Abstract: Self-Service Terminals (SSTs) are enhanced to invoke remote online retailers' transaction systems. Remote transaction interfaces for the systems are hosted by remote servers and rendered on the SSTs. The remote interfaces notify the SSTs when payment is needed to complete transactions on the SSTs. The SSTs activate the appropriate payment peripherals of the SSTs and provide card data for card payments or verifications for cash payments back to the remote interfaces. When cash payments are received, the SSTs send the corresponding amounts and retailer identifiers for the retailers to a cloud-based reconciliation server. In an embodiment, the SSTs are located in a store associated with a retailer that is different from retailers associated with the remote interfaces. In an embodiment, the SSTs are standalone SSTs located outdoors.

Abstract: A consumer links a cryptocurrency wallet to their loyalty account and creates a profile that includes a default fiat currency amount to add to transaction totals during transactions at a terminals. During a transaction, the wallet and profile are obtained using the loyalty account of a registered consumer. When the consumer selects an option to pay for their transaction, an overlaid screen is presented to the consumer on the display of the terminal requesting that the consumer confirm the fiat currency amount. When the consumer confirms, the transaction total for the transaction is rounded up by the fiat currency amount. A background workflow is automatically initiated after payment is confirmed on behalf of the user. The workflow uses the fiat currency amount to purchase and transfer an equivalent amount of cryptocurrency into the consumer's wallet over the blockchain.

Abstract: A donation workflow with donation screens is integrated into a transaction workflow of a transaction terminal. The donation workflow is independent and separate from the transaction workflow. When a customer enters a donation into a donation entry screen, an agent on the terminal provides the donation amount to a transaction manager of the terminal. The donation amount is added as a line item to the transaction total. After payment, the fiat currency associated with the donation amount is used to purchase an equivalent amount in cryptocurrency over a blockchain and held in a store wallet of a store. The equivalent amount in cryptocurrency is subsequently transferred over the blockchain from the store wallet to a charity's wallet associated with the charity that is to receive the donation amount from the customer.

Abstract: Historical transaction loads for transactions of a store are determined. Constraints are obtained for staff of the store over a given period of time in the future. The historical loads are forecasted into projected transaction loads for the given period of time. The constraints are processed to generate a dispatch demand schedule for the staff over the given period of time. The dispatch demand schedule is translated into a staff/worker schedule and provided to a scheduling system of the store.

Abstract: A device includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface is configured to receive one or more preferences of a customer related to the charging of at least one backup device of the consumer. The network interface is also configured to receive at least one notification of at least one predicted power disturbance. The processor is configured to utilize the one or more consumer preferences and the at least one notification to generate a charging schedule of the at least one backup device and to generate one or more charging notifications for charging the at least one backup device. The one or more charging notifications are based on the charging schedule.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a system including a processor configured to execute a demand response management system (DRMS) integrity check system. The DRMS integrity system is configured to query a database system of the DRMS based on a first data to retrieve a second data, wherein the first data is configured to be used by the DRMS during a demand response event to respond to the event. The DRMS integrity system is further configure to verify integrity of the database by verifying that the second data includes a desired data property. The DRMS integrity system is additionally configured to communicate an indication of the integrity of the database.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes a participation history and historical consumption values for each customer for participating in at least one demand response event. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and is programmed to select at least one customer from the plurality of customers by considering the participation history and the historical consumption values for each of the customers. The processor is also programmed to estimate a future reduction in energy consumption for the customer based on the customer data and to determine whether the estimated future reduction in energy consumption is substantially accurate.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes an interface for receiving customer data that includes at least a location for each customer and/or a preference selection made by each customer associated with at least one demand response program. A processor coupled to the interface and programmed to select a plurality of participants from the customer data to receive a plurality of signals representative of at least one demand response event. The processor selects the participants based at least in part on the customer location and/or the preference selection associated with each customer.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes at least a location, a policy limitation, a participation history, and an enrollment status for each customer. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and programmed to select at least one participant from the plurality of customers, based on the customer data, to participate in at least one demand response event. The processor is further programmed to verify that the selected participant, based on the customer data, satisfies at least one precondition to receive at least one signal representative of the demand response event.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes a participation history and historical consumption values for each customer for participating in at least one demand response event. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and is programmed to select at least one customer from the plurality of customers by considering the participation history and the historical consumption values for each of the customers. The processor is also programmed to estimate a future reduction in energy consumption for the customer based on the customer data and to determine whether the estimated future reduction in energy consumption is substantially accurate.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes a participation history and historical consumption values for each customer for participating in at least one demand response event. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and is programmed to select at least one customer from the plurality of customers by considering the participation history and the historical consumption values for each of the customers. The processor is also programmed to estimate a future reduction in energy consumption for the customer based on the customer data and to determine whether the estimated future reduction in energy consumption is substantially accurate.

Abstract: A device includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface is configured to receive one or more preferences of a customer related to the charging of at least one backup device of the consumer. The network interface is also configured to receive at least one notification of at least one predicted power disturbance. The processor is configured to utilize the one or more consumer preferences and the at least one notification to generate a charging schedule of the at least one backup device and to generate one or more charging notifications for charging the at least one backup device. The one or more charging notifications are based on the charging schedule.

Abstract: A device includes a network interface configured to receive one or more preferences of a consumer related to the charging of at least one backup device of the consumer. The device includes a processor configured to utilize the one or more consumer preferences to generate a charging schedule of the at least one backup device and generate one or more charging notifications for charging the at least one backup device, wherein the one or more charging notifications are based on the charging schedule.

Abstract: Disclosed and described herein are embodiments of systems, methods and computer program for scheduling demand events over a time period based on differences between the estimated power availability and the estimated power consumption at various points during the time period. In one aspect, methods are described. One embodiment of a method comprises establishing a defined time period, estimating power availability over the time period, estimating power consumption over the time period, and scheduling, using a computing device, demand events over the time period based on differences between the estimated power availability and the estimated power consumption at various points during the time period.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for optimizing utility cost comprises receiving a rating for at least one device comprising at least utility service usage information for the at least one device; receiving a desired time of use for the at least one device; receiving utility rate information comprising cost information for the utility service at various times over a defined time period; determining a total cost to use the at least one device at the desired time of use based on the utility service usage information for the at least one device and the utility rate information at the desired time of use; and determining an economical cost to use the at least one device based on the utility service usage information for the at least one device and the cost information for the utility service at various times over the defined time period.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for estimating demand response load change. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for estimating energy usage change associated with a demand event. The method may include determining energy potential change during a demand event for one or more devices associated with a location; estimating energy usage patterns for the location over predefined time periods before and after the demand event; determining pre-demand event and post-demand event energy rebounds based at least in part on the estimated energy usage patterns; determining an energy change profile associated with the location based at least in part on the determined energy potential change, and the pre-demand event and post-demand event energy rebounds.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes at least a location, a policy limitation, a participation history, and an enrollment status for each customer. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and programmed to select at least one participant from the plurality of customers, based on the customer data, to participate in at least one demand response event. The processor is further programmed to verify that the selected participant, based on the customer data, satisfies at least one precondition to receive at least one signal representative of the demand response event.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a processor that is programmed to select a plurality of participants from a plurality of customers to participate in at least one demand response event based on customer data. The processor is also programmed to determine at least one time of day to transmit a plurality of signals representative of the demand response event. The processor is further programmed to transmit, incrementally, the plurality of signals to each of the selected participants such that each of the selected participants receives at least one of the signals.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a processor that is programmed to select at least one participant from a plurality of customers to participate in at least one demand response event. The processor is also programmed to schedule the demand response event. The processor is programmed to compare the selected participant with participants of previously scheduled demand response events to confirm whether the selected participant is able to participate in the demand response event. The processor is also programmed to compare the demand response event with the previously scheduled demand response events. The processor is further programmed to reschedule the demand response event and/or at least one of the previously scheduled demand response events when any conflicts are identified based on the comparison between the demand response event and the previously scheduled demand response events.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes an interface for receiving customer data that includes at least a location for each customer and/or a preference selection made by each customer associated with at least one demand response program. A processor coupled to the interface and programmed to select a plurality of participants from the customer data to receive a plurality of signals representative of at least one demand response event. The processor selects the participants based at least in part on the customer location and/or the preference selection associated with each customer.