Apparatus and method for the detection of timing components in swimming pools

An apparatus comprising:

• a connection mechanism configured to connect a controllerless timing component to a swim timing system, the controllerless timing component configured to be positioned in or adjacent a swimming pool and operable to transmit timing signals to the swim timing system for scoring an aquatic sport, the connection mechanism comprising:
• a communication component configured to send signals to the connected controllerless timing component and receive component signatures from the connected controllerless timing component in response to the sent signals, wherein the component signatures are responses identifying at least one physical characteristic of the controllerless timing component;
• and
• a processor having a memory, the processor and the memory disposed in the connection mechanism, the processor configured to:
• generate the signals sent to the connected controllerless timing component via the communication component;
• store in the memory the component signatures received via the communication component from the connected controllerless timing component in response to the sent signals;
• compare each of the component signatures to at least one of:
• a different one or more of the component signatures stored in the memory, and
• characteristic component signatures stored in the memory;
• and
• determine, based on the comparisons, at least one of:
• a connection status of the connected controllerless timing component,
• a timing component type of the connected controllerless timing component, and
• if a component signature of the connected controllerless timing component has changed based on the comparison to the different one or more of the component signatures stored in the memory.