Abstract: A delivery management system comprises a communication device that receives a notification of a communication established between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that delivers a payload and a delivery box constructed and arranged to receive the payload from the UAV when the UAV is a predetermined distance from the delivery box and moving in a direction toward the delivery box, the communication including an identity of the UAV; a verification device that processes the notification and validates the identity of the UAV; and an instruction generator that generates an instruction to the delivery box to open the delivery box in response to the verification device validating the identity of the UAV and a determination by the communication device that the communication is established between the UAV and the delivery box. The communication device includes an autolocker communication device that outputs the instruction to the delivery box.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for validating products to be delivered to customers via unmanned aerial vehicles. Each UAV includes sensors configured to detect at least one actual physical characteristic and/or actual identifying characteristic of a product being loaded into the UAV and/or being transported by the UAV to a delivery destination. The actual physical characteristic information and/or the actual identifying information detected by the sensors is compared to predefined physical characteristic information and/or predefined identifying information stored in an electronic database in order to validate that the product that is being loaded into the UAV and/or being transported by the UAV is not damaged and corresponds to the order being fulfilled. If validation of one or more products is not successful, the UAV is restricted from delivering such products to the delivery destination.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for reserving a parking space. In a user-implemented method, a user inputs a request into an electronic device to reserve one or more parking spaces and pays for the reservation. The reservation may be for a general parking space or for a specific parking space in a parking lot or garage. In another method the user inquiry is received as input and processed on an electronic device networked to a central cloud server comprising a distributed cloud computer system. A status of the parking space is displayed to the user in real time to which the user makes a reply. Also provided is a distributed e-parking space system able to execute instructions to receive input and, via a Distributed Internet Services system, to distribute an application or components to process input, deploy the distributed applications/components and synchronize data related to the reservation process.

Abstract: A cascaded model predictive control system includes an inner controller and an outer controller. The outer controller determines an amount of power to defer from a predicted power usage to optimize a total cost of power usage. A power setpoint is calculated based on a difference between the predicted power usage and the amount of power to defer. The inner controller determines an operating setpoint for building equipment in order to achieve the power setpoint.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems of route planning for package pickup and delivery includes: receiving predetermined locations in a geographic region and data representing a predetermined route connecting the predetermined locations; determining unit areas in the geographic region based on sequential nearness of the predetermined locations along the predetermined route, the unit areas including a first unit area and a second unit area, and the unit areas being configured such that all locations in the first unit area are to be visited before visiting locations of the second unit area; generating delivery patterns for determining a route connecting at least one of the unit areas, each delivery pattern including at least one of the unit areas associated with a visiting sequence; when receiving task data including target locations to visit, determining a target route using the delivery patterns and the target data; and sending the target route to a mobile apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to parking availability systems and methods of parking, and more specifically, to a parking system that manages individual parking spaces in real-time. Notably, the present invention gives a parking asset owner flexibility to adjust parking prices for individual parking spaces within a parking facility in real-time depending upon dynamic market conditions such as demand, convenience, and location. The purpose of the invention is to offer parking consumers a choice in parking price tiers to encourage turnover and maximize revenue streams for the parking asset owner. Additional benefits of the present invention to the parking asset owner include improved service to customers, obtaining LEED credits, reducing harmful carbon emissions, mitigating transportation demand, saving time through stream-lined parking operations, and eco-friendly solutions to parking problems not solved by traditional parking models.

Abstract: A device is provided which enables a courier to select one of two lists and to detect a selection of one of the two lists. A first list is provided for shipments that are to be delivered to a respective destination of the shipments by the courier and a second list is provided for shipments that are not to be delivered to a respective destination of the shipments by the courier. The device receives data that results from a scanning of at least one label that is associated with a shipment or with a group of shipments. The device adds at least one item to the selected list, each of the at least one item associated with a shipment or with a group of shipments, based on the received data. The device may perform these actions by an apparatus and/or by computer program that is executed by a processor.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for detecting an operational safety condition within a container using a scanning sensor node deployed within the container and above a storage space within the container. For example, the method uses the scanning sensor node to sense if the container is in a closed state and monitors the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state. The method then has the scanning sensor node detecting a movement within the container based upon the monitoring of the storage space while in the closed state. Such a detected movement is indicative of the operational safety condition. The method then has the scanning sensor node transmitting an alert to a managing node over a wireless communication interface of the scanning sensor node, where the alert is associated with the operational safety condition within the container.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for dynamically identifying and engaging at least one on-demand packaging customer in a consolidated fashion. The system comprises one or more computer processors configured to: receive qualification data associated with at least one customer; calculate whether the at least one customer is a qualified customer; in response to identifying the qualified customer, determine whether the qualified customer is a targeted customer; in response to identifying the targeted customer, evaluate a readiness of at least one facility operated by the targeted customer for engagement of an on-demand packaging configuration; in response to determining a positive facility readiness, generate one or more documents for execution by at least the targeted customer, the carrier, and the supplier; and upon execution of the one or more documents, facilitate implementation of the on-demand packaging configuration at the at least one facility.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for creating customized delivery paths for unmanned aerial vehicle deliveries are provided. Aspects include receiving, from a delivery recipient, one or more delivery locations for a delivery of a package and receiving, from the delivery recipient, a flight plan associated with each of the one or more delivery locations, wherein at least one of the flight plans include an authorized path across a private property. Aspects also include receiving, from the delivery recipient, a set of delivery recipient preferences that are used to determine which of the one or more delivery locations should be used to deliver the package and storing, by a processor in a computer readable medium, the set of delivery recipient preferences for use in determining a delivery location for a package to the delivery recipient.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provided for delivering products ordered by a customer of a retailer to a delivery destination designated by the ordering customer by way of having another customer pick up the ordered products at the store location of the retailer and then hand off the picked up products to an autonomous transport vehicle that delivers the handed off products to a delivery destination designated by the ordering customer.

Abstract: A computer-implementable method and system for identifying the preferred commuting route to be used for a given route requirement subject to travel and personal preference criteria. The method and system uses computerized mapping software programs that match stored travel and user preferences to a given route by matching end points and waypoints along the given route and providing user-enabled filtering among multiple users. The method and system also serve well in finding people whose origin and destination are along the drive route.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention includes system and methods for the continued operation of a carrier management system having one or more user terminals that normally communicate with at least one data center over a network (online), when the one or more user terminals are unable to communicate with the data center (offline). Once communication is re-established between the one or more user terminal and the data center, local files and data on the user terminals that were used to rate and ship packages while offline are synchronized between the one or more user terminals and the data center.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide an interactive venue seat map that shows where a user's contacts or friends are sitting to help the user select seats when purchasing tickets for an event, such as a concert or sporting event. The tickets can be purchased from an online ticket seller, such as StubHub, Inc. Information regarding where the friends are sitting can be obtained from a ticker server of the online ticket seller, a social network, or a list of contacts. The interactive venue map can show the seats or sections where the friends are sitting using photos of the friends. The user can use the map to determine which seats the user would like to purchase.

Abstract: A method for recharging an electric vehicle includes receiving, by a control module and from the vehicle in transit along a route having a number of stops for passenger pickup, a current charge level and a current location. The stops include recharging stations for recharging the vehicle. The method includes receiving from a next stop, an anticipated stop time at the next stop for the vehicle. The method includes determining a power output to be supplied to the vehicle by a recharging station at the next stop based on the current charge level. The power output comprises an amount of power to be supplied at the next stop, the amount of power for satisfying a minimum amount of charge to enable the vehicle to arrive at a subsequent stop after the next stop. The method includes transmitting, to the recharging station at the next stop, the power output.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.

Abstract: A method and system for geofencing of vehicle impound yards. One or more geofences around impound yards are selected. The one or more geofences are associated with one or more vehicles. When a vehicle enters the geofenced area, a user (e.g., an individual, car dealer, finance company, etc.) is immediately notified to prevent excessive impound financial charges. If a vehicle is left in a geofence area, a cumulative time duration and a cumulative finance charge are accurately recorded to reduce or prevent financial fraud.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for matching postal addresses. In an example, provided is a method for comparing postal addresses. The method includes receiving a first postal address, standardizing the form of the first postal address, removing a component of the first postal address to create a canonical representation of the first postal address, and utilizing a signature-based algorithm to identify at least one stored signature which substantially matches the first postal address.

Abstract: A user may order items that may be made available at a facility such as a pickup facility. Described are techniques for preparing and expediting an order for pick up by the user. In one implementation, geolocation data acquired from a user device may be used to determine when the user has entered a geofence associated with the facility. Based on this geolocation data and sensor data from sensors at the facility, a system may automatically identify the user. Once identified, the items in the order may be delivered to the user in a parking area of the pickup facility, who may then depart the pickup facility.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an identifier of at least one predetermined object and a display that includes a first display, which displays the identifier read by the reading unit, and a second display, which displays management information including an information item that identifies the object and an information item that indicates whether the identifier of the object has been read by the reading unit.