This disclosure includes a parcel terminal that may include a shelving unit comprising a plurality of shelves that are separated by respective predetermined distances along a dimension of the unit. In an embodiment, the plurality of shelves may be evenly spaced. The parcel terminal may further include a receptable for receiving a parcel from a user, a loader configured to transfer the parcel from the receptacle to a shelf on the shelving unit, and an electronic controller in electronic communication with the loader. The electronic controller may be configured to determine a number of open shelves required to accommodate the parcel based on a size of the parcel and on the respective predetermined distances, to select a set of shelves having at least the required number of open shelves, and to initiate a movement of the loader so as to place the parcel within the selected set of shelves.

A compact, on-demand mask folding and welding system which reduces the size, cost, noise hazard and complexity of the folding and welding process used in the manufacture of medical and protective face masks is disclosed.

A system and method is disclosed for automated remote transactions between a vehicle and a lodging system The system may enable the vehicle to initiate an automated remote transaction to the lodging system to book an accommodation and complete a remote payment. The lodging system may transmit available accommodations to the vehicle. The vehicle may respond with a booking request comprising an accommodation selection and vehicle identifying data and the lodging system may communicate the vehicle identifying data to a payment network to authorize the remote transaction. In response to authorizing the remote transaction, the lodging system may complete the booking request with the vehicle.

The present disclosure provides a communication network node for providing data to a distributed ledger, wherein the node has circuitry configured to provide a special condition for a smart contract, and verify whether the special condition is met.

Examples associated with service kiosk device provisioning are described. One example receiving authentication information associated with a user at a service kiosk. A specification of a device to be delivered to the user, and provisioning data for configuring the device to be delivered to the user are also received at the service kiosk. A selected device is selected from a set of devices stored in compartments of the service kiosk. The set of devices are also operably connected to the service kiosk. The selected device is selected according to the device specification. The selected device is configured based on the provisioning data. A credential matching the authentication information is received from a user via an interface of the service kiosk. Physical access is provided to a compartment of the service kiosk in which the selected device is stored.

Systems and methods that perform automated selection and delivery of a fastener. The system or apparatus may include a fastener inventory portion that retains a plurality of fasteners; a user delivery portion; a transfer assembly that affords physical transport of a fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion to the user delivery portion; a fastener attribute assembly that inputs desired fastener attribute data (DFA data) regarding a desired fastener; a computer system that interfaces with the fastener attribute assembly to input the DFA data; maps the DFA data to at least one fastener candidate; determines a fastener selection amongst the at least one fastener candidate; determines a number of discrete units of the desired fastener that comprise the fastener selection; and controls the transfer assembly to retrieve the fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion and physically transport the fastener selection to the user delivery portion.

An example method includes receiving an application device identifier from an application device associated with a location tag; receiving blink data from the location tag; calculating, using a processor, location data based on the blink data; in response to an event occurrence indication, generating, using the processor, a camera data request based on the location data and the event occurrence indication; transmitting the camera data request; and receiving camera data from the application device in response to the camera data request.

A chatroom providing method includes searching for a consultation product corresponding to a user request; processing payment for the consultation product selected from the result of the search; and providing a one-to-one conversation by activating a chatroom between a user and an expert who has registered the consultation product for which the payment has been completed. A guide information associated with the consultation product is configured and provided in the chatroom as a chatbot message.

A cloud computing metering and charging method and apparatus, and an electronic device and a computer readable storage medium. The method comprises: obtaining an identifier of a cloud host instance to be charged; obtaining, according to the identifier, a data record set corresponding to the identifier; for each data record, determining a charging duration according to an instance change time in the data record; and in the case that an instance change type in the data record is instance shutdown, performing charging processing on a charging item in instance configuration information according to the charging duration. By means of the method, minimization of bill expenses after the cloud host instance is shut down can be implemented, the use experience of users is improved.

A fabrication system is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The fabrication system may have a housing with a slot configured to receive a key blank, and a receiving unit configured to accept a shank of the key blank at the slot. The receiving unit may be configured to mechanically align the shank as it is inserted by a user. The fabrication system may also have a clamp movable between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator. The actuator may be configured to move the receiving unit and the key blank to the clamp, and to move the receiving unit away from the key blank after the clamp has moved to the closed position.