1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a matchmaking system, from a first user a first description of a first product for sale and from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;
comparing, by a processor of the matchmaking system, the first description to the second description;
determining, by the processor, that the first description matches the second description by determining that a first word in the first description is the same as a second word in the second description, determining a first geographic region based on the first description, determining a second geographic region based on the second description, and determining that the first geographic region and the second geographic region are within a specified geographical reach;
presenting a result of the first description matching the second description to the first user, the result including a user chat identifier for the second user and a selectable indicator corresponding to an availability of the second user on a chat service external to the matchmaking system;
receiving, from the first user, a selection of the selectable indicator corresponding to the first user desiring to chat with the second user;
sending, via the external chat service, a signal to second user indicating that the first user wishes to communicate with the second user;
receiving permission from the second user to put the first user in communication with the second user; and
transmitting a message from the first user using a chat service internal to the matchmaking system to the second user via the external chat service.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving the user chat identifier from the second user, the user chat identifier serving to identify the second user on the external chat service; and
determining the availability of the second user onto the external chat service by checking the status of the user chat identifier with the external chat service.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
receiving an alias from the second user, in which the alias is different from the user chat identifier; and
causing the alias to be displayed to the first user.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the message from the second user via the internal chat service, wherein the internal chat service is different than the external chat service.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale;
determining that the second description matches the third description;
determining a first geographic region based on the first description;
determining a second geographic region based on the second description;
determining a third geographic region based on the third description;
determining a first distance based on the first geographic region and the second geographic region;
determining a second distance based on the second geographic region and the third geographic region;
determining that the first distance is less than the second distance; and
causing to be displayed, for the first user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first distance is less than the second distance.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first description matches the second description comprises determining that a first word in the first description matches a second word in the second description, the method further comprising:
receiving from a third user a third description of a third product for sale;
determining that a third word in the second description matches a fourth word in the third description, in which the third word is different from the second word;
determining a first category associated with the second word;
determining a second category associated with the third word;
determining a first priority associated with the first category;
determining a second priority associated with the second category;
determining that the first priority is higher than the second priority; and
displaying, for the first user, indications of the first product and of the third product, in which the indication of the first product is displayed above the indication of the third product based on the determination that the first priority is higher than the second priority.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first category is geography and the second category is product age.
8. A method comprising:
receiving from a first user a first description of a first product;
receiving from the first user a first address to be used for sending communications to the first user, the first address being an alias on an external chat service;
receiving front the first user a rule for sending communications;
receiving from a second user a second description of a second product;
determining, by a processor, that the first description matches the second description; and
transmitting to the first user a first message describing the second product, the first message being sent to the first address via the external chat service, and the first message being sent in accordance with the rule.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rule specifies a frequency with which to send communications.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the rule specifies one of a plurality of addresses to be used for sending communications to the first user, the method further comprising:
receiving from the first user a second address to be used for sending communications to the first user;
receiving from a third user a third description of a third product;
determining that the first description matches the third description;
transmitting to the first user a second message describing the third product, the second message being sent to the second address, and the second message being sent in accordance with the rule.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first address is a wireless device identifier and wherein the first message is sent to a corresponding wireless device via Short Message Service.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving, by a matchmaking system, from a first user a first description of a first product for sale and from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;
comparing, by a processor of the matchmaking system, the first description to the second description;
determining, by the processor, that the first description matches the second description by determining that a first word in the first description is the same as a second word in the second description;
presenting a result of the first description matching the second description to the first user, the result including a user chat identifier for the second user and a selectable indicator corresponding to an availability of the second user on a chat service external to the matchmaking system;
detecting the availability of the second user on the external chat service;
receiving, from the first user, a selection of the selectable indicator corresponding to the first user desiring to chat with the second user;
sending, via the external chat service, a signal to the second user indicating that the first user wishes to communicate with the second user;
receiving permission from the second user to put the first user in communication with the second user; and
transmitting a message from the first user using a chat service internal to the matchmaking system to the second user via the external chat service, and based on the second user being offline on the external chat service, transmitting an offline message from the first user to the second user using a communications channel designated by the second user, the communications channel comprising one of electronic mail, a wireless device communication, and the external chat service.
13. A system comprising:
a processor;
an input module, implemented by the processor, configured to receive from a first user a first description of a first product for sale and from a second user a second description of a second product that the second user desires to purchase;
a matching engine, implemented by the processor, configured to:
compare the first description to the second description; and
determine that the first description matches the second description by determining that a first word in the first description is the same as a second word in the second description;
an output module, implemented by the processor, configured to present a result of the first description matching the second description to the first user, the result including a user chat identifier for the second user and a selectable indicator corresponding to an availability of the second user on a chat service external to the matchmaking system; and
a chat engine, implemented by the processor, configured to:
detect the availability of the second user on the external chat service;
receive, from the first user, a selection of the selectable indicator corresponding to the first user desiring to chat with the second user;
send, via the external chat service, a signal to the second user indicating that the first user wishes to communicate with the second user;
receive permission from the second user to put the first user in communication with the second user; and
transmit a message from the first user using a chat service internal to the matchmaking system to the second user via the external chat service, and based on the second user being offline on the external chat service, transmit an offline message from the first user to the second user using a communications channel designated by the second user, the communications channel comprising one of electronic mail, a wireless device communication, and the external chat service.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A control method for an internal combustion engine system which includes an internal combustion engine, an electric drive unit adapted to start up the internal combustion engine, and a starter battery for use as an electric power source for activating the electric drive unit, the control method comprising:
an automatic stop step of, upon satisfaction of a given automatic stop condition, automatically stopping the internal combustion engine being running;
a restart step of, upon satisfaction of a given restart condition after the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped, supplying electric power from the starter battery to the electric drive unit to automatically restart the internal combustion engine;
a post-attached load detection step of detecting the presence or absence of a post-attached load to be supplied with electric power from the starter battery, based on a discharging status of the starter battery in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine; and
a forcible restart step of, when the post-attached load is detected as a result of the post-attached load detection step, restarting the internal combustion engine irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the restart condition.
2. The control method as defined in claim 1, comprising a stopped-state current-value diagnosis step of comparing a value of current flowing out of the starter battery with a predetermined current value, in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine, wherein the stopped-state current-value diagnosis step corresponds to said post-attached load detection step.
3. The control method as defined in claim 2, further comprising:
a running-state current-value diagnosis step of comparing a value of current flowing out of the starter battery with the predetermined current value, upon the satisfaction of the automatic stop condition; and
an automatic-stop prohibition step of, when a result of the running-state current-value diagnosis step indicates that the value of current flowing out of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined current value, prohibiting the automatic stop step irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the automatic stop condition.
4. The control method as defined in claim 1, comprising a stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis step of comparing a change in voltage value of the starter battery with a predetermined threshold value, in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine, wherein the stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis step corresponds to said post-attached load detection step.
5. The control method as defined in claim 2, further comprising:
a running-state voltage-change diagnosis step of comparing a change in voltage value of the starter battery with a predetermined threshold value, upon the satisfaction of the automatic stop condition; and
an automatic-stop prohibition step of, when a result of the running-state voltage-change diagnosis step indicates that the change in voltage value of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined threshold value, prohibiting the automatic stop step irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the automatic stop condition.
6. The control method as defined in claim 4, further comprising:
a running-state voltage-change diagnosis step of comparing a change in voltage value of the starter battery with the predetermined threshold value, upon the satisfaction of the automatic stop condition; and
an automatic-stop prohibiting stop of, when a result of the running-state voltage-change diagnosis step indicates that the change in voltage value of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined threshold value, prohibiting the automatic stop step irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the automatic stop condition.
7. The control method as defined in claim 2, further comprising a stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis step of comparing a change in voltage value of the starter battery with a predetermined threshold value, in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine, wherein the forcible restart step includes, when a result of the stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis step indicates that the change in voltage value of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined threshold value, restarting the internal combustion engine irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the restart condition.
8. The control method as defined in claim 1, wherein the internal combustion system includes an electric load adapted to be activated in a stopped state of the internal combustion engine, and a general-purpose battery for supplying electric power to the electric load,
wherein the control method further comprises a stopped-state electric-power supply step of supplying electric power from the general-purpose battery to the electric load, in the stopped state of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the forcible restart step includes supplying electric power from both the general-purpose battery and the starter battery to the electric drive unit.
9. The control method as defined in claim 2, wherein the internal combustion system includes an electric load adapted to be activated in a stopped state of the internal combustion engine, and a general-purpose battery for supplying electric power to the electric load,
wherein the control method further comprises a stopped-state electric-power supply step of supplying electric power from the general-purpose battery to the electric load, in the stopped state of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the forcible restart step includes supplying electric power from both the general-purpose battery and the starter battery to the electric drive unit.
10. The control method as defined in claim 4, wherein the internal combustion system includes an electric load adapted to be activated in a stopped state of the internal combustion engine, and a general-purpose battery for supplying electric power to the electric load,
wherein the control method further comprises a stopped-state electric-power supply step of supplying electric power from the general-purpose battery to the electric load, in the stopped state of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the forcible restart step includes supplying electric power from both the general-purpose battery and the starter battery to the electric drive unit.
11. An internal combustion engine system comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric drive unit adapted to start up the internal combustion engine, a starter battery for use as an electric power source for activating the electric drive unit, and running control unit configured to govern a running control of the internal combustion engine, the running control unit including:
automatic stop unit operable, upon satisfaction of a given automatic stop condition, to automatically stop the internal combustion engine being running;
restart unit operable, upon satisfaction of a given restart condition after the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped, to allow electric power to be supplied from the starter battery to the electric drive unit so as to automatically restart the internal combustion engine;
post-attached load detection unit operable to detect the presence or absence of a post-attached load to be supplied with electric power from the starter battery, based on a discharging status of the starter battery in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine; and
forcible restart unit operable, when the post-attached load is detected as a detection result of the post-attached load detection unit, to restart the internal combustion engine irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the restart condition.
12. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 11, which comprises stopped-state current-value diagnosis unit operable to compare a value of current flowing out of the starter battery with a predetermined current value, in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine, wherein the stopped-state current-value diagnosis unit serves as the post-attached load detection unit.
13. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 12, further comprising:
running-state current-value diagnosis unit operable to compare a value of current flowing out of the starter battery with the predetermined current value, upon the satisfaction of the automatic stop condition; and
automatic-stop prohibition unit operable, when a diagnosis result of the running-state current-value diagnosis unit indicates that the value of current flowing out of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined current value, to prohibit the operation of the automatic stop unit irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the automatic stop condition.
14. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 11, which comprises stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis unit operable to compare a change in voltage value of the starter battery with a predetermined threshold value, in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine, wherein the stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis unit serves as the post-attached load detection unit.
15. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 12, further comprising:
running-state voltage-change diagnosis unit operable to compare a change in voltage value of the starter battery with a predetermined threshold value, upon the satisfaction of the automatic stop condition; and
automatic-stop prohibition unit operable, when a diagnosis result of the running-state voltage-change diagnosis unit indicates that the change in voltage value of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined threshold value, to prohibit the operation of the automatic stop unit irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the automatic stop condition.
16. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 14, further comprising:
running-state voltage-change diagnosis unit operable to compare a change in voltage value of the starter battery with the predetermined threshold value, upon the satisfaction of the automatic stop condition; and
automatic-stop prohibition unit operable, when a diagnosis result of the running-state voltage-change diagnosis unit indicates that the change in voltage value of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined threshold value, to prohibit the operation of the automatic stop unit irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the automatic stop condition.
17. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 12, further comprising stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis unit operable to compare a change in voltage value of the starter battery with a predetermined threshold value, in the automatically stopped state of the internal combustion engine, wherein the forcible restart unit is operable, when a diagnosis result of the stopped-state voltage-change diagnosis unit indicates that the change in voltage value of the starter battery is greater than the predetermined threshold value, to restart the internal combustion engine irrespective of the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the restart condition.
18. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 11, further comprising:
an electric load adapted to be activated in a stopped state of the internal combustion engine;
a general-purpose battery for supplying electric power to the electric load; and
stopped-state electric-power supply unit operable to allow electric power to be supplied from the general-purpose battery to the electric load, in the stopped state of the internal combustion engine,
wherein the forcible restart unit is operable to allow electric power to be supplied from both the general-purpose battery and the starter battery to the electric drive unit.
19. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 12, further comprising:
an electric load adapted to be activated in a stopped state of the internal combustion engine;
a general-purpose battery for supplying electric power to the electric load; and
stopped-state electric-power supply unit operable to allow electric power to be supplied from the general-purpose battery to the electric load, in the stopped state of the internal combustion engine,
wherein the forcible restart unit is operable to allow electric power to be supplied from both the general-purpose battery and the starter battery to the electric drive unit.
20. The internal combustion engine system as defined in claim 14, further comprising:
an electric load adapted to be activated in a stopped state of the internal combustion engine;
a general-purpose battery for supplying electric power to the electric load; and
stopped-state electric-power supply unit operable to allow electric power to be supplied from the general-purpose battery to the electric load, in the stopped state of the internal combustion engine,
wherein the forcible restart unit is operable to allow electric power to be supplied from both the general-purpose battery and the starter battery to the electric drive unit.