System having automated route detection and app initiation

• US 10,203,213 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wastech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rubicon Global Holdings, LLC (Founder SPAC)
• Inventors: Rodoni, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/698,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20180106624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/022 the discharging means comprising a device for determining the weight of the content of refuse receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/00 Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse vehicles in general B60; driving vehicle equipment or auxiliaries B60K; discharging contents by tilting entire vehicles B65G; wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A system is disclosed for managing waste services by a service vehicle. The system may have a locating device configured to generate a location signal, a sensor configured to generate a service signal indicative of a waste service being performed, an input device, and a controller in communication with the locating device, the sensor, and the input device. The controller may be configured to make a determination that the service vehicle has made at least one service stop based on the location and service signals, and to make a comparison of characteristics of the at least one service stop with characteristics of at least one service stop of at least one known service route. Based on the comparison, the controller may be further configured to selectively transmit the recorded characteristics offboard the service vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for managing waste services by a service vehicle, comprising:

a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the service vehicle;

a sensor configured to generate a service signal indicative of a waste service being performed by the service vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the locating device and the sensor, the controller being configured to;

make a determination that the service vehicle has made at least one service stop based on the location and service signals;

make a comparison of characteristics of the at least one service stop with characteristics of one or more service stops of at least one known service route; and

based on the comparison, selectively record the characteristics of each stop in the at least one known service route.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one known service route includes a plurality of known service routes stored in memory; and

the at least one service stop includes a plurality of sequential service stops.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a lift sensor, a camera, and an acoustic sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device, wherein

the controller is further configured to selectively call to a foreground of the display device a graphical user interface displaying information associated with the at least one known service route based on the comparison.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the information associated with the at least one known service route includes a schedule of service stops to be completed by the service vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information associated with the at least one known service route further includes a map showing a location of the service vehicle relative to the one or more service stops in the schedule of service stops.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the information associated with the at least one known service route further includes instructions regarding each of the one or more service stops in the schedule of service stops.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to update account records associated with the at least one service stop based on the location signal, the service signal, and the comparison.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the at least one service stop include at least one of a service location, a date of service, a time of service, a duration of service, a type of service completed, a size of receptacle serviced, an amount of waste material received, and a type of waste material received.

10. A method for managing waste services by a service vehicle, the method comprising:

generating a location signal indicative of a location of the service vehicle;

generating a service signal indicative of a waste service being performed by the service vehicle;

making a determination that the service vehicle has made at least one service stop based on the location and service signals;

making a comparison of characteristics of the at least one service stop with characteristics of one or more of at least one known service route; and

based on the comparison, selectively displaying a graphical user interface on an input device inside of the service vehicle, showing information associated with the at least one known service route.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

making the comparison includes making the comparison of characteristics of the at least one service stop with characteristics of at least one service stop of a plurality of known service routes; and

selectively displaying includes selectively displaying the graphical user interface on the input device inside of the service vehicle, showing information associated with a matching one of the plurality of known service routes.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

making the determination includes making the determination that the service vehicle has made a plurality of sequential service stops based on the location and service signals; and

making the comparison includes making the comparison of characteristics of the plurality of sequential service stops with characteristics of a plurality of sequential services stops of the at least one known service route.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the information associated with the at least one known service route includes a schedule of service stops to be completed by the service vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information associated with the at least one known service route further includes a map showing a location of the service vehicle relative to the service stops in the schedule.

15. They method of claim 13, wherein the information associated with the at least one known service route further includes instructions regarding each of the service stops in the schedule.

16. The method of claim 10, further including updating account records associated with the at least one service stop based on the location signal, the service signal, and the comparison.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the characteristics of the at least one service stop include at least one of a date of service, a time of service, a duration of service, a type of service completed, a size of receptacle serviced, an amount of waste material received, and a type of waste material received.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable programming instructions for performing a method for managing waste services by a service vehicle, the method comprising:

generating a location signal indicative of a location of the service vehicle;

generating a service signal indicative of a waste service being performed by the service vehicle;

making a determination that the service vehicle has made at least one service stop based on the location and service signals;

making a comparison of characteristics of the at least one service stop with characteristics of one or more service stops of at least one known service route; and

based on the comparison, selectively displaying a graphical user interface on an input device inside of the service vehicle, showing information associated with the at least one known service route.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the service signal is generated by a sensor that is one of a lift sensor, a camera, and an acoustic sensor.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the information associated with the at least one known service route further includes instructions regarding each of the one or more service stops in the schedule of service stops.