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

• US 10,855,958 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2020
• Issued: 12/01/2020
• 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:
  US16/920,142
• Time in Patent Office: 152 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 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 method of auditing the status of a customer waste or recycling container using a service vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing a continuous video recording of an area outside of a cab of the service vehicle during the entirety of a service operations period for the service vehicle, wherein the continuous video recording is captured by a camera on the service vehicle;

storing the continuous video recording on a recording device;

capturing a chapter from the continuous video recording, wherein the chapter comprises one or more of a still image and a video clip of 60 seconds or less of a customer location;

associating the chapter with a customer based on stored customer identifying information;

associating the chapter with a user defined scenario relevant to the service activities, wherein the user defined scenario is a customer container that has contaminated materials therein;

displaying the chapter on an electronic viewing portal in association with an identification of the user defined scenario and with one or more of date, time, an identification number for the service vehicle, and an identifying feature of the customer;

making the electronic viewing portal available for viewing by a user; and

receiving instructions from the user regarding whether to provide one or more of a communication, a billing adjustment and an account notation to the customer based on a determination by the user of whether the customer container has contaminated materials therein.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer container is a residential container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer container is a commercial container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer container is an industrial roll-off container.

5. A method of auditing the status of a customer waste or recycling container using a service vehicle, the method comprising:

collecting a continuous video recording of an area outside of a cab of the service vehicle during the entirety of a service operations period for the service vehicle, wherein the continuous video recording is captured by an optical sensor on the service vehicle;

capturing a chapter from the continuous video recording, wherein the chapter comprises one or more of a still image and a video clip of a customer location and a customer container at the customer location;

connecting the chapter with a specific customer based on stored customer identifying information;

connecting the chapter with a pre-defined use case associated with service operations, wherein the pre-defined use case is a customer container having contaminated materials therein;

determining whether the customer container has contaminated materials therein based on the information in the chapter; and

providing one or more of a communication, a billing adjustment and an account notation to the customer based on the determination of whether the customer container has contaminated materials therein.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer container is a residential container.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer container is a commercial container.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer container is an industrial roll-off container.