Abstract: A method for managing inbound user traffic to a reservation system. The method includes receiving messages from one or more users and determining, by one or more computer processors, at least one of the one or more users is not a preferred user, based on the messages received. The method further includes sending the messages from the at least one user to a limiting component, wherein the limiting component slows the messages from the at least one of the one or more users to the reservation system.

Abstract: Automated package deliveries comprises a server at a package delivery system that receives a request for a package delivery, the request comprising an identification of a package and an identification of a first kiosk location. The server associates the package with an aerial delivery device and a user authentication to retrieve the package. The server transmits to the delivery device instructions to deliver the package to the first kiosk. Subsequently, the server receives a request from a user computing device to retrieve the package from the first kiosk and deliver the package to an alternate kiosk. The server transmits to the delivery device instructions to retrieve the package from the first kiosk and instructions to deliver the package to the alternate kiosk. The delivery device retrieves the package from the automated kiosk and delivers the package to the alternate kiosk.

Abstract: Machines, systems and methods for delivering mail items are provided. The method comprises scanning route information, for delivery of a mail item, using a mobile communication device; generating a first unique identifier from data comprising the route information, wherein the first unique identifier identifies the mail item; recognizing a second unique identifier associated with the mobile communication device used for scanning the route information, wherein the second unique identifier identifies a user account to which delivery charges associated with delivering the mail item are applied; associating the first unique identifier and the second unique identifier so that having access to the first unique identifier as stored in a database provides access to the second unique identifier; and mailing the mail item without prepaid postage affixed to the mail item.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer readable media for facilitating reservation for a parking space with a near field communications (NFC)-enabled device are provided. A system can include an NFC-enabled parking meter associated with a parking space and a controller in communication with the NFC-enabled parking meter for measuring time and processing payment. A system can include an NFC-enabled device that upon interfacing with the NFC-enabled parking meter communicates with the controller to create a reservation of a parking space.

Abstract: A method and a device for transporting and processing a number of objects, especially mail items, include transporting the objects in a number of transport processes to a respective processing system. At least one processing attribute as well as a feature is measured at the object before the transport processes. A data record with the processing attribute value and the feature value are stored. After the transport processes, the feature is measured again for each object, and the stored data record is determined. A search area restriction which is based on a sequence of feature values is undertaken for the determination. The processing system processes the object depending on the processing attribute value of the determined data record.

Abstract: A smart circuit breaker is provided. An electronic device can be electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet, electrical subpanel, load center, transformer, or other power distribution center. The electronic device can include a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit, a communications device, a monitoring device and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit and to determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit. Further, the electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to, if power is supplied to the electrical power circuit, charge the account and activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a travel system allows the beginning and end points to be selected, and then displays a line indicating the travel, and calculates fares.

Abstract: A mailing machine that provides for permanent postage is described. Postage may be purchased at one point of time at a then prevailing rate and used in the future at the same effective purchasing power even if a new more expensive rate schedule is in effect. The mailing machine provides for the accounting of such rate purchased postage using a Postal Security Device and may include multiple rate-table based accounts each associated with a particular postage rate table.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring active and reactive powers of an alternating current includes receiving a first signal representing a current and a second signal representing a voltage, in which the current includes a phase offset with respect to the voltage, calculating an active power and reactive power based on the first and second signals, and calibrating the calculated active and reactive powers with respect to the phase offset using first and second constants, in which the first and second constants respectively correspond to a sine value and a cosine value of the phase offset.

Abstract: A method and system for providing cargo or product to an individual. The system may be a vehicle and include a plurality of bays, at least one of the plural bays having two rectangular frames, each frame having two horizontal members and two vertical members and each frame opposing and facing the other. The vehicle may also include a holding structure engaged by both of the rectangular frames, the structure comprising a plurality of trays wherein the structure is adaptable to provide vertical movement of the plural trays within the confines of the two rectangular frames. The vehicle may also include one or more mechanisms positioned between the lower horizontal members of the two rectangular frames, the one or more mechanisms adaptable to provide lateral movement within the confines of the two rectangular frames.

Abstract: A method of franking a mailpiece that is to be put into a letter box associated with a mail-receiving office, including, in a portable communications device of a sender of the mailpiece, firstly an operation of inputting an identifier of said letter box, and secondly an operation of transmitting the identifier together with other postal data, including at least one franking amount and an unique identification code relating to the mailpiece, to a server of a franking service having the function of issuing a franking authorization for the sender.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are present for analyzing voyage efficiency. Historical data for a completed voyage of a ship is obtained. A baseline voyage solution for a completed voyage is generated with a software application executing on a processor unit using a model of the ship and the historical data. The baseline voyage solution is compared to an actual voyage solution used for the completed voyage to form a comparison.

Abstract: A data block storage management capability is presented. A cloud file system management capability manages storage of data blocks of a file system across multiple cloud storage services (e.g., including determining, for each data block to be stored, a storage location and a storage duration for the data block). A cloud file system management capability manages movement of data blocks of a file system between storage volumes of cloud storage services. A cloud file system management capability provides a probabilistic eviction scheme for evicting data blocks from storage volumes of cloud storage services in advance of storage deadlines by which the data blocks are to be removed from the storage volumes. A cloud file system management capability enables dynamic adaptation of the storage volume sizes of the storage volumes of the cloud storage services.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a process that includes selecting accommodations during a travel reservation is described. The method includes receiving, at a software application that manages travel reservations, input that customizes configurable attributes of software travel objects representing accommodations used in transportation of passengers. The method also includes receiving criteria from a customer specifying preferences that affect a passenger's experience during travel, ranking the received criteria so that one or more criterion are preferred, selecting one or more of the accommodations using an optimization function to compare the ranked criteria to the customized configurable attributes, and outputting the selected one or more accommodations for use by the customer in selecting a first accommodation for the passenger.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for effectively managing aspects of hospitality for an event. Event's may include Olympic (or other) event. An inventory of event hospitality items is acquired for the creation of hospitality program for client groups. Information from client's guest which make up the client group may be collected in order to identify which hospitality inventory items could best fulfill the client's needs and requests during the days of the event. Hospitality inventory items may include tickets, transportation, hotel, food/beverages, and event staff. Hospitality parameters may be established for each client group, wherein the parameters determine how hospitality inventory items should be allocated for the client group.

Abstract: Web-based royalty system and user interface is described. In one embodiment, for example, a Web-based royalty system of the present invention is described that comprises: an interface for receiving product information comprising products subject to royalties; an interface for receiving sales data comprising sales records for the products; an interface for receiving royalty terms for the products; a calculation engine for calculating royalties due for the sales data, by matching each sales record with a given product listed in the product information, and determining for each matched product royalties due based on royalty terms applicable to sales of that product; and a statement generator for generating royalty reports of the calculated royalties.

Abstract: The pricing of a product is programmatically defined as a solution to a price optimization equation that includes an in-date constraint and an out-date constraint. The in-date constraint may require that the price established by the price optimization equation be predicted not to exhaust an inventory of the product during a first time interval. The out-date constraint may require that the same price established by the price optimization equation be predicted to exhaust an inventory of the product by the end of a second time interval.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for modeling and estimating costs for a project, such as a construction or remodeling project. For example, embodiments of the present invention provide a project cost modeling system having a communication interface configured to receive a first level input for a first level project parameter from a user, a memory configured to store a rule, and a processor operatively connected to the communication interface and the memory and configured to determine a second level project parameter and a second level input for the second level project parameter based at least partially on a comparison of the first level input to the rule. The system is further configured to compute cost estimates and provide cost models based at least partially on the first level input, the second level input, and/or information about other projects stored in the memory.

Abstract: This document describes a computer-implemented method for facilitating a check-in finalization process for a travel passenger. The method includes receiving one or more check-in parameters related to a check-in procedure for a passenger checking in for a travel segment, and determining from the received check-in parameters a check-in workflow status corresponding to which of a plurality of steps of the check-in procedure have been completed. The method also includes identifying one or more finalization actions that are available for finalizing the check-in procedure based on the check-in workflow status. The method further includes determining a primary finalization action from the one or more finalization actions, the primary finalization action being the finalization action most likely to be taken to finalize the check-in procedure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing guidance to price content items in publications. Features of a particular content item to be published in a particular publication are received from a requestor and compared with features of content items previously published in publications. Based on the comparing, a predicted price to publish the particular content item in the particular publication is determined based on actual prices of content items previously published in corresponding publications. Then, the predicted price is provided to the requestor.