Abstract: Service requests are transmitted to multiple vehicles, each request associated with a time and a location. Driving histories of vehicles are known. A first location associated with a service request is compared with a known location in a vehicle driving history. The known location comprises a first cell identifier of a first grid where a size of the cells indicates a maximum acceptable deviation of the vehicle from a travel segment in the driving history that includes the first cell identifier. When the first location matches the known location and the associated time overlaps a start or end time of the travel segment that includes the first cell identifier, the service request is identified to the vehicle. The vehicle sends an indicator that it will perform at least a portion of a service, and an instruction is transmitted to the vehicle that causes the vehicle to perform the service.

Abstract: Battery charging control methods, electrical vehicle charging methods, battery charging control apparatus, and electrical vehicles are described. In one arrangement, battery charging control methods include accessing price information for electrical energy supplied by an electrical power distribution system and controlling an adjustment of an amount of the electrical energy from the electrical power distribution system used to charge a rechargeable battery at different moments in time using the price information. Other arrangements are described.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for determining/identifying confidence ratings/indicators for delivery of items. In one embodiment, this comprises determining a number of location events that occurred within a zone of confidence for delivery an item to a serviceable address; and responsive to determining the number of location events that occurred within the zone of confidence for delivery the item to the serviceable address, determining, via one or more processors, a confidence rating for delivery of the item to the serviceable address based at least in part on the number of location events that occurred within the zone of confidence.

Abstract: A delivery management system includes: a first accepting unit which accepts provisional information corresponding to true information regarding a delivery destination, and being different information from the true information; a first specifying unit which specifies a first identification information based on the provisional information accepted by the first accepting unit, with referring the first storage unit storing the first identification information and the provisional information while associating them; a second specifying unit which specifies a second identification information based on the first identification information specified by the first specifying unit, with referring the second storage unit storing the second identification information and the first identification information while associating them; and a third specifying unit which specifies the true information based on the second identification information specified by the second specifying unit, with referring a third storage unit storin

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering, processing, containing, and transporting water obtained from an ice source, i.e., a glacier, ice sheet, ice cap, etc., are described herein. The ice obtained from the ice source holds unique properties and is processed as a beverage for consumption having unique properties. Further, the resulting product is produced and transported with minimal human alteration and reduced energy input as compared to conventional methods for packaging water.

Abstract: A meter apparatus and method of operating a removable meter apparatus are described. The meter apparatus includes a tag associated with unique tag identification information and configured to be permanently affixed to a location housing at a unique physical location, and includes a removable meter unit configured to mate with the location housing and receive the tag identification from the tag and report the tag identification to a data manager configured to associate an identifier of the removable meter unit with the tag identification and unique physical location, and associate configuration information for the physical location with the removable meter unit and the tag identification. The unique physical location can comprise a single-space parking location.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for determining and plotting delivery routes in a computing device. A set of solutions to the traveling salesman problem may be determined by applying a convex hull to determine a set of initial solutions. Computational complexity may be reduced by decreasing the dimensions of the initial solutions. The set of initial solutions may be further optimized by applying genetic optimization to determine the most efficient solutions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for estimating taxes. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle's location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that the vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofenced area, telematics data can be collected and used to estimate taxes, such as road use taxes and fuel use taxes.

Abstract: A cryptographically enforced data exchange is disclosed that enables an exchange of customer travel records between a plurality of travel providers while preserving customer privacy. The disclosed system receives customer travel data from publishers, and communicates a portion of the customer travel data to one or more subscribers in response to determining a customer match, without disclosing any protected data elements between the publisher and the subscriber.

Abstract: An interactive rapid response Internet accessed air travel management system. The system includes a web-based planning and reservation interface system and an interactive access device. The system responds to details of a member's desired travel, to thereafter act in real time to contact the domains of associated travel service providers to arrange for every aspect of the member's trip, from airline and hotel reservations, ticket issuance, and ground transportation, to restaurant and theater reservations, and any other travel related needs of the member. The system stores identification information to verify access device possession to prohibit unauthorized use of the system and to provide security pre-clearance to system members.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided which allow for the management of multiple beacons using a network-connected primary beacon in communication with the multiple beacons. The primary beacon may be in communication with the other beacons in the network using a low power wireless technology, such as Bluetooth® low energy (BLE). The primary beacon may receive updates and content from a server over a network to which the primary beacon is in communication, and then send the received updates and content to the other beacons. Moreover, the other beacons may periodically provide updates or collect information and provide this information to the primary beacon, which can then send the updates or collected information to the server for storage and/or analysis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for generating a delivery plan for multi-tier delivery schemes are described. Embodiments may include generating a delivery plan for a region including multiple delivery locations. The delivery plan may specify at least one agent delivery route within the region. The delivery route may include at least one shipment acquisition location coinciding with an expected travel route of a vehicle conveying shipments. The agent delivery route may be traversed by an agent that is to deliver a specific group of shipments acquired from the vehicle at the shipment acquisition location. Embodiments may include selecting the specific group of shipments for delivery on the delivery route. The selecting is based on a time constraint for delivering the group of shipments to respective delivery locations along the delivery route, and historical delivery time information for previous deliveries to the delivery locations along the delivery route.

Abstract: Systems and methods of this disclosure are directed to displaying travel itineraries. In some implementations, a system receives a search request for a travel itinerary, and identifies a candidate travel itinerary that includes a departure time, an arrival time, a duration, and a price. The system generates a first coordinate on a first axis of a multidimensional graph corresponding to the departure time, and a second coordinate on a second axis corresponding to the arrival time. The system generates a location on the multidimensional graph for the first coordinate and the second coordinate that indicates the duration of the candidate travel itinerary. The system creates a data structure for the candidate travel itinerary and allocates an icon to the data structure. The system sets an attribute of the icon based on the price of the candidate travel itinerary, and provides the icon for display with the multidimensional graph.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are each proximate to at least one of the parking spaces. Tourist parking identification cards are issued to an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges, which are then provided to the visitors. The parking identification cards are activated by pairing each identification card with a digital ticket issued to the agency. The parking spaces are managed by sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and by determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device.

Abstract: A reservation system is disclosed. The system comprises a communication means for receiving, from a remote device, an availability request for a product or service; sending, to the device, a first ordered list element data representing a distribution of a plurality of different products or services within a map in response to receiving the request; and for receiving, from the remote device, a reservation request for one of the plurality of different products or services.

Abstract: A method and system for reserving a time slot to gain access to a resource, such as an attraction, ride, show or event, as may be found in an amusement park. A portable module is used to determine a time when the user is able to access the resource based on reservation requests and throughput, without need for a docking station or continuous communication with a central database of all reservations and queue times.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing an Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD). In response to receiving a request for an ancillary service, an aggregation module generates an aggregation record. The aggregation module may obtain passenger and segment data from a plurality of Passenger Name Records (PNRs), and add this data to the aggregation record. The aggregation record may thereby provide a database object including passenger and segment data from multiple PNRs associated with an itinerary. The aggregation record may be associated with an EMD, and may be configured so that a single EMD can be issued to a traveler for an ancillary service provided across an itinerary comprising multiple PNRs. A mapping record may also be generated that links the EMD, aggregation record, and PNRs. The mapping record may thereby provide an index that enables a database to quickly identify relationships between EMDs, aggregation records, and PNRs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining an improved location of a node in a wireless node network based on context data are described. A network device, such as a master node or server, accesses a first type of the context data related to a proximate environment of the node being located. The first type of the context data includes signal degradation information for a second node (similar to the first node) in a similar environment to the proximate environment of the first node. Based upon this first type of context data, the network device adjusts a communication distance related to the first node, such as a transmission distance or receiver sensitivity range distance. The network device then determines the improved location of the first node based upon the adjusted communication distance that accounts for signal degradation known to affect the similar second node in the similar environment.

Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, techniques are disclosed for capturing and analyzing images of driver's licenses to assess a validity for the driver's licenses in support of various rental transactions.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: an record information obtaining mechanism which obtains record information representing a provision destination of one predetermined electronic information property by a terminal device relating to a provider of the electronic information property; a comparing mechanism which compares record in provision of the electronic information property of a plurality of terminal devices by comparing the obtained record information based on a predetermined reference; and a provision scheme specifying mechanism which specifies a scheme, based on which the different electronic information property is provided to the terminal device, based on a comparison result.