Networked waste processing apparatus

• US 7,328,842 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freshub Ltd. (IKAN Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ikan Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Geraldo Luiz, Zsigmond, Fabio, Wagner, Frederico
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US10/785,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 235/384, 235/383, 235/462.01, 209/540, 209/583
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 5/00 Operations not covered by a single other subclass or by a single other group in this subclass
• 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: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/10 Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

The present invention is related to methods and systems for waste disposal. In one embodiment, a waste pickup apparatus comprises a network interface configured to communicate with a networked waste disposal unit associated with a first user, a data store containing user rules, processor executable instructions configured to read a user-specified waste pickup rule for a first user from the data store, determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on the status information, if the user-specified waste pickup rule is not satisfied, to again determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a predetermined period has elapsed, and if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, cause a waste pickup entity to pickup the waste, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a preference of the first user stored in computer readable memory.

Claims

1. A waste pickup apparatus, comprising:

a network interface configured to receive status information for a networked waste disposal unit associated with a first user;

a data store containing user rules;

a first processor executable instruction configured to read a user-specified waste pickup rule for the first user from the data store;

a second processor executable instruction configured to determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on the status information;

a third processor executable instruction configured to, if the user-specified waste pickup rule is not satisfied, to again determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a predetermined period has elapsed; and

a fourth processor executable instruction configured to, if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, cause a waste pickup entity to pickup the waste, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a preference of the first user stored in computer readable memory.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth processor executable instruction configured to receive information related to the contents of at least a first waste receptacle;

a sixth processor executable instruction configured to provide at least a portion of the content information to a plurality of waste processing entities;

a seventh processor executable instruction configured to receive bids to pickup waste from at least a portion of the plurality of waste processing entities; and

an eighth processor executable instruction configured to select one or more of the waste processing entities to pickup the waste based at least in part on the bids.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fifth instruction configured to receive fill level information from the networked waste disposal unit.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when the networked waste disposal unit associated with the first user is at least at a first fill level.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on when at least a first time period elapses from a previous waste pickup.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule specifies a day of the week.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the preference relates to the fee charged for the waste pickup.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the preference identifies the preferred waste pickup entity.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a waste pickup bid from the waste pickup entity.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fifth computer executable instruction configured to receive a user instruction to override the user-specified waste pickup rule.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a trash bag including at least one of a barcode and/or a radio frequency tag providing at least one of a code that can be used to identify the first user via at least one database, and/or a code that provides content information.

12. A waste management apparatus, comprising:

a network interface configured to receive sensor information from a networked waste disposal unit fullness sensor associated with a first user;

a data store that stores user defined rules and preferences;

a waste pickup initiation system configured to read a user-specified waste pickup rule for a the first user from the data store and determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on the sensor information, wherein the waste pickup initiation system is configured so that if the user-specified waste pickup rule is not satisfied, after a predetermined time, the waste pickup initiation system again determines if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, and if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, the waste pickup initiation system transmits an instruction to a waste pickup entity to pickup the waste, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a preference of the first user accessed from the data store.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to:

receive information over the network related to the contents of at least a first waste receptacle;

provide at least a portion of the content information to a plurality of waste processing entities;

receive bids to pickup waste from at least a portion of the plurality of waste processing entities; and

select one or more of the waste processing entities to pickup the waste based at least in part on the bids.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a fill level of a waste disposal unit associated with the first user.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a waste disposal unit associated with the first user is at least at a first fill level.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when at least a first time period elapses from a previous waste pickup.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule specifies a day of the week.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the preference relates to the fee charged for the waste pickup.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the preference identifies the preferred waste pickup entity.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a waste pickup bid from the waste pickup entity.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive a user instruction to override the user-specified waste pickup rule.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause a printer to print out contents of a waste receptacle.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide waste content information for at least a first waste container to the waste pickup entity.

24. A method of processing waste, the method comprising:

reading a user-specified waste pickup rule for a first user from computer accessible memory;

determining if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on the status of a waste unit received over a network; and

if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, causing a waste pickup entity to pickup the waste, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a preference of the first user accessed from a computer readable database and a remuneration offered to the first user by the waste pickup entity and/or a waste pickup bid.

25. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

receiving information over the network related to the contents of at least a first waste receptacle;

providing at least a portion of the content information to a plurality of waste processing entities;

receiving bids to pickup waste from at least a portion of the plurality of waste processing entities; and

selecting one or more of the waste processing entities to pickup the contents based at least in part on the bids.

26. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising sensing a fill level of a waste disposal unit associated with the first user.

27. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a waste disposal unit associated with the first user is at least at a first fill level.

28. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when at least a first time period elapses from a previous waste pickup.

29. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule specifies a day of the week.

30. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the preference relates to the fee charged for the waste pickup.

31. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the preference identifies the preferred waste pickup entity.

32. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a waste pickup bid from the waste pickup entity.

33. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising receiving a user instruction to override the user-specified waste pickup rule.

34. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising causing a printer to print out contents of a waste receptacle.

35. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising providing waste content information for at least a first waste container to the waste pickup entity.

36. A waste pickup information processing system, comprising:

a network interface configured to receive status information related to waste associated with a first user;

a data store containing user defined rules;

a first instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to read a user-specified waste pickup rule for the first user from the data store;

a second instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on the status information;

a third instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to, if the user-specified waste pickup rule is not satisfied, to again determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a predetermined period has elapsed; and

a fourth instruction stored in computer readable memory configured to, if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, cause, at least in part, a waste pickup entity to pickup the waste, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a preference of the first user stored in computer readable memory.

37. The system as defined in claim 36, further comprising:

a fifth processor executable instruction configured to receive information related to the contents of at least a first waste receptacle associated with the first user;

a sixth processor executable instruction configured to provide at least a portion of the content information to a plurality of waste processing entities;

a seventh processor executable instruction configured to receive bids to pickup waste from at least a portion of the plurality of waste processing entities; and

an eighth processor executable instruction configured to select one or more of the waste processing entities to pickup the contents based at least in part on the bids.

38. The system as defined in claim 36, wherein the status information includes fill level information from a waste disposal unit.

39. The system as defined in claim 36, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a waste disposal unit associated with the first user is at least at a first fill level.

40. The system as defined in claim 36, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on when at least a first time period elapses from a previous waste pickup.

41. The system as defined in claim 36, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule specifies a day of the week.

42. The system as defined in claim 36, wherein the preference relates to the fee charged for the waste pickup.

43. The system as defined in claim 36, wherein the preference identifies the preferred waste pickup entity.

44. The system as defined in claim 36, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a waste pickup bid from the waste pickup entity.

45. The system as defined in claim 36, further comprising a fifth computer executable instruction configured to receive a user instruction to override the user-specified waste pickup rule.

46. The system as defined in claim 36, further comprising a trash bag including at least one of˜

barcode and/or a radio frequency tag providing at least one of a code that can be used to identify the user, and/or a code that provides content information.

47. The system as defined in claim 36, further comprising instructions stored in computer readable memory configured to:

receive from a scanner system information scanned from a bill by the user; and

receive authorization from the user to have the bill paid.

48. A method of processing waste, the method comprising:

reading a user-specified waste pickup rule for a first user from computer accessible memory;

determining if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on a status related to first user waste; and

if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, causing a waste pickup entity to pickup the waste, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a remuneration offered to the first user by the waste pickup entity and/or a waste pickup bid.

49. The method as defined in claim 48, further comprising:

receiving information over the network related to the contents of at least a first waste receptacle associated with the first user;

providing at least a portion of the content information to a plurality of waste processing entities;

receiving bids to pickup waste from at least a portion of the plurality of waste processing entities; and

selecting one or more of the waste processing entities to pickup the contents based at least in part on the bids.

50. The method as defined in claim 48, further comprising sensing a fill level of a waste disposal unit associated with the first user.

51. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a waste disposal unit associated with the first user is at least at a first fill level.

52. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when at least a first time period elapses from a previous waste pickup.

53. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the user-specified waste pickup rule specifies a day of the week.

54. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected by at least in part on a preference that relates to the fee charged for the waste pickup.

55. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected by at least in part on a preference that identifies a preferred waste pickup entity.

56. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a waste pickup bid from the waste pickup entity.

57. The method as defined in claim 48, further comprising receiving a user instruction to override the user-specified waste pickup rule.

58. The method as defined in claim 48, further comprising causing a printer to print out contents of a waste receptacle.

59. The method as defined in claim 48, further comprising providing waste content information for at least a first waste container to the waste pickup entity.

60. The method as defined in claim 48, further comprising:

receiving information scanned by the user from a bill using a scanner; and

receiving authorization from the user to have the bill paid.