Three approaches for attaching tracking devices to pallets. In a first approach, one or more electronic components of a tracking device are disposed within a cavity of a block of a pallet. In a second approach, one or more electronic components of a tracking device are disposed within a strut that interfaces between two beams of a pallet. In a third approach, one or more electronic components of a tracking device are disposed within a cavity of a beam.

Systems/methods are described for initiating a mediation response to a detected environmental anomaly in a shipping container. Multiple wireless sensor-based ID nodes in the container generate sensor data on environmental conditions proximate each ID node. A command node mounted to the container has a command node sensor generating sensor data on an environmental condition proximate the command node. The command node detects ID node sensor data and detects the anomaly when ID node sensor data exceeds an ID node's threshold condition. The command node then generates a layered alert notification identifying a targeted mediation recipient and targeted mediation action, and establishing a mediation response priority based upon comparing the ID node sensor data and the threshold, and a difference between the command node sensor data and a container environmental profile maintained by the command node). The command node initiates a mediation response by transmitting the notification to an external transceiver.

In one embodiment, a maintainable pallet is provided with interchangeable support structures and sensors for identifying any damage that the interchangeable support structures may experience. The maintainable pallet may include two side supports, two end supports coupled to the two side supports end-to-end to form a rectangle, a central support position between the two side supports, a plurality of top transverse support fastened onto the two side supports to form a top loading surface and the central support with two-part releasable fasteners, and two bottom transverse supports fastened to the ends of the two side supports to form a bottom surface with two-part releasable fasteners. Sensors, in some embodiments, may be embedded in the two side supports to measure, for example, acceleration, location, or other logistic information. When a damaged piece is identified, the maintainable pallet can be disassembled by unfastening the two-part releasable fasteners to remove the damaged piece; and a new interchangeable piece will replace the damaged piece.

A container lid assembly includes a movable lid, a ratchet ring, a rotary symbol ring, an inner cover, and an annular housing. Once coupled to a container, the container lid assembly can automatically and accurately record the number of times for which it has been opened, thereby reminding the user of whether the contents of the container (e.g., medicine) have been used, lest the user miss a dose of the medicine or retake the medicine unnecessarily. The container lid assembly also allows a plurality of containers to be connected in series to facilitate carrying and management.

A method of using a portion capsule for producing a beverage. The method includes providing an apparatus including a barcode reader, the apparatus including a pump adapted to supply heated water; loading the portion capsule into the apparatus; piercing the foil lid; reading a barcode on the portion capsule with the barcode reader; determining whether the read barcode agrees with a stored reference; and activating the pump to push heated water into the portion capsule only upon a determination that the read barcode agrees with the stored reference.

A cigarette pack (1) comprising a box body (2); an inner wrapper (15), comprising an aluminium layer, is arranged on the inside of the box body (2); a lid (8) connected to the box body by a hinge (9) and capable of opening and closing the upper end of the box body, the lid having an open lower end (10), front wall (11), a rear wall (12), a pair if side walls (18) and a top wall (13, 14) having an outside (13) and an inside (14), which inside (14) faces against the open upper end (3) and the inner wrapper (15) when the lid is in a closed position; an RFID/NFC tag (16) and a distance layer (20), which is arranged on the inside and that the RFID/NFC tag is arranged on the distance layer. The distance layer forces the RFID/NFC tag close to the wrapping material.

A beverage apparatus, the beverage apparatus being hand-holdable by a user of the beverage apparatus to be portable, can include a beverage chamber housing that includes a chamber for storing a consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus can include a dispensing assembly that includes a receptacle. The receptacle can retain a vessel. The vessel can include an electronic tag and can contain an additive. The dispensing assembly can be operatively controllable by a controller to output the additive from the vessel into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus can include one or more sensors, devices, or assemblies that can be used to detect a volume of liquid in the chamber or a liquid level in the chamber. The beverage apparatus can include an apparatus processing portion (ACP) and an apparatus database portion.

A portion capsule for producing a beverage includes a base element having a cavity in which a beverage raw material is provided and which is closed by a membrane fastened to the base element.

A beverage system for producing a beverage. The beverage system includes a portion capsule and a beverage machine. The portion capsule includes a lid sealed to a base element having a cavity within which a beverage raw material is provided. The base element has a circumferential flange having a top side and a bottom side with a barcode located on the bottom side. The beverage machine includes a detector to read the barcode, a media chute configured to receive and support the portion capsule, and a pump controlled to push water into the portion capsule only upon a determination that the read barcode agrees with a stored reference.

Shown and described is a plastic element for a package, comprising: a main body of plastic, and a flange for fastening a composite material of a package, wherein the plastic element is produced from a thermoplastic material. In order in the case of single-use packages to create a low-cost possible way of obtaining information about the state of content of the packages, it is proposed to arrange an electrical, in particular electronic element on the plastic element or integrate it in the plastic element. Also shown and described is a package with such a plastic element.