Handheld mobile communication device connected donation receiving apparatus

A donation receiving apparatus comprising a storage area therein, a denomination discriminator interfacing the storage area, the denomination discriminator comprising at least one sensor for sensing at least one physical characteristic of currency passing therethrough, a mobile communication device interface for communication with a mobile communication device, and a device controller interfacing the mobile communication device interface and the denomination discriminator wherein, in use, the device controller is configured for establishing communication with the mobile communication device, detecting a denomination using the at feast one physical characteristic and transmitting the denomination to the mobile communication device, wherein:

• the denomination discriminator comprises:
• an entrance slot for taking both coins and notes;
• a pair of parallel rollers aligned with the slot to take both the coins and notes therebetween;
• a rotation transducer operably coupled to the rollers;
• and
• a displacement transducer operably coupled to the rollers to measure displacement therebetween;
• wherein, using the same pair of rollers, the controller is configured for determining both length of the currency inserted through the slot using the rotation transducer and thickness of the currency inserted through the slot using the displacement transducer and determining the denomination according to the length and thickness;
• and
• the apparatus is configured for verifying the denomination by image processing captured currency image data and, if the apparatus detects that the currency image data does not meet acceptable image characteristics of the denomination, the apparatus is configured for causing the device controller to reject the currency by turning the rollers.