A method includes causing a computer of a communication terminal to perform a process including acquiring, in response to receipt of a beacon signal from a vending machine, identification information, type information of a plurality of drinks, and stock information of the plurality of drinks from the vending machine by using short-range wireless communication; transmitting a user ID of a user of the communication terminal to a personal information server; acquiring biological information that includes a body temperature or a body water percentage of the user corresponding to the user ID from the personal information server; generating, based on the identification information, the type information, the stock information, and the biological information, a push notification screen that recommends at least one drink suitable for hydrating the user to prevent heatstroke; and displaying the push notification screen on a display of the communication terminal.

A method includes causing a computer of a communication terminal to perform a process including acquiring, in response to receipt of a beacon signal from a vending machine, identification information of the vending machine and type information of drinks in the vending machine from the vending machine; transmitting a user ID of a user of the communication terminal to a first server that securely manages personal information including preference information on drinks of the user; acquiring from the first server, the preference information of the user corresponding to the user ID; acquiring weather information of a current location of the communication terminal; generating, based on the acquired pieces of information, a push notification screen that recommends at least one drink that matches a preference of the user indicated by the preference information in relation to weather indicated by the weather information; and displaying the push notification screen.

This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for synchronizing data between merchants' inventories, and techniques for utilizing the data synchronization to process cross-merchant transactions. For instance, a system may store a first inventory of items indicating first items offered for purchase by a first merchant and a second inventory of items indicating second items offered for purchase by a second merchant. The system may then analyze the first inventory of items with respect to the second inventory of items to determine that the second merchant should offer a first item from the first items for purchase at a physical establishment of the second merchant on behalf of the first merchant. The system can then provide a merchant device of the second merchant with access to the second inventory of items and the first item from the first inventory of items.

Provided herein are systems, methods and computer readable storage media for facilitating payments for consumer transactions and redemption of deal offerings. In providing such functionality, the system can be configured to, for example, receive payment for one or more products, determine a deal voucher's current value and cause the redemption of the deal voucher.

Provided is a payment method using a one-time payment security code based on a color pixel code. In the payment method, arbitrary color pixel codes are first disposed on a color grid image screen that is formed with color pixels of various colors in a smartphone-dedicated application, a user inputs a user pattern to select color pixels, a one-time payment security code is generated by combining the color pixel codes and the user pattern, and the one-time payment security code is utilized as information for paying for the user's purchase of a product or a service.

Live inventory management environment system and methods are disclosed. A shelf for items has bins each with an associated sensor. A processor receives a detection signal from the sensor which indicates placement or removal an item(s) from an associated bin. An entry device sends an entered request for placement or removal of items to the processor, and an indicator strip has lights which uniquely identify each one of the bins when lit. The processor has information relating to which bin each subset of lights is associated, and causes activation of a subset of lights associated with a bin of the item(s) in the request and records in memory a type of action, a time stamp and a quantity of the item(s) placed or removed from the bin having the subset of lights lit and indicated in the detection signal subsequently received from the sensor of the associated bin.

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for modification and/or removal of a push notification from a mobile device upon an event such as exit from an area. A positioning system tracks the location of a mobile device through an area. A push notification is presented to the mobile device while the device is in or near the area. If the user exits the area without acknowledgement of the message, the message is modified or removed.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to communicating customized information about a product or service to customers based on the customers' values and preferences. In some embodiments, there is provided a system communicating sourcing stories about products or services to customers including: an electronic interface configured to receive input identifying a customer and input relating to a product or service; a first database communicatively coupled to the electronic interface, the first database containing data regarding the customer; a second database communicatively coupled to the electronic interface, the second database containing a plurality of sourcing stories about the product or service; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the electronic interface and the first and second databases, the control circuit configured to select one of the sourcing stories based on the customer data and to transmit the selected sourcing story to the customer.

A system is disclosed that incorporates mobile devices (such as mobile phones or smart watches), a user profile stored in the cloud, and a triggered device (e.g., point-of-sale terminals or ATM terminals) such that the mobile devices communicate user interactivity information to the triggered device, and the triggered device provides transactional predictions, recommendations, and preferences to the user to interact before making purchases on the triggered device.

A system may include a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor may be configured to perform operations. The operations may include engaging a user in a primary activity; the primary activity may include a plurality of stages. The operations may include compiling at least one risk-reward score for an advertisement placement of an advertisement for at least one of the plurality of stages. The operations may include identifying a recommended stage for the advertisement; the recommended stage may be based on the risk-reward score. The operations may include displaying the advertisement to the user at the recommended stage.