Abstract: An approach to facilitating provisioning of in-vehicle services is provided. Trip-identifying information may be obtained from a user-provided device. The trip-identifying information may identify a trip that is to occur on the vehicle. A list of in-vehicle services, which are available for the trip on the vehicle, may be determined based on the trip-identifying information. The list of in-vehicle services may be provided to the user-provided device. A selection of at least one in-vehicle service that is to be provided during the trip may be received from the user-provided device. A request for the at least one in-vehicle service may be generated based on the selection.

Abstract: Mechanisms are disclosed herein for storing various records. Numerous keys and parties can access online repositories. These repositories contain a plurality of lockboxes, structured hierarchically and otherwise, providing public and private areas with varying levels of access. Some content of such lockboxes can be sharable. These lockboxes can be used not only to store diverse content, ranging from birth certificates to deeds and social security numbers, but they can also be accessed in a variety of ways. For example, keys to lockboxes can be made available by such events as the issuing of death certificates or birth certificates. Alternatively, keys can be issued according to various rules and heuristics stipulated by lockbox users. In either case, the plurality of lockboxes residing in repositories can be configured to provide centralized storage facilities that are secure and readily accessible from various computing devices.

Abstract: A method for classifying a prospective traveler based on statistical inference is described herein. The method comprises receiving an input associated with the prospective traveler. Encoded representation of preferences and goals may be extracted from the input and levels and may be assigned to the preferences and goals. Based on the levels assigned to the preferences and goals, the prospective traveler may be classified according to one or more traveler profiles. Based on the classification, one or more consumer choices may be offered to the prospective traveler.

Abstract: Embodiments allow loading and reloading contactless payment devices using only a contactless terminal interface, while providing user authentication. The contactless terminal interface could be at a merchant POS location, kiosk, or embedded or attached to a personal computing device with contactless read/write capability such as a personal computer or mobile phone or Internet device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for enabling actionable content by embedding title materials corresponding to digital bearer instruments in digital media.

Abstract: A method selectively modifies an existing production order based on a change request. An order configuration module (OCM) receives order specifications for a second order that replaces and/or modifies a first order, while the first order is being fulfilled. The OCM generates hash tag pairs respectively associated with various characteristics of the orders. For each hash tag pair, the OCM compares a first hash tag associated with the first order with a second hash tag associated with the second order, using an established pattern. If the hash tags match, the OCM includes within a second production order, an unchanged production specification corresponding to the first hash tag. If a match does not occur, the OCM initiates an order reload, which provides, within the second production order, new production specifications that are associated with the second hash tag.

Abstract: Provided are an auction method and server that enable a seller and bidders to determine the price of a product at their own discretion by enabling the bidders to participate in a bid between the lowest price offered by the seller and the highest price of the product, and give benefit to both the seller and successful bidders by applying the successful bid price of a lowest successful bidder to all the successful bidders as a sale price.

Abstract: A personalized delivery estimate system is described. A commercial transaction is generated between a seller and a buyer for an item in an online marketplace. Historical transactions of buyers and sellers in the online marketplace are stored in a storage device. A personalized delivery time estimate is computed for the buyer of the commercial transaction using seller information, buyer information, and item information with the historical transactions of buyers and sellers in the online marketplace.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a merchant virtual storefront to a customer device include a system provider device that receives, through communication over a network with a merchant device that is located at a merchant physical location, a request to establish a merchant virtual storefront from the merchant device. The system provider device also determines the merchant physical location associated with the merchant device. The system provider device analyzes the request to establish the merchant virtual storefront including determining a merchant offering. The system provider device thus generates the merchant virtual storefront that includes the merchant offering and the merchant physical location. In addition, the system provider device provides the merchant virtual storefront to a customer device.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and a system of upgrading firmware of a card reader. In the method, a card reader is connected to an IC card; the card reader determines whether the IC card is an IC card for upgrading, if it is, the card reader makes one-way or mutual authentication with the IC card; after a successful authentication, the card reader acquires files for upgrading the firmware of the card reader. The system includes a card reader and an IC card. The firmware of card reader is upgraded in the invention by acquiring the files for upgrading from an IC card in which the files for upgrading are pre-stored. The invention improves the efficiency of upgrading the card reader and also improves the security of the upgrading by the authentication between the card reader and the IC card.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that include using a collaborative arrangement between a first entity associated with a physical location, such as a physical store or residence that has or sells one or more products of a first product type, and a second entity, such as a Web site offering for purchase products of the first product type. According to some such arrangements, if, for example, a user purchases a product from the Web site after the user evidently made a visit to the physical location, or received a display or demonstration of a product of the first product type at the physical location, then revenue or value resulting from the purchase may be split or shared between entities including the first entity and the second entity.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable products are provided for enabling dynamic loading of one or more digital image branding functions associated with one or more distribution rules. A distribution rule is used to target a group of end users that are selected from a dataset mapping a plurality of end-users according to one or more distribution rules. Instructions are forwarded to present an indication the digital image branding function to each member of the end users group.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software configured to enable instructions to create of a multidimensional value model for an event, such as, a travel event. When executed information related to events from all sources is stored and categorized according to the source, value dimension and value description of the event are established and used to create an initial multidimensional value model. If the event is a travel event, the initial model is updated according to user-selected travel events and a recommendation for travel made to the user based on the updated model. Also provided is a distributed cloud computer system that integrates cloud computing with a Distributed Internet Services system and cloud computing methods, particularly, for improving user experience during e-commerce transactions. A non-transitory storage medium tangibly stores processor-executable instructions to execute the methods.

Abstract: A nutritional management system. The system comprises a processor, a memory, a first data store comprising a list of products, universal product codes associated with the products, and nutritional information associated with the products, a second data store comprising purchase histories linked to a plurality of loyalty card users, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application reads a purchase history of a loyalty card user over a most recent predefined time period from the second data store, analyzes a most recent predefined time period of the purchase history of the loyalty card user based on objective nutritional guidelines to identify a predefined number of most unhealthy purchased items, searches the first data store to find substitutes for the unhealthy purchased items, transmits the substitutes, receives a selection of one or more of the substitutes, and promotes generating a shopping list comprising selected substitutes.

Abstract: A system according to an embodiment comprises one or more processors; and one or more memories adapted to store a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the processor(s) are adapted to cause the system to: receive, from a user device of a user, user input search information in connection with one or more desired items of interest to the user; determine one or more service providers or entities offering the one or more desired items based on a location of the user device; and generate comparative data for the one or more service providers or entities that provide the desired item(s) based on historical data of the one or more service providers or entities and the received user input search information.

Abstract: An appliance having a processing device and at least one sensor in communication with the processing device gathers data indicative of usage of a consumable with the appliance. The gathered data is used to determine an amount of the consumable remaining and, when the amount of the consumable remaining is at a predetermined level, a notification is provided to indicate to a user that the consumable needs to be replaced.