Abstract: The systems described herein include one or more wireless vehicle detectors, along with a distributed parking payment system such as parking meters or a paystation. Information from the payment system and the vehicle detectors may be combined to determine when a parking violation occurs, or is about to occur. This information may then be transmitted through a communication system to a parking enforcement officer, along with information about the geographic location of the violation. The information may also, or instead be transmitted to a parking payer to notify the payer of an impending infraction so that the payer may purchase additional parking time before the violation.

Abstract: Method of processing payments for goods and services using electronic payment via a peer-to-peer network includes an order for the relevant goods or services being placed by a purchaser using a payment request terminal. The payment request terminal conveys purchaser payment information to a purchase request peer within the network. In response to the conveyed information, the purchase request peer locates within the network a payment-processing peer with the ability to generate a charge against a specified account via a payment-processing terminal. The purchase request peer forwards the information through the network (via zero or more message-passing peers) to the payment-processing peer. The payment-processing peer attempts to generate the charge, and then returns the result of the attempt (successful or unsuccessful) to the purchase request peer and any other peers that have registered an interest in this information.

Abstract: The systems described herein include one or more wireless vehicle detectors, along with a distributed parking payment system such as parking meters or a paystation. Information from the payment system and the vehicle detectors may be combined to determine when a parking violation occurs, or is about to occur. This information may then be transmitted through a communication system to a parking enforcement officer, along with information about the geographic location of the violation. The information may also, or instead be transmitted to a parking payer to notify the payer of an impending infraction so that the payer may purchase additional parking time before the violation.

Abstract: The vehicle detection system described herein uses wireless magnetic sensors to measure changes in the earth's magnetic field to detect vehicles. The sensors may measure the presence and location of a vehicle, as well as the speed of passing vehicles. The sensor may also be capable of identifying and classifying vehicles. Each sensor and/or sensor system may be configured to consume so little power that it can operate from a battery for up to 10 years. While the preferred embodiment is wireless, the sensor and/or sensor systems may be configured to operate in a wired environment.