A system incorporating a fluid dispenser for dispensing chemicals includes at least one sensor for sensing fluid flow and a dispenser management unit. The dispenser management unit includes a processor and corresponding storage memory for storing firmware, at least one input for receiving sensor data from the or each sensor, a data transfer device comprising storage memory for storing the received sensor data, and a power source for powering at least the processor. The system further incorporates a portable terminal configured to receive data from the dispenser, and a remote server configured to receive the data from the portable terminal.

A bin assembly, bin identification system and method are disclosed. A container bin assembly includes a bin body, a latching mechanism, and controller. A method includes receiving, via a communication interface, an authenticated request to access the smart container, actuating an electromechanical latch to disengage a fastening hook, thereby initiating a mechanical movement of an access component to make an internal compartment accessible, outputting, via an audiovisual element, an alert to identify the container, confirming that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, thereby securing the internal compartment, determining a change in a local inventory, and updating the local inventory in a non-volatile data store according to the change.

In a delivery network system, deliver a server that holds requested content is determined, using information included in a content request message from a communication terminal. A file or stream of the requested content is read from the determined server. When the content is moving image content, a bandwidth of a mobile network is estimated, based on a response signal or a congestion state notification signal from the communication terminal. The moving content is transmitted by controlling a timing of transmitting the read file or the read stream so as not exceed the estimated bandwidth.

An electronic medication storage cabinet includes a plurality of drawers configured with a plurality of sensors arranged to identify a positioning of storage pockets within the drawers. Upon receiving an indication of a new medicine container to be loaded in the cabinet, a sequence of steps to load the medicine container into the cabinet is generated based on a mapping algorithm. A first step is displayed on a display the cabinet, and a determination is made as to whether the first step is associated with one of the plurality of drawers. In response to determining that the first step is associated with one of the plurality of drawers, the drawer is automatically unlocked. In response to determining that the first step is successfully completed, a determination of whether execution of any additional steps is pending and indicated on the display.

A secure casino apparatus is provided having improved security against theft and/or tampering. The secure casino apparatus comprises, a casing and a cavity within the casing, the casing comprising an access member arranged to provide access to said cavity; a sensor arranged to detect said access to the cavity and provide an access signal; an image capture apparatus arranged to provide image data of the cavity when the image capture apparatus is activated; a memory arranged to store the image data; and a processor arranged to process the image data and the access signal; wherein the processor is further arranged to activate the image capture apparatus for an activation period when an access signal is provided by the sensor. The secure casino apparatus aims to permit remote monitoring within a cavity of the casino apparatus to identify theft or tampering with the apparatus.

A smart mini bar system and method are provided for identification of products in a mini bar, determining number of the products and tracking thereof.

Disclosed is a device for storing elements each including a first wireless communication unit, the device including: —a receiving support receiving the elements; —a second wireless communication unit generating waves and communicating with each first unit according to a communication protocol, a communication zone being a three-dimensional zone in which the second unit communicates with each first unit when each first unit is located in the zone and does not communicate with a first unit when the first unit is located outside the zone; —a waveguide able to guide the generated waves so that a dimension of the communication zone is strictly greater than a reference dimension, the reference dimension being equal to the dimension of the communication zone when the storage device is without waveguides.

Live inventory management environment system and methods are disclosed. A shelf for items has bins each with an associated sensor. A processor receives a detection signal from the sensor which indicates placement or removal an item(s) from an associated bin. An entry device sends an entered request for placement or removal of items to the processor, and an indicator strip has lights which uniquely identify each one of the bins when lit. The processor has information relating to which bin each subset of lights is associated, and causes activation of a subset of lights associated with a bin of the item(s) in the request and records in memory a type of action, a time stamp and a quantity of the item(s) placed or removed from the bin having the subset of lights lit and indicated in the detection signal subsequently received from the sensor of the associated bin.

The monitoring device of the disclosure includes a carrying unit; having at least one carrying area for carrying a monitored object, at least part of the carrying area is provided with a corresponding image capturing unit and a corresponding optical path adjusting unit; the image capturing unit captures a monitoring image of the carrying area, each image capturing unit has a preset field of view, each image capturing unit forms the monitoring image according to light incident from the field of view; at least part of the carrying area is an extension area, the extension area is positioned outside the field of view of the image capturing unit; the optical path adjusting unit enables the light emitted from the extension area of the carrying area corresponding thereto to enter the image capturing unit from the field of view of the image capturing unit corresponding to the carrying area.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.