Abstract: The present invention provides a method for verifying customer addresses before using those addresses in an asset tracking system. More specifically, the enhanced asset tracking system can accept multiple characteristics of the location. An operator or GIS system can check that these descriptors are identifying the same location. If descriptors do identify a same location, then the operator or GIS system can allow the location information to pass to the assets.

Abstract: An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement is formed when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.

Abstract: A computer generated 3-dimensional map display includes a reference icon identifying an observation point in the geographic area defined by the map, the map being presented on a curved surface which extends from a first plane to a second plane which is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. The observation point is located in the first plane. The display is configured such that the height of landmarks and buildings in a defined foreground of the reference icon are presented normal to the first plane, the height of land marks and buildings at a defined far distance are presented normal to the second plane and the height of land marks and buildings in a defined middle ground are presented normal to the non-linear portion of the curved surface. The geographic area represented can be translated along the curved surface to provide a perception that the reference icon is roaming through the displayed geographic area.

Abstract: A controller-executable method provides an electric-only (EV) launch mode in a vehicle having an accelerator pedal, an engine, a motor generator unit (MGU), a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and a belt alternator starter system adapted for selectively rotating the crankshaft using motor torque from the MGU. Execution of the method uses motor torque from the MGU, while the engine is off, to accelerate the crankshaft to above a calibrated launch speed when a threshold minimum force is applied to the pedal. A designated one of the odd- and even-gear clutches of the DCT are controlled until input torque to the DCT equals a calibrated level. The other DCT clutch may be modulated to dampen drivetrain oscillations. The vehicle launches in the EV launch mode via the designated DCT clutch when the crankshaft speed exceeds an input speed of the DCT. The vehicle and controller are also provided.

Abstract: A method to manage employee benefits (100) using a computer (30) in order to reduce employee cost. The method includes establishing an employee cash account (2) on a database (8) for disposing on a medium (31). Benefit hours (4) of the employee are accrued over a period of time to provide earned benefit hours (40). The employee's wage rate (10) during the period of time (6) is multiplied by the earned benefit hours (40) to provide a monetary benefit (12). The monetary benefit (12) is added to the employee cash account (2). When the employee uses the cash account (2), at least a portion of the monetary benefit (12) is subtracted from the employee cash account (12).

Abstract: A portable navigation device (PND) is disclosed comprising processing means, a graphical display, memory, map data stored in said memory, user-input means, and signal reception means for receiving one or more wireless signals by means of which the processor can determine a present location of the device and in conjunction with user input desired destination information, and perform route calculation and subsequent navigation functions, such being performed by software installed on the device. The PND is additionally provided with a connector by means of which said PND can be physically connected to third party devices or systems.

Abstract: Route planning methods for navigating an electronic device having a navigation system from a starting point to a destination are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First, current position of the electronic device is acquired. Next, a decision point corresponding to the current position is obtained in a planned route in which the decision point has a dedicated moving direction which is planned by the planned route and a plurality of possible moving directions. Accordingly, pluralities of candidate routes, destined to the destination, corresponding to the possible moving directions are generated. Next, the electronic device is navigated to the destination using the planned route or one of the candidate routes.

Abstract: A computer program, method, and systems for monitoring inbound documents. Each of these inbound documents, which concerns the delivery of inbound merchandise to a processing center, itemizes one or more available products included in the inbound merchandise. Outbound documents, each of which concerns the shipping of outbound merchandise from the processing center, are also monitored. These outbound documents each itemize one or more needed products to be included in the outbound merchandise. The available products itemized in one or more inbound documents are compared to the needed products itemized in one or more outbound documents to determine if a match occurs. If such a match occurs, the matched available and needed products are linked, such that an outstanding order for a needed product is fulfilled with an available product.

Abstract: An integrated point-of-sale terminal for use with a fuel dispenser has a site controller, at least one dispenser having a user interface, at least one processor at the site controller, memory coupled to the processor, and a plurality of point-of-sale applications associated with the site controller. The processor is configured to dynamically regulate which of the plurality of point-of-sale applications has control of the dispenser user interface based on a set of business rules.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for assessing student prospects. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to receiving transaction data from a transaction involving a consumer, comparing the transaction data to an education position rule, and determining an education position based at least partially on a comparison of the transaction data to an education position rule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for checking the correctness of GIS data. The method includes the steps of: receiving GIS data; receiving business data of each branch; determining the geographic area to which each branch belongs, wherein the GIS data in the geographic area will be checked; and, checking whether the GIS data of the geographic area to which each branch belongs are correct based on the business data of each branch. The method and apparatus can automatically check geographic and demographic data of a given city or region.

Abstract: A data center power cost accounting system uses server and storage and cooling power consumption models and device maps, together with runtime application maps, to estimate the equipment power consumption and cooling power consumption of individual applications. An approximation of the cooling cost over a period of time, for any given application, can be pieced together by adding up the equipment utilized by the application and applying the cooling estimates obtained from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The cooling estimates can further account for changes or variability in resource usage over time since the cooling estimates are based directly on utilization. The per application power consumption costs are obtained without having to install or depend on power measurement instruments or other hardware in the datacenters.

Abstract: Estimating product inventory comprises determining a rate of sales events for a product and an amount of time that has elapsed since a previous product availability estimate fro the product. Then, a new product availability estimate for the product is determined based on the rate sales events for the product. The rate of sales events for the product can be determined based on product data feeds from the merchant or other sales data.

Abstract: In a method for operating a vehicle (1) having a plurality of wheels (3) and wheel sensors (5) which are associated with said wheels and whose measurement signals are representative of angular speeds of the respective wheels (3), respective scaling values (SV1, SV2, SH1, SH2) are adapted when a predefined condition is met, the condition depending on the yaw rate (GR) of the vehicle and/or on the steering angle (LW) of the front/rear wheels.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments manage an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction is identified. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated using the electric vehicle charging information. A charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction is initiated for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle. In response to completion of the charging phase, the process then settles the financial obligations of a subset of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan.

Abstract: A route searching method is provided which allows drivers having mutually similar traveling purposes and preferences to find highly convenient routes by sharing their route searching know-how. A center apparatus (1) collects probe data received from an in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5). A preference parameter creating unit (14) calculates, based on the probe data, road usage frequencies according to preference items such as vehicle type, driver age and gender, and travel purpose which can be factors for route selection and stores the calculated road usage frequencies as preference parameters in a preference parameter database (15). A route searching unit (513) included in the in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5) requests the center apparatus (1) to transmit a preference parameter similar to user attribute information (519), adjusts link costs according to the preference parameter received from the center apparatus, and determines a minimum-cost route to a destination.

Abstract: A tracking system for tracking hotel linen includes a tracking control, a plurality of check points setting at different key locations in a hotel respectively to communicatively link with the tracking control, and a plurality of identification tags arranged for permanently affixing at a plurality of hotel linen products respectively. Each of the identification tags contains a unique code preset by the tracking control to wirelessly communicate with each of the check points. Therefore, when each of the hotel linen products is moved to one of the check points, the corresponding identification tag is registered thereat. A tracking record is generated in the tracking control for the hotel linen products in responsive to each of the check points to monitor and manage the hotel linen products so as to greatly improve linen utilization in the hotel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a technician to dispatch to a customer site requiring a service call. A first plurality of technicians assigned to a customer site requiring a service call is determined. A location of each of the technicians is also determined. A first plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of locations at which is disposed equipment needed for the service call. A second plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of service vehicles at which is disposed the equipment needed for the service call. One of the technicians is dispatched to the customer site based on the location of each of the technicians, on the first plurality of distances, and on the second plurality of distances. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for sending an e-mail message comprises receiving a transmission instruction page, entering a plurality of text entries from a user on the transmission instruction page to form a filled-in transmission instruction page, wherein the plurality of text entries includes an e-mail address, and sending a facsimile to a facsimile server, wherein the facsimile includes the filled-in transmission instruction page and one or more pages of a document, wherein the facsimile server converts the facsimile into an e-mail attachment, wherein the facsimile server sends the e-mail message including a service provider indicator and the e-mail attachment to the e-mail address, wherein the facsimile server optically derives the e-mail address from the transmission instruction page of the facsimile, and wherein facsimile server need not know the e-mail address prior to receiving the facsimile.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of reconciling a primary budget for a construction project. One embodiment of the invention includes generating a primary budget for the construction project and assigning a first primary budget line item from the primary budget to a participant. A secondary budget is then generated for the primary budget line item. Before administering a draw that includes a payment to the participant, the computer-implemented method ensures that the total sum of the budget amounts in the secondary budget is consistent with the budget amount for the primary budget line item. In some embodiments, the secondary budget is consistent when the total sum of the budget amounts is less than the primary budget line item. In some embodiments, the secondary budget is consistent when the total sum of the budget amounts is equal to the primary budget line item.