Abstract: A system includes a control module and a stochastic pre-ignition (SPI) module. The control module controls at least one performance parameter of an engine of a vehicle. The SPI module detects SPI events, determines a scaling factor based on the detected SPI events, and adjusts a limit associated with the at least one performance parameter based on the scaling factor. The control module controls the at least one performance parameter based on the limit.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a controller and at least one data storage medium storing a database. The database includes empirically-derived NOx values based on engine equivalence ratio and engine speed at predetermined reference conditions. The controller is configured to retrieve a NOx value from the database that corresponds to a measured value of the equivalence ratio and a measured value of the engine speed, and to modify the NOx value to compensate for differences between the reference conditions and the actual operating conditions of the engine assembly.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a controller and at least one data storage medium storing a database. The database includes empirically-derived NOx values based on engine equivalence ratio and engine speed at predetermined reference conditions. The controller is configured to retrieve a NOx value from the database that corresponds to a measured value of the equivalence ratio and a measured value of the engine speed, and to modify the NOx value to compensate for differences between the reference conditions and the actual operating conditions of the engine assembly.

Abstract: A method and system for storing a notice of the receipt of a payment in a distributed data network is disclosed. A bill payment request is received at a first network station from a second network station. A payment associated with the received bill payment request is then remitted. Then, a notification is received at the first network station from a third network station indicating that the payment has been received.

Abstract: To facilitate electronic presentment of a bill of a biller for a customer and payment of the presented bill on behalf of the customer via a communications network, a first network site associated with a bill payment entity receives a request for billing information from a second network site associated with a customer via a first communications link over a communications network. In response, a bill availability indicator indicative of an availability of a bill of the biller for the customer and having a first linking function, is presented to the second network site via the first communications link.

Abstract: To make bill information available for presentation to a user entity, a first network site receives a request of the user entity for bill information, from a third network site associated with the user entity. In response, bill information representing a bill of a biller entity for the user entity is retrieved from storage at a second network site associated with a bill information provider entity, such as a biller. The retrieved bill information is transmitted, from the first network site to the third network site, for presentation to the user entity at the third network site. The first, the second, and the third network sites are different network sites.

Abstract: Customer care is provided via a wide area communications network to a user who has previously requested payment of a bill of a biller on the user's behalf by a bill payment service provider. The communications network has multiple different network sites including a first network site associated with a customer care entity, and at least two of (i) a second network site associated with the biller, (ii) a third network site associated with a financial institution which maintains a payment account of the user and (iii) a fourth network site associated with the bill payment service provider. A request of the user for assistance regarding the payment of the bill is received.

Abstract: To electronically present bills and request payment of presented bills, billing information representing a bill of a biller for a payee, and an associated selectable payment indicator having a first linking function, are received from a first network site associated with a bill presentment entity via a first communications link over a communications network. The received billing information and payment indicator are displayed. An input representing a selection of the displayed payment indicator is received. Based on the receipt of this input, the first linking function is activated to establish a second communications link over the communications network to a second network site, different that the first network site, associated with a bill payment entity, and to transmit a request to pay the represented bill on behalf of the payee to the second network site via the second communications link.

Abstract: Bill information is electronically presented to a user via a wide-area communications network. The wide-area communications network has multiple different network sites, including a first network site associated with a first bill information presentment entity, a second network site associated with a first user entity, and a third network site associated with a second bill information presentment entity. First information for authenticating the first user entity is received by the first bill information presentment entity. The first user entity is authenticated to the third network site based on this received first authentication information. First bill information, which represents a first bill of a first biller for the first user entity, is accessed at the third network site based on the authentication of the first user entity to this site. The accessed first bill information is transmitted from the first network site to the second network site, for presentation to the first user entity.

Abstract: A bill is presented and payment of the presented bill is requested over a communications network having a first network site associated with a bill payment entity, a second network site, which is different than the first network site, associated with a user, and a third network site, which is different than the first and the second network sites, associated with a bill presentment entity, which is different than the bill payment entity. A first signal, representing a request of the user for billing information, is transmitted from the second network site to the first network site. Responsive to the transmitted first signal, a second signal representing a bill availability identifier for a bill of a biller for the user, is transmitted from the first network site to the second network site.

Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter. The method includes the steps of calculating a stabilized catalyst temperature limit, determining a stabilized catalyst temperature without enrichment, comparing the stabilized catalyst temperature limit with the stabilized catalyst temperature without enrichment and enriching a fuel/air ratio to maintain a stabilized catalyst temperature at the stabilized catalyst temperature limit if the stabilized catalyst temperature without enrichment is greater than the stabilized catalyst temperature limit. A vehicle having a controller for controlling the enrichment of an air/fuel ratio to control the temperature of a catalyst in a catalytic converter is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for adaptively determining a torque-related (K-factor) value for a torque converter in a vehicle and providing adaptive torque management to an automatic transmission. The torque-related K-factor value is computed for a given torque converter as a function of engine speed and difference in torque measured with the vehicle operating in idle neutral and drive. The vehicle dynamically learns the K-factor value and manages torque applied to the transmission by limiting the engine output speed as a function of the learned torque-related K-factor and vehicle speed.