Abstract: The invention generally relates to consumer product lifecycle maintenance and systems and methods therefor. The invention generally involves receiving and storing a consumer registration of a tangible asset, matching a provider to the consumer based on a later-arising maintenance need associated with the asset, and relaying a communication from the provider to the consumer.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to consumer product lifecycle maintenance and systems and methods therefor. The invention generally involves receiving and storing a consumer registration of a tangible asset, matching a provider to the consumer based on a later-arising maintenance need associated with the asset and/or follow-on items related to the asset such as accessories, consumables, direct replacements and similar items, and relaying a communication from the provider to the consumer.

Abstract: An automated payment system for a plurality of remote merchants includes a clearinghouse server, a plurality of customer tags and a plurality of local merchant systems. The clearinghouse system includes a customer database and merchant database. A customer joining the clearinghouse service is provided with a customer tag, such as an RFID transponder, which stores a tag identification number. Each remote merchant includes a local merchant system which includes a reader, point-of-sale system, a customer database and a transaction database. The reader is adapted to automatically retrieve the tag identification number from a customer tag when the customer tag is within an associated reading area, such as a stopping location of drive-through lane or a short-term parking stall. The customer's order is entered and processed on the point-of-sale system which is adapted to handle both standard cash transactions and authorized cashless transactions.

Abstract: An automated vehicle parking system for a plurality of remote parking facilities that communicates with a vehicle approaching or leaving the remote facility with RF signals, or the like, that identifies the vehicle and sends the vehicle identification number, time of day, and lane number to a first computer at the remote facility for calculating the parking cost of a given vehicle based on rates for said given individual vehicle stored in the first computer of each of the plurality of remote parking facilities and having a central computer coupled to each remote facility for providing a single bill to a user of several remote facilities and advising each remote facility first computer of the total fees due for all users of that remote facility during specified periods.

Abstract: An automated vehicle parking system for a parking facility that communicates with a vehicle approaching or leaving the facility with RF signals, or the like, that identify the vehicle and sends the vehicle identification number, time of day, and lane number to a central computer for calculating the parking cost based on rates for each individual vehicle stored in the computer.

Abstract: An automated vehicle parking system for a plurality of remote parking facilities that communicates with a vehicle approaching or leaving the remote facility with RF signals, or the like, that identifies the vehicle and sends the vehicle identification number, time of day, and lane number to a first computer at the remote facility for calculating the parking cost of a given vehicle based on rates for said given individual vehicle stored in the first computer of each of the plurality of remote parking facilities and having a central computer coupled to each remote facility for providing a single bill to a user of several remote facilities and advising each remote facility first computer of the total fees due for all users of that remote facility during specified periods.

Abstract: An automated vehicle parking system for a plurality of remote parking facilities that communicates with a vehicle approaching or leaving the remote facility with RF signals, or the like, that identifies the vehicle and sends the vehicle identification number, time of day, and lane number to a first computer at the remote facility for calculating the parking cost of a given vehicle based on rates for said given individual vehicle stored in the first computer of each of the plurality of remote parking facilities and having a central computer coupled to each remote facility for providing a single bill to a user of several remote facilities and advising each remote facility first computer of the total fees due for all users of that remote facility during specified periods.