Methods and systems to identify and manage recyclable materials

• US 9,824,336 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• 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:
  US15/254,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20160371658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 235435, 235439, 235492
• 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. The method includes the steps of: (i) identifying, using a mobile device, a recyclable material based on a detected oscillation frequency of an oscillator associated with the recyclable material; (ii) communicating, using the mobile device, information about the recyclable material to a controller, the information comprising an identification of the recyclable material and a location of the recyclable material; and (iii) creating, by the controller, scheduling instructions for the identified recyclable material.

Claims

1. A method for managing recyclable materials, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying, using a mobile device, a recyclable material based on a detected oscillation frequency of an oscillator associated with the recyclable material, wherein the detected oscillation frequency is a predetermined frequency;

communicating, using the mobile device, information about the recyclable material to a computer controller, wherein the information comprises an identification of the recyclable material and a location of the recyclable material; and

creating, by the computer controller, scheduling instructions for the identified recyclable material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined frequency is recognized by the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

communicating, by the mobile device, the detected oscillation frequency to a remote server; and

receiving, by the mobile device, the identification of the recyclable material from the remote server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise the location of the identified recyclable material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise a date or time for pickup of the identified recyclable material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise directions for pickup of the identified recyclable material.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending the scheduling instructions to a user.

8. A computer controller configured to manage recyclable materials, the computer controller configured to:

receive, from a mobile device, a detected oscillation frequency of an oscillator associated with a recyclable material, wherein the detected oscillation frequency is a predetermined frequency;

identify, based on the detected oscillation frequency, the recyclable material; and

create scheduling instructions for the identified recyclable material, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise the identification of the recyclable material and a location of the identified recyclable material.

9. The computer controller of claim 8, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise a date or time for pickup of the identified recyclable material.

10. The computer controller of claim 8, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise directions for pickup of the identified recyclable material.

11. The computer controller of claim 8, wherein the computer controller is further configured to communicate the identity of the recyclable material to mobile device.

12. The computer controller of claim 8, wherein the computer controller is further configured to communicate the scheduling instructions to a user.

13. The computer controller of claim 8, wherein the computer controller is further configured to communicate the scheduling instructions to mobile device.

14. A system configured to manage recyclable materials, the system comprising:

a mobile device comprising an oscillation sensor, the oscillation sensor configured to detect an oscillation frequency of an oscillator associated with a recyclable material, wherein the detected oscillation frequency is a predetermined frequency;

a computer controller configured to;

(i) receive the detected oscillation frequency from the mobile device;

(ii) identify, based on the detected oscillation frequency, the recyclable material; and

(iii) create scheduling instructions for the identified recyclable material, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise the identification of the recyclable material.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise a location of the identified recyclable material.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise a date or time for pickup of the identified recyclable material.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the scheduling instructions comprise directions for pickup of the identified recyclable material.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer controller is further configured to communicate the identity of the recyclable material to mobile device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer controller is further configured to communicate the scheduling instructions to a user.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer controller is further configured to communicate the scheduling instructions to mobile device.