# US 11,907,318 B2 · Waste container monitoring system

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- Number: US 11,907,318 B2
- Document ID: US11907318B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/885,005
- Filed: 2022-08-10
- Published: 2022-12-01
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-21
- Assignees: Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co.
- Applicants: Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co.
- Inventors: Christopher M. Flood
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907318B2

## CPC

- G06F 16/9554: {by using bar codes}
- B30B 9/3007: {Control arrangements}
- B30B 9/3042: {Containers provided with, or connectable to, compactor means}
- G06K 7/10297: {arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00)}
- G06K 7/10316: {using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers (antennas in general H01Q1/22)}
- G06K 7/10415: {the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM (banking machines in general G07F19/00)}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/08772: {Inventory counting methods}
- G06Q 10/08778: {for managing mis-shipments, lost items or stolen goods}
- Y02P 90/84: Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
- Y02W 90/00: Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- 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
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A container having a compactor and bin for waste is disclosed permitting on-premises and remote monitoring of the system and collection is disclosed. The system can also detect non-complaint materials placed therein and act thereon. Methods are further disclosed for inventorying identification tags for tracking packages, merchandise and tags disposed of.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for monitoring a waste container for storing waste, the method comprising:
receiving data from at least one sensor of a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises:
at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor for detecting for hazardous or non-compliant material, wherein the at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor detects for a tag associated with hazardous or non-compliant material placed inside the waste container, and
a system overload sensor for detecting for a power spike or power outage associated with a compactor attached to the waste container;
based on the data, selecting a triggering event from a group of triggering events, the group of triggering events comprising (i) the at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor detecting a presence of hazardous or non-compliant material in the waste container, and (ii) the system overload sensor detecting an overload of the compactor;
in response to selecting the triggering event, setting a preselected interval according to a type of the triggering event selected from the group of triggering events, wherein the preselected interval comprises a first preselected time before the triggering event and a second preselected time after the triggering event;
controlling a camera to record images proximate to the waste container for the set preselected interval; and
storing, in a memory, the camera-recorded images for the set preselected interval,
wherein the method is performed by a computing device that has access to event information, the event information correlating each triggering event of the group of triggering events with a respective preselected interval, and
wherein selecting the triggering event and setting the preselected interval are performed based on the event information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined type of truck is a hauler truck.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the waste container further comprises a master control panel for monitoring and controlling functions associated with the waste container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the waste container comprises a waste bin for storing waste, and wherein the compactor comprises a ram configured to compress or compact waste in the waste container.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the master control panel is configured to receive a technician's sign-in and, in response, disable the ram from operating.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor for detecting for hazardous or non-compliant material is an RFID antenna connected to a reader and the controller, the method further comprising:
comparing an identification number detected by the reader with identification numbers stored in a database of non-compliant identification numbers; and
in response to detecting a match between the identification number detected by the reader and one of the identification numbers stored in the database, sending an alert to the reader.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the antenna is surrounded by a casing comprising four walls, the casing being made of steel so as to act as a shield to the RFID antenna.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the waste container further comprises a chute door,
wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a proximity switch attached to the chute door, and
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the proximity switch detecting that the chute door has been opened.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a sensor including image recognition for differentiating between types of vehicles proximate to the waste container, and
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the image recognition detecting a presence of a predetermined type of truck proximate to the waste container.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the image recognition is configured to differentiate between a semi-truck and a hauler truck.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein a presence of a semi-truck is not recognized as the triggering event and the presence of a hauler truck is recognized as the triggering event.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the waste container further comprises a waste bin for storing waste, the waste bin and the compactor each having a respective opening,
wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a photocell sensor disposed between the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor, wherein the photocell sensor is configured to determine whether the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor are correctly aligned, and
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the photocell sensor detecting that the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor are not correctly aligned.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in response to selecting the triggering event, transmitting, to one or more devices, a notification indicating that the triggering event has occurred.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a fire monitor configured to detect a fire in or near the waste container,
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the fire monitor detecting a fire in or near the waste container, and
wherein selecting the triggering event from the group of triggering events comprises selecting the detected fire as the triggering event,
the method further comprising:
in response to selecting the detected fire as the triggering event, transmitting, to one or more devices associated with emergency services, a notification indicating that a fire has been detected.

### Claim 15

A waste container monitoring system for monitoring a waste container for storing waste comprising:
a camera positioned and operative so as to record images proximate to the waste container;
a memory associated with the camera for recording camera-recorded images for a preselected interval associated with a triggering event, wherein the preselected interval comprises a first preselected time before the triggering event and a second preselected time after the triggering event, and wherein the preselected interval is set according to a type of the triggering event detected;
a plurality of sensors configured for detecting the triggering event, the plurality of sensors comprising:
at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor for detecting for hazardous or non-compliant material, wherein the at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor for detecting for hazardous or non-compliant material detects for a tag associated with hazardous or non-compliant material placed inside the waste container, and
a system overload sensor for detecting for a power spike or power outage associated with a compactor attached to the waste container;
a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the camera, and the memory, and configured to:
based on data received by the controller from at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, select the triggering event from a group of triggering events, the group of triggering events comprising (i) the at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor detecting a presence of hazardous or non-compliant material in the waste container, and (ii) the system overload sensor detecting an overload of the compactor, and
in response to selecting the triggering event:
setting the preselected interval according to the type of the triggering event selected from the group of triggering events,
controlling the camera to record images proximate to the waste container for the set preselected interval, and
storing, in the memory, the camera-recorded images for the set preselected interval,
wherein the controller has access to event information correlating each triggering event of the group of triggering events with a respective preselected interval, and
wherein selecting the triggering event and setting the preselected interval are performed based on the event information.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The waste container monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the waste container further comprises a chute door, and
wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a proximity switch attached to the chute door, and
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the proximity switch detecting that the chute door has been opened.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The waste container monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the waste container further comprises a waste bin for storing waste, the waste bin and the compactor each having a respective opening,
wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a photocell sensor disposed between the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor, wherein the photocell sensor is configured to determine whether the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor are correctly aligned, and
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the photocell sensor detecting that the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor are not correctly aligned.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The waste container monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a fire monitor configured to detect a fire in or near the waste container,
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the fire monitor detecting a fire in or near the waste container, and
wherein the controller is further configured to:
in response to selecting the detected fire as the triggering event, transmitting, to one or more devices associated with emergency services, a notification indicating that a fire has been detected.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The waste container monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a sensor including image recognition for differentiating between types of vehicles proximate to the waste container, and
wherein the group of triggering events further comprises the image recognition detecting a presence of a predetermined type of truck proximate to the waste container.

### Claim 20

A waste container monitoring system for monitoring a waste container for storing waste comprising:
a camera positioned and operative so as to record images proximate to the waste container;
a memory associated with the camera for recording camera-recorded images for a preselected interval associated with a triggering event, wherein the preselected interval comprises a first preselected time before the triggering event and a second preselected time after the triggering event, and wherein the preselected interval is set according to a type of the triggering event detected;
a plurality of sensors configured for detecting the triggering event, the plurality of sensors comprising:
a photocell sensor disposed between an opening of a waste bin of the waste container and an opening of a compactor, wherein the compactor is attached to the waste container, and wherein the photocell sensor is configured to determine whether the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor are correctly aligned, and
at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor for detecting for hazardous or non-compliant material, wherein the at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor for detecting for hazardous or non-compliant material detects for a tag associated with hazardous or non-compliant material placed inside the waste container,
a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the camera, and the memory, and configured to:
based on data received by the controller from at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, select the triggering event from a group of triggering events, the group of triggering events comprising (i) the at least one hazardous or non-compliant material sensor detecting a presence of hazardous or non-compliant material in the waste container, and (ii) the photocell sensor detecting that the opening of the waste bin and the opening of the compactor are not correctly aligned; and
in response to selecting the triggering event:
setting the preselected interval according to the type of the triggering event selected from the group of triggering events,
controlling the camera to record images proximate to the waste container for the set preselected interval, and
storing, in the memory, the camera-recorded images for the set preselected interval.