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

• US 8,567,675 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett M., Hodges, Donna K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US13/411,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20120160915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 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 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 a post-consumption item, wherein the post-consumption item is associated with a radio frequency tag, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, stored information from a reader, wherein the stored information was obtained by reading the radio frequency tag; and

determining, by the computing device, a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the stored information, wherein the manner specifies a way that the post-consumption item is to be treated during the disposing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

determining that the post-consumption item comprises a material that is capable of being sold; and

selling the post-consumption item to a purchaser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the manner to dispose of the post-consumption item comprises:

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

determining the manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the amount comprises a volume.

9. A method of maintaining an inventory of a post-consumption item, wherein the post-consumption item is associated with a radio frequency tag, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, stored categorization information from a reader, wherein the stored information was obtained by reading the radio frequency tag, wherein the stored categorization information is associated with the post-consumption item, wherein the stored categorization information being related to a manner in which the post-consumption item is to be disposed;

maintaining, by the computing device, the inventory of the post-consumption item based on the stored categorization information; and

determining, by the computing device, a time for disposing of the post-consumption item when an amount of the post-consumption item reaches a pre-determined level in the inventory, wherein the manner specifies a way in which the post-consumption item is to be treated during the disposing.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing a portion of the stored categorization information on the radio frequency tag.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the stored categorization information comprises composition information.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a computing device; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the computing device, storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving stored information from a reader, wherein the stored information was obtained by reading the radio frequency tag; and

determining a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the stored information, wherein the manner specifies a way that the post-consumption item is to be treated during the disposing.