Abstract: A reservation system for lodging has a first computer and a second computer, in which the first computer has data of available facilities and accepts user's input of lodging date and facility, and the second computer that accesses the first computer through a network and manages vacancy data of facilities. The second computer accesses a plurality of the first computers and their databases to search available facilities, and is capable of accessing other first computers for searching and reserving available facilities. Situation where reservation is not made even when a vacant room is available is prevented by accessing a plurality of the first computers.

Abstract: A method and system for managing carrier vessel information are provided. A carrier path and shipment planning system receives carrier information associated with individual carrier vessels from a plurality of carrier information sources. Based on the carrier information the carrier path and shipment planning system processes the carrier information to form complete path scenarios. The carrier path and shipment planning system associates control rules to the complete path scenarios to determine one or more candidate paths. The carrier path and shipment planning system can then generate various interfaces for identifying selected, ranked paths, information associated with a competitive marketplace and availability information for contracting for cargo shipment. A user can then further manipulate the user interfaces for scenario planning or filtering available selections.

Abstract: A lowest rate on a multi-night lodging stay is achieved by obtaining lodging rate information for a first lodging location from a plurality of lodging rate sources. The information is correlated with a desired multi-night lodging stay to locate a lowest lodging rate for each of the nights of the desired multi-night lodging stay. Then, a plurality of lodging reservations corresponding to the multi-night lodging stay are generated, wherein at least two of the lodging reservations correspond to different nights of the multi-night lodging stay and are placed through different lodging reservation systems.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for using a smart shipping to track one or more products contained therein. An embodiment operates by a transporting unit comprising a microcontroller, a transceiver, and a reliever, each of which is in communication with each other. The microcontroller is also in communication with a server external to the transporting unit. The transceiver is configured to o detect a transmitter attached to a product when the product is inside of the transporting unit. The receiver is configured to receive identifying information and a geographical location pertaining to the product. The microcontroller is then configured to send a message containing the identifying information and the geographical location pertaining to the product to the server.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to an automatic capacity detection system and methods thereof. The system includes a capacity detector for continuously monitoring an area to track an available amount of capacity; a location sensor for automatically identifying a current location at which the available amount of capacity is available; a processor in remote communication with the capacity detector and the location sensor to: compare the current location of the available amount of capacity with a destination of the available amount of capacity; estimate a remaining value of the available amount of capacity based on the comparison; and assign at least some of the available amount of capacity at the remaining value to an offering party.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for facilitating international return of dutiable goods. A typical application involves a purchaser buying goods on-line, resulting in shipping the goods internationally to the purchaser. After receipt of the goods, the purchaser determines that return of the goods is necessary. The purchaser contacts the merchant selling the goods to request returning the goods. The merchant, in turn, communicates to the carrier delivering the goods that an international return is requested. The merchant provides certain information to the carrier allowing the carrier to make available the necessary documentation required by the customer to return the goods to the merchant. The documentation includes a properly completed commercial invoice that is made available to the consignee. The consignee can then sign and use the documentation for returning the item. The documentation may be variously provided to the customer either by the merchant or the carrier.

Abstract: A system and method that includes receiving for each passenger: a PNR; a passenger identification number (“PIN”); a passenger's historical itinerary; a fare; and an assigned seat. The method also includes assigning each PIN with a customer segment; storing the assignment within a first table; and then associating, using the first table and hierarchical rules stored within a second table, each PIN with a demand category. The method also includes identifying a product market; identifying a demand for the product market by each demand category; representing, using a utility function, the demand for the product market; and using the utility functions in a variable pricing strategy for the product market. The method also includes changing the hierarchical rules to alter the association between customer segments and demand categories without changing logic code, thereby increasing flexibility of the system.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying and intercepting a delivery vehicle is provided. The method includes executing a search process with respect to a plurality of delivery vehicles within a predefined geographical area and locating, within the predefined geographical area, at least one delivery vehicle of the plurality of delivery vehicles. A communication link from the delivery vehicle monitoring apparatus and the at least one delivery vehicle is established and identification data identifying the at least one delivery vehicle is retrieved. The identification data is verified with respect to a registry including identities associated with multiple delivery vehicles and it is determined if the identification data is associated with any of the identities.

Abstract: A method for calculating a fare for a transport service is provided. One or more processors receive a plurality of location data points from a computing device associated with a vehicle providing the transport service. The plurality of location data points correspond to a route of travel during performance of the transport service. A determination is made, based on a set of location data points of the plurality of location data points, that the vehicle has potentially driven along a roadway in which a toll is to be assessed as part of the fare. The roadway in which the toll is to be assessed is identified. The amount for the toll is determined for the identified roadway.

Abstract: A method for determining a route for a drone to deliver a package from an origin to a destination using vehicles that are not actively participating in a delivery of the package; a method for delivering the package from the origin to the destination using in the drone in accordance with the route; a method for determining a route for delivering a package from an origin to a destination using plurality of drones and vehicles that are not actively participating in a delivery of the package; a method for delivering the package from the origin to the destination using the plurality of drones and vehicles in accordance with the route; a vehicle-associated package repository, for retaining packages deposited and collected by a drone, to be transported by a vehicle; and a vehicle-transported container comprising the vehicle-associated package repository.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of providing information about a package in transit. The method involves receiving environmental data collected by a sensor associated with the package during transit and identifying contextual data about the package that is associated with the environmental data. The method also involves selectively providing access to the environmental and contextual data together as elements in an information feed to a plurality of parties, wherein the contextual data comprises at least one comment made by a party on an element in the information feed, and wherein one or more elements in the information feed are listed in chronological order beginning at a start time of the transit of the package.

Abstract: A method for delivering online orders to customers via a fully unmanned system includes replenishing the pod by using inventory carriers carrying containers via a replenishment hatch, moving an inventory carrier attached to carrier base with a mobile robotic unit in a room of adequate temperature. Additionally, the method includes transferring an inventory carrier at a mini load station and loading the order containers on a delivery carrier. The method further includes transferring a delivery carrier and attaching it to a delivery hatch so that the customer, following authentication, is able to pull the drawers and pick the ordered items.

Abstract: A method of managing events is disclosed. It is determined that a user is present at a particular location within an event venue. It is determined that the user has reserved the event venue for a particular time period. A selection is received from the user of a particular merchant that is committed to providing services at the event during the particular time period. The particular location within the event is associated with the particular merchant. A notification of the association of the particular location within the event venue with the particular merchant is generated for communication to the particular merchant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of dynamically sorting items for delivery to diverse destinations in which at least one target location changes during the sorting process using an electronic array that correlates diverse destinations to target locations for sorting, wherein the electronic array changes based upon criteria relating to the results of the sort resulting in the removal of a first set of items from one target location while leaving a second set in the target location and placing the first set in another target location to adapt to the changed array and thereafter continuing to sort further items according to the changed array while some items remain in their initial target locations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a supervisory device in a network, configured to interact with one or more sensors positioned in a given area and with a conference room scheduling service, obtains an acoustic feature of the area from one or more of the sensors. The supervisory device makes a determination that a conference room should be reserved based on the acoustic feature and selects a particular conference room based on the determination that a conference room should be reserved. The supervisory device instructs a conference room scheduling service to reserve the particular conference room.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, methods and computer program products for an a la carte amenity, special service, food/beverage and accommodation feature search and booking engines. Aspects of the present invention allow customers to identify, via arbitrary search, amenities and/or special services (including food/beverage) available at lodging facilities, restaurants clubs/lounges/bars, dwellings and travel accommodation venues. Customers are thereby presented with goods and services matching or related to their query items and are permitted to select and confirm desired feature options and book, reserve or purchase their selection; optionally including the booking of an accommodation such as a room or table at a restaurant as well.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a user interface for enforcement of shipping rules. In one aspect, a method includes accessing regulation information/data, the regulation information/data being a multi-level hierarchy of nodes arranged in a tree structure, each node specifying one or more keywords, wherein the nodes comprise one or more starting nodes having one or more child nodes and having no parent nodes, one or more intermediate nodes having at least one of a child node and a parent node, and one or more end nodes having at least one parent node and no child nodes. Determining, that a particular keyword from the received one or more keywords matches a keyword of a node in the hierarchy. Determining, a level and a type of the node in the hierarchy, wherein the type of the node specifies whether the node is one of a starting node, an intermediate node, and an end node.

Abstract: System and method for scheduling a meeting room includes accepting information defining a meeting type, which is associated with at least one preset resources. The method further includes displaying at least one preset parameter based on the meeting type including email address of attendees, receiving preset information from the at least one displayed preset parameter, automatically identifying and reserving a first room that is associated with a maximum capacity number by communicating with a scheduling server the availability of the at least one preset resources based on the received preset information, notifying the organizer of the first room, detecting a number of attendees physically presence in the first room during an attendance time period by utilizing at least one sensor, and sending at least one command to control at least one of the associated preset resources in response to a start time and end time.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems, devices, and computer-implemented methods for tracking delivery items associated with a postal tracking product that includes a tracking bar code and a serial number. The tracking bar code can be attached to a delivery item and mailed. The delivery item can be processed by a delivery processing system, which can capture an image of the delivery item and the tracking bar code, and can extract a tracking number from the tracking bar code. The delivery processing system can report information on the location of the delivery item using the tracking number, and an indication of the location can be provided to a user that enters the serial number into a tracking interface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic system for public traffic, which is integrated with at least one wireless communication system. When or after a passenger gets on and pays by a mobile phone, information about the owner of the mobile phone is detected so as to check or freeze a fund or an overdraft limit of a full fare in an account corresponding to the mobile phone of the passenger. When the fund or overdraft limit is lower than the full fare or a certain numerical value, there will be a prompt of “Insert coins” or “Please recharge”.