Abstract: A computer receives card transaction data in response to a transaction using a financial services card. The card transaction data identifies at least a location, date, and time associated with the transaction. Upon receiving the card transaction data, the computer compares the card transaction data with telematics information associated with a vehicle equipped with a telematics device. The telematics information identifies at least a location of the vehicle, and a time and date associated with the location of the vehicle. On the basis of the comparison, the computer determines if the location of the transaction substantially matches the location of the vehicle at the time and date of transaction. Responsive to determining a substantial match, the computer associates the financial services card with the vehicle.

Abstract: Determining a fuel card usage exception with the use of a computer that receives fuel card transaction data responsive to a fuel purchase event. The fuel card transaction data identifies a quantity of fuel purchased for a vehicle using a fuel card. In addition, the computer receives first fuel level data and second fuel level data of the vehicle that identifies a quantity of fuel present in a fuel tank of the vehicle prior to a fuel purchase event and after a fuel purchase event respectively. The computer can determine an exception associated with the fuel purchase event based on the fuel card transaction data, the first fuel level data, and the second fuel level data. Responsive to detecting an exception associated with the fuel purchase event, the computer may generate an alert and transmit the alert for presentation by a computing device of a user.

Abstract: Determining a fuel card usage exception with the use of a computer that receives fuel card transaction data responsive to a fuel purchase event. The fuel card transaction data identifies a quantity of fuel purchased for a vehicle using a fuel card. In addition, the computer receives first fuel level data and second fuel level data of the vehicle that identifies a quantity of fuel present in a fuel tank of the vehicle prior to a fuel purchase event and after a fuel purchase event respectively. The computer can determine an exception associated with the fuel purchase event based on the fuel card transaction data, the first fuel level data, and the second fuel level data. Responsive to detecting an exception associated with the fuel purchase event, the computer may generate an alert and transmit the alert for presentation by a computing device of a user.

Abstract: A removable antimicrobial seat cover is described. The cover includes a continuous antimicrobial seat cover. The cover has a first surface to cover a seat portion of the seat and a second surface to cover a seat back portion of the seat. The cover also includes a storage mechanism to store the continuous antimicrobial seat cover away from the seat when not in use. The storage mechanism is coupled to the seat when the continuous antimicrobial seat cover is not in use. The device also includes a retention mechanism to removably couple the storage mechanism to the seat.

Abstract: A computer receives card transaction data in response to a transaction using a financial services card. The card transaction data identifies at least a location, date, and time associated with the transaction. Upon receiving the card transaction data, the computer compares the card transaction data with telematics information associated with a vehicle equipped with a telematics device. The telematics information identifies at least a location of the vehicle, and a time and date associated with the location of the vehicle. On the basis of the comparison, the computer determines if the location of the transaction substantially matches the location of the vehicle at the time and date of transaction. Responsive to determining a substantial match, the computer associates the financial services card with the vehicle.

Abstract: Determining a fuel card usage exception with the use of a computer that receives fuel card transaction data responsive to a fuel purchase event. The fuel card transaction data identifies a quantity of fuel purchased for a vehicle using a fuel card. In addition, the computer receives first fuel level data and second fuel level data of the vehicle that identifies a quantity of fuel present in a fuel tank of the vehicle prior to a fuel purchase event and after a fuel purchase event respectively. The computer can determine an exception associated with the fuel purchase event based on the fuel card transaction data, the first fuel level data, and the second fuel level data. Responsive to detecting an exception associated with the fuel purchase event, the computer may generate an alert and transmit the alert for presentation by a computing device of a user.

Abstract: A computer receives card transaction data in response to a transaction using a financial services card. The card transaction data identifies at least a location, date, and time associated with the transaction. Upon receiving the card transaction data, the computer compares the card transaction data with telematics information associated with a vehicle equipped with a telematics device. The telematics information identifies at least a location of the vehicle, and a time and date associated with the location of the vehicle. On the basis of the comparison, the computer determines if the location of the transaction substantially matches the location of the vehicle at the time and date of transaction. Responsive to determining a substantial match, the computer associates the financial services card with the vehicle.

Abstract: Determining a fuel card usage exception with the use of a computer that receives fuel card transaction data responsive to a fuel purchase event. The fuel card transaction data identifies a quantity of fuel purchased for a vehicle using a fuel card. In addition, the computer receives first fuel level data and second fuel level data of the vehicle that identifies a quantity of fuel present in a fuel tank of the vehicle prior to a fuel purchase event and after a fuel purchase event respectively. The computer can determine an exception associated with the fuel purchase event based on the fuel card transaction data, the first fuel level data, and the second fuel level data. Responsive to detecting an exception associated with the fuel purchase event, the computer may generate an alert and transmit the alert for presentation by a computing device of a user.

Abstract: A computer can receive diagnostics data and location data associated with a vehicle. The diagnostics data identifies a condition of the vehicle and the location data identifies a location of the vehicle. Further, the computer can receive promotional data that includes a plurality of promotions. Each promotion promotes a purchase transaction or offers products and/or services. Upon receiving the diagnostics data and the location data, the computer can determine if the condition of the vehicle satisfies a threshold condition. If the threshold condition is satisfied, the computer can select one or more promotions from the plurality of promotions based on the location of the vehicle and the condition of the vehicle. In addition, the computer can select the one or more promotions based on situational data. Further, the computer can transmit the selected one or more promotions for presentation to a driver or a user associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of increasing computer system bandwidth for computer system having two or more memory complexes is disclosed in which exclusive OR operations are performed on the data from the data regions to generate parity information which is stored in the same single cache pool as the data regions. By using a single cache pool for related data regions, bandwidth and performance are improved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which enables a host computer to adjust the caching strategy used for writing its write request data to storage media during execution of various software applications. The method includes the step of generating a caching-flushing parameter in the host computer. The cache flushing parameter is then transferred from the host computer to a controller which has a cache memory. Thereafter, a quantity of write request data is written from the cache memory to a storage medium in accordance with the cache-flushing parameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining data/parity consistency in a RAID data storage system. The invention utilizes reserved disk storage space in the RAID array to log data necessary to restore data/parity consistency should an interruption event, such as a power failure, corrupt the data stored in a particular redundancy group. In one embodiment, the invention logs new data and new parity information to the reserved disk storage space before the new data and new parity information are written to the appropriate locations in the associated redundancy group. In this way, if an interruption event occurs when either the new data or the new parity information has already been written to the redundancy group but the other has not, the corresponding data and parity information stored in the reserved disk storage space can be used to restore data/parity consistency after the event has ended.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moving pinned data corresponding to a temporarily dead RAID device between the cache memory of a RAID subsystem and a log area. In response to detection of a dead RAID device within a RAID subsystem, the methods of the present invention move any pinned data from the cache memory of the RAID controller to a log area preferably allocated on the disk space of one or more operational RAID devices within the subsystem. In response to revival of the dead RAID device methods of the present invention restore the logged, pinned data from the log area of the operational RAID device(s) to the cache memory as dirty data ready for posting to the revived RAID device. The log area may be either permanently allocated within the RAID subsystem, or may be dynamically allocated in response to recognition of the dead RAID device and freed in response to revival of the RAID device.

Abstract: Methods and associated data structures operable in a RAID subsystem to improve I/O performance. A two level cache data structure and associated methods are implemented with a RAID controller. The lower level cache comprises buffers holding recently utilized blocks of the disk devices. The upper level cache records which blocks are present in the lower level cache for each stripe in the RAID level 5 configuration. The upper level cache serves to reduce the overhead processing required of the RAID controller to determine which blocks are present in the lower level cache. Having more rapid access to this information by lowering the processing overhead enables the present invention to rapidly select between different write techniques to post data and error blocks from low level cache to the disk array. A RMW write technique is used to post data and error checking blocks to disk when insufficient information reside in the lower level cache.

Abstract: Methods and associated apparatus operable in a RAID subsystem having redundant disk array controllers to assure dual, redundant cache consistency while permitting operation of the RAID subsystem in response to host computer I/O requests. The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide for a process of initializing the redundant disk array controllers in response to a power-on reset cycle (or other similar reset cycles). The first controller partially initializes for processing of host requests then awaits the partial initialization of the second controller. After a brief timeout awaiting the second controller, or in response to an erroneous initialization of the second controller, the first controller configures itself to perform host computer I/O requests in a write-through mode (bypassing cache operations) until the second controller eventually initializes. Once both controller are initialized, the redundant caches are synchronized.

Abstract: A method of insuring recovery of a quantity write request data in a storage device having a plurality of controllers includes the steps of (1) providing a primary controller for storing the write request data received from a host device, (2) providing an alternate controller having a memory area allocated for use by the primary controller, (3) maintaining a first control block in the primary controller for indicating status of the write request data stored in the primary controller, and (4) maintaining a second control block in the alternate controller for indicating status of the write request data stored in the primary controller.