Abstract: A transaction account issuer may obtain receive an application for a transaction account which includes a department of defense identification code. The transaction account issuer may verify the DOD ID number with the DOD. The transaction account issuer may embed the DOD ID number in a transaction instrument which is issued to the consumer. The consumer may use the transaction instrument at a DOD point of sale located at a DOD facility. The DOD point of sale may verify with the DOD that the DOD ID number in the transaction instrument is valid. The DOD may notify the transaction account issuer that the DOD ID number is valid. The transaction account issuer may approve transactions which may have otherwise been denied.

Abstract: A brake/drive force controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine for applying drive forces to driving wheels of the vehicles, a control diff for distributing the drive forces to the left and right driving wheels independently, and an electronic control system brake device for applying brake forces to the left and right driving wheels independently. An ECU is configured so as to be able to control the engine, the control diff, and the electronic control system brake device according to an operating state of the vehicle. When the electronic control system brake device is operated, this ECU stops the operation of the control diff, thereby avoiding a sudden input of load on the drive force distribution mechanism, regardless of the running state of the vehicle. This makes the apparatus simpler and more lightweight.

Abstract: A system and method for payroll processing. In one embodiment, the system includes a first database, a second database, and a processor operably connected to the first and second databases. The first database contains information about an employer, and the second database contains a PDF template. The processor is operable to create a filable PDF tax form from the PDF template, with the filable PDF tax form including data retrieved from and/or calculated from the first database. The method of the present invention involves the steps of retrieving with the processor a PDF template from the second database and at least one data from the first database, and then producing a filable PDF tax form from the retrieved PDF template and from the retrieved and/or calculate data from the first database.

Abstract: A method for conducting a transaction is disclosed. The method includes using a first portable electronic device, and directly transmitting a request for payment to a second portable electronic device through a wireless link. Then, the second portable electronic device transmits an approval of the request for payment to the first portable electronic device. One of the first and the second portable electronic devices then sends the request for payment to a payment hub service. The payment hub service then facilitates the transfer of funds from a payer institution to a payee institution to complete the transaction.

Abstract: A system and method optimizes throughput of tracked assets as work-in-progress (WIP) within a monitored environment such as a manufacturing establishment with off-line processing areas. A plurality of assets such as vehicles have a tag transmitter associated therewith and operative for transmitting a wireless RF signal that includes data relating to the identification of the asset to which the tag transmitter is associated. A real-time location system (RTLS) infrastructure tracks the location of the plurality of assets to various containment, staging, and processing task areas within the monitored environment as WIP. A processor is operative with the RTLS infrastructure for determining an asset input rate into WIP at an origin to the WIP for optimizing asset flow rate as WIP through different containment, staging, and processing areas within the monitored environment.

Abstract: A method and system for managing at least one service level of a service provided by a service provider to a customer of the service provider under a service level agreement. The service level agreement is a contract between the service provider and the customer. Measurement data and at least one adjudication element associated with a service level of the at least one service level are retrieved in an electronic format. The measurement data and the at least one adjudication element are stored in a datastore. The measurement data includes at least one data point measured on a respective resource that provides the service. The retrieved measurement data are adjudicated for the service level in accordance with the at least one adjudication element such that the adjudication generates a respective adjudicated data point for each data point of the measurement data.

Abstract: The demand response system comprises an automatic meter reading (AMR) unit to generate metering information. The demand response system comprises a multiple utility complex unit (MUC) which provides DR information based on the metering information and manages utility supply schedule in combination. The demand response system comprises an eco index (EI) calculation unit which calculates an eco index based on the metering information. The demand response system comprises a demand response (DR) unit which obtains the CBL information based on the metering information and computes a the DR bill by using the CBL data, the DR information and EI obtained, and outputs the DR bill. The demand response system comprises a smart portal (SP) unit which provides users with the calculated DR bill. According to the disclosure, the demand response system can provide environmental and social information, in addition to economic information.

Abstract: In a drive control system for a fuel cell-equipped vehicle including a rotating electrical machine, a control unit includes a rapid warm-up processing module for performing rapid warm-up by the low-efficiency power generation of a fuel cell, a torque command value limiting module 68 for limiting the torque command value in accordance with the change of a system voltage caused by rapid warm-up processing, and an FC output command value calculating module for calculating the output command value of the fuel cell in accordance with the limited torque command value. In a storage device connected to the control unit, a system voltage characteristic map which shows the torque-rotation speed characteristics of the rotating electrical machine corresponding to the system voltage is stored.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a point of return device can be configured to gather information related to a return request and a returning customer. Upon providing the information to an authorization server, the server can identify historical transaction data of the returning customer from data stored in a repository. Based on the historical transaction data and on the return request, the authorization server determines a return authorization decision based on an item-level return policy, another decision based on customer-specific return privileges, and optionally, another authorization decision based on registry-related return privileges. Upon processing the return request based on a selected return authorization decision, data representative of the processed return request is optionally stored in the repository to update the previously identified customer transaction data.

Abstract: A system and method of compensating for torque converter slip in a motor vehicle include measuring rotational speeds of an engine crankshaft and mainshaft, as well as measuring operating temperatures of a fluid associated with the motor vehicle. Engine output torque is adjusted as required by controlling some combination of ignition timing, intake air flow, fuel injection, and accessory load. A system and method for deactivating a torque compensation system retrieves a number of times the torque compensation system has been activated over a set period. If the number exceeds a predetermined number of activations, the torque compensation system is deactivated.

Abstract: A portable device, which is unrelated to an ETC system, includes a processor, a GPS receiver, a memory, a wireless interface enabling wireless access to an outside server. The memory stores a program which, when executed by the processor, causes the device to obtain map information and toll gate information by accessing the outside server, periodically obtain a location of the device by using the GPS receiver and record the location in the memory so as to create location history data in the memory. The program also enables the device to determine whether or not the device passes a toll gate based on the location, the map information and the toll gate information and to record a toll amount of the toll gate according to the toll information in the location history data in the memory.

Abstract: An update information providing server for providing data of an updated portion in map data composed of plural kinds of the data includes: a map data storage unit configured to store incremental update data of a difference between the data at a predefined time and newest data, and a data size of the incremental update data; an update request receiving unit configured to receive from a user terminal a map data update request including a capacity of a recording medium, and priority information for specifying a data kind of the data to be preferentially updated; an update order information making unit configured to make update order information; an update information transmission unit configured to extract the incremental update data from the storage unit, to make update information including the extracted incremental update data and the update order information, and to transmit the made update information to the user terminal.

Abstract: A method for performing DA (Dynamic Alignment) beam calibration in a plasma processing system is provided. The method including acquiring a positional difference, the positional difference is acquired using an optical imaging approach. The optical imaging approach comprising of positioning the wafer on the end effector, taking a still image of the wafer on the end effector, processing the still image to ascertain the center of the wafer and an end effector-defined center defined by the end effector, and determining the positional difference between the center of the wafer and the end effector-defined center defined by the end effector. The method also includes centering a wafer with respect to an end effector by compensating for a positional difference between the wafer and the end effector with robot movement compensation. The method including moving the wafer and the end effector through DA beams associated with a plasma processing module.

Abstract: A system and method verifying the operational integrity of a wireless message broadcasting messaging system with a heartbeat message generator module and a heartbeat feedback reporting system for receiving a broadcast message record including the broadcast message and the broadcast target area defined as geographical information, generating a heartbeat broadcast message, identifying by the broadcast message routing subsystem at least one wireless network providing point to multipoint cell broadcasting messaging to at least a portion of the broadcast target area, transmitting the broadcast message to each of the identified wireless networks, and transmitting the generated heartbeat message to at least one coupled wireless network in addition to transmitting the heartbeat broadcast message to each of the identified wireless networks, and receiving an indication of receipt of the heartbeat broadcast message from a remote feedback receiver verifying the receipt of the message as indicated by the received indicati

Abstract: A system and method for verifying the receipt of wireless broadcast messages over a wireless message broadcasting system having a broadcast control module and a feedback reporting system for performing the receiving a broadcast message record including the broadcast message and the broadcast target area defined as geographical information, identifying at least one wireless network from among one or more coupled wireless networks that provides point to multipoint cell broadcasting messaging to at least a portion of the message specific broadcast target area as received in the broadcast message record, and transmitting the broadcast message to each of the identified wireless networks, and receiving an indication of receipt of the broadcast message by a remote feedback receiver located within a transmission area of at least one of the coupled wireless networks, and verifying the receipt of the message as indicated by the received indication.

Abstract: A system and method of managing time and, more particularly, to a system and method for automatically tracking time in an electronic system. The system includes a time tracking tool is configured to be integrated with an instant messaging system. The time tracking tool is configured to associate a received instant message with one or more projects and track a session time in which the received instant message is active.

Abstract: Among other disclosures, a method can include executing instructions on a computing platform so that an application and consumable content rendered by the application are provided to a connected device, executing instructions on the computing platform so that a confirmation is obtained that the application and consumable content were received by the connected device and the application was successfully installed by the connected device, and executing instructions on the computing platform so that a content delivery relationship, including a billing relationship, is established in response to the obtained confirmation.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to order fulfillment by various fulfillment sources in a fulfillment network. A fulfillment source is selected in the fulfillment network to fulfill an order before a contingency deadline. If the order is not fulfilled by the deadline, other fulfillment sources are used. Lead times for fulfillment of orders for products are adjusted for respective fulfillment sources based on their past fulfillment history.

Abstract: A tachograph and a toll onboard unit as communication partners, which each have a data interface for a data communication via a vehicle data bus to which the communication partners are coupled. The tachograph and/or the toll onboard unit are implemented as a transmitter of data to ascertain a cryptographic check value as a function of user data, which are to be transmitted to the communication partner, and to transmit the cryptographic check value in addition to the user data to the communication partner. The toll onboard unit or the tachograph, respectively, as a receiver of data, is implemented to receive user data and the cryptographic check value associated with the user data from the communication partner and to check the received user data for corruption as a function of the received cryptographic check value.

Abstract: A method for charging a payer includes detecting a payer device, which is associated with a payer account, entering an event area. The payer device is then associated with an event invoice in a database. When the payer device is determined to have been involved in at least one payer charging event while being located in the event area, a charge is associated with the event invoice in the database for each payer charging event the payer device has been involved in. When the payer device is detected leaving the event area, a payment is charged to the payer account for the event invoice.