A parking meter assembly (10) including a base (11) that is to be fixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the curb that which a car is to be parked. The assembly (10) also includes a parking meter (13) having a front face (17) that includes a coin slot (25) a card slot (20) and a control panel (21). The parking meter (13) further includes a rear face (27) having a window aperture (28) that provides for the transmission of light to a solar panel (29) behind the aperture (28).

A portable toilet facility generally includes an enclosure comprising a floor, a ceiling, at least one side wall, and at least one door positioned within the at least one side wall, a holding tank disposed inside the enclosure for the storage of waste, and at least one toilet structure disposed inside the enclosure, the at least one toilet structure being in fluid communication with the holding tank. The portable toilet facility further includes at least one lock disposed within the enclosure, the at least one lock preventing and allowing selective access to the toilet structure.

A solution is proposed for controlling usage of computing services. A corresponding method comprises allocating a new usage token to a user in response to a usage entitlement thereof being insufficient to meet a usage weight of a new computing service. The usage entitlement is updated according to the new usage token and the usage weight of the new computing service, and the usage of the new computing service is enabled in response thereto. A computer program and a computer program product for performing the method are also proposed. Moreover, a system for implementing the method is proposed.

Systems, methods, devices and non-transitory, computer-readable storage mediums are disclosed for a dynamic parking information management system (DPIMS). DPIMS is a centralized, online aggregator of parking assets for a location of interest for real-time and scheduled parking requests. DPIMS dynamically updates parking asset inventory based on reports from providers of available parking assets, including commercial, private and flash parking asset providers. DPIMS also provides a mobile valet service for location-based, on-demand valet services that use the parking asset inventory provided by DPIMS servers.

Automated entry to properties includes listing as available as an open house on an application running on a portable device. A property manager receives required renter criteria that is required to authorize an unaccompanied visit to the property. A visitor using a portable device can select to indicate a desire to enter the property. Upon the application receiving the visitor request to enter the property, communicating with a credit bureau to pull a credit score for the visitor. Upon rental criteria for the visitor meeting the required renter criteria, the application provides automated entry information to the visitor that allows the visitor to enter the property.

An instant check-in system for a short-term accommodation may include a built-in electronic device, a cloud server and an Application on the user's mobile device to communicate with the cloud server. In one embodiment, the built-in electronic device is a tablet. In another embodiment, the user can use the tablet of the instant check-in system to enter the accommodation. In a further embodiment, the user can use the App to enter the accommodation. The instant check-in system is advantageous because the user who needs a short-term accommodation can simply use either the App on his/her cell phone or the built-in tablet on the accommodation to quickly check in, so he/she does not have to wait in line before a front desk.

A charging fee payment system is used for a payment process for a payment of a charging fee to charge a target apparatus with a charging apparatus. The target apparatus includes a memory, a controller, and a communication section. When the charging apparatus does not have a function to communicate with an external server that performs the payment process, the memory stores an unique ID code of the charging apparatus and electricity usage data indicative of the amount of electricity used by the charging apparatus to charge the target apparatus. The controller allows the target apparatus to be charged with the charging apparatus on a condition that the ID code remains stored in the memory. When the communication section becomes able to communicate with the external server, the communication section sends the ID code and the electricity usage data stored in the memory to the external server.

A parking area access control system includes a first blocking device (6) with a data communication connection to a central control device (2) for opening by a control device command. An identification element (22), with an unambiguous identification key, is arranged on the first blocking device (16). A mobile communication apparatus (20) is connected to the control device for data communication and is configured to read out the identification key from the identification element. The mobile communication apparatus (20) and the control device (2) interact such that the identification key is transmitted from the communication apparatus to the control device and, the control device or the mobile communication apparatus generates a temporary parking key. The control device (2), as a reaction to a request signal (6) sent from the communication apparatus (20) to the control device, opens the first blocking device which is identified by the identification key.

A system for managing fare collection in a public transit network may include a fare collection system and a fare management system. The fare collection may collect fare information from passengers boarding or getting off a vehicle. The fare management system may use the received fare information to determine a fare return series over a period of time, which includes multiple fare returns. The fare management system may use a hierarchical cluster method to cluster multiple fare returns into one or more clusters represented in a dendrogram, apply a silhouette method to the dendrogram and obtain an optimal clustering. The system may further output a graphic representation, such as a trend line, for each of the clusters over a time period. Based on the clustering results, the system may also deploy a revised fare class schedule or transit system schedule to the fare collection system.

A system and method for training a student employ a simulation station that displays output to the student and receives input. The computer system has a rules engine operating on it and computer accessible data storage storing (i) learning object data including learning objects configured to provide interaction with the student at the simulation system and (ii) rule data defining a plurality of rules accessed by the rules engine. The rules data includes, for each rule, respective (a) if-portion data defining a condition of data and (b) then-portion data defining an action to be performed at the simulation station. The rules engine causes the computer system to perform the action when the condition of data is present in the data storage. For at least some of the rules, the action comprises output of one of the learning objects so as to interact with the student. The system may be networked with middleware and adapters that map data received over the network to rules engine memory.