Networked disposal and sample provisioning apparatus

• US 20040195308A1
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freshub Ltd. (IKAN Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ikan Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Zsigmond, Fabio, Wagner, Frederico, Yoshikawa, Geraldo Luiz
• Granted Patent: US 7,165,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/004 the receptacles being divided in compartments by partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/06 with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks B65F1/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2001/008 Means for automatically selecting the receptacle in which refuse should be placed
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1125 Colors
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/128 Data transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/164 Printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/10 Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion

Abstract

A waste disposal system comprises a waste disposal unit, including a processor, a scanner, a network interface coupled to a network, and a remote processing system coupled to the waste disposal unit via the network. The remote processing system includes a database storing user sample preferences, wherein the sample preferences are used to select samples to be provided to the user, and instructions configured to receive scanned information from the waste disposal unit for a first item, determine from the received scanned information that the first item is a sample, receive an indication via the waste disposal unit whether the user wants to order a replacement for the sample, locate replacement options for the sample, transmit the replacement options to the waste disposal unit, and receive from the waste disposal unit an option selection by the user.

Claims

1. A disposal and provisioning system, comprising:

a waste disposal unit, the waste disposal unit including;

a processor;

a scanner coupled to the processor, the scanner configured to scan a code on items deposited in the waste disposal unit;

a network interface coupled to the processor, the network interface configured to transmit and receive information over a network; and

a remote processing system configured to be coupled to the waste disposal unit via the network, the remote processing system including;

a database storing sample preferences associated with a user of the waste disposal unit, wherein the sample preferences are stored at least in part to select samples to be provided to the user;

a first instruction configured to receive scanned information from the waste disposal unit for at least a first item;

a second instruction configured to determine from the received scanned information that the first item is a sample;

a third instruction configured to receive an indication via the waste disposal unit whether the user wants to order a replacement for the sample;

a fourth instruction configured to locate replacement options for the sample;

a fifth instruction configured to transmit the replacement options to the waste disposal unit;

a sixth instruction configured to receive from the waste disposal unit an option selection by the user.

2. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, the remote processing system further comprising a seventh instruction configured to receive at least one of an indication via the waste disposal unit as to why the user does not want to order a replacement for the sample, and an indication via the waste disposal unit that the user wants to order a replacement for the sample.

3. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, the remote processing system further comprising a seventh instruction configured to provide the user with selectable reasons for not ordering a replacement for at least one sample.

4. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, the remote processing system further comprising:

a seventh instruction configured to receive a reason for not ordering a replacement for at least one sample; and

an eighth instruction configured to provide the reason to at least one of a manufacturer, retailer, distributor, marketing entity, and an advertiser.

5. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, the remote processing system further comprising a seventh instruction configured cause a non-sample replacement for the sample to be delivered to the user.

6. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the waste disposal unit further comprises a touch screen unit configured to display information to the user and to receive user inputs.

7. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the waste disposal unit further comprises a presence detection circuit that activates the scanner in response to detecting the presence of an object.

8. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the waste disposal unit further comprises a detachable display and user input apparatus coupled via a wireless network.

9. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the waste disposal unit is configured to request a user password before performing a scan.

10. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the scanner is one of a barcode scanner and a radio frequency scanner.

11. A method of selectively providing samples, comprising:

receiving over a network user specified sample preferences from a first user;

storing the sample preferences in a user database;

receiving from a networked waste receptacle discard information related to at least a first item package disposed of by the user; and

causing a first sample to be delivered to the user based at least in part on the sample preferences and the discard information.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving from a networked waste receptacle discard information related to at least a first sample item package disposed of by the user;

causing an order form for a regular version of the first sample item to be presented to the user; and

receiving an order from the user for the non-sample version of the item.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving from a networked waste receptacle discard information related to at least a first sample item package disposed of by the user;

causing an order form for a regular version of the first sample item to be presented to the user;

receiving an indication from the user that the user does not want to order a regular version of the sample item; and

requesting that the user provide a reason for not wanting to order a regular version of the sample item.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising offering the user selectable reasons for not ordering the regular version of the first sample item.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the user selectable reasons include at least two or more of:

the user does not use the item-type;

the user used the sample item but did not like it; and

the user used and like the sample item, but prefers another brand.

16. A method of selectively providing samples, comprising:

receiving user specified sample preferences from a first user over a network;

storing the preferences in a database; and

causing a first sample that satisfies the user specified sample preferences to be delivered to the first user.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving coupon information via a waste disposal unit; and

causing an item corresponding to the coupon to be delivered to the first user.

18. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising receiving an indication that the first sample has been used from a waste disposal unit.

19. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an indication that at least packaging for the first sample has been deposited in a disposal unit;

causing a query to be presented via the disposal unit to the first user in order to determine if the first user wants to order a non-sample version of the first sample; and

receiving a response to the query.

20. The method as defined in claim 19, further comprising causing at least one query to be presented to the first user in order to determine at least one of a size and a quantity of the non-sample version that the user wants.

21. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising receiving information scanned from the first sample by the first user using a scanner coupled to a waste disposal unit.

22. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving demographic information and sample preferences associated with a second user; and

causing samples that correspond to the user sample preferences and demographics to be delivered to the second user.

23. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising determining at least one of a percent and a number of users that ordered a non-sample version of the first sample after receiving a sample of the product.

24. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising determining at least one of a percent and a number of users that disposed of the first sample and did not order a non-sample version.

25. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an indication that at least packaging for the first sample has been deposited in a disposal unit;

causing a query to be presented to the first user in order to determine if the first user wants to order a non-sample version of the first sample;

receiving a negative response to the query;

causing a query to be presented to the first user in order to determine why first the user did not want to order a non-sample version of the first sample;

receiving a response from the first user including at least a first reason from the first user indicating why first the user did not want to order a non-sample version of the first sample;

providing information related to the response to at least one of a manufacturer, a retailer, a distributor, a marketing entity, and an advertiser.

26. A disposal data processing and provisioning system, comprising:

a database storing sample preferences associated with a user of at least a first waste disposal unit;

a processing system configured to be coupled to at least the first waste disposal unit via the network, the processing system including;

a first instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to receive information from the waste disposal unit for at least a first item;

a second instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to determine from the received scanned information that the first item is a sample; and

a third instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to receive an indication via the waste disposal unit whether the user wants to order a non-sample version for the first item.

27. The disposal data processing and provisioning system as defined in claim 26, further comprising:

a fourth instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to locate replacement options for the first item;

a fifth instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to transmit the replacement options to the first waste disposal unit; and

a sixth instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to receive from the waste disposal unit an option selection by the user.

28. The disposal data processing and provisioning system as defined in claim 26, the processing system further comprising a fourth instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to receive at least one of an indication via the waste disposal unit as to why the user does not want to order a non-sample version for the first item, and an indication via the waste disposal unit that the user wants to order a non-sample version for the first item.

29. The disposal data processing and provisioning system as defined in claim 26, the processing system further comprising a fourth instruction stored in computer readable memory that causes selectable reasons for not ordering a non-sample version for the first item to be presented to the user via the waste disposal unit.

30. The disposal data processing and provisioning system as defined in claim 26, the remote processing system further comprising:

a fourth instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to process a reason for not ordering a non-sample version for the first item; and

an fifth instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to provide the reason to at least one of a manufacturer, a retailer, a distributor, a marketing entity, and an advertiser.

31. The disposal data processing and provisioning system as defined in claim 26, the processing system further comprising a fourth instruction configured cause a non-sample replacement for the first item to be delivered to the user.

32. A method of selectively providing samples, comprising:

receiving over a network user specified sample preferences from a first user;

storing the sample preferences in a user database;

receiving from a networked waste receptacle discard information related to at least a first item package disposed of by the user; and

causing a first sample to be delivered to the user based at least in part on the sample preferences and the discard information.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, further comprising:

receiving from a networked waste receptacle discard information related to at least a first sample item package disposed of by the user;

causing an order form for a regular version of the first sample item to be presented to the user; and

receiving an order from the user for the non-sample version of the item.

34. The method as defined in claim 32, further comprising:

receiving from a networked waste receptacle discard information related to at least a first sample item package disposed of by the user;

causing an order form for a regular version of the first sample item to be presented to the user;

receiving an indication from the user that the user does not want to order a regular version of the sample item; and

requesting that the user provide a reason for not wanting to order a regular version of the sample item.

35. The method as defined in claim 34, further comprising offering the user selectable reasons for not ordering the regular version of the first sample item.

36. The method as defined in claim 35, wherein the user selectable reasons include at least two or more of:

the user does not use the item-type;

the user used the sample item but did not like it; and

the user used and like the sample item, but prefers another brand.