Abstract: A marine distribution vessel includes a barge that has a deck, at least one fuel tank, and at least one lubricant tank. A distribution station is disposed on the barge and is connected with the at least one fuel tank and the at least one lubricant tank. The distribution station is configured to dispense fuel and lubricant on-demand to patron marine vessels and track amounts of fuel and lubricant dispensed. The distribution station includes a fuel pump, a lubricant pump, a fuel flow meter, an automated fuel valve, a lubricant flow meter, an automated lubricant valve, and a computerized controller that is electrically connected with the fuel flow meter, the lubricant flow meter, the automated fuel valve, the automated lubricant valve, the fuel pump, and the lubricant pump. The distribution station is mounted at an elevated position above the deck of the barge.

Abstract: A marine distribution vessel includes a barge that fuel tanks and lubricant tanks, and a distribution station disposed on the barge and connected with the fuel tanks and the lubricant tanks. The distribution station includes a fuel pump and a fuel line that connects the fuel tanks with the fuel pump, a lubricant pump and lubricant lines that connect the lubricant tanks with the lubricant pump, a fuel flow meter disposed in the fuel line, an automated fuel valve disposed in the fuel line, a lubricant flow meter disposed in the lubricant lines, automated lubricant valves disposed in the lubricant lines, and a computerized controller electrically connected with the fuel flow meter, the lubricant flow meter, the automated fuel valve, the automated lubricant valves, the fuel pump, and the lubricant pump.

Abstract: Online shopping optimization in the context of the present invention refers to making the optimal business decisions with regard to an online or electronic commerce purchase. One aspect of the present invention provides a method comprising extracting buyers' demand information from buyer-specified items or a previously-configured shopping cart and searching a product catalog that, when provided with the items specified or selected by the buyer, returns exact or equivalent items, such as replacement or substitute products. The method comprises formulating the online shopping decision-making problem into a mathematical programming model. The system systematically and quantitatively makes decisions for a buyer over various cataloged items in order to maximize or minimize an objective function subject to various constraints. Recommended optimized shopping carts are then presented to the buyer.

Abstract: Online shopping optimization in this context means, in general, making the optimal business decisions with regard to an online or electronic commerce purchase. The method begins with extracting buyer's demand information from buyer-specified items or a previously-configured shopping cart. It then includes a product catalog search that, when provided with the items specified or selected by the buyer, returns exact or equivalent (i.e., replacement or substitute) items. With the catalog search results, the online shopping optimization method formulates the online shopping decision-making problem into a mathematical programming model, particularly a mixed integer programming model. The method optimally decides, from the universe of vendors and items within the system: 1) from which of the various vendors to buy, 2) what identical, replacement, or substitute items to buy, 3) what package sizes of these items to buy, and 4) how many of each item to buy.