upon authorizing the vehicle, allowing fuel to be dispensed to said vehicle, determining the quantity of fuel dispensed to the vehicle and securing the dispenser when the vehicle leaves a detection zone. The detection system employs RFID tags placed at both the driver side and the passenger side of the vehicle. Generally oppositely oriented antennas define a detection zone for each of the lanes. A light indicates whether the vehicle is authorized for receiving fuel.