A sensing device can include at least one sensor, positioning circuitry, a transceiver, and a computing device in communication with the at least one sensor, the positioning circuitry, and the transceiver. The computing device can determine a location of a vehicle via the positioning circuitry. The computing device can determine that a point of interest (POI) associated with a predefined category of POIs corresponds to the location. The computing device, via the transceiver, can determine that a person is moving away from the vehicle based on a measurement associated with a remote device. The computing device can enter into an armed mode in response to the determinations. The computing device can detect an intrusion into a vehicle while in the armed mode based at least in part on measurements from the at least one sensor. The computing device can generate an alarm in response to the intrusion.

A system for controlling the dispensing of fuel or the like in a vending apparatus, particularly for private use, comprising one or more dispensing assemblies, one or more mobile processing devices, and a central remote processing device, the mobile devices being configured to transmit data originating from the dispensing assemblies toward the central remote device.

Each dispensing assembly comprises an electronic controller and dispensing element which comprise an electric pump, the electronic controller being configured to control electronically the electric pump of the dispensing element on the basis of the occurrence of an operating condition of the electrical and/or hydraulic type of the dispensing element of the dispensing assembly.

A fuel pre-purchasing and sharing system (and associated methods) is disclosed herein. The system allows consumers to pre-purchase fuel at a pre-purchased price, and redeem pre-purchased fuel at a subsequent time regardless of the current price of fuel posted at the point of re-fueling. The pre-purchased price can be based on current fuel prices of fuel at one or more service stations that are near to a consumer at the time that the fuel is pre-purchased. Pre-purchased fuel of one or more grades of fuel can be held in a pre-purchased fuel tank. The pre-purchased fuel tank can be shared with other consumers such that the other consumers can redeem pre-purchased fuel held in the pre-purchased fuel tank.

An information processing device includes a display control unit that, when at least one NFC antenna has performed close-range wireless communication, effects a display of a communication prompter image that indicates the position of an NFC antenna which is different from the at least one NFC antenna and that prompts for close-range wireless communication with the different NFC antenna.

A product dispenser is configured to dispense products subject to a warning and products not subject to a warning, the product dispenser further configured to transmit a product warning notice only in response to a request to dispense a product subject to the warning. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to dispense a food or beverage product and provide information indicative of an attribute of the food or beverage product, such as nutrition facts, as it is being dispensed. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to enable a user to request a customized product from the product dispenser, to determine a first profile for the customized product blend, compare the first profile to a second profile, and reformulate the customized product blend to a dispensed product blend comprising a third profile approximating the second idealized profile.

A product dispenser is configured to dispense products subject to a warning and products not subject to a warning, the product dispenser further configured to transmit a product warning notice only in response to a request to dispense a product subject to the warning. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to dispense a food or beverage product and provide information indicative of an attribute of the food or beverage product, such as nutrition facts, as it is being dispensed. In another embodiment, a product dispenser is configured to enable a user to request a customized product from the product dispenser, to determine a first profile for the customized product blend, compare the first profile to a second profile, and reformulate the customized product blend to a dispensed product blend comprising a third profile approximating the second idealized profile.

A system and method may present, by a first application being executed by an electronic device, a first user interface that enables a user to select a food item and/or non-food item for purchase at a retail establishment. In response to receiving, by the first application, a request from the user using the first user interface to purchase a beverage at the retail establishment, a second application may be linked with the first application. A data repository inclusive of selectable beverage options available for dispensing by a beverage dispenser at the retail establishment may be accessed. The second application may present a second user interface for selection of a selectable beverage option. A selected beverage instruction code representative of a selected beverage may be generated and communicated to the beverage dispenser at the retail establishment to cause the beverage dispenser to be configured for dispensing the selected beverage.

An equipment monitoring system includes an abnormality/abnormality indication detecting means, a coping method database, a coping method extracting means, a visual confirmation availability determining means, a priority setting means, and a coping method notifying means. The abnormality/abnormality indication detecting means detects an abnormality or an abnormality indication of equipment. The coping method database stores a coping method for the abnormality or the abnormality indication, the coping method including visual confirmation. The coping method extracting means extracts the coping method for the detected abnormality or the detected abnormality indication from the coping method database. The visual confirmation availability determining means determines whether the extracted coping method includes visual confirmation. When there is a plurality of extracted coping methods, the priority setting means sets a high priority to the coping method including visual confirmation. The coping method notifying means makes a notification of the coping method based on the set priority.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.

Systems and methods are provided herein for producing and vending ice in an energy-efficient manner. A system for producing and vending ice comprises: an ice-making device configured to manufacture ice; a reservoir coupled to the ice-making device and configured to store the manufactured ice manufactured; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the ice-making device, the control circuit configured to: determine a beginning ice inventory at a first time; determine a predicted ice demand for a first period, wherein the predicted ice demand is a function of at least a historical factor, a weather factor, a customer social event factor, and a public social event factor; determine an ice manufacturing quantity based on the beginning ice inventory, the predicted ice demand, and a manufacturing capacity of the ice-making device; and cause the ice-making device to produce an amount of ice consistent with the determined ice manufacturing quantity.