Methods for utilizing RF tags to collect data concerning post-consumer resources
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsBarrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
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Abstract
A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
Claims20
A method of disposing of a post-consumption item, wherein the post-consumption item is associated with a radio frequency tag, comprising:
- reading the radio frequency tag to obtain stored information;
- and
- selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the stored information, wherein the manner specifies a way that the post-consumption item is to be treated during the disposing.
A method of maintaining an inventory of a post-consumption item, wherein the post-consumption item is associated with a radio frequency tag, comprising:
- reading the radio frequency tag associated with the post-consumption item to obtain stored categorization information, the stored categorization information being related to a manner in which the post-consumption item is to be disposed of;
- maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption item based on the stored categorization information;
- and
- disposing of the post-consumption item when an amount of the post-consumption item reaches a pre-determined level in the inventory, wherein the manner specifies a way in which the post-consumption item is to be treated during the disposing.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for reading a radio frequency tag to obtain stored information;
- and
- means for selecting a manner to dispose of a post-consumption item based on the stored information, wherein the manner specifies a way that the post-consumption item is to be treated during a disposal of the post-consumption item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.