Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. A mobile device can be configured to receive information from local sensor nodes, such as parking sensor nodes, in the vicinity of the mobile device. In a parking application, the mobile device located in a moving vehicle can be configured to locate available parking based upon the information received from the parking sensor nodes. In other embodiments, the mobile device can be utilized in a retail establishment in conjunction with a remote server to display eye-level image data taken at various locations throughout the retail establishment. The eye-level image data can include products displayed throughout the retail establishment and can be augmented with one or more indicators that indicate product placement locations associated with the products.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. A mobile device can be configured to receive information from local sensor nodes, such as parking sensor nodes, in the vicinity of the mobile device. In a parking application, the mobile device located in a moving vehicle can be configured to locate available parking based upon the information received from the parking sensor nodes. In other embodiments, the mobile device can be utilized in a retail establishment in conjunction with a remote server to display eye-level image data taken at various locations throughout the retail establishment. The eye-level image data can include products displayed throughout the retail establishment and can be augmented with one or more indicators that indicate product placement locations associated with the products.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. A mobile device can be configured to receive information from local sensor nodes, such as parking sensor nodes, in the vicinity of the mobile device. In a parking application, the mobile device located in a moving vehicle can be configured to locate available parking based upon the information received from the parking sensor nodes. In other embodiments, the mobile device can be utilized in a retail establishment in conjunction with a remote server to display eye-level image data taken at various locations throughout the retail establishment. The eye-level image data can include products displayed throughout the retail establishment and can be augmented with one or more indicators that indicate product placement locations associated with the products.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving resource utilization in an urban environment are described. In a particular embodiment, an outdoor sensor network is provided. The outdoor sensor network can include sensors for monitoring parking spots, traffic, ground moisture, waste receptacle levels, lighting levels, sound levels and pollution. The outdoor sensor network can be linked to a plurality of outdoor kiosks. Each kiosk can be configured to receive sensor data from a portion of the sensors in the outdoor sensor network and communicate the information to a city message bus. The city message bus can be configured using a data distribution service, such as openDDS. The kiosks can be configured to provide many different services which utilize information gathered from the sensors.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. A mobile device can be configured to receive information from parking sensor nodes in the vicinity of the mobile device. In a parking application, the mobile device located in a moving vehicle can be configured to locate available parking based upon the information received from the parking sensor nodes. After an available parking space is obtained, the mobile device can be configured to initiate a purchase of parking and receive information related to parking enforcement. The mobile device can be configured to receive other types of information from local sensor nodes, such as transportation related sensor nodes and merchant provided sensor nodes. Based upon the information received from the local sensor nodes, a transportation application executing on the mobile device can be utilized to formulate a transportation solution involving one or more transportation modes.

Abstract: A method and a slot floor mix recommendation system for use with a server-based gaming network are provided. The system includes a memory device, a processor in communication with the memory device, and at least one data acquisition network. The system further includes a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGM), at least some having dissimilar manufacturers, makes, models, and attributes communicatively coupled to the at least one data acquisition network, at least one historical data repository, a gaming machine recommender configured to determine a composition of themes available for selection on each of the plurality of EGMs using a relative performance of each available theme compared to each other available theme over at least one historical period and with respect to at least one attribute, and a reporter configured to output the determined composition.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Abstract: A promotion distribution system that distributes promotions based on where a user has parked provides the benefit of allowing providers or merchants to target promotions to particular areas where users park. The target areas may be remote from a merchant's location. In addition, since there are a vast number of vehicle drivers and passengers that park, the system provides a large audience for merchant promotions. The system may comprise one or more parking locators that detect the presence of a vehicle within a vicinity. A repository server and parking kiosk may retrieve promotions for presentation to a user based on where the user has parked and the area in which a promotion is targeted.

Abstract: A method and a slot floor mix recommendation system for use with a server-based gaming network are provided. The system includes a memory device, a processor in communication with the memory device, and at least one data acquisition network. The system further includes a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGM), at least some having dissimilar manufacturers, makes, models, and attributes communicatively coupled to the at least one data acquisition network, at least one historical data repository, a gaming machine recommender configured to determine a composition of themes available for selection on each of the plurality of EGMs using a relative performance of each available theme compared to each other available theme over at least one historical period and with respect to at least one attribute, and a reporter configured to output the determined composition.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. A mobile device can be configured to receive information from parking sensor nodes in the vicinity of the mobile device. In a parking application, the mobile device located in a moving vehicle can be configured to locate available parking based upon the information received from the parking sensor nodes. After an available parking space is obtained, the mobile device can be configured to initiate a purchase of parking and receive information related to parking enforcement. The mobile device can be configured to receive other types of information from local sensor nodes, such as transportation related sensor nodes and merchant provided sensor nodes. Based upon the information received from the local sensor nodes, a transportation application executing on the mobile device can be utilized to formulate a transportation solution involving one or more transportation modes.

Abstract: A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.