WASTE MANAGMENT SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATING REFUSE BINS TO CORRESPONDING USERS

• US 20100088203A1
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Manufacturing Control Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Advanced Manufacturing Control Systems Limited
• Inventors: Hynes, Eamon, Martin, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,396,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1125 Colors
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/128 Data transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40

Abstract

A waste management system for associating a collected refuse bin with a corresponding user of that bin. The system comprises a GPS tracker unit on-board a collection vehicle for recording the GPS co-ordinates of each refuse bin during refuse collection therefrom by the collection vehicle. A central server is configured for communication with each of a plurality of collection vehicles so that the GPS co-ordinates of each refuse bin collected during a refuse collection may be communicated to the central server. The server is further configured to effect a datastore lookup for comparing the GPS co-ordinates of the collected refuse bins with pre-recorded geographical data of a plurality of users for associating each refuse bin to a corresponding user.

Claims

1. A waste management system for associating a collected refuse bin with a corresponding user of that bin:

the system comprising;

a location tracker unit on-board a collection vehicle for recording the co-ordinates of each refuse bin during refuse collection therefrom by the collection vehicle,

a central server configured for communication with each of a plurality of collection vehicles so that the co-ordinates of each refuse bin collected during a refuse collection may be communicated to the central server,

the server being further configured to effect a datastore lookup for comparing the co-ordinates of the collected refuse bins with pre-recorded geographical data of a plurality of users for associating each refuse bin to a corresponding user.

2. A waste management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the co-ordinates are GPS co-ordinates and the central server matches the GPS co-ordinates of the refuse bins with the pre-recorded geographical data of the users.

3. A waste management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the central server scores the probability of the matches.

4. A waste management system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central server associates the refuse bins to corresponding users based on the scores.

5. A waste management system as claimed in any claim 1, wherein the tracker unit is operably triggered to effect a recordal of GPS coordinates for a specific refuse bin on a lifting of that refuse bin by the collection vehicle.

6. A waste management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an on-board communications device being communicable with the tracker unit for generating a data packet including the co-ordinates of the respective bin.

7. A waste management system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the on-board communications device is communicable with a weighing mechanism for incorporating into the data packet the weight of the refuse collected from the respective bin at the corresponding co-ordinates.

8. A waste management system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a detector configured to identify the classification of the bin being collected, the classification of the respective bin being provided into the data packet.

9. A waste management system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the detector is an optical detector configured to identify the colour of the respective bin.

10. A waste management system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the communications device is communicable with the central server for communicating the data packet to the central server.

11. A waste management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communications device communicates with the central server over a wireless communications channel.

12. A waste management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central server is further configured to effect generation of an instruction to a remote telecoms operator to generate a data message appropriate to the details of the refuse collection and to transmit that data message to the user to effect confirmation of collection of the refuse bin.

13. A waste management system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the server is configured to effect generation of an appropriate tariff for the collection of the refuse bin.

14. A waste management system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tariff is defined by the weight of refuse collected.

15. A waste management system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the central server is configured to send an instruction which includes the appropriate tariff to a remote telecoms operator.

16. A waste management system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the data message transmitted to the user includes details of the tariff.

17. A waste management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the generation of the data message by the remote telecoms operator effects a deduction of an appropriate tariff from a telecoms billing account associated with the user.

18. A waste management system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the appropriate tariff is related to the specifics of the refuse collection.

19. A waste management system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the instruction to the remote telecoms operator is provided to an appropriate data message generation module of the remote telecoms operator, the remote telecoms operator including a plurality of data message generation modules differing from one another in the tariff deducted from a user on generation of a data message for that user.

20. A waste management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tracker unit comprises a GPS receiver.

21. A waste management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tracker unit is communicable with a constellation of GPS satellites orbiting the earth.

22. A waste management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tracker unit uses trilateration when recording the co-ordinates of the respective bins.

23. A waste management system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the scores are derived from GPS co-ordinates and at least one parameter other than GPS co-ordinates.

24. A waste management system comprising a detector configured to identify the classification of a bin being collected.

25. A waste management system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the detector is operable for optically distinguishing between color-coded bins.

26. A waste management system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the detector is operable for selectively controlling a lifting mechanism of a collection vehicle such that the lifting mechanism is permitted to lift bins of a particular classification identified by the detector.

27. A waste management system for associating a collected refuse bin with a corresponding user of that bin, the system comprising:

a unit on-board a collection vehicle for generating a plurality of parameters representative of a collection vehicle during the vehicles'"'"' progress along a route,

a central server configured for communication with each of a plurality of collection vehicles so that the parameters may be communicated to the central server,

the server being further configured to effect a datastore lookup for comparing the parameters with pre-recorded data of a plurality of users for associating each refuse bin to a corresponding user.

28. A method of associating a collected refuse bin with a corresponding user of that bin, the method comprising:

storing pre-recorded data associated with registered users,

generating a plurality of parameters representative of a collection vehicle during the vehicle'"'"'s progress along a route, and

comparing the generated plurality of parameters with the pre-recorded data for associating one or more collected refuse bin to corresponding users.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one parameter includes the GPS co-ordinates of a bin from which the refuse is collected.

30. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one parameter includes data representative of the collection vehicle type.

31. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one parameter includes data representative of a route followed by the collection vehicle.

32. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one parameter includes a characteristic of the bin.