Abstract: A system comprises a delivery entity operating to deliver a package at a predetermined time from a first person to a second person and to provide an electronic communication between the first person and the second person that is commensurate with the delivery. An electronic display for displays a first message of the electronic communication from the first person to the second person commensurate with the predetermined time of the delivery of the package to the second person and a transmitter configured to generate and output a second message of the electronic communication generated by the second person during delivery of the package and in response to the displayed first message. An exception handling device controls the delivery entity when an unexpected event disrupts the commensurate delivery with the electronic communication, and generates and outputs instructions to the delivery entity to change the predetermined delivery time to a new delivery time.

Abstract: A method for ensuring that a computer readable information is authentic, including: generating a public key associated with the computer readable information, hashing the computer readable information to obtain a hashed computer readable information, encrypting the hashed computer readable information with a private key to create a digital signature, wherein the hashed computer readable information and the digital signature are stored on a block of a blockchain, authenticating the user computing device in response to a request from the user computing device to download the computer readable information, transmitting the public key and the digital signature to an authenticated user computing device, and instructing the authenticated user computing device to decrypt the digital signature using the public key to obtain the hashed computer readable information, and download the hashed computer readable information to the authenticated user computing system to retrieve the computer readable information.

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: A method for processing store returns, comprising: selecting, from a data repository, an electronically archived purchase receipt corresponding to an item for return to a retail establishment; identifying the retail establishment for returning the purchased item regardless of whether the item was purchased at the retail establishment; associating at the data repository the purchase receipt and a selected type of tender; and electronically and automatically transferring a refund for the returned item to the selected type of tender.

Abstract: A system comprises a delivery entity operating to deliver a package at a predetermined time from a first person to a second person and to provide an electronic communication between the first person and the second person that is commensurate with the delivery. An electronic display for displays a first message of the electronic communication from the first person to the second person commensurate with the predetermined time of the delivery of the package to the second person and a transmitter configured to generate and output a second message of the electronic communication generated by the second person during delivery of the package and in response to the displayed first message. An exception handling device controls the delivery entity when an unexpected event disrupts the commensurate delivery with the electronic communication, and generates and outputs instructions to the delivery entity to change the predetermined delivery time to a new delivery time.

Abstract: A method for ensuring that a computer readable information is authentic, including: generating a public key associated with the computer readable information, hashing the computer readable information to obtain a hashed computer readable information, encrypting the hashed computer readable information with a private key to create a digital signature, wherein the hashed computer readable information and the digital signature are stored on a block of a blockchain, authenticating the user computing device in response to a request from the user computing device to download the computer readable information, transmitting the public key and the digital signature to an authenticated user computing device, and instructing the authenticated user computing device to decrypt the digital signature using the public key to obtain the hashed computer readable information, and download the hashed computer readable information to the authenticated user computing system to retrieve the computer readable information.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a locked space, including generating an access code and a private key associated with the access code, hashing the access code to obtain a hashed access code, encrypting the hashed access code with a public key to create a digital signature, wherein the hashed access code and the digital signature are stored on the blockchain, authenticating a receiving device in response to a request from the receiving device to gain access to the locked space, transmitting the private key and the digital signature to an authenticated receiving device, instructing the authenticated receiving device to decrypt the digital signature using the private key to obtain the hashed access code, and transmit the hashed access code to the computing system, and unlocking the locked space in response to receiving the hashed access code from the receiving device.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a medical record of a patient that is unable to communicate, wherein the medical record of the patient is stored on a blockchain, is provided, including receiving an encrypted private key and a public key associated with the patient stored on a wearable device of the patient, in response to a scanning of the wearable device of the patient at a scene of an emergency, wherein the encrypted private key is decrypted by a biometric signature of the patient, obtaining the biometric signature of the patient by scanning a bodily feature of the patient, decrypting the encrypted private key using the biometric signature of the patient to determine a private key associated with the patient, and accessing the medical records of the patient, using a combination of the public key and the private key associated with the patient, to access a local storage medium of the wearable device.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a demand on an electrical grid is provided, including: receiving a capped total amount of cryptocurrency available to purchase units of energy from an energy provider, the capped amount of cryptocurrency being recorded in a publicly distributed transaction ledger, allocating a portion of the cryptocurrency of the capped total amount of cryptocurrency to each energy consumption device, wherein the portion of the cryptocurrency allocated to each energy consumption device is recorded in the ledger, receiving, a request from an energy consumption device of the plurality of energy consumption devices that the energy metering device purchase an energy unit, using the portion of cryptocurrency allocated to the first energy consumption device, accessing the publically distributed transaction ledger in response to receiving the request from the first energy consumption to verify that the first energy consumption device has a remaining amount of cryptocurrency.

Abstract: Provided is a customer interface system. The system includes a customer computing device and a server. The server may be programmed to receive from the customer computing device customer preferences and automatically store the customer preferences and to automatically generate and transmit to the customer computing device for display a scalable shopping preference interface associated with the customer preferences, wherein the scalable shopping preference interface comprises a sliding scale indicating a level of courier involvement. The system is programmed to receive from the customer computing device a signal from the scalable shopping preference interface a signal indicating selection of the level of courier involvement and store selection of courier involvement with the customer preferences and receive from the customer computing device a shopping list and automatically store the shopping list, wherein the shopping list is created in response to right clicking on a product from a web page.

Abstract: Provided is a courier shopping system. The system includes a customer computing device for accessing and receiving data produced by the system and a server located at a service provider. The server is coupled to the customer computing device and programmed to operate a courier management system; operate a customer management system; operate a vendor payment sharing system; and operate a customer interface.

Abstract: Provided is a customer management system. The system includes a customer computing device for accessing and receiving data produced by the system and a server located at a service provider, the server, wherein the server coupled to the customer computing device. The server is programmed to receive from the customer computing device customer preferences and automatically store the customer preferences, and to receive from the customer computing device shopping lists over time and automatically store the shopping lists. The server may automatically generate a customer history in response to retrieving and processing the stored customer preferences and the stored shopping lists and may be programmed to receive from the customer computing device a request for a virtual expert.

Abstract: Provided is A vendor payment sharing system. The system includes a customer computing device for accessing and receiving data produced by the system and a server located at a service provider, the server coupled to the customer computing device. The server may be programmed to receive from the customer computing device an acceptance indication of the products delivered from a courier service. The server is also programmed to automatically process payment for a total amount due for the products and services related to obtaining and delivering the products and to automatically divide the payment between parties that provided services related to obtaining and delivering the products. The system further may be programmed to encrypt the payment and the division of the payment with a blockchain.

Abstract: Provided is a smart package. The smart package may include a body portion having an inner volume. A door may be coupled to the body portion, wherein the door is moveable between a closed and an open position. In the closed position the door restricts access to the inner volume of the body portion. In the open position, an opening to the inner volume is exposed for access to the inner volume. The smart package may also include a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device controls and monitors operation of the smart package, such as monitoring the status of the contents and the environment of the inner volume of the smart package. The smart package may also include a modular adapter coupled to an outer surface of the body portion, wherein the modular adapter is configured to releasably connect to an output of a delivery vehicle system.

Abstract: Provided is a self-service virtual store system. The self-service virtual store includes a server comprising a memory, a database stored in the memory, and a processor, wherein the database contains data for a 3D virtual store front, wherein the data for the 3D virtual store front comprises data including a plurality of visually perceptible elements, which visually perceptible elements correspond to the 3D virtual store front, particular items in the 3D virtual store front, and avatars. The self-service virtual store includes a computer coupled to the server wherein a user interfaces with the server through the computer. The server is programmed to provide to users a virtual shopping experience in a virtual environment, wherein users utilize avatars to move within the virtual environment and perform shopping function.

Abstract: A shipping options system comprises a shipping options engine that generates a plurality of store item delivery options in response to a set of assessment criteria and generates a bid request in response to the delivery options; and an auctioning engine that receives the bid request from the shipping options engine, and submits the bid request to at least one carrier according to a comparison between a carrier score and capabilities of the carrier to satisfy the bid request.

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: A method and system for home delivery of prescribed medication comprise processing a prescription for a medication at a first location, purchasing at least one item of interest at a second location, and combining the prescribed medication and the at least one item of interest under a same delivery to a third location determined by a user of the prescribed medication and at least one item of interest.