Abstract: A history management method for water treatment members includes: a first step of, during a shipping process of placing each water treatment member in the accommodating member, registering each water treatment member identification information in the information recording section of an information management device in association with accommodating member identification information for the accommodating member and attaching, to the accommodating member, a tag from which the accommodating member identification information is readable; and a second step of, during a receiving process of attaching each water treatment member accommodated in the accommodating member to the water treatment apparatus, registering the water treatment member identification information, which is obtained from the information recording section based on the accommodating member identification information read from the tag, in the information recording section in association with water treatment apparatus identification information for t

Abstract: A delivery management server includes one or more processors configured to receive a return request notification indicating that a return is requested using a package container. The one or more processors are also configured to, based at least in part on receipt of the return request notification and a determination that a cover of the package container is in a closed state: store a trial end time, determine a trial duration based on a comparison of a trial start time and the trial end time, and based on a determination that the trial duration is less than or equal to a trial duration threshold, send a request to direct a transportation vehicle to a container location to retrieve the package container.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining an actual cost of ownership of a purchase product may include determining a baseline value of the purchase product, and receiving usage information representative of usage of a user product from a computing device in communication with the user product. The purchase product and the user product may belong to a same class of products. The method also may include determining a user cost component based on the received usage information, and determining an actual cost of ownership of the purchase product based on at least the baseline value and the user cost component.

Abstract: Item mortality, such as failure rates and expected remaining lifespan, may be determined based on tracked environmental conditions during transit, such as vibration, temperature, and other conditions. For complex items, multiple different internal components may have varying degrees of susceptibility to damage from unfavorable conditions, with each of the components able to individually cause a failure of the entire item. Thus, the specific set of internal components may drive item mortality prediction. Sensors may be located in shipping containers that share data collected throughout the supply chain, using a blockchain, to increase confidence in the integrity of the data. The use of mortality models generated with anonymized component or process data may enable manufacturers to protect trade secrets, such as the specific components or manufacturing processes used, even while leveraging the manufacturer's detailed knowledge of an item.

Abstract: A flight departure control system comprises a central departure control system and a plurality of local departure control systems arranged at or in proximity of individual airports. Passengers check-in for flights via the central DCS and for each passenger a passenger data message is created and sent to the local DCS to which the flight relates. On detection of a fault condition at the central DCS or in communications with the central DCS, the local DCS assume responsibility for flights departing from the airport at which they are located based on the received passenger data messages and unchecked-in passengers check-in directly with the local DCS.

Abstract: A control method according to the present disclosure is a control method for controlling a first node that holds a first distributed ledger in a system utilized to use a service object and including the first node and a plurality of second nodes that each hold a second distributed ledger. The control method includes: executing transmission processing for transmitting first transaction data to each of the plurality of second nodes; counting a total number of the second nodes that successfully communicate with the first node in the transmission processing; and storing the first transaction data in the first distributed ledger when the total number counted is greater than a predetermined number, and skipping storing the first distributed ledger in the first transaction data when the total number counted is not greater than the predetermined number.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a network of multi-functional sensors; where, based on a quality insurance, each multi-functional sensor is positioned in, on, or in a vicinity of: a transported cargo and/or a cargo container, containing the transported cargo; where each multi-functional sensor is configured to measure particular transport-related condition, particular cargo-related condition, or both, to form cargo transport sensor data and wirelessly transmit it to a server that is configured to dynamically predict, based on the cargo transport sensor data, a predicted quality loss of the transported cargo, determine a current loss value of the transported cargo and caused one or more remedial actions that include instantaneously instructing to pay a payout amount to an owner of the transported cargo to compensate for the current loss value and/or transmitting a remedial instruction with an adjustment to the operation of one or more of a cargo transport, the cargo container, and a cargo

Abstract: A property tour management system automatically manages creation, real-time facilitation, and analytics associated with property tours. The system includes various portals to provide access to information and performance of functions useful to agents, buyers, and real-estate organizations relating to a property tour experience. The system enables all parties involved to gain a more efficient, more informational, and more enjoyable property tour experience.

Abstract: A franchise food truck integrated management system and method thereof are disclosed. When food trucks are distributed in each region across a country, orders for food menu items are received in real time and the orders are assigned to suitable food trucks for delivery. The food truck integrated management method includes: receiving, by a server, a food ingredient order request from a first food truck; determining, by the server, a food ingredient supply route to the first food truck; and supplying order-requested food ingredients to the first food truck according to the determined supply route. There is provided an effect that a number of food trucks that are distributed and operated in each region may receive food ingredients before the food ingredients run out, whereby ordered food menu items may be cooked in a timely manner and the food menu items may be provided at any time.

Abstract: A method of vehicle movement control includes setting up a weigh station geofence corresponding to a geographic location of a vehicle weigh station and setting up an additional geofence corresponding to the vehicle weigh station. At a central processing system, a first message is received from a mobile wireless device that is being carried in a vehicle. The first message indicates that the vehicle has entered the weigh station geofence, and includes vehicle related information, vehicle location information, and a bypass request. The method further includes determining by the central processing system whether the vehicle is permitted to bypass the vehicle weigh station, and sending to the mobile wireless device a bypass message from the central processing system indicating whether the vehicle is permitted to bypass the vehicle weigh station.

Abstract: An electronic toll collection system (ETCS) terminal may include a communication interface connected to a vehicle network of a vehicle, a card socket configured to accommodate insertion of a payment card, a card integrated circuit (IC) chip configured to store card information of an issued card, and a controller configured to activate, based on a user input received via the communication interface, at least one of the card IC chip or the card socket.

Abstract: A system for collecting a toll owed by a rental vehicle traveling along a toll road includes network interface hardware. a memory module, and a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface hardware and the memory module. Wherein the memory module stores logic that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive a rental start notification from the network interface hardware; and automatically execute toll payment logic stored on the memory module in response to receipt of the rental start notification. The toll payment logic causes the processor to detect and toll payment event throughout a rental period.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to use of supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised, or reinforcement-based machine learning algorithm(s) to perform pattern recognition and/or cluster detection on historical transactional data in order to predict events that may occur in the future and are candidates for automated delivery of items from a source to a customer in a contactless manner, via a secure delivery device, to minimize health risk(s) to the customer. The items may be securely delivered in an automated manner such as, for example, by use of a drone or autonomous vehicle, which may have advanced sensors to facilitate various aspects of the delivery. The items may be contained in a secure carrier coupled to the delivery device and may be unlocked locally or remotely using mechanical or digital means. Novel logical systems, architectures, machines, platforms, delivery devices and components thereof, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate automated querying of shipping services status information using a rules based engine are disclosed. A shipping status query engine of embodiments implements various rules for intelligently querying one or more shipping service provider systems for information regarding the status of shipped items. Using the intelligent determinations of a rules base shipping status query engine, embodiments enable large scale, automated status queries for a very large number of shipped items. Having such automated access to updated status information for the shipped items, additional functionality may also be supported, such as to provide alerts, reminders, notifications, etc., upon detecting certain events and/or failure to detect certain events. Moreover, embodiments may be adapted to utilize the updated status information to initiate actions with respect to particular shipments based upon detected events and/or failure to detect certain events.

Abstract: When it is necessary to charge the battery of one vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, a vehicle management computer acquires information relating to a charging facility that supplies electric power to a charge-discharge device, and information relating to the battery of another vehicle, which is different from the first vehicle, and which battery is connected to the first vehicle via the charge-discharge device. Based on the information relating to the charging facility and the information relating to the battery of the other vehicle, the vehicle management computer determines which is least expensive, a first cost associated with charging the battery of the first vehicle using the electric power that is supplied from the charging facility, or a second cost associated with charging the battery of the first vehicle using the electric power that is discharged from the battery of the other vehicle.

Abstract: A system can be configured to receive and analyze an image captured by a user device at a delivery location. The system can utilize local algorithms tailored to the delivery location to confirm that the delivery location is the intended delivery location for a package. The system can utilize global algorithms to generate three-dimensional models of the delivery environment and an augmented reality interface providing delivery instructions to the deliverer. The delivery instructions include indications of approved delivery locations and rejected delivery locations associated with the general delivery location of the customer. The delivery instructions and the user device can be utilized to ensure package placement for secure delivery to a customer.

Abstract: A package container includes a processor that is configured to store a trial end time based at least in part on receiving a return request. The processor is also configured to determine a trial duration based on a comparison of a trial start time and the trial end time. The processor is further configured to initiate sending of a transportation request to a delivery management server in response to the processor determining that the trial duration is less than or equal to a trial duration threshold. The transportation request indicates a request to initiate sending of a transportation vehicle to a delivery location to retrieve the package container from the delivery location.

Abstract: A hardware system enables computer network interaction between network identity services and account-based service applications. In some examples, the network identity service biometrically identifies people. The network identity services and/or account-based service applications interact to exchange data in order to monitor, track, initiate, and/or cooperatively and/or individually perform various functions while protecting data that should not be shared and minimizing communication network usage and hardware and software resources. This interaction enables both to accomplish more and different tasks than they could individually while improving operational efficiency of hardware and software components of both.

Abstract: A property tour management system automatically manages creation, real-time facilitation, and analytics associated with property tours. The system includes various portals to provide access to information and performance of functions useful to agents, buyers, and real-estate organizations relating to a property tour experience. The system enables all parties involved to gain a more efficient, more informational, and more enjoyable property tour experience.

Abstract: A secure transport case having multiple compartments protects consumables from interference during delivery between a restaurant and a consumer. Multiple compartments provide temperature smart technology to maintain a desired temperature of the consumables during transit. A locking mechanism of the transport case is kept locked during transit and is unlocked by a secret key by the consumer. A mobile application is provided to a user to place an order, monitor the status of the secure transport case, the order itself, and to receive the secret code to unlock the secure transport case upon delivery.