A vibrating ingestible capsule includes a housing having a longitudinal axis, and having a vibrating agitator adapted such that, in a first vibrating mode of operation, the housing exerts vibrations on an environment surrounding the capsule. A power supply disposed within the housing is adapted to power the vibrating agitator. A temperature sensor provides temperature information signals with respect to a temperature in an environment surrounding the vibrating ingestible capsule over a period of time. A control element is adapted to receive the temperature information signals from the temperature sensor, to identify a current temperature-over-time pattern based on the temperature information signals received from said temperature sensor, to compare the current temperature-over-time pattern to a predetermined temperature-over-time pattern, and, after the current temperature-over-time matches the predetermined temperature-over-time pattern, to activate the vibrating agitator to operate in the first vibrating mode of operation.