Local node for a waste management system
AssigneeTeknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
InventorsIlkka Moilanen, Markku Kiviranta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enhanced local node to be installed to a waste collection site. A radio interface unit is configured for communication using signals specified for radio access in a radio access network, and a radar unit is configured to use information on received or transmitted signals of the radio interface unit to determine a distance from the local node to refuse objects inside a container. The local node thus uses the same signals to detect a fill state of a container and to transmit the fill state of the container from the local node to the control node.
Claims12
A method performed in a local node of a waste management system, comprising
- using radio signals of a radio interface unit of the local node for communication in the radio access network, wherein the radio signals are specified for radio access and communication in a radio access network;
- using predefined information on one or more of said radio signals specified for radio access in the radio access network transmitted or received by the radio interface unit of the local node as radar input data, the said one or more of said radio signals being the same one or more of said radio signals used by the radio interface unit for the radio access and communication;
- determining a distance from the local node to objects inside a container from the radar input data;
- determining a fill state of a container from the determined distance;
- generating an indication of the fill state of the container;
- and
- transmitting the indication of the fill state of the container to a control node of a waste management system.
A local node of a waste management system, comprising
- a radio interface unit configured for communication using radio signals specified for radio access and communication in a radio access network;
- a radar unit;
- and
- an interface enabling exchange of information between the radio interface unit and the radar unit;
- wherein
- the radar unit is configured to receive from the radio interface unit predefined information on one or more of said radio signals specified for radio access in the radio access network transmitted or received by the radio interface unit, the said one or more of said radio signals being the same one or more of said radio signals used by the radio interface unit for the radio access and communication;
- the radar unit is configured to use the predefined information as radar input data;
- the radar unit is configured to determine a distance from the local node to objects inside a container from the radar input data received from the radio interface unit;
- the radar unit is configured to determine a fill state of the container from the determined distance;
- the radar unit is configured to generate an indication of the fill state of the container and forward it to the radio interface unit;
- and
- the radio interface unit is configured to transmit the indication of the fill state of the container to a control node of the waste management system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.