Networked disposal and replenishment apparatus

• US 20040199545A1
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Freshub Ltd. (IKAN Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Freshub Ltd. (IKAN Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Zsigmond, Fabio, Wagner, Frederico, Yoshikawa, Geraldo Luiz
• Application Number:
  US10/785,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2210/138 Identification 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: Y02W 30/10 Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion

Abstract

The present invention is related to methods and systems for waste disposal and replacement of disposed of items. In one embodiment, a waste disposal system comprises a waste disposal unit including a processor, an item code scanner, and a network interface coupled to the processor. The system further comprises a remote processing system configured to be coupled to the waste disposal unit via a network, the remote processing system including a database that stores product preferences associated with a user of the waste disposal unit, and instructions configured to receive scanned information from the waste disposal unit for at least a first item, to select at least a first potential substitute item to replace the first item based at least in part on the scanned information and the user preferences, and to add the potential substitute item to a user order.

Claims

1. A waste disposal 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 product preferences associated with a user of the waste disposal unit;

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

a second instruction configured to select at least a first potential substitute item to replace the first item based at least in part on the scanned information and the user preferences;

a third instruction configured to add the potential substitute item to a user order.

2. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the third instruction is further configured to transmit to the waste disposal unit for display to the user a request for confirmation that the potential substitute item is to be added to the user order.

3. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the third instruction automatically adds the potential substitute item to the user order.

4. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the preferences includes a plurality of prioritized rules, and the second instruction is further configured to apply the rules at least partly based on the prioritization.

5. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth instruction configured to querying the user if the user is willing to switch brands; and

a fifth instruction configured to store a response to the query in the database.

6. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fourth instruction configured to receive an indication from the user as to the level of user flexibility in accepting at least one of a product substitution and a recommendation of an alternative product.

7. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers at least one of diet food, fat-free food, low-fat food, gluten-free food, peanut-free food, salt-free food, high-protein food, egg-free food, lactose-free food, non-dairy food, kosher food, organic food, and natural food.

8. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers at least two of diet food, fat-free food, low-fat food, gluten-free food, peanut-free food, salt-free food, high-protein food, egg-free food, lactose-free food, non-dairy food, kosher food, organic food, and natural food.

9. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, wherein the waste disposal unit includes a user interface device having at least one of a key configured to immediately cause an order to be placed, a key configured to cause an order to be deliver using an expedited delivery service, a key configured to inhibit an item from being added to an order.

10. The waste disposal system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a mode entry field configured to enter a code corresponding to a predefined social mode.

11. A method of electronically processing user preference information so as to select replacement products, comprising:

receiving over a network identification information for an item discarded by the user;

accessing preference information for the user from a database; and

transmitting over the network a recommendation for a replacement item for the discarded item based on at least the discarded item identification information and the preference information, wherein the replacement item is different in at least one aspect than the discarded item.

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

receiving a user instruction to provide replacement recommendations; and

storing the user instruction in the database.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information is for a first user specified product category.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising receiving an indication from the user as to the level of user flexibility in accepting at least one of a product substitution and a recommendation of an alternative product.

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

querying the user if the user is willing to switch brands;

receiving a response to the query; and

storing the query response in the database.

16. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising selecting a provider for the replacement item based on a user specified buying option selected from a group including one ore more of the user'"'"'s zip code, a user specified supplier, and a supplier price for the replacement item.

17. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising receiving a user specified shipping option selected from a group including one or more of day of week and an environment friendly shipping process.

18. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes a plurality of prioritized rules.

19. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes at least a first rule.

20. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication as to at least a first ingredient that the user does not want.

21. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers diet food.

22. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers fat-free food.

23. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers kosher food.

24. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers organic food.

25. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers natural food.

26. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers food that does not include a first ingredient.

27. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers popular food.

28. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers food preferred by at least a first celebrity.

29. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers food from a manufacturer involved with at least a first social cause.

30. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising receiving a code corresponding to a predefined manufacturer social profile.

31. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user want to prevent the purchase of at least one of a first product and a first product category.

32. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers at least two of diet food, fat-free food, low-fat food, kosher food, organic food, natural food, popular food, food preferred by at least a first celebrity, food having biodegradable packaging, food recommended by at least a first source, and food recommended by at least a first doctor.

33. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers food having a first dietary characteristic.

34. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers items having a first packaging characteristic.

35. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the user preference information includes an indication that the user prefers items recommended by a first source.

36. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the identification information is based at least in part on information obtained from a code on the item.

37. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the identification information is based at least in part on information obtained from a code on the item, wherein the code was applied by the user.

38. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the identification information is based at least in part on information obtained from a code on the item, wherein the code was scanned by the user.

39. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the identification information is based at least in part on information obtained from a code on the item, wherein the code was scanned using a scanner coupled to a container into which the item was discarded.

40. A method electronically processing user preference information and selecting replacement products, comprising:

receiving over a network identification information for an item whose packaging is discarded by the user;

accessing preference information for the user from computer readable memory; and

adding a replacement item for the item whose packaging is discarded to a user order based on at least the discarded item identification information and the preference information.

41. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the act of accessing preference information further comprises:

accessing a first preference rule from computer readable memory;

accessing a second preference rule from computer readable memory; and

identifying the replacement item based on at least the first preference rule and the second preference rule.

42. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the identification information is based at least in part on information scanned from the packaging.

43. The method as defined in claim 40, further comprising:

receiving over the network at least a first delivery preference instruction;

storing the delivery preference instruction in computer readable memory;

accessing the delivery preference instruction from computer readable memory after adding the replacement item to the user order; and

causing the replacement item to be delivered based at least in part on the delivery preference instruction.

44. The method as defined in claim 43, further comprising:

receiving over the network a delivery preference override instruction; and

delivering a second item to the user based at least in part on the delivery preference instruction.

45. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the identification information is transmitted over the network to a server system hosting an item database.

46. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the replacement item is a different brand than the discarded item.

47. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the discarded item is deposited in a networked waste disposal unit, and the preference information is stored in the disposal unit.

48. A method of managing orders for a user, comprising:

receiving over a network a user defined rule used to specify an order placement trigger;

storing the user defined rule in computer readable memory;

receiving over the network discarded item information for the user;

generating an order list based at least in part on the discarded item information; and

placing an order for the order list at least partly in response to the user defined rule.

49. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the rule includes an order dollar value.

50. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the rule is configured to trigger an order placement when the order list at least equals a first value.

51. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the rule is configured to trigger an order placement after a specified period of time.