Systems for remote management of a network of waste containers
First Claim
1. A system for remotely managing a waste container network, the container network including one or more waste containers, each container having associated therewith a monitoring unit for communicating status information to a remote location, the system comprising:
- a computer data server comprising a container communication unit for communicating with the monitoring unit of each of the one or more waste containers and for receiving status information, a processor for executing a plurality of prestored instructions including instructions for creating and maintaining a container database, based at least in part upon the status information received, and a monitor access interface unit for providing an interface between the computer data server and one or more remote monitors; and
one or more remote monitors each including a data server interface unit communicatively coupled to the monitor access interface unit of the computer data server, a user output device for supplying waste container status information received from the computer data server via the server interface unit to a user, and a user input device for supplying information received from a user to the computer data server via the data server interface unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for remotely managing a network of waste containers (12), each of which is associated with a monitoring unit (38), utilizes a central computer (50) having a communication link to each monitoring unit (38). The central computer (50) provides a dynamically updated display, via a display module (60) having a full container window (or zone) which shows full containers (12), an alarm window (or zone) which shows non-full containers (12) having an alarm condition, and a container status window (or zone) which shows non-full containers not having an alarm condition. The system additionally includes one or more remote monitors (404) capable of providing user access to the container status information maintained by the central computer (50, 402).
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A system for remotely managing a waste container network, the container network including one or more waste containers, each container having associated therewith a monitoring unit for communicating status information to a remote location, the system comprising:
-
a computer data server comprising a container communication unit for communicating with the monitoring unit of each of the one or more waste containers and for receiving status information, a processor for executing a plurality of prestored instructions including instructions for creating and maintaining a container database, based at least in part upon the status information received, and a monitor access interface unit for providing an interface between the computer data server and one or more remote monitors; and
one or more remote monitors each including a data server interface unit communicatively coupled to the monitor access interface unit of the computer data server, a user output device for supplying waste container status information received from the computer data server via the server interface unit to a user, and a user input device for supplying information received from a user to the computer data server via the data server interface unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of remotely monitoring a waste container network, the container network including a plurality of waste containers, each container having associated therewith a monitoring unit for monitoring status information associated with the container and for communicating the status information to a remote location, the method comprising:
-
receiving waste container status information at a central computer;
storing the status information in the a database and on the central computer; and
accessing the waste container status information via one or more remote monitors communicatively coupled to the central computer via a communication network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification