A method for operating a commercial appliance, includes activating the commercial appliance. The commercial appliance is configured such that initiation of operating cycles of the commercial appliance does not require a payment authorization after activating the commercial appliance. The method also includes converting the commercial appliance. The commercial appliance is configured such that initiation of subsequent operating cycles of the commercial appliance requires the payment authorization after converting the commercial appliance.

A computer implemented system and method for providing user-based on-demand laundry services includes providing a peer-to-peer laundry service platform and configuring the platform to identify a plurality of client accounts and a plurality of service provider accounts. The platform detects when either a client account or a service provider account is selected, and detects a notice of availability by at least one service provider account for laundry services. After receiving a search query from the client account, which identifies a quantity of the laundry, the platform identifies one or more available service provider accounts and selects from among them a proximal service provider account. The search query is reported to the proximal service provider account, which sends an acceptance query. the platform detects a completion signal, and processes a payment from the client account to the proximal service provider account.

A method for controlling a vehicle that has a cleaning device. The method includes: receiving, from a terminal, reservation information for a cleaning operation performed by the cleaning device located in the vehicle; transmitting, based on the received reservation information, one or more first operation commands that control the vehicle to move to a location associated with the received reservation information and enables the cleaning device located in the vehicle to perform the cleaning operation; receiving, from the vehicle and based on completion of the cleaning operation performed by the cleaning device located in the vehicle, a completion message; and handling control of the vehicle and the cleaning device located in the vehicle based on the received completion message.

An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Methods and apparatus for authorizing use of a mat processing device are disclosed. The disclosed process requests and receives a public customer identifier. If the public identifier is not on a “required” list, the process authorizes a mat processing despite payment not yet being confirmed and no private information being. If the public customer identifier is recognized by the system, the process requests and receives a private customer identifier, even though the mat processing has already been authorized. If the private identifier is associated with the public identifier, the customer's account is debited for the mat processing. If the private identifier does not correspond to the public identifier, and optionally an additional user confirmation attempt fails, the public identifier is placed on the “required” list, so subsequent attempts will not receive a “free” mat processing.

This information processing system comprises an information station inside a store, a washing machine, and a user terminal operated by a user, wherein, when the information station detects that the user U has visited the store, the information station executes control to display a QR code for transmitting a store-visit coupon to the user terminal. The washing machine displays an advertisement, and also, when the washing machine detects that the user has used the washing machine, the washing machine executes control to display a QR code for transmitting a usage coupon to the user terminal. The user terminal acquires information indicated by the QR code displayed on the information station and information indicated by the QR code displayed on the washing machine.

Various aspects of the disclosure are directed to content rendition generation. Sets of disparately-formatted media content are reformatted into corresponding renditions of media content having a common format. The common format includes device-indeterminate ID linking data that links respective portions (e.g., assets or a structural component including the assets) of each rendition with the common format to corresponding portions of the disparately-formatted media content. For each rendition, reformatted assets are generated in which each reformatted is specific to one of a plurality of disparate types of devices, based upon characteristics of the disparate device types. Access to the portions of disparately-formatted media content and/or the assets within the portions of disparately-formatted media content is tracked, based on the linking data.

Various aspects of the disclosure are directed to content rendition generation. Sets of disparately-formatted media content are reformatted into corresponding renditions of media content having a common format. The common format includes device-indeterminate ID linking data that links respective portions (e.g., assets or a structural component including the assets) of each rendition with the common format to corresponding portions of the disparately-formatted media content. For each rendition, reformatted assets are generated in which each reformatted is specific to one of a plurality of disparate types of devices, based upon characteristics of the disparate device types. Access to the portions of disparately-formatted media content and/or the assets within the portions of disparately-formatted media content is tracked, based on the linking data.

Aspects of the invention may involve systems, methods, and computer readable medium. In an embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented method for paying for usage of a pay per use device may be provided. The method may transmit device identification information from the device to a server. Device setup information and vend price may be received and the vend price may be displayed. User identification may be received and transmitted to the server. An account balance value may be received and displayed on the display. A start request may be received and transmitted to the server. The device may start and an updated account balance may be displayed.