A system for monitoring a vending machine is presented, the vending machine includes a controller and associated memory configured to store information associated with the condition of the vending machine. The vending machine also has a first short range transceiver configured to transmit the information associated with the condition of the vending machine, a first distance. A plurality of mobile devices each having a second short range transceiver and a first long range transceiver, the mobile devices configured to receive information associated with the condition of the vending machine and transmit it via the long range transceiver. A second long range transceiver is associated with a server coupled to the second long range transceiver. The server configured to receive the information associated with the condition of the vending machine, the server configured to send a signal to a subset of the plurality mobile device to induce the mobile device to be transported to within the first distance from the vending machine.

A system and method for a context-aware digital assets distribution platform. The platform comprises means for distributing or broadcasting digital assets to mobile devices in conjunction with an object providing dynamic sources of context information. The digital assets distribution platform incorporates one or more component architecture, a mobile device application having one or modules for dynamic context sensing, context recognition, context and information communication-transmission, and digital assets content sharing via a mobile computing network. The platform enables the distribution or broadcast of personalized information or services to mobile device users.

A drive-thru system includes a kiosk equipped with at least one omnidirectional antenna and at least one directional antenna, and a user equipment equipped with a processing unit and a communication unit.

A system that includes a fuel dispenser terminal and a remote controller. The fuel dispenser terminal is configured to send a service request for a fuel purchase to the remote controller and receive a personalized offer in response to sending the service request. The fuel dispenser terminal is further configured to display the personalized offer, receive a user response indicating the personalized offer was accepted, and send the user response to the remote controller. The fuel dispenser terminal is further configured to receive an authorization token for retrieving the personalized offer and output the authorization token to the customer. The remote controller is configured to update the service request by adding a purchase associated with the personized offer to the fuel purchase, send an encrypted service request to a service processor, generate the authorization token, and send the authorization token to the fuel dispenser terminal.

A system has a plurality of machine readable tags, and includes a server system for synchronizing the display of interactive mobile content on a user device with a destination of a vehicle, the system. Each of the machine readable tags encodes an address, and is mounted within the vehicle for access by persons in the vehicle. The system receives a request from the user device, generated by scanning one of the machine readable tags, and determines the destination of the vehicle. A coupon is selected and provided that corresponds with the destination of the vehicle. The users on the vehicle that have selected the coupon for download are determined, each of the users who have downloaded the coupon are notified of the identities of the other users who downloaded the coupon, and transportation of all of the users is facilitated, to the location of the restaurant so they may utilize the coupon which each of them downloaded.

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a system comprising a server and a consumer device in operative communication with the server. The server comprises a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium comprises computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable program code is adapted to be executed by the processor to receive an authorization request message for a transaction conducted by a consumer with a merchant, send the authorization request message to an issuer, modify an authorization response message to include receipt preference data, and send the authorization response message comprising the receipt data to the merchant, wherein the merchant generates a receipt for the consumer according to the receipt preference data.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide power to devices are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a display and an instruction presenter. The presenter is to generate a notification on the display. The notification indicates that delivery of power to the user device will be enabled in exchange for paying attention to the display during a media presentation. The apparatus also includes a detector to determine that a person associated with the user device is paying attention to the display. The charging station is to transmit power to the user device in response to the detector determining that the person is paying attention to the display.

Systems and methods for converting consumer coins, cash, and/or other forms of value for use with mobile commerce platforms implemented on, for example, smart phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices. In one embodiment, a method for implementing a mobile commerce account on a mobile device includes receiving coins and/or other funds from a user at a consumer-operated kiosk. The method can further include counting the coins and/or other funds to determine a value, and then communicating at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the hand-held mobile device for deposit in the mobile commerce account.

Improved checkout systems, apparatuses and methods for managing electronic coupons include a checkout kiosk, a point-of-sale system and a microprocessor with an electronic rules engine. The electronic rules engine is configured to allow application of electronic coupons to customer accounts internally to the point-of-sale system. Redemption of the electronic coupons is allowed by the consumer at the kiosk without a scan-able artifact.

The disclosure relates to a real-time merchandising system for the communication of offers and the acceptance or rejection of the communicated offers. The offers communicated may be based on the location of the merchandising system, the time of day and the user device that is in proximity of the system. The merchandising system may require no, or a minimum of, user interaction for an offer to be accepted or rejected or for the offer to expire. It may also be configured to track and analyze offer campaign effectiveness.