Trash can monitoring systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system of monitoring trash cans, comprising:
- a central computer system of a shopping facility, comprising;
a transceiver configured to receive communications from multiple self-propelled motorized transport units located at the shopping facility;
a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to;
identify a first motorized transport unit and a second motorized transport unit;
communicate routing instructions based on a mapping of the shopping facility to each of the first and second motorized transport units directing the first and second motorized transport units to a trash can receptacle, of multiple trash can receptacles distributed about the shopping facility, identified as ready to be emptied, wherein the second motorized transport unit transports a replacement second trash can;
communicate trash can removal instruction to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to remove a first trash can from the trash can receptacle; and
communicate a trash can replacement instruction to the second motorized transport unit to cause the second motorized transport unit to place the second trash can into the trash can receptacle in place of the first trash can.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments provide methods and systems of monitoring trash cans. A central computer system of a shopping facility identifies a first motorized transport unit and a second motorized transport unit; communicates routing instructions based on a mapping of the shopping facility to each of the first and second motorized transport units directing the first and second motorized transport units to a trash can receptacle, wherein the second motorized transport unit transports a replacement second trash can; communicates trash can removal instruction to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to remove the first trash can from the trash can receptacle; and communicates a trash can replacement instruction to the second motorized transport unit to cause the second motorized transport unit to place the second trash can into the trash can receptacle in place of the first trash can.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system of monitoring trash cans, comprising:
a central computer system of a shopping facility, comprising; a transceiver configured to receive communications from multiple self-propelled motorized transport units located at the shopping facility; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to; identify a first motorized transport unit and a second motorized transport unit; communicate routing instructions based on a mapping of the shopping facility to each of the first and second motorized transport units directing the first and second motorized transport units to a trash can receptacle, of multiple trash can receptacles distributed about the shopping facility, identified as ready to be emptied, wherein the second motorized transport unit transports a replacement second trash can; communicate trash can removal instruction to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to remove a first trash can from the trash can receptacle; and communicate a trash can replacement instruction to the second motorized transport unit to cause the second motorized transport unit to place the second trash can into the trash can receptacle in place of the first trash can. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of monitoring trash cans, comprising:
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by a control circuit of a shopping facility; identifying a first motorized transport unit and a second motorized transport unit of a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units configured to travel about a shopping facility; communicating routing instructions based on a mapping of the shopping facility to each of the first and second motorized transport units directing the first and second motorized transport units to a trash can receptacle, of multiple trash can receptacles distributed about the shopping facility, identified as ready to be emptied, wherein the second motorized transport unit transports a replacement second trash can; communicating trash can removal instruction to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to remove a first trash can from the trash can receptacle; and communicating a trash can replacement instruction to the second motorized transport unit to cause the second motorized transport unit to place the second trash can into the trash can receptacle in place of the first trash can. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification