# US 12,015,880 B1 · System and method for managing service and non-service related activities associated with a waste collection, disposal and/or recycling vehicle

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- Number: US 12,015,880 B1
- Document ID: US12015880B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/892,971
- Filed: 2022-08-22
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-09
- Assignees: Wm Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.
- Applicants: WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C.
- Inventors: Barry S. Skolnick
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015880B1

## CPC

- 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)}
- B60R 2300/105: using multiple cameras
- B60R 2300/406: using wireless transmission
- B60R 2300/70: characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
- 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)
- Y02W 90/00: Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B65F: GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE (disinfecting refuse A61L; refuse disintegrators B02C; sorting refuse B03B; B07B; handcarts for transporting refuse receptacles B62B; sack holders B65B67/00; converting refuse into fertilisers C05F; converting refuse into solid fuels C10L; sewers, cesspools E03F; arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse E04F17/10; refuse-consuming furnaces F23G; {for surgical articles A61B50/36})
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## 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

### Claim 1

A method of performing a service level audit of waste or recycling services provided at a customer location using a service vehicle, the method comprising:
collecting a continuous video recording of an area outside of a cab of the service vehicle during a waste or recycling service operations period for the service vehicle, wherein the continuous video recording is captured by an optical sensor 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 at least one of a still image and a video clip of the customer location;
associating the chapter with the customer location;
displaying the chapter on an electronic viewing portal;
making the electronic viewing portal available for viewing by a user; and
delivering a communication to a customer based on a determination made by the user upon viewing the chapter, wherein the customer location comprises a location of a residential customer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising triangulating the customer location of the residential customer using service confirmation from a driver of the service vehicle, GPS data, and geocoding.

### Claim 3

A method of performing a service level audit of waste or recycling services provided at a customer location using a service vehicle, the method comprising:
collecting a continuous video recording of an area outside of a cab of the service vehicle during a waste or recycling service operations period for the service vehicle, wherein the continuous video recording is captured by an optical sensor 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 at least one of a still image and a video clip of the customer location;
associating the chapter with the customer location;
displaying the chapter on an electronic viewing portal;
making the electronic viewing portal available for viewing by a user; and
delivering a communication to a customer based on a determination made by the user upon viewing the chapter, wherein the customer location comprises a location of a commercial customer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising triangulating the customer location of the commercial customer using service confirmation from a driver of the service vehicle, GPS data, and geocoding.