Abstract: An electronic system for power consumption management of one or more domestic appliances is routinely informed on actual energy tariff through a network control unit or through a predetermined time-table stored in the system. A user interface of the electronic system is provided where the user can set his preference concerning the switch-on time of each appliance and/or function thereof and read the related estimated energy consumption and/or energy cost of the appliance working program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic payment means activating method and an activating server thereof. In the electronic payment means activating method, a usage approval of the inactive electronic payment means is requested by using first identification information of the inactive electronic payment means and personal user information of the user terminal, the first identification information is authenticated to determine usage approval of the active electronic payment means, a class of a user is detected by using the personal user information, a first parameter value corresponding to the detected class of the user and a usage approval message are provided to the user terminal, the first parameter value is established in the user terminal, the electronic payment means is activated, and a fare according to the first parameter value is paid by the electronic payment means.

Abstract: An economic dispatch program allocates a load demand and an emission allowance of a power generation system among various power plants to determine the operational set-points and the pollution control set-points of each of the various power plants in a manner that minimizes the total operating cost for the power generation system, including the pollution control cost. The economic dispatch program uses the pollution control set-points and the load set-points of the various power plants as decision variables and takes into consideration the pollution control costs of the various power plants in allocating the load demand. During operation, the economic dispatch program takes into consideration the pollution credits available to the various power plants in allocating the load demand and pollution control level to determine the optimal operating solution for the power plants.

Abstract: Ticketing systems and methods, as well as related computer product programs, provide efficient and user-friendly seat selection by incorporating realistic seating charts. An advantageous ticketing system may include data related to a physical layout of a venue. The ticketing system may generate a three-dimensional model of the venue, from which one or more seating charts may in turn be generated. A user may search the ticketing system for seats based on customized user search parameters, which may include searching across multiple performances. In response to the user search, the ticketing system may provide an interactive three-dimensional seating chart depicting a relatively accurate seat layout based on the venue data. The user may manipulate the seating chart to view the venue from various perspectives, and the user may select seats from the seating chart. Other embodiments of the ticketing system are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods which operate to reserve an amount of value associated with a value bearing indicia (VBI) request or requests are shown. Embodiments facilitate completion of a multiple VBI session without failing due to insufficient value balance once the session has begun. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments facilitate later or subsequent (e.g., scheduled) completion of a VBI session, whether a session for a single VBI or multiple VBI, without failing due to insufficient value balance. Value reservations may be made automatically and/or manually. Embodiments provide various reservation priority levels, such as to individual users, user groups, user systems, sessions, types of sessions, jobs, etc., in order to facilitate completion of various desired operations without failure due to insufficient value. Value reservation techniques according to embodiments do not introduce additional transactions into a normal VBI session flow.

Abstract: The invention provides control systems and methodologies for controlling a process having computer-controlled equipment, which provide for optimized process performance according to one or more performance criteria, such as efficiency, component life expectancy, safety, emissions, noise, vibration, operational cost, or the like. More particularly, the subject invention provides for employing machine diagnostic and/or prognostic information in connection with optimizing an overall business operation over a time horizon.

Abstract: A computer based system for unobscuring and/or unconstraining demand is disclosed. Via use of the system, actual airline seat bookings may be restated in an unobscured and/or unconstrained form, facilitating improved demand forecasts for subsequent seat bookings. In this manner, seat protects may be better allocated to align with actual demand, thus increasing revenue.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for billing based on a duration of a service period, comprises sending fleet data from a third party entity to a toll authority via a toll rental entity, matching toll data with the fleet data by the toll authority, if the toll data matches the fleet data: charging an account by the toll authority and sending the matched data to the toll rental entity, determining, by the toll rental entity, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling or an opt-out for duration based tolling, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling, charging the third party entity for the duration based tolling, and if the sent matched data is related to an opt-out for duration based tolling, applying at least one of: a fee for the duration based tolling, a toll usage amount, a service fee for the duration based tolling, and a service fee for the toll usage.

Abstract: A method of measuring customer satisfaction with a product. The method may assess customer satisfaction from information collected after purchasing the product. This post-purchase information may be collected, for example, by monitoring customer expressions made while interacting with the product. Optionally, the settings and operating conditions of the product may be separately monitored and cross-referenced with the customer expressions to tie the expressions with specific characteristics of the product.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems for tracking and reporting environmental impact and agricultural-producer information.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems for tracking and reporting environmental impact and agricultural-producer information.

Abstract: Provided is a network system for a component capable of effectively managing an energy source.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems for tracking and reporting environmental impact and agricultural-producer information. In an example embodiment, a method comprises receiving first data associated with an impact on groundwater pollution or surface water pollution, the impact on the groundwater pollution or the surface water pollution resulting from a production of an agricultural product, the first data being received from a single representative sampling location; receiving second data associated with the impact on the groundwater pollution or surface water pollution, the second data being received from at least one of a plurality of representative sampling locations; generating an aggregate result based on the second data; calculating comparative data using the aggregate result and at least some of the first data; and reporting the aggregate result and the comparative data to a user.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus, method and system for dispatching baggage. The apparatus includes a processor configured to receive baggage information associated with a passenger; associate the baggage information with a delivery person, where the delivery person is associated with delivery person information; and transmit at least apportion of the baggage information and the delivery person information to a passenger computing device associated with the passenger.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for tracking and reporting the environmental impact of food products. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia; send the identification code to at least one remote server; receive, from the at least one remote server, information that is associated with the product, the information including environmental impact information that is associated with the production of the food product; and display at least some of the received environmental impact information on the display in human readable form.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for tracking labor information in the production of food products. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia; send the identification code to at least one remote server; receive, from the at least one remote server, information that is associated with the product, the information including labor information that is associated with the production of the food product; and display at least some of the labor information on the display in human readable form.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for automatic certification of food products. In an example embodiment, apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia and send the identification code to at least one remote server. The device also receives, from the at least one remote server, agricultural certification information that is associated with the product, the certification information indicating compliance of the product with at least one agricultural certification established by a certification authority and having one or more requirements.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for tracking and reporting food production information for food products. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia; send the identification code to at least one remote server; receive, from the at least one remote server, information that is associated with the product, the information including agricultural product information that is associated with the production of the food product; and display at least some of the received agricultural product information on the display in human readable form.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for recording and reporting video corresponding to production of an agricultural product. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia; send the identification code to at least one remote server; receive, from the at least one remote server, video data that is associated with the product. The video data is reproducible on a video display apparatus to produce a human-viewable video showing at least one aspect of the production of the food product.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for a universal certification process for food products. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation.