Method for deploying large numbers of waste containers in a waste collection system
First Claim
1. A waste collection system comprising:
- a plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles including a lift arm for lifting waste receptacles;
a plurality of reusable waste receptacles, each of the plurality of reusable waste receptacles having a passive RFID tag thereon for containing information including personal information corresponding to a user account;
at least one receiver on each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the at least one receiver proximate to the lift arm, the at least one receiver including a reader for reading the passive RFID tag on the reusable waste receptacle upon engaging the lift arm; and
a controller on each of the waste hauling vehicles communicating with the at least one receiver for receiving information from the passive RFID tag, the controller checking the information against account information derived from a remote database accessed by the controller, and generating a pass condition signal or a fail condition signal depending upon whether the account information indicates that the user account is not in good standing;
a mechanism for mounting on the waste hauling vehicle in electronic communication with the controller for transferring the reusable waste receptacle along a path from a first position to a second position in response to receiving the pass condition signal and for deactivating the mechanism in response to receiving the fail condition signal; and
a trigger mechanism to activate the at least one receiver such that the at least one receiver may receive a signal from the controller upon activation by the trigger mechanism, the trigger mechanism accomplishing the activating of the at least one receiver such as to accomplish reduction of false readings of the passive RFID tag as compared to a system with an absence of the trigger mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of redeploying waste containers in a waste collection system with an active or passive signal means requires a user to aim an optical character recognition reader at a waste container comprising a unique optical waste container identifier. The optical character recognition reader reads unique waste container optical identifier. The unique waste container optical identifier is converted to a unique electronically formatted waste container identifier. A unique radio frequency signal identifier is stored on a radio frequency emitting tag and associated with the unique electronically formatted waste container identifier. The radio frequency emitting tag is attached to the waste container.
152 Citations
3 Claims
-
1. A waste collection system comprising:
-
a plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles including a lift arm for lifting waste receptacles; a plurality of reusable waste receptacles, each of the plurality of reusable waste receptacles having a passive RFID tag thereon for containing information including personal information corresponding to a user account; at least one receiver on each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the at least one receiver proximate to the lift arm, the at least one receiver including a reader for reading the passive RFID tag on the reusable waste receptacle upon engaging the lift arm; and a controller on each of the waste hauling vehicles communicating with the at least one receiver for receiving information from the passive RFID tag, the controller checking the information against account information derived from a remote database accessed by the controller, and generating a pass condition signal or a fail condition signal depending upon whether the account information indicates that the user account is not in good standing; a mechanism for mounting on the waste hauling vehicle in electronic communication with the controller for transferring the reusable waste receptacle along a path from a first position to a second position in response to receiving the pass condition signal and for deactivating the mechanism in response to receiving the fail condition signal; and a trigger mechanism to activate the at least one receiver such that the at least one receiver may receive a signal from the controller upon activation by the trigger mechanism, the trigger mechanism accomplishing the activating of the at least one receiver such as to accomplish reduction of false readings of the passive RFID tag as compared to a system with an absence of the trigger mechanism.
-
-
2. A waste collection system comprising:
-
a plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles including a lift arm for lifting waste receptacles; a plurality of reusable waste receptacles, each of the plurality of reusable waste receptacles having a passive RFID tag thereon for containing information including personal information corresponding to a user account; at least a first receiver and at least a second receiver on each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the at least a first receiver proximate to the lift arm, the at least a first receiver including a reader for reading the passive RFID tag on the reusable waste receptacle upon engaging the lift arm; a controller on each of the waste hauling vehicles communicating with the at least one receiver for receiving information from the passive RFID tag, the controller checking the information against an account database accessed by the controller, generating a pass condition signal or a fail condition signal depending upon whether information in the account database indicates that the user account is not in good standing, and automatically preventing the lift arm from lifting in the event of the fail condition signal, and recording a waste fulfillment event in the event of the pass condition signal; and a trigger mechanism to activate each of the at least a second receiver such that the at least a second receiver may receive a signal from the controller upon activation by the trigger mechanism, the trigger mechanism accomplishing the activating of the at least a second receiver when the lift arm has lifted a waste receptacle to a height from the ground.
-
-
3. A waste collection system comprising:
-
a plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles including a lift arm for lifting waste receptacles; a plurality of reusable waste receptacles, each of the plurality of reusable waste receptacles having a passive RFID tag thereon for containing information including personal information corresponding to a user account; at least a first receiver and at least a second receiver on each of the plurality of waste hauling vehicles, each of the at least a first receiver proximate to the lift arm, the at least a first receiver including a reader for reading the passive RFID tag on the reusable waste receptacle upon engaging the lift arm; a controller on each of the waste hauling vehicles communicating with the at least one receiver for receiving information from the passive RFID tag, the controller checking the information against an account database accessed by the controller, generating a pass condition or a fail condition signal depending upon whether information in the account database indicates that the user account is not in good standing, and automatically preventing the lift arm from lifting in the event of the fail condition signal, and recording a waste fulfillment event in the event of the pass condition signal; and a trigger mechanism to activate at least one among each of the at least a first receiver and each of the at least a second receiver such that the at least one may receive a signal from the controller upon activation by the trigger mechanism, the trigger mechanism accomplishing the activating of the at least one based at least one among the position and movement of the lift arm through at least one among a given zone, region or area located on the waste hauling vehicles.
-
Specification