Abstract: A multi-merchant portal that enables a user to access e-commerce stores is provided. Each e-commerce store has respective merchant categories browsable by the user at a customer device through the portal, each merchant category comprising products available for purchase from a respective merchant. In response to receiving a request from the customer device to switch access of the user browsing a selected merchant category of the first merchant in a first e-commerce store, to a second e-commerce store, the portal determines a system category corresponding to the selected merchant category using mapping data mapping merchant categories to system categories and then determines a destination merchant category of the second merchant in the second e-commerce store corresponding to the determined system category using mapping data mapping the system categories to the merchant categories. The portal switches user's access to the destination merchant category in the second e-commerce store.

Abstract: An enhanced smart refrigerator (ESR) for automatically populating a virtual shopping cart is provided. The ESR stores a purchase log including a purchase history of a target product. The ESR determines a current interval between a most recent delivery date and a proposed next delivery date based on the purchase history of the target product, and calculates a purchase propensity for the target product based on the current interval and the purchase history of the target product, and automatically adds the product to the virtual shopping cart for submission to a party for purchase of the target product if the purchase propensity meets a first criteria.

Abstract: A multi-merchant portal that enables a user to access e-commerce stores is provided. Each e-commerce store has respective merchant categories browsable by the user at a customer device through the portal, each merchant category comprising products available for purchase from a respective merchant. In response to receiving a request from the customer device to switch access of the user browsing a selected merchant category of the first merchant in a first e-commerce store, to a second e-commerce store, the portal determines a system category corresponding to the selected merchant category using mapping data mapping merchant categories to system categories and then determines a destination merchant category of the second merchant in the second e-commerce store corresponding to the determined system category using mapping data mapping the system categories to the merchant categories. The portal switches user's access to the destination merchant category in the second e-commerce store.

Abstract: An exemplary method for distributing an offer to a mobile device includes identifying a location of a first mobile device, identifying offer preferences for a user of the first mobile device, and distributing the offer to the first mobile device. The offer is an offer for the purchase of goods or services, the offer meets the offer preferences of the user of the first mobile device, and the offer is encoded with a first offer identifier corresponding to the user of the first mobile device.

Abstract: An application providing method including: storing, at a memory of a cloud-based computing resource, at least two web-based applications; allowing a computing device of a user, after the user has gained access to a website of a financial institution of which the user has an account, to access the application offering page identifying the at least two web-based applications that are stored on the cloud-based computing resource; receiving, in the cloud-based computing resource, a selection of an application from the application offering page; transmitting, from the cloud-based computing resource to the computing device, data that allows the selected application to be displayed on the computing device, the selected application being stored on the cloud-based computing resource; and transmitting, from the cloud-based computing resource to the computing device, data that allows data pertaining to the user that was previously stored by the financial institution to be displayed on the computing device.

Abstract: An enhanced smart refrigerator (ESR) for automatically populating a virtual shopping cart is provided. The ESR stores a purchase log including a purchase history of a target product. The ESR determines a current interval between a most recent delivery date and a proposed next delivery date based on the purchase history of the target product, and calculates a purchase propensity for the target product based on the current interval and the purchase history of the target product, and automatically adds the product to the virtual shopping cart for submission to a party for purchase of the target product if the purchase propensity meets a first criteria.

Abstract: Smart appliance processing systems and methods for enabling dynamic control and management of electronically stored consumables inventories are provided. A smart server acquires electronically from a merchant product data concerning one or more consumables acquired at the merchant during one or more purchase transactions conducted by a customer in association with an identifier of the customer. Based on mapping data maintained by the smart server, the smart server matches the identifier with a respective client smart appliance system of the customer. The smart server then transmits electronically the product data towards the client smart appliance system for updating an electronic consumables inventory maintained by the client smart appliance system for the first customer.

Abstract: An application providing method including: storing, at a memory of a cloud-based computing resource, at least two web-based applications; allowing a computing device of a user, after the user has gained access to a website of a financial institution of which the user has an account, to access the application offering page identifying the at least two web-based applications that are stored on the cloud-based computing resource; receiving, in the cloud-based computing resource, a selection of an application from the application offering page; transmitting, from the cloud-based computing resource to the computing device, data that allows the selected application to be displayed on the computing device, the selected application being stored on the cloud-based computing resource; and transmitting, from the cloud-based computing resource to the computing device, data that allows data pertaining to the user that was previously stored by the financial institution to be displayed on the computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of transferring information in an electronic transaction between a first entity and a second entity. The method comprises: sending, by a first system 101 of the first entity, information relating to the transaction to an administrating system 102, wherein the information is transferred as a pre-payment operation; transferring by the administrating system 102, in dependence on a determination that the transaction is authorised, the received information from the first system 101 to a second system 103, wherein the second system 103 is a system of the second entity and the information is transferred as a pre-payment operation; wherein, the first system 101 is located in a first country and the second system 103 located in a second country such that the transaction is a cross-border transaction.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are described for providing an online shopping experience to a consumer who is shopping at a merchant's physical retail location. In an embodiment, a method includes a providing a consumer shopping experience website to obtain at least one of consumer registration data, consumer mobile device data, a consumer shopping list, merchant registration data, and merchant inventory data. In an implementation, a mobile shopping application is provided on a consumer's mobile device operable to provide information such as merchant store locations, merchant inventory, in-store product location data, product review information, and shopping cart information. The method includes receiving a request for shopping information, generating the requested shopping information, and transmitting the shopping information to the consumer mobile device in real time, while the consumer is in a merchant's store.

Abstract: A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic energy and energy contained in electromagnetic radiation. The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive forms of energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, etc.) will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates using passive forms of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell. An oxygen injection control device is employed to control the supply of oxygen to the combustion engine.

Abstract: A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic energy and energy contained in electromagnetic radiation. The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive forms of energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, etc.) will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates using passive forms of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell. An oxygen injection control device is employed to control the supply of oxygen to the combustion engine.