Refuse removal reminders

• US 9,520,046 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Call, Brian, Brown, Nicholas, Carter, Jason, Noble, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US14/481,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20160071396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.16, 340/506, 340/568.1, 340/686.1, 340/572.1, 340/686.6, 705/308, 705/7.13, 705/500, 702/188, 100/50, 100/35, 100/99, 100/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 9/3007 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002

Abstract

According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to communicate refuse reminders to a user of an automation system is disclosed. A proximity of at least one refuse bin to a base station may be detected at a predetermined time period prior to the refuse removal day using one or more sensors. The user may be alerted to move the at least one refuse bin to a removal location based at least in part on the detecting. In some embodiments, the refuse removal scheduled may be linked with the automation system, wherein the refuse removal schedule may comprise a schedule of refuse pick-up days for a first category of refuse.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to communicate refuse reminders, comprising:

detecting, via one or more sensors, a proximity of at least one refuse bin to a base station for the at least one refuse bin at a predetermined time period prior to a refuse removal period;

producing an alert to move the at least one refuse bin to a removal location based at least in part on the detecting; and

alerting an administrator of an automation system when the refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station a predetermined time period before a scheduled refuse removal.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

linking a refuse removal schedule with an automation system, wherein the refuse removal schedule comprises a schedule of refuse removal days for a first category of refuse.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the proximity of the at least one refuse bin to the base station a predetermined time period after a scheduled refuse removal; and

alerting a user to return the at least one refuse bin to the base station when the proximity of the at least on refuse bin to the base station is not within a predetermined distance based at least in part on the detecting.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a proximity of a first refuse bin to a first base station on a first schedule; and

detecting a proximity of a second refuse bin to a second base station on a second schedule.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a location of a refuse removal vehicle;

comparing the location of the refuse removal vehicle to a refuse removal route;

determining the refuse removal vehicle has passed the location of the automation system on the refuse removal route;

alerting a user of a missed opportunity to have refuse removed when the at least one refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station based at least in part on the determining.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

alerting a user that the refuse removal vehicle emptied the at least one refuse bin when the at least one refuse bin is not within the predetermined proximity of the base station.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a movement of the at least one refuse bin based at least in part on one or more sensors; and

alerting an administrator of the detected movement.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors comprises one or more accelerometers and the movement comprises at least a tilting motion.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are load based sensors and detect a change in the weight applied to the one or more sensors.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises an olfactory sensor and wherein the olfactory sensor detects a change in a smell of the at least one refuse bin.

11. An apparatus to communicate refuse reminders to a user of an automation system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

detect a proximity of at least one refuse bin to a base station for the at least one refuse bin at a predetermined time period prior to a refuse removal day using one or more sensors;

alert a user of the automation system to move the at least one refuse bin to a removal location based at least in part on the detecting; and

detect the proximity of the at least one refuse bin to the base station a predetermined time period after a scheduled refuse removal; and

alert the user to return the at least one refuse bin to the base station when the proximity of the at least on refuse bin to the base station is not within a predetermined distance based at least in part on the detecting.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

link a refuse removal schedule with the automation system, wherein the refuse removal schedule comprises a schedule of refuse removal days for a first category of refuse.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

alert an administrator of the automation system when the refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station a predetermined time period before a scheduled refuse removal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

detect a proximity of a first refuse bin to a first base station on a first schedule; and

detect a proximity of a second refuse bin to a second base station on a second schedule.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

detect a proximity of at least one refuse bin to a base station for the at least one refuse bin at a predetermined time period prior to a refuse removal day using one or more sensors;

alert a user of the automation system to move the at least one refuse bin to a removal location based at least in part on the detecting; and

alert an administrator of an automation system when the refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station a predetermined time period before a scheduled refuse removal.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

link a refuse removal schedule with the automation system, wherein the refuse removal schedule comprises a schedule of refuse removal days for a first category of refuse.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

detect the proximity of the at least one refuse bin to the base station a predetermined time period after a scheduled refuse removal; and

alert the user to return the at least one refuse bin to the base station when the proximity of the at least on refuse bin to the base station is not within a predetermined distance based at least in part on the detecting.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

detect a proximity of a first refuse bin to a first base station on a first schedule; and

detect a proximity of a second refuse bin to a second base station on a second schedule.