Methods and systems for communicating with a server of a cloud services system used to interface with vehicles are provided. One method includes receiving, by the server, a request from electronics of a vehicle to access a profile for a user account. The request identifies user information for a user to use the vehicle. The method includes processing, by the server, at least part of the user information to verify the user against data associated with the user account. The profile has a plurality of settings of the user for the vehicle, and at least part of the plurality of settings for the profile being stored on storage accessible to the cloud services system. The method includes transferring, by the server, upon verification of the user information, one or more settings of the plurality of settings to the vehicle. The transferring is configured to instruct software associated with said electronics of the vehicle to apply said one or more settings to the vehicle for customizing said vehicle to use said one or more settings, and the vehicle uses wireless communication with the cloud services system to receive said one or more settings for the profile. And, the profile is transferrable from vehicle to vehicle used by the user, so user settings go with the user. The profile, in one example, is activated automatically in a vehicle upon pairing a device with the vehicle.

A method for navigating a vehicle automatically from a current location to a destination location without a human operator is disclosed. The method includes identifying a vehicle location using global positioning system (GPS) data regarding the vehicle. Also included is identifying that the vehicle location is near or at a parking location. Then, using mapping data defined for the parking location. The mapping data at least in part is used to find a path at the parking location to avoid a collision of the vehicle with at least one physical structure when the vehicle is automatically moved at the parking location. The method includes instructing the electronics of the vehicle to proceed with controlling the vehicle to automatically move from the current location to the destination location at the parking location. The electronics use as input at least part of the mapping data and sensor data collected from around the vehicle by at least two vehicle sensors. The path is configured to be updatable dynamically based on changes in the destination location or changes along the path. The destination location is a parking spot for the vehicle at the parking location.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a control system of a first entity. The control system has a forecast module that creates a supply medium plan of a supply medium unit of the first entity. The supply medium unit is a supply medium consumer, a supply medium producer, and/or supply medium storage. The supply medium unit connects to a physical supply channel network. A peer-to-peer module receives at least one supply medium offer message of a further entity by communicating with a peer-to-peer application of a peer-to-peer network. The peer-to-peer module causes generation of a supply medium transaction agreement about the physical exchange of a supply medium between the first and further entity through the peer-to-peer application based on the supply medium plan and the supply medium offer message. A controlling module controls the supply medium unit in dependence of the generated supply medium transaction agreement.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a control system of a first entity. The control system has a forecast module that creates a supply medium plan of a supply medium unit of the first entity. The supply medium unit is a supply medium consumer, a supply medium producer, and/or supply medium storage. The supply medium unit connects to a physical supply channel network. A peer-to-peer module receives at least one supply medium offer message of a further entity by communicating with a peer-to-peer application of a peer-to-peer network. The peer-to-peer module causes generation of a supply medium transaction agreement about the physical exchange of a supply medium between the first and further entity through the peer-to-peer application based on the supply medium plan and the supply medium offer message. A controlling module controls the supply medium unit in dependence of the generated supply medium transaction agreement.

Provided is a control method including: receiving, from first power equipment, first transaction data including, for example, transmitted power amount information indicating the amount of power transmitted to power accumulation equipment; obtaining, from the power accumulation equipment, received power information including, for example, received power amount information indicating the amount of power received from the first power equipment; verifying the first transaction data by referring to the received power information; executing a first consensus algorithm with second servers when the first transaction data is verified successfully; and recording a block including the first transaction data in a distributed ledger of a first server when the validity of the first transaction data is verified through the first consensus algorithm.

A vehicle configured to communicate with a server of a cloud system to enable access to use the vehicle via one or more electronic keys is provided. The vehicle includes electronics and a subsystem of the vehicle for enabling unlocking of the vehicle. The subsystem is interfaced with the electronics and a subsystem of the vehicle for enabling starting of the vehicle for use of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes communications circuitry that is interfaced with electronics of the vehicle. The communications circuitry is programmable to communicate with the server of the cloud system and communicate with a mobile device. The communications circuitry of the vehicle is configured to receive a request from the mobile device for unlocking of the vehicle. The request from the mobile device includes coded data obtained by the mobile device from the server to enable sending the request to the vehicle. The coded data is associated with privileges for use of the vehicle. The privileges are defined for the coded data, and the vehicle is configured to receive information from the server to authenticate the request by the mobile device. And, if the request is authentic, the mobile device is provided with data to enable an electronic key to use the vehicle, and the electronics of the vehicle instructs the subsystem of the vehicle to enable unlocking of the vehicle and enable starting of the vehicle for use of the vehicle via the electronic key consistent with the privileges of the coded data.

A communicable charging facility, a management server, and a payment terminal installed in a store or the like are provided. The management server manages information indicating correspondence between a member's vehicle ID and a user ID, and when the user performs a vehicle charging operation at the charging facility, the charging facility acquires the vehicle ID transmitted by the vehicle and transmits it to the management server. The management server allows the charging facility to start charging when user authentication is successful based on the vehicle ID received from the charging facility and management information. The charging facility transmits a charge authentication ID to a target vehicle or a mobile terminal of the corresponding user after the start of charging. When payment of a fee of the user's product is performed on the payment terminal, the payment terminal or the management server acquires the charge authentication ID transmitted from the user's mobile terminal and the management server identifies charging history and the like.

Systems and methods for market-based financial settlement in an electric power grid are disclosed. At least one active grid element is constructed and configured in network communication with a settlement processor. The at least one active grid element participates in the electric power grid by consuming power, supplying power, and/or curtailing power to provide operating reserves and/or grid stability for the electric power grid. The at least one active grid element generates at least one kilowatt packet (KWP) unit based upon measured data for the participation in the electric power grid. The at least one active grid element transmits at least one IP-based settlement message to the settlement processor. The settlement processor provides a market-based financial settlement for the participation of the at least one active grid element based on the at least one KWP unit in real time or near real time.

Described herein are systems and methods for managing a fuel dispensing account associated with fuel dispensing transactions. A fuel dispensing apparatus includes a receiver configured for wireless communication with a user device. The fuel dispensing apparatus receives a request to dispense fuel from the user device via the receiver and associates the fuel request with a primary user account stored in a user database. A notification is sent to one or more users of the primary account requesting instructions regarding the fuel request. Fuel is dispensed from the fuel dispensing apparatus if instructions are received from a user of the primary account authorizing the request.

Systems, devices, and methods for associating vehicle identification information with other visually captured information are provided. In general, a system can include a processor configured to receive an image from a camera located at a fueling station. The processor can be configured to apply an algorithm to extract various features from the image, such as a vehicle that is present in the image, facial features of a driver and/or a passenger of the vehicle, or a license plate of the vehicle. The features can be used by the processor to determine information from the features, such as the identity of the driver, the make/model of the vehicle, or an owner of the vehicle. The processor can then, based on the determined information, be configured to take a variety of actions and thereby reduce the likelihood of possible future losses associated with the vehicles or individuals present in the image.