Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed for acquiring output activity, utilization capacity and/or effluent data from an facility on a facility-by-facility and/or an industry-by-industry basis. The system is designed to generate a plant and/or industry output activity database that is updated on a continuous, near continuous, periodic and/or intermittent basis so that subscribers are apprised of changes in plant or overall industry output. A clearing house is also disclosed for distributing the acquired data to subscribers to aid in analyzing, predicting trends, pricing, maintaining, adjusting, minimizing, and/or maximizing individual plant or overall industry output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating point of sale transactions. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method can be provided. The method can include collecting, by a mobile device at a merchant point of sale, merchant contextual information associated with a merchant station at a merchant location. The method can also include identifying payment information stored on the mobile device. Further, the method can also include providing the merchant contextual information and the payment information to a merchant device in order to complete a point of sale transaction.

Abstract: Industrial vehicles communicate across a wireless environment and the wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged against robust software solutions to implement enterprise wide vehicle management functions, to integrate industrial vehicle data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management. Still further, wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged with robust software solutions that aggregate and analyze data across multiple enterprises and/or promote the exchange of information between independent entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating payment transactions using quick-response (QR) codes are provided. A first machine readable code encoding first data generated by an access device is scanned by a communication device. The communication device generates a cryptogram based on the first data encoded within the first machine readable code. The communication device then obtains financial credentials data from a payment application being executed on the communication device. A second machine readable code encoding second data comprising the financial credentials data and the cryptogram is then generated. The second machine readable code is displayed on a display of the communication device, wherein the second machine readable code is scanned by the access device.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for recommending a food item are disclosed. For example, the method receives one or more food item data communications over a short range communications protocol that are pushed to a mobile endpoint device, filters the one or more food item data communications in accordance with a food item filter pre-defined by a user to identify an acceptable food item to recommend to the user and recommends the acceptable food item to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving efficiency of capturing images of documents at computers is provided. The method comprises receiving an instruction to obtain an image of a document using a mobile computer device comprising a camera; generating a unique parameterized uniform resource locator (URL) that has been assigned to the image of the document; sending, to a mobile computer device, the URL using a messaging service and receiving, from the mobile computer device, an invocation of the image capture function specifying the GUID; uploading, from the mobile computer device, the image file; storing the image file in association with the GUID; in response to the instruction to obtain the image of the document, sending the image file to the first computer device.

Abstract: Event venues include multiple seats for eventgoers, and each seat may be coupled to a seat beacon. The seat beacon may identify the ticket of an eventgoer sitting in them, either by scanning it, interfacing with a user mobile device, or accepting manual input at an interface provided at the seat. A centralized event venue controller may check the ticket identifier against seat identifiers in a ticket purchase information database. If the eventgoer is in the wrong seat, the seat may identify itself locally by lighting a light or remotely by notifying an administrator device. If the eventgoer is in the correct seat, the seat beacon may be used by the eventgoer to order food, drinks, Wi-Fi access, or seat customizations such as a seat heater or a name tag or a cooling cup holder. Such seat customizations can also be provided at the time of ticket purchase.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods related to facilitating payments via a peer-to-peer protocol. Tokenized information associated with a payment transaction may be obtained. Establishment of a peer-to-peer communications session with a payment recipient device may be facilitated. The tokenized information to the recipient device via the established peer-to-peer communications session may be communicated in order to facilitate completion of the payment transaction.

Abstract: Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user's location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Promotions may be sent to the mobile device when more than a threshold number of mobile devices are located at the same merchant.

Abstract: A low-profile card reader, including: a carriage; a single support arm including a first end statically mounted to the carriage, a second end, free from the carriage, a body tapering from the second end toward the first end, wherein the body is free from the carriage, such that the support arm freely deflects along a support arm length relative to the carriage, and a set of strengthening channels extending along the support arm length; and a magnetic reading head statically connected to the second end of the support arm.

Abstract: A device and method for allowing the custom mixing of liquid and dry enhancers with pet food kibbles comprising a tumbler into which the kibbles are placed; a means for adding a pre-determined amount of liquid/dry enhancers to the kibbles; a means for mixing the enhancers with the kibbles; and a means for feeding the enhanced kibbles into packages.

Abstract: An order server operated by a restaurant service communicates with a restaurant server and a driver to retrieve incentive based food preparation and delivery time frames for an order. Using the time frames, the order server formulate a list of incentive based delivery plans, and provides the list to a diner device. From the diner device, the order server receives a selected incentive based delivery plan for the order from the list.

Abstract: An online auction system includes a set of memory resources that store auction data and one or more processors. The one or more processors implement multiple auction forums for transacting a corresponding set of assets. The one or more processors enable a registrant to participate in any of the multiple auction forums by providing the registrant with multiple interfaces to prompt the user for input or action. In some embodiments, the one or more processors provide an entity type interface to prompt the registrant to declare an entity type of the registrant. The one or more processors operate to determine a set of requirements for the registrant based at least in part on (i) a type designation provided by the user, and (ii) a geographic region of one or more assets that are being transacted by the multiple auction forums.

Abstract: A method of managing an inventory includes associating an identifier with a container system component such as a container, a sensor or a substance, where the sensor is configured to determine an indication of an attribute of the substance stored in the container. The method further may include associating an identifier with a container system member within a dataset remote to the container; remotely receiving container system data including the identifier and the indication of the attribute; and performing at least one data processing task associated with the container system data.

Abstract: Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user's location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Promotions may be sent to the mobile device when more than a threshold number of mobile devices are located at the same merchant.

Abstract: A multimedia commerce service processing method includes the steps of receiving a signal for selecting a first product provided by the multimedia commerce service, detecting body size information of a user from login information of an account of the user who uses the multimedia commerce service, generating a first avatar graphic image including the detected body size information of the user and transmitting a signal for outputting an image of the first product in a specific area of the first avatar graphic image to a display device. A multimedia commerce service processing apparatus includes a receiving module configured to sense a signal, a communication module configured to transmit and receive data, a storage module configured to store login information of an account of a user and a controller configured to control operation of the multimedia commerce service processing apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method process an electronic commerce transaction between a consumer and a merchant over a communications network. A checkout webpage of a virtual shopping cart of the merchant is displayed by a consumer device and an initialization routine of the checkout webpage is performed by the consumer device. The initialization routine segments the checkout webpage to display a widget webpage of a service provider within the checkout webpage. Content of the widget webpage is loaded and displayed independent of content of the checkout webpage. A bootstrap routine of the widget webpage is performed by the consumer device to add a payment widget to the widget webpage and to display the payment widget with the checkout webpage. Further, the transaction is processed by the consumer device to completion using the payment widget.

Abstract: A system for managing beverage sales and inventory, and for enabling customers to pour their own beverages while preventing shrinkage is disclosed. The system enables a user to access a beverage from a beverage dispenser by presenting a beverage-pour tracking device. The beverage dispenser can prevent a user from accessing the beverage without the beverage-pour tracking device. Further, the system can confirm whether the user is permitted to access the beverage dispenser before enabling the user to access the dispenser.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for updating a bill. In use, a replica of a bill is displayed. In addition, a selection of al least one parameter of the bill is received. In response to the selection, a user (e.g. a customer representative, etc.) is permitted to enter an updated value for the parameter. Further, the parameter of the bill is updated in the consequent billing cycle to reflect the updated value.