Abstract: A system may include a point-of-sale system that gathers payment card track data from a payment card and a payment card gateway that processes the track data to authorize purchase transactions. The point-of-sale system may remove sensitive data such as a portion of a primary account number from the track data and may compress the removed data. The compressed version of the data may be appended to a discretionary field in the track data. The discretionary field may be encrypted following insertion of the compressed data. Track data that has been modified in this way may be conveyed to the payment gateway for processing.

Abstract: A subscription identifier is communicated between the billing server and subscription server. The billing server receives a subscription identifier text message from the user device. The billing server identifies a carrier server from the subscription identifier text message. The billing server receives an authorization text message from the user device in response to an authorization request text message and charges an account of the carrier server that has been identified. If the charge has been successful, then the billing server transmits a renewal notification text message to the subscription server. The subscription server updates an account having the subscription identifier to reflect a new expiration.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery.

Abstract: Techniques, including systems and methods, for virtual resource cost tracking account for unused capacity of implementation resources that are dedicated to particular customers and, as a result, are unusable for maintaining virtual resources for other customers. Customers requesting dedicated use of implementation resources are charged in a manner that compensates the virtual resource provider for the lost ability to use unused capacity of implementation resources to serve other customers. Customer charges may be determined by a pricing function that is calculated such that, for a base of customers, expected revenue from the base of customers approximates a revenue goal. The revenue goal may be determined based on revenue that would have been expected had the unused capacity of the dedicated implementation resources been available for serving other customers.

Abstract: A method of payment terminal operation, including: receiving a payment collection request for a payment from an application, generating a payment initiation request for the payment, sending the payment initiation request to a secure processing system, switching the secure processing system from operation in an unsecured mode to operation in a secured mode in response to receipt of the payment initiation request, facilitating payment information entry, and receiving a payment response notification, generated based on the payment information, at the main processor.

Abstract: A validator for an inventory management system is provided. The validator comprises at least one validation module, wherein the at least one validation module validates at least a portion of inventory information in the inventory management system by comparing the portion of inventory information to equivalent information in an information source that is one of a group of information sources comprising at least one of: a domain name system for converting a name of an alphanumerically labeled network component into an IP address, an automated monitoring system for monitoring a status of equipment for which the inventory management system maintains inventory information, a backup system capable of recording errors that occur in a data backup procedure, and a photograph system that maintains photographs of equipment for which the inventory management system maintains inventory information.

Abstract: Receiving payment includes the establishment, at a first server, a transaction record including information identifying a payment amount, a first account to be credited by the payment amount, and a second account to be debited by a debit amount. A financial authorization network performs an authorization analysis on at least the second account. The second account is debited if the authorization analysis is successfully completed, and the first account is directly credited by the payment amount to conclude the transaction. Risk analysis may be performed for each individual. Payment is integrated with shipping.

Abstract: Receiving payment includes the establishment, at a first server, a transaction record including information identifying a payment amount, a first account to be credited by the payment amount, and a second account to be debited by a debit amount. A financial authorization network performs an authorization analysis on at least the second account. The second account is debited if the authorization analysis is successfully completed, and the first account is directly credited by the payment amount to conclude the transaction. Risk analysis may be performed for each individual. Payment is integrated with shipping.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium for managing usage of storage tank consumables in a storage tank are provided. This is achieved by receiving and storing by a central server comprising a processor and a storage device, measurements of storage tank consumables from a remote system associated with a storage tank; periodically calculating by the processor usage-based data for generating invoices for storage tank consumables based on sensor measurements representative of an estimated usage of the storage tank consumables; receiving and storing by the central server a fill value representing an actual usage reported to the central server when the storage tank is filled; and reconciling the estimated usage with the actual usage by the processor by summing all estimated usages since a last fill of the storage tank, calculating a difference between the sum of the estimated usages and the fill value, and issuing a debit or credit based on the difference for reconciliation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange coupled with a data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is to instruct a first controller of the controllers, via a first converter of the converters, to communicate with a mobile phone at a mobile phone number of a user to confirm a request to add funds to an account of a user, if the user has not yet provided an advance authorization. If the user has provided the advance authorization, the interchange skips communications with the mobile phone to confirm the request.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of performing video content analysis using transactional data is provided. The method comprises identifying and receiving the transactional data and a segment of video corresponding to a transaction, integrating the transactional data with the segment of video, and analyzing the integrated video to determine an action to take in relation to the transaction.

Abstract: A method and system of operating a multimodal vehicle includes determining a vehicle route between a starting point and an ending point, establishing one or more waypoints along the determined vehicle route based on one or more factors such as topography or road classification, and changing the propulsion mode of the vehicle at each of the established waypoints. This can be used, for example, to help optimize the use of different propulsion modes such as gasoline and battery power to thereby increase energy utilization efficiency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating navigation solutions. A global positioning system based navigation solution unit; an inertial navigation solution unit; a correction unit, a limiter, and an adding unit. The global positioning system based navigation solution unit is capable of generating a first navigation solution. The inertial navigation solution unit is capable of generating a second navigation solution. The correction unit is capable of generating a raw correction. The limiter is capable of selectively modifying the raw correction to fall within a selected range of corrections to form a correction. The adding unit is capable of adding the correction to the second navigation solution to form a navigation solution.

Abstract: A control method of a vending machine which has a display module to display an image stored therein or inputted from the outside is provided. The control method includes: determining whether a door of the vending machine is open; changing an image mode displayed on the display module if it is determined that the door of the vending machine is open; and displaying a certification mode window to certify a user if the image mode is changed.

Abstract: Methods of preparing retail establishments are disclosed. An area for a retail location may be chosen and an individual may be selected to manage the retail location. The selection of the area may include an evaluation of geographical factors. From the area, a retail location may be selected based on an aggregate score of a set of characteristics of the retail location. The individual may remotely select the layout and furnishing of the retail location and may remotely monitor the progress of the preparation of the retail location. In an embodiment, the individual may be prepared to manage the retail location at a centralized location that is distinct from the area where the retail location is located.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for managing orders from one or more of a plurality of vendors. A self service terminal includes a display presenting order icons that may be moved to an open area for initiation of an order, and a plurality of vendor icons representing different vendors. Initiating an order opens a transaction record for the order, and moving a vendor icon to an order icon opens a selection menu allowing selections from the vendor represented by the icon. The transaction record is continuously updated as selections are made. Upon a user selection to complete the order, a payment interface is presented allowing for payment. Upon payment, an order identifier is created and displayed, together with instructions for collecting or receiving the order, and order information is transmitted to each vendor contributing to the order, in association with the order identifier.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with a supplier; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; populate the database with at least one transaction record related to the premium rate text messages; and facilitate access to the transaction record by the customer via the telephone number of the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating ordering at an order point using a smart ordering device are disclosed. A primary transmitting device and a secondary transmitting device may be positioned opposite of one another at the order point. A short distance linkage may be established between the primary and secondary transmitting device. A disruption of the linkage may be detected when an object carrying a smart ordering device passes through the order point. Information indicating the disruption may be included in a signal transmitted by the primary transmitting device to the smart ordering device. Based on such information and the signal strength of the signal from the primary transmitting device, the smart ordering device may determine it is at the order point. In response to such determination, the smart ordering device may generate and communicate an order request to a remote server for placing an order.

Abstract: A payment service is configured to support purchase transactions generated by merchant point-of-sale (POS) devices, wherein each purchase transaction may comprise multiple transaction requests such as authorization requests and capture requests. Each transaction request may be sent to a different one of multiple data centers of the payment service. Upon successfully receiving an acknowledgement from one of the data centers for a transaction request, the POS device designates that data center as the primary data center. Subsequently, all transaction requests for that transaction identify the primary data center, even when the transaction requests are sent to other data centers. At the payment service, the data centers synchronize requests such that the primary data center is informed of all authorizations and is made responsible for performing the capture of the transaction. This allows the primary data center to detect duplicate authorizations and to prevent duplicate captures.

Abstract: According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for code and expiry date generation are provided. The method comprises receiving a request to generate a code at the processor; automatically selecting one of a plurality of code generation rules from the memory based on an item identifier derived from the request, the selected rule including one or more code fragment definitions; retrieving data from at least one reference table stored in the memory, based on the code fragment definitions; generating the one or more code fragments according to the selected rule using the retrieved data; and concatenating the generated code fragments to generate the code.