Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a buying and selling method including receiving a request from a user to book a ticket for an event, determining a time for the event and a venue for the event, detecting when the user is at the venue for the event, and in response, electronically funding a user account with an amount sufficient to buy a ticket for the event. The user is notified that funds are available for the ticket. Embodiments further include, after the end of the event, detecting whether the funds were redeemed and determining whether there is a balance remaining over the funded amount. If the funds were redeemed by the user before the event, event data is collected, including a time of the event, a type of the event, a name of the event, and a location of the venue. The event data is associated with user data.

Abstract: A method for obtaining tickets for journeys in a passenger transportation system which comprises stations for entering and/or leaving transport means of the system for journeys between the stations, wherein at least one station of the system is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier and/or at least one transport means of the system is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier, wherein the contactlessly readable data carriers contain ticket information items, and one of the contactlessly readable data carriers is read by a mobile reader in at least one station and/or in at least one transport means, and the corresponding ticket information item or items is/are stored in the mobile reader.

Abstract: A method for creating an intelligent physical mailpiece includes looking up a mailpiece preference of an addressee concerning mail received by the addressee. A physical mailpiece to the addressee is prepared and includes on the mailpiece the addressee preference. The mailpiece is scanned to determine the addressee preference. The mailpiece may also be processed to link the owner of a meter employed to imprint an indicia on the mailpiece to the mailpiece. The intelligent physical mailpiece system may include a database of recipient preferences. A sender mail creation means is coupled to the recipient preference database. A processor is coupled to a scanner. A communications means is coupled between the processor and the sender mail creation means for communicating recipient preferences to the sender mail creation means for storage in the database of recipient preferences.

Abstract: An approach is provided for secured mobile printing. A printing platform receives a printing request, generates authenticating information associated with the print request, and sends the authenticating information to a mobile device for retrieval of printed materials generated in response to the printing request.

Abstract: An IV product transport device is configured to transport an IV product from one location to another in automated fashion. The transport device may comprise a chassis with one or more ports for IV products. A drive mechanism is configured to move the transport device. In one embodiment, the transport device includes a controller. Information may be provided to the controller about an IV product, such as its intended destination or use. The controller may also exchange information with a delivery device, such as an infusion pump, to verify that the IV product is delivered to the proper destination. The transport device may include a delivery mechanism for off-loading an IV product. The transport device may deliver IV products of various configurations, including one in which the product comprises a flexible bag and a container housing for supporting and protecting the fluid bag.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for detecting potential misuse of a primary account number (PAN) associated with a first handheld media in a transit system having one or more access points. Embodiments may creating a user account and include enrolling the first handheld media for use as a fare media for a transit product, where the PAN is stored in the user account. Embodiments may further include receiving, a plurality of fare transaction records. Each fare transaction record may include the PAN associated with the first handheld media and a transaction identifier. Embodiments may additionally include determining a potential misuse of a handheld media associated with the PAN based, at least in part, on the relationship between a plurality of the transaction identifiers. In response, an action may be taken related to using the first handheld media as a fare media for the transit product.

Abstract: The invention seeks to improve the effectiveness of sortation and delivery point processing of military mail on behalf of the U.S. military.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating packing and vehicle loading for order fulfillment. A number of totes associated with each one of a plurality of orders fulfilled in a fulfillment center are tracked in a computing resource. Each of the orders specifies at least one item. A plurality of compartment assignments in a delivery vehicle are generated for the totes associated with each of the orders, the delivery vehicle having a plurality of storage compartments.

Abstract: A method and system for providing services to a mail delivery point are presented. According to the method, a delivery point identifier is acquired from a device located at the delivery point. Then, delivery point data is accessed corresponding to the delivery point identifier, and mail delivery services are provided in response to the delivery point data. The delivery point data are modifiable by a recipient who receives physical mail at the delivery point, and the delivery point data includes recipient preferences.

Abstract: A method for conference room scheduling includes detecting a user in a first location, obtaining reservation information associated with the first location, determining based on the reservation information whether the first location is reserved and notifying the user whether the first location is reserved.

Abstract: A system and related method are disclosed for establishing geographical communication and predicting mail delivery using mailbox-mounted devices adapted to detect delivery automatically and transmit that detection to associated electronic devices. Detection may be performed by various means including accelerometers, cameras, and magnetometers. The method includes maintaining a registry of mailbox-mounted devices, and passing communication between electronic devices used by owners of mailbox-mounted devices. The communication can include detection by the mailbox-mounted devices of mail delivery, and calculation of the postal carrier's probable route using that delivery detection.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for managing the quality of service differentiated cloud storage. The cloud storage (and its services) is highly distributed. An overall speed of the storage is calculated based on storage speed and a traffic speed of the connection to the particular cloud storage. Data access expenses are calculated. Then, for each of the portions of the cloud storage the associated speed and traffic costs are calculated, so the user can select a level of data access guarantee (DAG) for his particular needs. In order to maintain the desired overall speed of the data access, geo-targeting with the cloud storage system is implemented, where the same data is retrieved from different locations based on optimal data movement costs.

Abstract: A user of a personal computing device may identify multiple travel items of interest displayed for purchase by a network-based travel service. However, the user may not desire to purchase the travel items in a single purchase. Upon making a travel purchase that includes a first travel item that does not include a second travel item corresponding to the first travel item, the user may employ the network travel package service to search for second travel items corresponding to the first travel item, select from discounted travel packages including the first travel item and second travel items returned from the search, and purchase a discounted travel package. Beneficially, multiple travel items may be purchased separately while obtaining a package discount as compared to the stand-alone price of the travel items.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for insertion of optional stops in delivery routes. To this end, a plurality of delivery routes is provided in a computing device, where each delivery route has a plurality of stops. A determination is made in the computing devices as to whether an optional stop can be inserted between a pair of the stops in at least one of the delivery routes without violating a predefined set of criteria. The optional stop is ultimately inserted between a respective pair of stops in a selected one of the delivery routes.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a buying and selling method including receiving a request from a user to book a ticket for an event, determining a time for the event and a venue for the event, detecting when the user is at the venue for the event, and in response, electronically funding a user account with an amount sufficient to buy a ticket for the event. The user is notified that funds are available for the ticket. Embodiments further include, after the end of the event, detecting whether the funds were redeemed and determining whether there is a balance remaining over the funded amount. If the funds were redeemed by the user before the event, event data is collected, including a time of the event, a type of the event, a name of the event, and a location of the venue. The event data is associated with user data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a gas storage power plant (1) with at least two turbines (3), with at least two compressors (2) and with at least one gas reservoir (4). The compressors (2) are activated for charging the gas reservoir (4) and are at the same time driven by at least one electric motor (7). The turbines (3) are activated for discharging the gas reservoir (4) and at the same time drive at least one generator (12). In order to improve the operating profitability of the gas storage power plant (1), the number of instantaneously activated compressors (2) and/or turbines (3) depends on the current price at the particular time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predictive drop shipping are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include maintaining inventory of an item that is offered for sale to customers via a webpage. A ratio may be calculated between a number of views of the webpage and a number of units of the item purchased over a first time period when a fast shipping or delivery option is available, and over a second time period when such option is not available. The method may identify the item as a candidate for drop shipping in response to the ratio being larger during the first time period than during the second time period. Upon receipt of an order, the received order may be fulfilled via drop shipping, in some cases, despite the inventory being sufficient to fulfill the order, and despite a cost of fulfillment via drop shipping being higher than fulfillment from inventory.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for reliability, hazard, and integrity optimization are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the software includes an input module, a failure model module, a simulation module, and an optimization module. The input module accepts a list of assets to be managed and determines design data and process data for each asset. The failure model module determines probability of failure curve parameters for each asset degradation mode. The simulation module simulates an asset management plan to determine a total management cost that includes costs for predicted failures as well as risk-weighted costs for each degradation mode of each asset generates alternative management plans for evaluation by the simulation module and provides a selected management plan for display to a user. In each embodiment, the total management costs may account not only for direct costs, but also for safety costs, environmental costs, and business costs.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for calculating a sufficiently accurate coefficient for price sensitivity to use in a target pricing system. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve providing an expanded data set by adding shadow data to a historical bid data set that allows a logistic regression approach to mathematically calculate the coefficient for price sensitivity with greater accuracy.

Abstract: Transport scheduling and transport processes for low microbial (“LM”) bulk products are described. The transport scheduling and processes facilitate low microbial activity in a LM bulk product during the transport of the LM bulk product.