METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING OBJECT ID DATA WHILE COLLECTING REFUSE FROM REFUSE CONTAINERS
First Claim
1. A method for generating object identification (ID) encoded position data from a refuse collection truck servicing a set of refuse containers, having a pair of loading arms for emptying a refuse container into a truck refuse storage volume, the refuse collection truck being equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) collecting geographical position data from the refuse collection truck during refuse collection truck operation, the geographical position data being time indexed;
(b) collecting object ID data from the refuse containers, the object ID data uniquely identifying each of the refuse containers and being readable in association to each of said refuse holding containers, wherein the step of collecting object ID data from a refuse container comprises at least one of the following steps;
(i.) using an identification sensor attached to the loading arms that are used to empty refuse containers into the refuse collection truck, to read the object ID; and
(ii.) scanning the object ID using a handheld device including an identification sensor and a wireless data link, the handheld device being configured to wirelessly transmit object ID data to a processor disposed in the refuse collection truck, the processor being configured to combine the object ID data with the position data; and
(c) automatically combining the object ID data, identifying the object, and the geographical position data together at the refuse collection truck to produce object ID encoded position data, and thereby creating a record of refuse transfer with of each one of the set of refuse holding containers, that includes object ID, uniquely identifying the refuse holding container, the geographical position of the truck at the time the refuse transfer was made, and time indexing, indicating the time of refuse container identification, contemporaneous with the refuse transfer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for collecting object identification data from a plurality of objects that interact with a vehicle during operation of the vehicle, where the vehicle interacts with specific objects at specific geographical positions. An identification sensor is coupled to a geographical position sensor, and whenever an object is identified a record is generated, the record including the identification of the object, the position of the vehicle when the interaction between the object and the vehicle occurs, and the time of the interaction. Exemplary objects include passengers, containers, and documents. Exemplary interactions include loading/unloading an object from the vehicle, boarding a passenger, unloading a passenger, transferring a bulk material from the vehicle into a specific container, and/or transferring a bulk material from a specific container to the vehicle. The record may also include additional data about a parameter of the object (such as the object'"'"'s weight, volume, or temperature).
7 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for generating object identification (ID) encoded position data from a refuse collection truck servicing a set of refuse containers, having a pair of loading arms for emptying a refuse container into a truck refuse storage volume, the refuse collection truck being equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) collecting geographical position data from the refuse collection truck during refuse collection truck operation, the geographical position data being time indexed; (b) collecting object ID data from the refuse containers, the object ID data uniquely identifying each of the refuse containers and being readable in association to each of said refuse holding containers, wherein the step of collecting object ID data from a refuse container comprises at least one of the following steps; (i.) using an identification sensor attached to the loading arms that are used to empty refuse containers into the refuse collection truck, to read the object ID; and (ii.) scanning the object ID using a handheld device including an identification sensor and a wireless data link, the handheld device being configured to wirelessly transmit object ID data to a processor disposed in the refuse collection truck, the processor being configured to combine the object ID data with the position data; and (c) automatically combining the object ID data, identifying the object, and the geographical position data together at the refuse collection truck to produce object ID encoded position data, and thereby creating a record of refuse transfer with of each one of the set of refuse holding containers, that includes object ID, uniquely identifying the refuse holding container, the geographical position of the truck at the time the refuse transfer was made, and time indexing, indicating the time of refuse container identification, contemporaneous with the refuse transfer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
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- 9. A refuse collection truck for servicing a set of refuse containers and having a pair of loading arms for emptying a refuse container into a truck refuse storage volume, the refuse collection truck being equipped with a geographical position system and with an RFID tag reader on at least one of the loading arms, and facing inwardly so as to read an RFID tag on a refuse container that is being emptied into the truck.
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10. A set of refuse containers, each container having an RFID tag attached thereto, at a location on an upper, side portion of said container and each RFID tag bearing an identifier that is unique relative to the other RFID tags for the set of refuse containers.
Specification