Methods for utilizing RF tags to collect data concerning post-consumer resources

• US 7,934,649 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Donna K., Kreiner, Barrett M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US11/943,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/492, 235/487, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.

Claims

1. A method of disposing of a plurality of different types of post-consumption items, wherein each of the plurality of different types of post-consumption items has a radio frequency tag associated therewith, comprising:

reading each radio frequency tag of the plurality of different types of post-consumption items to obtain information stored thereon; and

selecting a manner to dispose of a particular type of post-consumption item of the plurality of different types post-consumption items based on the information when an amount of the particular type of post-consumption item reaches a predetermined level;

wherein the manner specifies a way that the particular type of post-consumption item is treated during disposal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of post-consumption item is held in a container that has the radio frequency tag associated therewith.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular type of post-consumption item is associated with a landmark that locates the post-consumption item, the landmark being associated with the radio frequency tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the manner to dispose of the particular type of post-consumption item comprises:

determining that the particular type of post-consumption item comprises a hazardous material based on the information; and

sending the hazardous material to a hazardous material processing facility based on the determining that the particular type of post-consumption item comprises the hazardous material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the manner to dispose of the particular type of post-consumption item comprises:

determining that the particular type of post-consumption item comprises a recyclable material based on the information; and

sending the recyclable material to a recycling facility based on the determining that the particular type of post-consumption item comprises the recyclable material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the manner to dispose of the particular type of post-consumption item comprises:

determining that the particular type of post-consumption item comprises a material that can be sold; and

selling the material of the particular type of post-consumption item to a purchaser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposal of the particular type of post-consumption item comprises:

quantifying an amount of the particular type of post-consumption item based on the information; and

selecting the manner to dispose of the particular type of post-consumption item based on the amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the amount is a count, a weight, or a volume.

9. A method of maintaining an inventory of different types of post-consumption items, the different types of post-consumption items having radio frequency tags associated therewith, respectively, the method comprising:

reading the radio frequency tags respectively associated with the different types of post-consumption items to obtain categorization information stored thereon, the categorization information being related to manners in which the different types of post-consumption items are to be disposed of;

maintaining the inventory of the different types of post-consumption items based on the categorization information; and

disposing of a particular type of post-consumption item via a respective manner when an amount of the particular type of post-consumption item reaches a pre-determined level in the inventory,

wherein the manners specify ways in which the different types of post-consumption items are treated during disposal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing at least a portion of the categorization information on at least one of the radio frequency tags.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises recyclability information.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises hazard information.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises biodegradability information.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises recall information.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises serial number information.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises production lot information.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises location information.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises date information.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises weight information or volume information.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises composition information or subcomponent information.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises radio frequency reader information or radio frequency reader owner information.

22. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises disposal company information.

23. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises shelf life information.

24. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorization information comprises product group information.