Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for toll service activation using an on-board unit in a third party transport comprises, a third party entity, a toll rental entity, and an on-board unit communicably coupled to the third party entity and to the toll rental entity, wherein the on-board unit, receives a position signal, initiates a toll service request, converts the position signal to a toll usage, and stores the position signal, the toll service request and the toll usage.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for presenting rates for travel services using dynamic pricing bands. The dynamic pricing bands represent approximate rates for travel services relative to available rates during or close to the proposed dates of travel, or at or near the proposed travel destination. Each dynamic pricing band is keyed to a particular color, intensity, pattern, sound, or other graphical and/or audio characteristic, thereby providing the consumer a sense of the seasonal, regional, day of week, or other variability of rates for travel services without having to compare actual numbers. The dynamic pricing bands are applied to an interactive presentation of rates for travel services to allow the consumer to explore possible rate variations for particular travel services in a manner that provides a birds-eye view, is intuitive and user-friendly.

Abstract: Billing tolls accumulated during a rental period comprises a third party entity, a toll authority, and a toll rental entity coupled to the third party entity and to the toll authority, wherein the third party entity sends a request for service to the toll rental entity, wherein the toll rental entity sends the request for service during the rental period to the toll authority, wherein the toll authority stores the request, wherein the toll authority sends toll data to the toll rental entity based on the request, wherein the toll rental entity sends toll rental data to the third party entity based on the toll data, and wherein the third party entity generates a bill based on the toll rental data.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to configuration and incentive management in an event management environment providing an automated segmentation of consideration. The method may include incentivizing a set of users to promote a reservation of a ticket associated with an event on a event management server. The method may also include publishing a set of details associated with the ticket on the event management server, and generating a reselling agreement promising a consideration between a first user who may be a seller of the ticket, and a second user who may be a promoter of the event. The method may further include automatically generating a split of a ticket price purchased through a third user to the second user and the first user based on a set of agreed terms of the reselling agreement.

Abstract: A system comprises: (a) storage and distribution means; (b) inventory upload means; (c) product information download means; (d) order upload means; and (e) delivery download means. A method comprises: (a) digitally transferring the goods and pertinent product information from a provider of the goods to a storage and distribution means; (b) storing the goods, pertinent product information, order information, sales information, or marketing information on the storage and distribution means; (c) digitally transferring product information to a shopper; (d) digitally transferring order information from a buyer of goods to the storage and distribution means; and (e) digitally transferring the goods to the buyer. The storage and distribution means may be provided with a network connection for access by providers, shoppers, and buyers.

Abstract: Information pertaining to products made by manufacturers and sold to consumers through retailers, is distributed to consumers through a communication network that connects consumer communication nodes to a cooperative network site having an accumulation of information about manufacturer product offers and retailer special deals. A consumer can obtain selected items of this information without knowledge of how to reach the cooperative network site, by simply logging in to a manufacturer network site or to a retailer network site. At a manufacturer site, the consumer can obtain a list of local retailers carrying the manufacturer offers and can then select from among the offers and receive complete details of the selected offers. At a retailer site, the consumer can obtain a list of manufacturer offers available at the retailer stores in the consumer's area, and can then select from among the available offers and receive their complete details.

Abstract: A system and method whereby an air charter brokerage service enables users with similar or matching travel plans to find each other to directly negotiate a shared flight itinerary using a web-based negotiation software application. The air charter brokerage service further enables users to directly book the shared itinerary using a web-based negotiation software application, whereby the air charter brokerage service provides a charter aircraft for the shared flight itinerary.

Abstract: Information of articles to be loaded is received, indicating and numbers of the articles to be loaded. A historic loading plan record is read. An item of the historic loading plan record includes at least a loading plan and an adaptive index corresponding to the loading plan. A loading plan suitable for the current transportation is generated based on the historic loading plan record and the information of articles to be loaded. The technical solution of this invention may reduce the requirements on storage and computing resources.

Abstract: A preferred method for acquiring information during an underground drilling operation includes providing a sensing device capable of acquiring information concerning the underground drilling operation from a down-hole location on a selective basis in response to an input from the surface, and drilling for a first period of time. The preferred method also includes sending the input to the sensing device after drilling for the first period of time, and drilling during a second period of time while acquiring the information using the sensing device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for modeling costs when editing a workflow process model. A request may be received to assign a cost factor to a workflow process step of the workflow process model. Responsive to the request, the cost factor may be assigned to the workflow process step, such that a traversal of the workflow process step by a transaction invoking the workflow process model results in the cost factor being included in a total cost to be charged for executing the transaction.

Abstract: In both an on-line and a conventional auction, an auctioneer may encourage competitive bidding behavior through the provision of rewards to those bidders whose bids meet predetermined criteria. For example, a bidder may be rewarded if her bid exceeds a prior bid by a threshold value. An auctioneer may further discourage non-competitive bidding behavior by penalizing those bidders whose bids fall below predetermined standards.

Abstract: An information delivery system includes a web server in operative communication with a plurality of recipients and a plurality of senders, the plurality of senders desirous of generating messages intended for the plurality of recipients, respectively. The web server includes a plurality of recipient preference profiles corresponding to the plurality of recipients, respectively, and a plurality of sender profiles corresponding to the plurality of senders, respectively. Each of the recipient preference profiles includes respective information directed to the recipient's preferences for receiving messages and the web server provides the plurality of senders with access to the plurality of recipient preference profiles. The web server maintains a relationship between a log of recipient preference profiles out of the plurality of recipient preference profiles that have been accessed by a particular sender.

Abstract: A method and system for anticipatory package shipping are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include packaging one or more items as a package for eventual shipment to a delivery address, selecting a destination geographical area to which to ship the package, shipping the package to the destination geographical area without completely specifying the delivery address at time of shipment, and while the package is in transit, completely specifying the delivery address for the package.

Abstract: A trailer transport system for tracking trains having a plurality of rail cars, wherein each rail car can transport a trailer, is described. The system includes a computer system having a trailer tracking program, wherein the trailer tracking program receives information regarding a trailer to be transported and stores the information in a record and a plurality of terminals, wherein each terminal includes a terminal management system communicatively connected to the computer system, wherein the terminal management system pulls up the record corresponding to the trailer to be transported when the trailer arrives at the terminal and modifies the record to reflect the trailer's transportation status.

Abstract: A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base.

Abstract: The invention provides consumers with the services of multiple cards or accounts while allowing consumers to carry a single card, transponder, code and/or other access device. Because the card may access combined services such as financial transaction services and transportation services, the system may facilitate charging the financial account for the transportation services. The system may allow the consumer to use loyalty points or geographic based loyalty points to pay for the transportation services. The system may also limit the use of certain loyalty points based upon the geographic area for certain transportation services in certain geographic areas.

Abstract: A method of collecting data used in assessing total cost of owning enterprise computing systems is provided. The method includes distributing, to an enterprise computing system, an electronic data file that identifies, for use by a data extraction tool, predefined data source fields within the enterprising computing system and that relate to costs included in a predefined cost model that defines costs to be included in an analysis of a total cost of owning an enterprise computing system. The method also includes receiving, from the enterprise computing system, cost information aggregated using data extracted using the distributed data file, wherein the cost information is structured in conformity with the predefined cost model. The method further includes using the received cost information to formulate benchmark total cost of ownership cost information that is structured in conformity with the predefined cost model.

Abstract: A system comprises: (a) storage and distribution means; (b) inventory upload means; (c) product information download means; (d) order upload means; and (e) delivery download means. A method comprises: (a) digitally transferring the goods and pertinent product information from a provider of the goods to a storage and distribution means; (b) storing the goods, pertinent product information, order information, sales information, or marketing information on the storage and distribution means; (c) digitally transferring product information to a shopper; (d) digitally transferring order information from a buyer of goods to the storage and distribution means; and (e) digitally transferring the goods to the buyer. The storage and distribution means may be provided with a network connection for access by providers, shoppers, and buyers.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosed technology is an in-taxi customer selection system. The selection system is placed in a plurality of taxis in the form of a device which includes a touch-screen display map of a surrounding location of each taxi. An indicator of at least one future rider desiring a taxi is exhibited anonymously on each display map. The indicator exhibits only a location, and thus, lacks destination data or information about the potential rider other than his or her location of pickup. In this manner, all picked up riders are anonymous to the driver and discrimination against the rider is actually less than in the prior art, since the appearance of the rider cannot be judged before the ride is accepted. Sensors within the touch-screen display receive a selection of an indicator on one of the display maps from a driver of one of the taxis using this system.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, comprising: via an antecedents user interface, receiving a plurality of customer antecedents, each of the customer antecedents corresponding to one of a plurality of variables associated with one or more rules from a set of rules defining a plurality of service offerings; generating a prioritized list of the plurality of service offerings based upon application of the set of rules to the received customer antecedents; and causing the prioritized list to be rendered to a user.