Abstract: Various embodiments provide for a bike-supported communication network that manages and facilitates communications between components of an electric bicycle and a wireless network. In some embodiments, the systems and methods determine that a mobile device associated with the electric bicycle is in contact with a mount disposed on the electric bicycle, and cause a lock assembly to unlock the electric bicycle in response to the determination that the mobile device is in contact with the mount.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments may provide a framework to implement post-purchase tender switches. For example, following a transaction made with a particular payment instrument, a customer may be offered the ability to apply for a preferred payment instrument and/or to switch his or her tender type to the preferred payment instrument for the previous transaction.

Abstract: A method performed by at least one computing device. The method includes receiving a credit request from a self-checkout device before a customer completes an instore checkout process and sending a request for a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) to one or more authentication computing devices. The authentication computing device(s) send the URL to the mobile device. The method includes sending a credit application to the mobile device after the customer selects the URL, receiving a submission of the credit application from the mobile device, approving credit based on the submission, and forwarding a code to the mobile device. The code indicates that the credit is to be used to complete the instore checkout process when scanned by the scanner.

Abstract: An application executed on a user device receives a request to initiate a transaction with an entity associated with a device implemented at a point-of-sale. The application detects that the user device is proximate to the device and detects an audial tone that encodes information corresponding to an entity associated with the device. The application transmits a request to transfer a payment to the entity, wherein the request includes the information and a payment amount for the payment. When the request is received by a payment processing system, the payment processing system transfers the payment to the entity and provides a confirmation for the payment. The application broadcasts a confirmation audial tone that encodes the confirmation. When the confirmation audial tone is received at the device, the device demodulates the confirmation audial tone to provide the confirmation to the entity.

Abstract: The use of bacteria-based binders to bind and strengthen 3D printed compositions; bio-plastic 3D printing materials comprised of combinations of particles of organic substrates such as coffee, pistachio shells and coconut shells, as well as sand (and combinations of one or more of the foregoing); processes for creating scent-free bio-plastic 3D printing material and products from such particles; the application of a copper finish, chrome finish and powder finish to bio-plastics made from such particles; and products and fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, faucets, coffee mug molds, lighting fixtures, and coffee cups, comprising non-flammable bio-plastic created by a process of 3D printing from such particles. Processes for imparting color or structure or surface texture to these and binding and strengthening them using enzyme-secreting bacteria.

Abstract: A method performed by at least one computing device. The method includes receiving a credit request from a self-checkout device before a customer completes an instore checkout process and sending a request for a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) to one or more authentication computing devices. The authentication computing device(s) send the URL to the mobile device. The method includes sending a credit application to the mobile device after the customer selects the URL, receiving a submission of the credit application from the mobile device, approving credit based on the submission, and forwarding a code to the mobile device. The code indicates that the credit is to be used to complete the instore checkout process when scanned by the scanner.

Abstract: A coffee grinder suitable for home use can include a housing that receives coffee beans, a grinding component within the housing, a removable container that receives coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and a base located beneath the grinding component that supports the container. Magnetic components in the base and removable container can optimally align the container when placed atop the base. A knocker system can dislodge ground coffee residue into the container when actuated. An intelligent drive system can utilize feedback to drive the grinding component at a constant speed to minimize coffee grounds size variances. A grinds chamber in the housing can define an asymmetrical cross-sectional geometry. An augur that drives the grinding component can have an outer thread that forces coffee beans through the grinds chamber, and a grinds chamber housing can include a protective shoulder that covers a lead-in portion of the outer thread.

Abstract: Examples presented herein describe secure point of sale (POS) operations. One example is a method including receiving, at a mobile device, a communication associated with a custom tender payment for a secure transaction payment, where the mobile device includes a custom payment application configured for the secure transaction payment with a point of sale (POS) device. The method includes receiving account data associated with a user account selection for the custom tender payment for the secure transaction payment, transmitting an account signal including the account data, where when the account signal is transmitted to an integration server as part of the secure transaction payment, the account signal is not transmitted to the POS device, and receiving an authorization communication, where when the authorization communication is received by the mobile device from the integration server, the authorization communication is not communicated to the mobile device via the POS device.

Abstract: A method that includes a child application forwarding a transaction amount to a server, displaying a selectable user input to an end user, receiving a selection of the user input, and forwarding the selection to the server. The selection indicates the end user has an interest in applying for transactional financing. The child application receives, from the server, a credit application for transactional financing, which has a duration and a fixed interest rate. The child application submits the credit application, which identifies a payment method, to the server. The server determines whether to approve the credit application, establishes an account when the credit application has been approved, pays the transaction amount from the account, and automatically pays a loan amount to the account using the payment method after the duration. The loan amount is equal to a sum of the transaction amount and the fixed interest rate.

Abstract: A child application executed by a computing device receives user information from and provides user data to an end user via a user interface implemented by the computing device. A host application executed by the computing device is unable to obtain the user information and the user data from the user interface. The host application obtains the user information and the user data from the child application only via a connection line connecting the child and host applications. The host application receives an identification that uniquely identifies the end user to a host application server and provides the identification to the child application. The child application sends the identification to a child application server. The child application server creates a customer relationship management (“CRM”) profile for the end user, associates the identification with the CRM profile, and associates activities of the end user with the CRM profile.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a system and method for customer relationship management in which a business network is created for a plurality of businesses in a shared CRM based on normalized entities. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for creating a shared customer relations management (CRM) system includes creating a plurality of relationships between a plurality of parties in a shared CRM system; creating a shared space in the shared CRM system, enabling the plurality of businesses and customers to access the shared CRM, enabling both the plurality of businesses and customers to access the shared CRM and defining desired outcomes for the plurality of businesses and customers in the shared CRM, and measuring the success of the desired outcomes of the plurality of businesses and customers in the shared CRM.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a system and method for creating a shared Customer Relations Management (CRM) system using normalized identities. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for creating a shared Customer Relations Management (CRM) system includes: creating a Software as a Service (SaaS) CRM; creating a shared space in the SaaS CRM; enabling both business and customer to access the SaaS CRM; enabling both the business and customer to access the shared space in the SaaS CRM; defining desired outcomes for both the business and customer in the SaaS CRM; and measuring the success of the desired outcomes of the business and customer in the SaaS CRM.

Abstract: A method performed by at least one computing device. The method includes receiving a credit request from a self-checkout device before a customer completes an instore checkout process and sending a request for a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) to one or more authentication computing devices. The authentication computing device(s) send the URL to the mobile device. The method includes sending a credit application to the mobile device after the customer selects the URL, receiving a submission of the credit application from the mobile device, approving credit based on the submission, and forwarding a code to the mobile device. The code indicates that the credit is to be used to complete the instore checkout process when scanned by the scanner.

Abstract: An electric dispensing kettle system with a dispensing kettle seats on to and docks to a control station. The dispensing kettle includes a weighted handle for controlled or balanced pouring. The control station provides controlled power to a heating element within the dispensing kettle with the dispensing kettle seated on to docked to the control station. The control sation includes a PID controller or control loop feedback circuit that continuously modulates power to the heating element based on actual temperature reading received from a thermocouple structure. The control station also includes an electronic dispaly that simultaneously displays an actual temperature of the steeping liquid and the target temperature of the steeping liquid within the dispensing kettle.

Abstract: A pour-over beverage system is disclosed. The pour-over beverage system includes a double walled vacuum sealed cup feature or pour-over reservoir for holding a steeped beverage and a flow control mechanism or flow control insert attached to a bottom portion of the double walled vacuum sealed cup feature or pour-over reservoir for dispensed the steeped beverage. The system also preferably includes a double walled vacuum sealed capturing vessel or capturing reservoir for capturing the steeped beverage dispensed through the control mechanism or flow control insert.

Abstract: In some embodiments, there is a method for communicating client device and user information based on position of a user at a facility, comprising: at a server including one or more processors, a database storing user information for the user and a memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors: receiving, from a client device operated by the user, one or more messages reporting a location of the client device relative to one or more listeners associated with the facility, wherein the one or more messages comprises client device position information including one or more unique listener IDs associated with one or more listeners, a client device ID associated with the client device and a timestamp indicating when the client device detected a wireless signal from the one or more listeners; storing the client device position information at the database; transmitting the at least one of: the client device position information and the user information to a point of sale (PoS) device operate

Abstract: A system for steeping beverages is disclosed. The system includes a filtration unit and dispensing mechanism with a steeping vessel. The dispensing mechanism includes a disk with apertures and a sleeve. The sleeve is coupled to the filtration unit and moves down and up within the steeping vessel to a closed and open position, respectively. With the dispensing mechanism in the closed position the sleeve engages the disk and holds a steeped liquid within the filtration unit. In the open position the sleeve disengages the disk allows the steeped liquid to flow into a capturing vessel through the apertures.

Abstract: An electric dispensing kettle system with a dispensing kettle that seats on to docks to a control station is disclosed. The dispensing kettle includes a weighted handle for controlled or balanced pouring. The control station provides controlled power to a heating element within the dispensing kettle with the dispensing kettle seated on to docked to the control station. The control station includes a PID controller or control loop feedback circuit that continuously modulates power to the heating element based on actual temperature reading received from a thermocouple structure. The control station also includes an electronic display that simultaneously displays an actual temperature of the steeping liquid and the target temperature of the steeping liquid within the dispensing kettle.

Abstract: A pour-over beverage system is disclosed. The pour-over beverage system includes a double walled vacuum sealed cup feature or pour-over reservoir for holding a steeped beverage and a flow control mechanism or flow control insert attached to a bottom portion of the double walled vacuum sealed cup feature or pour-over reservoir for dispensed the steeped beverage. The system also preferably includes a double walled vacuum sealed capturing vessel or capturing reservoir for capturing the steeped beverage dispensed through the control mechanism or flow control insert.