Aspects of the disclosure provide a computer-implemented method and system for the assignment of roadside assistance service providers such as tow trucks to distressed vehicles/drivers requiring roadside assistance. The methods and systems may include a roadside assistance service provider system with a collection module, an assignment module, and a feedback module. The collection module collects roadside assistance service provider information and historical statistics from real-world information and stores the information in a database that may then be analyzed using particular rules and formulas. The assignment module assigns particular roadside assistance service providers to particular distressed vehicles/drivers based on one or more characteristics. The feedback module may provide near real-time cues to the tow truck driver's mobile device, such as alerting when the amount of time spent on a task exceeds a predefined threshold, flagging high priority tasks/assignments, providing a step-by-step checklist for the repair.

A method and software product for implementing the method of providing compensation from an on-line seller to a contractually unaffiliated retail outlet based on an on-line seller receiving an on-line order for a product from a customer. The on-line seller determines the identity of the retail outlet where showrooming of the product occurred, and contacts the retail outlet to offer payment associated with the on-line order of the product.

The present disclosure provides a technique that enables customization of a vehicle. In an information processing apparatus, a controller presents vehicle units extracted from among a plurality of types of under units each of which is provided with a driving mechanism configured to cause wheels to rotate and a plurality of types of upper units to be loaded on any of the under units to a user, the vehicle units being combinable as a vehicle. Furthermore, the controller executes: accepting selection by a user from among the presented vehicle units; and calculating a fee in the case of providing the selected vehicle units.

A method for addressing a shopper's eligibility for frictionless checkout may include identifying at least one shopper in a retail store designated as not eligible for frictionless checkout; in response to the identification of the at least one shopper designated as not eligible for frictionless checkout, automatically identifying an ineligibility condition associated with the at least one shopper's designation as not eligible for frictionless checkout; determining one or more actions for resolving the ineligibility condition; causing implementation of the one or more actions for resolving the ineligibility condition; receiving an indication of successful completion of the one or more actions; and in response to receipt of the indication of successful completion of the one more actions, generating a status indicator indicating that the at least one shopper is eligible for frictionless checkout and storing the generated status indicator in a memory.

Embodiments are provided for enhancing an in-store retail experience for a customer by facilitating search queries for products and services available for sale in a retail store. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may receive a search string associated with the retail store and transmit the search string to a server that may execute a corresponding search query. The server may send results from the search query to the electronic device, which may dynamically update an interface accessible by a user. The user may view the information and make appropriate selections.

The method and system allow a user to launch a client application on an web-enabled device and subsequently to navigate to an image source screen within the client application. After receiving an image source selection from the user, the client application retrieves images from the selected image source. The client application displays the retrieved images available for printing to a user, and in response to receiving a selection of an image, the client application transmits the image to a proprietary server. Moreover, upon receiving print order information, the client application additionally executes a location awareness application that determines a current location of the web-enabled device and subsequently, determines a proximal retail store to the current location of the web-enabled device. Thereafter, the remote printing system creates and transmits a print order that includes the selected image to the retail store for pickup.

Some embodiments provide a product inventory information distribution apparatus, comprising: a central electronic data storage buffer; a control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed cause the control circuit to: detect product inventory update information messages, wherein each of the product inventory update information messages is received from one of multiple different product inventory systems and is generated by a corresponding one of the multiple product inventory systems when one of the multiple product inventory systems detects a change in an inventory state corresponding to any one of hundreds or more products available through the product inventory storage facility; direct each of the multiple product inventory update information messages to the central electronic data storage buffer; and maintain messages in the central electronic data storage buffer received during a buffer retention window of time.

A shelf space allocation management device manages products allocated on shelves in a store by use of an imaging device. The shelf space allocation management device acquires an image including a position assumed to be changed in allocation status of each product on each shelf; it determines whether each product reflected in the image matches one of pre-recorded images, thus executing a product allocation inspection. Herein, the shelf space allocation management device specifies a position at which a person causes any change in the allocation status of each product on each shelf, and therefore it may control the imaging device to capture an image including the position. It is possible to carry out a product allocation inspection for each period determined in advance depending on the type of each product, or it is possible to carry out a product allocation inspection being triggered by a customer purchasing each product.

Systems and methods for analyzing image data to identify cabinet products are disclosed. A computer-implemented method may include receiving, from an electronic device via a network connection, at least one digital image depicting a cabinet. The method also may include analyzing, by one or more processors, the at least one digital image to determine a first set of characteristics of the cabinet. Additionally, the method may include accessing, by the one or more processors from memory, a second set of characteristics corresponding to a plurality of cabinet products and comparing the first set of characteristics to the second set of characteristics to identify a cabinet product of the plurality of cabinet products that matches the cabinet. Further, the method may include transmitting, to the electronic device via the network connection, an indication of the cabinet product.

In some examples, a location of a merchant is updated as the merchant moves. A server receives the location of the merchant, and compares that location to the location of a user, so as to determine whether the merchant is located within a first threshold distance or a second, smaller threshold distance from the location of the user. If the user is within the first threshold distance, the server presents a first point of sale (POS) interface to initiate an order from the merchant and present the user with an option to fulfill that order through delivery. If the merchant is located within the second, smaller threshold distance from the user, the server presents the user with a second POS interface that gives the user an option to fulfill the order through pickup instead of delivery.