Abstract: A road usage charge system uses a proprietary blockchain to conduct transactions for road usage fees. While driving, a mobile device or equivalent tracks the vehicle location, speed, time of day, day of week, and any other parameter that may be used to modify a base road use fee are tracked and applied to conditional modifiers of the smart contract to create a new transaction block. As a result, the tedious reconciliation process normally associated with vehicular payments can be avoided.

Abstract: An interface system may include a communication interface. The interface system may include one or more processing units communicatively coupled with the communication interface. The interface system may include a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the one or more processing units to provide an application programming interface (API) that enables a managing authority system and a plurality of mobility entity systems to communicate with one another and the interface system via the communications interface. Each of the mobility entity systems may provide at least one mode of transportation. The instructions may further cause the one or more processing units to establish a communications link between the managing authority system and at least one of the plurality of mobility entity systems.

Abstract: In one implementation, a system for broadcasting on-duty adventure opportunities among computing devices includes an adventure management computer system to transmit (a) push notifications to selected mobile computing devices related to activated on-duty adventure opportunities and (b) local beacon signal identifiers for mobile-to-mobile beacon signal transmissions for the activated on-duty adventure opportunities, a guide mobile computing device to locally broadcast information for the on-duty adventure opportunity, and a participant mobile computing device (i) to detect the local beacon signals with the local beacon signal identifier for the on-duty adventure opportunity, (ii) to obtain the adventure information for the on-duty adventure opportunity from the adventure management computer system, and (iii) to reserve the on-duty adventure opportunity with the adventure management computer system.

Abstract: A virtual grid system is provided that enables allocation of energy produced by an energy producing asset to individual units of a multi-unit building. The system tracks the amount of electrical energy produced by the energy producing asset and also tracks an amount of electrical energy used by each individual unit. The system compares energy production information including pairs of an amount of energy produced and a corresponding time interval during which the amount of energy was produced to energy usage information including pairs of an amount of energy used and a corresponding time interval during which the amount of energy was used. The system allocates an amount of energy produced during each time interval to the individual units based on the amount of energy consumed by each respective individual unit during the time intervals. The system also calculates an energy cost allocation for each individual unit.

Abstract: A product return/replacement device performs return/replacement of products, the device having a computer and a printer. The computer is equipped with: a read unit that reads a return/replacement reception code that indicates that the consumer has made a return/replacement reservation; a communication unit that transmits the return/replacement code read by the read unit to an external return/replacement server, and receives from the return/replacement server a delivery code for managing the delivery status of the product; and a processor for causing the printer to print a label displaying the delivery code transmitted from the return/replacement serve. The consumer can affix the printed label to the product for return/replacement, and when the read unit has read the delivery code displayed on the label affixed to the product, the communication unit transmits the delivery code read by the read unit to the external return/replacement server.

Abstract: Methods and software that allow one or more users to utilize custom pricing in the context of an electronic marketplace. Such custom pricing can be implemented by transmitting specifications of custom pricing engines and/or custom design document interrogator engines to the marketplace along with or independently from one or more design documents containing structures to be priced. Various corresponding and related methods and software are described.

Abstract: A vehicle for use with a blockchain-based transportation system for automated assessment of transportation of goods, the vehicle comprising: a goods storage region configured to carry one or more goods packages, each package having a package tag, the package tag comprising an electronic identification system including a package blockchain defined by package blockchain data comprising a package block, the package block comprising package data including at least a package identifier; a vehicle blockchain defined by vehicle blockchain data comprising a vehicle block, the vehicle block comprising vehicle data including at least a vehicle identifier; and a controller configured to communicate with the electronic identification system of each package to retrieve the package blockchain data and to generate updated blockchain data using the vehicle blockchain data and the retrieved package data of each package; wherein the updated blockchain data is available for assessment of transportation of the goods packages.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for merging of a set of items being shipped using a wireless node network. In an example method, a master node receives ID node identification information from a server in the network. The ID node identification information defines the group of ID nodes. Each of the ID nodes is related to a different item from the set of items being shipped. Next, each of the ID nodes in the group is associated with the master node when the master node detects a signal from each ID node as they respectively approach the master node. When the master node detects a last one of the ID nodes in the group approaching the master node, the master node transmits a notification to the server. Thereafter, the master node receives a shipment merge indication from the server.

Abstract: Methods and software that allow one or more users to utilize custom pricing in the context of an electronic marketplace. Such custom pricing can be implemented by transmitting specifications of custom pricing engines and/or custom design document interrogator engines to the marketplace along with or independently from one or more design documents containing structures to be priced. Various corresponding and related methods and software are described.

Abstract: A system can be configured to receive and analyze an image captured by a customer at a delivery location to enable identification and verification of the delivery location upon arrival of a deliverer at the delivery location. The system can utilize algorithms trained to determine identifying features of the delivery location from the image and/or provide the image to the deliverer for manual verification. The system can provide the deliverer with the image and additional information specific to the delivery location based on one or more geofences associated with the delivery location. The image, the additional information and the manner of presentation can be configured to guide the deliverer to approved drop-off locations and ensure package placement for delivery to a customer.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to autonomously deliver a package includes a control unit configured to acquire designation information generated along with designation by a user about an unattended delivery location for delivery of the package, and drive the vehicle to place the package at the unattended delivery location designated by the user when the unattended delivery location is identified by verifying the unattended delivery location based on the acquired designation information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for road usage charging (RUC) are described. RUC computation may be performed at a vehicle using a vehicle computing device (VCD) that is trusted by a service provider, charger, or both. The VCD may be trusted to collect high accuracy, high resolution time and location data for RUC, and also compute for itself what the RUC charge is according to one or more applicable charge policies that are provided to the VCD. Anonymity related to specific vehicle and location information may be provided by encrypting portions of RUC data that are decryptable by different entities with reduced likelihood of revealing specific vehicle, location, and time information.

Abstract: In some implementations, a system is capable of generating and distributing access credentials to users that access a rental property for a limited time period. Users can be provided with access to the rental property through an application or webpage portal without creating a new user account or user login for the application. For example, a user can be granted access to control electronic devices associated with a monitoring system of a rental property without creating a new user account with the monitoring system. Techniques described herein enable such users to more easily access, for example, rental property information that is associated with a monitoring system of the rental property. In this manner, access credentials can be distributed to users through any suitable means, e.g., through email or SMS, and used to temporarily authenticate users.

Abstract: A delivery system includes a database configured to store information of a customer where the information includes a default payment method, a communication system configured to communicate with an autonomous vehicle and with a device of the customer, where the device includes a display screen having a button to summon an autonomous vehicle, at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the delivery system to receive an indication via the communication system that the button on the device of the customer has been clicked, and instruct the autonomous vehicle to travel to a location of the customer.

Abstract: A device communicates with a parking meter associated with a parking space to be used for parking by an electric vehicle, where the electric vehicle is associated with the device. The device receives vehicle power information, vehicle profile information, and vehicle location information, and determines parking payment options based on the vehicle power information, the vehicle profile information, and the vehicle location information. The device receives a selection of a particular parking payment option of the parking payment options, where the particular parking payment option includes an option to pay for parking by providing power to the parking meter from the electric vehicle. The device causes the electric vehicle to connect to the parking meter based on the particular parking payment option, and causes the electric vehicle to provide power to the parking meter based on the particular parking payment option.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking and managing package delivery within a distribution network. Many events happen during the processing, moving, and delivery of a package. Systems and methods herein identify whether all expected events occur, whether scan locations are correct, whether delivery times are met, and other requirements. Problems or potential problems can be identified and corrected.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for using augmented reality to improve loading, and in particular improve loading when the types and order of items to be loaded is unknown. A server uses information regarding the packages which have already been stored in a storage area to generate a virtual map of where the stored packages currently are placed. Upon receiving information indicating a subsequent package is going to be stored, the server can identify the best place to store that package in the storage area, then communicate that storage location to a device used by a worker. The worker can then have a visual indication showing where and how to place the subsequent package.

Abstract: An information providing system includes: a server including a first processor configured to provide an excursion pass that allows a user to use a plurality of transportation units to a terminal of the user; and a terminal including a second processor configured to output predetermined information to the server. The first processor is configured to: estimate a transportation unit used by the user among the plurality of transportation units, and a usage section of the transportation unit; acquire evaluation information indicating evaluation of the user with respect to the transportation unit from the terminal; calculate allocation of sales of the excursion pass to each operator providing the plurality of transportation units based on an estimation result of the transportation unit and the usage section, and the evaluation information; and output information regarding the allocation to each operator.

Abstract: A parking meter system includes a plurality of parking space monitors, a central computer system networked with the plurality of parking space monitors, and a user computing device. Each of the parking space monitors includes a weather resistant housing, a processor disposed inside of the housing, a memory disposed inside of the housing and coupled to the processor, a network interface disposed in the housing and coupled to the processor, and camera coupled to the processor and aimed towards a parking space to be monitored. The user computing device is configured to transmit to a request for parking time, receive a purchase confirmation, and monitor a remaining purchased parking time which is synchronized to a parking timer countdown for a particular parking space where a user has parked that is being monitored by a particular one of the plurality of parking space monitors.

Abstract: A product delivery system includes: a center server; a store server; a driver configured to be coupled with and decoupled from a carriage; and a terminal. A processor of the center server is configured to: acquire a scheduled loading time representing a completion time of loading of a product onto the carriage at the store, when order information on the product is output from the terminal to the store server; output, to the driver, an instruction for causing the driver to depart from a current position to the store in time for the scheduled loading time; and output, to the driver, an instruction for causing the driver coupled with the carriage to depart from the store to a delivery destination of the product, when acquiring, from the store server, a loading completion notification indicating that loading of the product onto the carriage has been completed at the store.