# US 10,311,501 B1 · Recycling app for crowd-sourced recycling

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,311,501 B1
- Document ID: US10311501B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/700,070
- Filed: 2017-09-08
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-08
- Assignees: Rubicon Global, LLC
- Applicants: Rubicon Global Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Philip Rodoni
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311501B1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0639: {Locating goods or services, e.g. based on physical position of the goods or services within a shopping facility}
- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- G06Q 10/0832: Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
- G06Q 10/30: Administration of product recycling or disposal
- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q 30/0613: {using intermediate agents}
- G06Q 30/0643: {graphically representing goods, e.g. 3D product representation}
- G06Q 50/26: Government or public services (business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40)
- G06V 20/20: in augmented reality scenes
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 30/0605: {Pooling transaction partners, e.g. group buying or group selling}
- Y02W 90/00: Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A system is provided for use in managing waste services performed by a service vehicle. The system may include a sensor configured to capture during completion of a waste service activity an image of waste set out for retrieval by the service vehicle, a portal, and a processor in communication with the sensor and the portal. The processor may be configured to execute instructions stored in memory to receive from a consumer via the portal at least one of a picture and a description of a desired item, to recognize an object in the image captured by the sensor, to make a determination regarding matching of the object with the desired item, and to selectively cause a notification to be displayed on the portal based on the determination.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for managing waste services performed by a service vehicle, comprising:
a camera configured to capture, during completion of a waste service activity by the service vehicle, an image of waste set out for retrieval by a consumer;
a portal; and
a processor in communication with the camera and the portal, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in memory to:
receive from the consumer via the portal at least one of a picture and a description of a desired item;
recognize an object in the image of waste captured by the camera;
determine whether the recognized object matches the desired item;
in response to determining that the recognized object matches the desired item, cause a notification to be displayed on the portal;
in response to the notification, receive, from the consumer via the portal, a message including an acceptance or a rejection of the recognized object; and
in response to the receipt of the message including the acceptance or the rejection of the recognized object, cause the service vehicle to perform one of:
loading, via a vehicle hatch of the service vehicle, the recognized object into the service vehicle; or
leaving the recognized object at its current location for the consumer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further including a locating device configured to generate a location signal associated with the service vehicle at a time of the image capture, wherein the notification includes the location signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the notification further includes the image of waste.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
when the message includes the acceptance of the recognized object, determine, based on the location signal, if the consumer is located on a route of the service vehicle not yet serviced; and
in response to determining that the consumer is located on the route of the service vehicle not yet serviced, cause the service vehicle to perform the loading of the recognized object into the service vehicle and deliver the recognized object to the consumer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to cause the service vehicle to perform the leaving of the recognized object at its current location for the consumer when the consumer is not located on the route.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the portal is a consumer portal;
the system further includes a hauler portal; and
the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
receive, from the consumer via the consumer portal, a request for assistance in arranging delivery of the recognized object to the consumer;
receive from the consumer, via the consumer portal, conditions associated with the delivery; and
cause the conditions associated with the delivery to be displayed on the hauler portal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
receive, via the hauler portal, at least one of an acceptance or an offer from a hauler to provide the delivery;
receive, via the consumer portal, electronic payment from the consumer for completion of the delivery; and
provide the electronic payment, via the hauler portal, to the hauler after confirmation of the completion of the delivery.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the conditions associated with the delivery include at least one of a price that the consumer is willing to pay for the delivery of the recognized object, and a timing of the delivery.

### Claim 9

A computer-implemented method for managing waste services performed by a service vehicle, comprising:
capturing, via a camera, during completion of a waste service activity by the service vehicle, an image of waste set out for retrieval by a consumer;
receiving from the consumer, at least one of a picture and a description of a desired item;
recognizing an object in the image of waste captured by the camera;
determining whether the recognized object matches the desired item;
in response to determining that the recognized object matches the desired item, displaying a notification to the consumer via a portal;
in response to the notification, receiving, from the consumer via the portal, a message including an acceptance or a rejection of the recognized object; and
in response to the receipt of the message including the acceptance or the rejection of the recognized object, causing the service vehicle to perform one of:
loading, via a vehicle hatch of the service vehicle, the recognized object into the service vehicle; or
leaving the recognized object at its current location for the consumer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further including detecting a location of the service vehicle at a time of the image capture, wherein the notification includes the location.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the notification further includes the image of waste.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further including:
when the message includes the acceptance of the recognized object, determining, based on the location, if the consumer is located on a route of the service vehicle not yet serviced; and
in response to determining that the consumer is located on the route of the service vehicle not yet serviced, causing the service vehicle to perform the loading of the recognized object into the service vehicle and deliver the recognized object to the consumer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further including causing the service vehicle to perform the leaving of the recognized object at its current location for the consumer when the consumer is not located on the route.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further including:
receiving, from the consumer via the portal, a request for assistance in arranging delivery of the recognized object to the consumer and conditions associated with the delivery; and
displaying the conditions to a hauler.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further including:
receiving an acceptance or an offer from the hauler to provide the delivery;
receiving electronic payment from the consumer for completion of the delivery; and
providing the electronic payment to the hauler after confirmation of the completion of the delivery.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the conditions associated with the delivery include at least one of a price that the consumer is willing to pay for the delivery of the recognized object, and a timing of the delivery.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for managing waste services by a service vehicle, comprising:
capturing, via a camera, during completion of a waste service activity by the service vehicle, an image of waste set out for retrieval by a consumer;
detecting a location of the service vehicle at a time of the image capture;
receiving from the consumer, at least one of a picture and a description of a desired item;
recognizing an object in the image of waste captured by the camera;
determining whether the recognized object matches the desired item;
in response to determining that the recognized object matches the desired item, providing a notification to the consumer via a portal, wherein the notification includes the image of waste and the location of the service vehicle;
in response to providing the notification, receiving, from the consumer via the portal, an acceptance or a rejection of the recognized object; and
in response to the receipt of the acceptance or the rejection of the recognized object, causing the service vehicle to perform one of:
loading, via a vehicle hatch of the service vehicle, the recognized object into the service vehicle; or
leaving the recognized object at its current location for the consumer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further includes:
when the acceptance of the recognized object is received, determining, based on the location, if the consumer is located on a route of the service vehicle not yet serviced;
in response to determining that the consumer is located on the route of the service vehicle not yet serviced, causing the service vehicle to perform the loading of the recognized object into the service vehicle and deliver the recognized object to the consumer; and
in response to determining that the consumer is not located on the route of the service vehicle not yet serviced, causing the service vehicle to perform the leaving of the recognized object at its current location for the consumer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further includes:
receiving, from the consumer via the portal, a request for assistance in arranging delivery of the recognized object to the consumer;
receiving, from the consumer via the portal, conditions associated with the delivery;
displaying the conditions associated with the delivery to a hauler;
receiving an acceptance or an offer from the hauler to provide the delivery;
receiving electronic payment from the consumer for completion of the delivery; and
providing the electronic payment to the hauler after confirmation of the completion of the delivery.