The present application discloses a multi-media interactive story-telling system that provides natural conversational interactions between a human user and a contributor who appears in multi-media recordings. The multi-media interactive story-telling system includes an intake device for recording interview sessions in which a contributor tells a life story about her life experience. The contributor may rely on a script when creating the life story. The multi-media interactive story-telling system further comprises storage devices for storing the recorded interview sessions and processors for organizing the recorded interview sessions. The multi-media interactive story-telling system further comprises an interactive device for retrieving and playing a recorded interview session in response to a query from a user.

A smart energy-saving device for automatic blending drinks, adopted to inject beverages into at least one beverage cup that comprises a bar code, comprises: beverage barrels; manifolds; at least one ice-storing device including at least one ice outlet, at least one servomotor, a stirring rod, and at least one thruster; beverage stations; collection mechanisms including ring structures, ice inlets, water inlets, and beverage tubes; and a control module including flowmeters, water valve switches, beverage-cup-weight sensors, beverage-barrel-weight sensors, at least one ice-beverage-barrel-weight sensor, pressure sensors, bar code readers, infrared scanners; and a controller.

A smart energy-saving device for automatic blending drinks, adopted to inject beverages into at least one beverage cup that comprises a bar code, comprises: beverage barrels; manifolds; at least one ice-storing device including at least one ice outlet, at least one servomotor, a stirring rod, and at least one thruster; beverage stations; collection mechanisms including ring structures, ice inlets, water inlets, and beverage tubes; and a control module including flowmeters, water valve switches, beverage-cup-weight sensors, beverage-barrel-weight sensors, at least one ice-beverage-barrel-weight sensor, pressure sensors, bar code readers, infrared scanners; and a controller.

Solvent cartridges for fluid mixture dispensing devices are disclosed. One disclosed solvent cartridge comprises a solvent chamber exposed to atmospheric pressure, a straw located in the solvent chamber and in air-tight fluid communication with a filter assembly along a line of air-tight fluid communication, a sealed device interface in air-tight fluid communication with the filter assembly along the line of air-tight fluid communication, and a filter located in the filter assembly. The filter is positioned across the line of air-tight fluid communication to filter solvent from the solvent chamber.

Solvent cartridges for fluid mixture dispensing devices are disclosed. One disclosed solvent cartridge comprises a solvent chamber exposed to atmospheric pressure, a straw located in the solvent chamber and in air-tight fluid communication with a filter assembly along a line of air-tight fluid communication, a sealed device interface in air-tight fluid communication with the filter assembly along the line of air-tight fluid communication, and a filter located in the filter assembly. The filter is positioned across the line of air-tight fluid communication to filter solvent from the solvent chamber.

Ingredient level consumption guidance methods and control systems in beverage mixture dispensing systems are disclosed. A disclosed method for operating a beverage mixture dispensing system includes setting an ingredient consumption threshold for an ingredient. The ingredient consumption threshold is associated with an account. The method also includes mixing a beverage using an amount of the ingredient, dispensing the beverage, updating an ingredient consumption level associated with the account, by adding the amount to the ingredient consumption level, and displaying, on a display, the ingredient consumption level and the ingredient consumption threshold.

Ingredient level consumption guidance methods and control systems in beverage mixture dispensing systems are disclosed. A disclosed method for operating a beverage mixture dispensing system includes setting an ingredient consumption threshold for an ingredient. The ingredient consumption threshold is associated with an account. The method also includes mixing a beverage using an amount of the ingredient, dispensing the beverage, updating an ingredient consumption level associated with the account, by adding the amount to the ingredient consumption level, and displaying, on a display, the ingredient consumption level and the ingredient consumption threshold.

The present invention pertains in general to an apparatus and method for the drying and activating of infusing material, and the infusing, agitation and dispensation of oils in a controlled manner to produce a desired potency of an infusion while remaining below an identified maximum temperature threshold.

The present invention pertains in general to an apparatus and method for the drying and activating of infusing material, and the infusing, agitation and dispensation of oils in a controlled manner to produce a desired potency of an infusion while remaining below an identified maximum temperature threshold.

A beverage system for producing a beverage based on the contents of a capsule. A capsule support for accommodating a capsule and a dispensing unit for providing the beverage produced based on the contents of the capsule. The beverage system has a carbonizing source configured to provide a carbonizing gas in the beverage system, at least one liquid container for receiving a liquid, and at least one carbonizer configured to carbonize liquid from the liquid container using carbonizing gas from the carbonizing source. A liquid line is configured to conduct non-carbonized liquid directly from the liquid container to the capsule, and a liquid line is configured to conduct carbonized liquid from the carbonizer to the capsule.