NETWORKED DISPOSAL AND SAMPLE PROVISIONING APPARATUS

• US 20080223928A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• 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, Yoshizawa, Geraldo Luiz
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• 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 system, comprising:

a scanner system configured to scan one or more items codes in response to a user action;

a display; and

a processing system configured to be coupled to the scanner system, the processing system including;

program code stored in computer readable memory, the program code configured to;

receive scanned information from the scanner system;

generate a user shopping list using the scanned information;

cause the user shopping list to be displayed to the user via the display;

select an electronic coupon based at least in part on items included on the user shopping list;

cause information corresponding to the selected electronic coupon to be displayed to the user via the display; and

cause a total corresponding to the cost of items on the shopping list to be displayed to the user.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a waste receptacle coupled to the scanner system.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a battery coupled to the scanner system.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the scanner system further comprises a plurality of user interface keys.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the display is user detachable.

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

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the scanner system includes a barcode scanner.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the scanner system includes a radio frequency scanner.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to request that the user provide a password.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the total includes applied discounts.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a database configured to store for at least one electronic coupon:

a start date;

an expiration date; and

an indication as to whether the coupon can be used in conjunction with another coupon.

12. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a database configured to store for at least one electronic coupon:

a unique coupon identifier; and

an indication as to how many time the user used the coupon.

13. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a database configured to store for at least one electronic coupon an indication as to how many times the coupon can be used.

14. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a data store configured to store for at least one electronic coupon an indication as to whether the coupon provides an entitlement to a free product.

15. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a database configured to store for at least one electronic coupon a value expressed as a monetary value.

16. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a database configured to store for at least one electronic coupon a value expressed as a percentage.

17. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is further configured to select at least one electronic coupon based on the user'"'"'s prior orders.

18. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is further configured to select at least one electronic coupon based on the user'"'"'s household demographics.