Abstract: An exemplary apparatus includes at least one processor, sensor, transmitter, and power source. The at least one sensor can be configured to detect discs with an attached tracker, or from vibrations, motion, or other types of sensors capable of determining the presence of the disc from the apparatus. The at least one processor receives signals from the sensor(s) to determine that a disc has landed proximate to the apparatus before controlling the at least one transmitter to send a message indicating the disc's proximity. An exemplary system includes a disc golf basket with an open-topped basket. An exemplary method is directed to a method of marking discs with an attached tracker that transmits wireless signals and detecting discs with an apparatus. Detecting discs includes receiving the wireless signals, determining that the disc has landed in proximity to the apparatus, and sending a message to an application on a mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing crowdsourced information to locate one or more informational signals.

Abstract: A parking payment system is provided that includes a telecommunication provider and a mobile device. The mobile device is supported by the telecommunication provider. The mobile device promotes a customer identifying a parking space and further promotes the customer selecting to pay for the parking space. The telecommunication provider bills the customer for fees associated with the parking space in response to the customer selecting to pay for the parking space. The system also includes an enforcement device that displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that identifies a plurality of the parking spaces and indicia associated with each of the plurality of parking spaces. The indicia indicates whether a parking fee has been paid for the associated parking space.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a parking meter clock is provided. The system includes a parking meter having a clock and an antenna coupled to the parking meter for receiving a wireless broadcast data including a time data. The parking meter further provided with a receiver and an interface. The receiver communicates with the antenna to demodulate the wireless broadcast data received by the antenna and the interface communicates with the receiver to communicate the wireless broadcast data to synchronize the clock on the parking meter. A method of synchronizing a clock on one or more parking meters is also provided that includes receiving a wireless broadcast data including a time-of-day data. The method further includes updating the clock on the parking meter based on the wirelessly broadcast data. In one aspect, the time-of-day data is based on an atomic clock.

Abstract: A coin fraud detection sensing system is provided that includes a coin chute and one or more sensing devices coupled to the coin chute. The one or more sensing devices are operative to detect a coin or other object in the coin chute and transmit a signal to a processor that determines the travel speed of the coin through the coin chute, the travel direction of the coin through the coin chute or the sequence of signals received from the sensing devices. Based upon the travel speed, direction and/or sequence, the processor is programmed to detect whether the coin is being fraudulently controlled by a withdrawal device, such as a string.

Abstract: A low-power smart card reader that plugs into the circuit board of a base-model electronic meter is provided. The smart card reader includes positive contacts for reading the card chip and a circuit board to step-up the voltage, pass through the commands, and provide a CPU clock. The smart card reader circuit board includes sockets for its own plug-in microprocessor and multiple SAM modules. A development system couplable to a computer system for developing security schemes such that vending machines can accept smart cards is provided. The development system further includes a reader and at least one socket operable to receive a security access module. The reader is operative to read smart cards. At least one socket is in communication with a processor operative to determine which of the sockets includes the security access module adapted to communicate with the security scheme of the card read by the reader.