Methods and systems to identify and manage recyclable materials

• US 9,108,797 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Borges, Gabriel P., Falbriard, Claude, Miller, Grant D., Nassar, Nader M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US14/481,272
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/439, 235/492
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A method to identify and manage recyclable materials provides a recyclable material with a quartz crystal identification element configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material. A mobile device detects the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal, identifies the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency, and sends that information to a controller. The controller creates handling instructions for the pickup of the identified recyclable material.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to identify and manage recyclable materials, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a recyclable material, wherein the recyclable material comprises an identification device, the identification device comprising a quartz crystal configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material;

detecting, using a mobile device, the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal;

identifying the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency;

sending information representative of the identity of the recyclable material to a controller;

creating handling instructions for the pickup of the identified recyclable material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information representative of the identity of the recyclable material comprises location information about the recyclable material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the handling instructions comprise information about the location of the identified recyclable material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handling instructions comprise information about a vendor authorized to pick up the identified recyclable material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the handling instructions comprise information about a time that the identified recyclable material can be picked up.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a database, the database comprising information about at least one association between an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal and a recyclable material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a GPS receiver.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending the handling instructions for the pickup of the identified recyclable material to a user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an alert to a user about the handling instructions.

10. A system for identifying and managing recyclable materials, the system comprising:

an identification device associated with a recyclable material, the identification device comprising a quartz crystal configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material;

a mobile device configured to detect the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal and identify the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency; and

a controller configured to receive from the mobile device information representative of the identity of the recyclable material, and further configured to create handling instructions for the pickup of the identified recyclable material.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information representative of the identity of the recyclable material comprises location information about the recyclable material.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the handling instructions comprise information about the location of the identified recyclable material.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the handling instructions comprise information about a vendor authorized to pick up the identified recyclable material.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the handling instructions comprise information about a time that the identified recyclable material can be picked up.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device comprises a database, the database comprising information about at least one association between an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal and a recyclable material.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device comprises a GPS receiver.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to send the handling instructions for the pickup of the identified recyclable material to a user.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to send an alert to a user about the handling instructions.

19. A system for identifying and managing recyclable materials, the system comprising:

an identification device associated with a recyclable material, the identification device comprising a quartz crystal configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency associated with the recyclable material;

a mobile device configured to detect the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal and identify the recyclable material based on the detected oscillation frequency, the mobile device comprising a database with information about at least one association between an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal and a recyclable material, and further comprising a GPS receiver; and

a controller configured to receive from the mobile device information representative of the identity and location of the recyclable material, configured to create handling instructions for the pickup of the identified recyclable material, and further configured to send the handling instructions for the pickup of the identified recyclable material to a user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to send an alert to a user about the handling instructions.