Networked waste processing apparatus

• US 7,886,973 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freshub Ltd. (IKAN Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ikan Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Yoshizawa, Geraldo, Zsigmond, Fabio, Wagner, Frederico
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/029,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/385, 235/375, 235/384, 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 management apparatus, comprising:

a network interface configured to receive information over a network;

program code stored in computer readable memory configured to;

receive from a user processor-based system over the network information related to the contents of a waste disposal unit associated with a user;

cause at least a portion of the content information to be provided 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 a waste processing entity to pickup the waste based at least in part on the bids.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising the user processor-based system.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is further configured to:

read a user rule specifying when waste is to be picked up; and

determine if the user has issued an override instruction with respect to the user rule.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is further configured to:

read a user instruction specifying when waste is to be picked up, wherein the rule specifies a day of the week; and

cause at least in part the waste to be picked up in accordance with the instruction.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is further configured to:

read a user instruction specifying when waste is to be picked up, wherein the rule specifies a time period relative to a previous pickup; and

cause at least in part the waste to be picked up in accordance with the instruction.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the content information enables a value determination with respect to recyclables included in the corresponding content.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the content information enables a cost disposal determination with respect to non-recyclable items included in the corresponding content.

8. Non-transitory computer readable memory that stores program code comprising:

instructions, that when executed by a computing device, are configured to;

receive from a user processor-based system over a network information related to the contents of a waste disposal unit associated with a user;

cause at least a portion of the content information to be provided 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 a waste processing entity to pickup the waste based at least in part on the bids.

9. The computer readable memory as defined in claim 8, wherein the program code is further configured to:

read a user rule specifying when waste is to be picked up; and

determine if the user has issued an override instruction with respect to the user rule.

10. The computer readable memory as defined in claim 8, wherein the program code is further configured to:

read a user instruction specifying when waste is to be picked up, wherein the rule specifies a day of the week; and

cause at least in part the waste to be picked up in accordance with the instruction.

11. The computer readable memory as defined in claim 8, wherein the program code is further configured to:

read a user instruction specifying when waste is to be picked up, wherein the rule specifies a time period relative to a previous pickup; and

cause at least in part the waste to be picked up in accordance with the instruction.

12. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the content information enables a value determination with respect to recyclables included in the corresponding content.

13. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the content information enables a cost disposal determination with respect to non-recyclable items included in the corresponding content.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving from a user processor-based system over a network information related to the contents of a waste disposal unit associated with a user;

causing at least a portion of the content information to be provided 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 a waste processing entity to pickup the waste based at least in part on the bids.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising:

reading a user rule specifying when waste is to be picked up; and

determining if the user has issued an override instruction with respect to the user rule.

16. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising:

reading a user instruction specifying when waste is to be picked up, wherein the rule specifies a day of the week; and

causing at least in part the waste to be picked up in accordance with the instruction.

17. The method as defined in claim 14, the method further comprising:

reading a user instruction specifying when waste is to be picked up, wherein the rule specifies a time period relative to a previous pickup; and

causing at least in part the waste to be picked up in accordance with the instruction.

18. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the content information enables a value determination with respect to recyclables included in the corresponding content.

19. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the content information enables a cost disposal determination with respect to non-recyclable items included in the corresponding content.