The present invention comprises a method of managing car wash membership programs that uses unique vehicle identifiers that can be read directly from a vehicle's onboard computer. This method works with vehicles that possess an onboard computer (i.e., “connected cars”) that collects data on the vehicle itself (e.g. vehicle identification number (VIN), oil life, fuel level) and exposes an interface that makes it possible for external systems to request and read this data. An example scenario utilizing this method involves a customer who installs a software application (app) for the car wash on their smartphone. The customer then selects their desired subscription car wash package within the app and the app initiates a communication link directly with the vehicle that will be associated with this membership account. Once the communication link is established between the smartphone app and the vehicle, a unique identifier will be requested from the vehicle's onboard computer, such as the VIN, and this vehicle identifier will be linked to the customer's membership account which is stored in an external system, typically in a cloud-based server and database. When the customer arrives at the car wash to request wash services under their membership, they will first use the smartphone app to “check in” to the car wash location by verifying that the vehicle associated with the customer's membership account is physically within a predefined distance of the car wash. The smartphone app may then establish a communication link with the vehicle to request its unique identifier and then pass this data to the external server and database to verify if the customer and vehicle are registered, active, and authorized to receive the requested service(s). If the request is deemed valid, then the smartphone app will provide a means of activating the requested car wash service(s), such as through a unique numeric code entered into the pay station kiosk, a barcode or QR code to be scanned and recognized by the pay station kiosk, a wireless signal sent directly or indirectly to the pay station kiosk or car wash controller for activation, or other equivalent methods. The service(s) rendered will then be logged and stored in the external system for future reference to ensure any limits on wash usage are not exceeded by the customer's account.

An example medical cabinet system disclosed herein includes a computing system that selectively enables access to a medication pack or other object based on a dispensing schedule, stores event data relating to operation of the cabinet system, and transmits that event data to a remote computing system over a communications network.

Systems and methods for operating a vending machine and/or kiosk. The methods comprise: detecting a presence of a person in a seat of the vending machine; obtaining a full or partial body heat map for the person that was created based on sensor data generated by at least one sensor of the vending machine or at least one sensor located in proximity to the vending machine (the full or partial heat map showing relative temperatures of different parts of a body of the person); selecting at least one vending service parameter for the vending machine using information obtained based on the full or partial body heat map; and causing the vending machine to provide the person with a vending service in accordance with the at least one vending service parameter that was selected.

A system and method for providing distributed on-street valet parking with the aid of a digital computer is provided. Parking spaces for valet services are reserved. One of the reserved parking spaces is designated as a valet drop-off parking space. A motor vehicle is detected in the valet drop-off parking space and a notification that the motor vehicle requires parking is provided to a valet of the detected motor vehicle. A search is conducted for the reserved parking spaces available for valet services for the motor vehicle. At least one of the reserved parking spaces available for the motor vehicle is identified and the motor vehicle is parked in the identified reserved parking space.

System and methods are disclosed for determining, through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, whether vehicles are involved in autonomous droning. Vehicle driving data and other information may be used to calculate an autonomous droning reward amount. In addition, vehicle involved in a drafting relationship in addition to, or apart from, an autonomous droning relationship may be financially rewarded. Moreover, aspects of the disclosure related to determining ruminative rewards and/or aspects of vehicle insurance procurement/underwriting.

A pay toilet usage control device for achieving appropriate use of a toilet such as a temporary toilet on a chargeable basis is provided. A pay toilet usage control device includes a payment unit, a pre-use unlocking section, an in-use locking section, a post-use unlocking section, and a post-use locking section. The payment unit executes a payment process related to a use fee for a user to use a pay toilet. The pre-use unlocking section unlocks a locked lock at an entrance to the pay toilet when a payment process has been executed. The in-use locking section locks the unlocked lock when the user uses the pay toilet. The post-use unlocking section unlocks the locked lock when the user has completed using the pay toilet. The post-use locking section locks the unlocked lock after the lock is unlocked by the post-use unlocking section.

Systems and methods for operating a vending machine and/or kiosk. The methods comprise: detecting a presence of a person in a seat of the vending machine; obtaining a full or partial body heat map for the person that was created based on sensor data generated by at least one sensor of the vending machine or at least one sensor located in proximity to the vending machine (the full or partial heat map showing relative temperatures of different parts of a body of the person); selecting at least one vending service parameter for the vending machine using information obtained based on the full or partial body heat map; and causing the vending machine to provide the person with a vending service in accordance with the at least one vending service parameter that was selected.

A traveling body is provided. A reception unit receives first information regarding a state of payment related to use of the traveling body from a payment management server that manages the state of payment. A traveling mechanism is driven under control of a control unit capable of limiting traveling of the traveling body according to the state of payment. A transmission unit transmits second information based on the first information to the control unit.

System and methods are disclosed for determining, through vehicle-to-vehicle communication, whether vehicles are involved in autonomous droning. Vehicle driving data and other information may be used to calculate an autonomous droning reward amount. In addition, vehicle involved in a drafting relationship in addition to, or apart from, an autonomous droning relationship may be financially rewarded. Moreover, aspects of the disclosure related to determining ruminative rewards and/or aspects of vehicle insurance procurement/underwriting.

A locker management system including a management server and a status of keeping items at locker spots for a predetermined length of time. The locker spot is equipped with an electronically controlled locker, and the management server receives selection and designation of the locker spot to keep the item upon order of the item from a customer terminal and designation of the predetermined length of time, and upon detection of delivery of the item to the locker spot, notifies the customer terminal of a locker number of the locker. When a customer visits the locker spot and reads a code attached to the locker, and transmits this code and the customer ID to the management server, the management server performs checking processing. If the answer is positive, a signal for unlocking the locker is transmitted to the locker.