System and method for managing service and non-service related activities associated with a waste collection, disposal and/or recycling vehicle

• US 10,594,991 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2019
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WM Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC (Waste Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC (Waste Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Skolnick, Barry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braniff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US16/243,257
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/00 Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse vehicles in general B60; driving vehicle equipment or auxiliaries B60K; discharging contents by tilting entire vehicles B65G; wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for using video/still images captured by continuously recording optical sensors mounted on waste collection vehicles used in the waste collection, disposal and recycling industry for operational and customer service related purposes. Optical sensors are integrated into the in-cab monitor as well as the onboard computer, digital video recorder and other external devices.

Claims

1. A system for managing service activities performed by a waste service vehicle, the system comprising:

an optical sensor disposed on-board the waste service vehicle and configured to capture a continuous video recording of an area outside of the cab of the waste service vehicle, wherein the continuous video recording is captured during the entirety of a service operations period for the waste service vehicle;

a recording device disposed on-board the waste servicing vehicle and configured to store the continuous video recording from the optical sensor;

a computing device disposed on-board the waste service vehicle and configured to identify a physical location of a waste service customer; and

a central computing device that is not on-board the waste service vehicle and is operatively linked to the optical sensor, recording device and computing device;

wherein, upon the occurrence of a pre-defined triggering event, the central computing device is configured to capture a chapter from the continuous video recording, and the central computing device is configured to display the chapter on an electronic viewing portal in association with a visual indication of the physical location of the waste service customer and one or more of date, time, and an identification number for the waste service vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined triggering event comprises one or more of:

(i) a signal or signals emanating from an electronic or mechanical device on the waste service vehicle, wherein the electronic or mechanical device is one or more of a proximity switch, a limit switch, a mechanical sensor, an electronic control module, a programmable logic computer, an arm, a hopper, a blade or a waste service vehicle device;

(ii) a movement of the waste service vehicle, wherein the movement comprises acceleration, deceleration, g-force, stopping or starting;

(iii) a driver initiated triggering event; and

(iv) a triggering event that is initiated external to or outside of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the service operations period for the waste service vehicle begins when a driver commences an inspection of the vehicle at a facility location prior to performing one or more service activities, and ends when the driver performs an inspection of the waste service vehicle after performing the one or more service activities.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a physical location of a waste service customer during the service operations period comprises identifying a location for one or more of commercial, residential or industrial collections using a GPS linked to the onboard computer and to the on-board recording device to establish latitude and/or longitude for one or more customer waste containers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the chapter that is captured from the continuous video recording comprises one or more of a still image or a video clip of 60 seconds or less.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording device on-board the waste servicing vehicle comprises a digital video recorder.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-board computer is configured to:

(i) store downloaded waste service company information comprising one or more of a waste site, a business unit, a truck identification number, a company code and a route identification number;

(ii) store downloaded customer location information comprising latitude/longitude for one or more customer locations including locations of the waste container; and

(iii) store downloaded customer identifying information comprising one or more of a customer identification number, a customer name, a customer address, one or more customer service levels, a franchise name, and a service requirement assigned to the customer and to a waste collection municipal franchise system;

and wherein the central computing device is configured to;

(i) link the customer identifying information to the customer location information, and

(ii) link the chapters from the continuous video recording to one or more of the waste service company information, the customer identifying information, and the customer location information.