Abstract: This disclosure is directed to methods, apparatuses, and systems for scaling inventory management systems to accommodate peak capacity loads. For example, some high-demand, high-volume inventory can provided in a limited time period, attracting network traffic that can overwhelm third party providers with limited network or processing capacity. An inventory database at the third party provider can be mirrored at the service provider, such that the inventory database can be copied to the service provider and stored as a mirror database. User requests can be made against the mirror database at the service provider. The user can select inventory to order, which can reserve the inventory until payment information is provided and confirmed at the service provider. Subsequently, the service provider can synchronize the order with the third party provider in accordance with the limited capacity of the third party provider.

Abstract: In one embodiment a transportation request is received from a passenger having an account with a taxi service. A driver associated with the taxi service is directed to pick up the passenger and transport the passenger to a location specified by the passenger. It is determined that the passenger should be offered an item of merchandise to use temporarily. In response to the passenger accepting the item of merchandise, an update is sent to a data store, the update indicating that the passenger is in possession of the item of merchandise.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a facility including: sending a first signal from a handset to a plurality of beacon modules using a low energy wireless technology, the signal comprising an identification of the handset or a user; determining received signal strength indication from each of the plurality of beacon modules and determining a time averaged received signal strength indication from each of the plurality of beacon modules.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle management method, system and server, and a vehicle. The vehicle management method comprises: acquiring by a client device a vehicle identification; receiving by a vehicle management server an authentication request from the client device, the authentication request including the vehicle identification and a user identification of the client device; authenticating by the vehicle management server the vehicle identification and the user identification to permit a continuously available state of the vehicle; sending by the vehicle management server a use permission of the continuously available state to a vehicle; and receiving by the vehicle the use permission to continue its available state. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the user experience can be improved.

Abstract: A technique is directed to transporting data storage equipment. The technique involves electronically activating monitoring circuitry which is co-located with the data storage equipment. The technique further involves, after the monitoring circuitry is electronically activated, receiving location data from the monitoring circuitry while the data storage equipment is en route from a first ground location to a second ground location. The technique further involves, based on the location data, performing a set of location evaluation operations to determine whether the data storage equipment is on course along a predefined route between the first ground location and the second ground location.

Abstract: An operation method is proposed to retain parking man-hours and reducing a cost by means of an automatic parking management system using carriers to transport a vehicle. The automatic parking management system, managing parking of vehicles, includes: a simulator that simulates a status of vehicles from boarding and drop-off areas to inside a parking place; and a resource management subsystem that manages a quantity of vehicle carriers; wherein a number of times of use of the parking place is predicted based on usage history of the parking place and the optimum quantity of vehicle carriers to satisfy aimed work efficiency can be calculated by inputting the predicted number of times of use and using the simulator. Additionally, a time of using the parking place for each user is predicted based on the user's parking place usage history, and a movement instruction to change a position of the vehicle within the parking place is issued in accordance with the prediction result.

Abstract: A vehicle service providing device for controlling a first client that controls a first vehicle number recognizer using a first vehicle number recognizing method and a second client that controls a second vehicle number recognizer using a second vehicle number recognizing method. The vehicle service providing device includes: a message acquisition unit configured to obtain a message transmitted/received between an operating system (OS) of the first client and a control program of the first client wherein the message is generated from the OS or the control program according to an event occurring from the first client and transmitted/received between a message queue of the OS and a message queue of the control program; and an information extraction unit configured to analyze the message based on information on a structure of the message and extract information on a target vehicle recognized by the first vehicle number recognizer from the analyzed message.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provided for delivering products ordered by a customer of a retailer to a delivery destination designated by the ordering customer by way of having another customer pick up the ordered products at the store location of the retailer and then hand off the picked up products to an autonomous transport vehicle that delivers the handed off products to a delivery destination designated by the ordering customer.

Abstract: A method of authorizing access and operation for vehicle sharing via a portable device. A request reservation is generated to reserve a vehicle via a portable device carried by a user. The reservation includes a portable device identifier and reservation details. Authentication keys are transmitted to the portable device and a plug-in device coupled to the vehicle in response to a successful authorization. The plug-in device is used to perform vehicle access and vehicle operations of the vehicle. The authentication keys enable the portable device and the plug-in device to be paired for enabling vehicle access and operations. An authorization is executed between the portable device carried by a user and a plug-in device coupled to the vehicle. Access to the vehicle operations are enabled in response to a successful authorization.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for determining whether an apparent booking is a genuine or actual booking. Bookings occur in all sorts of industries, such as travel, medical, entertainment, weddings, catering, and the like. In one embodiment, the method includes determining whether an apparent booking identified from a website calendar, and associated with a merchant, is a genuine booking of the merchant or is an unavailability of the merchant not related to a booking. For example, the genuineness of the booking may be determined based on additional information associated with the merchant, a geographic location, other merchants, and the like.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to the use of Bluetooth beacons for enhancing delivery tracking. A Bluetooth beacon may be carried by a delivery agent. A ID of the beacon may be detected by one or more sensors. Tracking of the delivery agent may be performed by determining where the ID is detected.

Abstract: A mobile pickup unit is provided that includes storage compartments (e.g., for containing items) and is configured to travel to a user pickup area and park as close as possible to an optimal location that is determined based on the locations of users who are scheduled to utilize the mobile pickup unit. The mobile pickup unit may include or otherwise be transported by any type of mobile machine (e.g., automobile, etc.), and control of the mobile machine may be manual (e.g., a driver) or automated (e.g., directly or remotely controlled by an automated system, robotic, etc.) A parking location that is selected may be along a public street or any other available parking space, such that parking locations may be selected on a daily basis that are convenient for the users who will be utilizing the mobile pickup unit (e.g., for retrieving ordered items, dropping off returned items, etc.).