Granted Patent B2

US 9,520,046 · App. 14/481,709 · Granted Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

Claims (52)

1. A computer-implemented method to communicate refuse reminders, comprising:

detecting, via one or more sensors, a proximity of at least one refuse bin to a base station for the at least one refuse bin at a predetermined time period prior to a refuse removal period;

producing an alert to move the at least one refuse bin to a removal location based at least in part on the detecting; and

alerting an administrator of an automation system when the refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station a predetermined time period before a scheduled refuse removal.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising

linking a refuse removal schedule with an automation system, wherein the refuse removal schedule comprises a schedule of refuse removal days for a first category of refuse.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting the proximity of the at least one refuse bin to the base station a predetermined time period after a scheduled refuse removal; and

alerting a user to return the at least one refuse bin to the base station when the proximity of the at least on refuse bin to the base station is not within a predetermined distance based at least in part on the detecting.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a proximity of a first refuse bin to a first base station on a first schedule; and

detecting a proximity of a second refuse bin to a second base station on a second schedule.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a location of a refuse removal vehicle;

comparing the location of the refuse removal vehicle to a refuse removal route;

determining the refuse removal vehicle has passed the location of the automation system on the refuse removal route;

alerting a user of a missed opportunity to have refuse removed when the at least one refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station based at least in part on the determining.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

alerting a user that the refuse removal vehicle emptied the at least one refuse bin when the at least one refuse bin is not within the predetermined proximity of the base station.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a movement of the at least one refuse bin based at least in part on one or more sensors; and

alerting an administrator of the detected movement.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises one or more accelerometers and the movement comprises at least a tilting motion.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are load based sensors and detect a change in the weight applied to the one or more sensors.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises an olfactory sensor and wherein the olfactory sensor detects a change in a smell of the at least one refuse bin.

11. An apparatus to communicate refuse reminders to a user of an automation system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

detect a proximity of at least one refuse bin to a base station for the at least one refuse bin at a predetermined time period prior to a refuse removal day using one or more sensors;

alert a user of the automation system to move the at least one refuse bin to a removal location based at least in part on the detecting; and

detect the proximity of the at least one refuse bin to the base station a predetermined time period after a scheduled refuse removal; and

alert the user to return the at least one refuse bin to the base station when the proximity of the at least on refuse bin to the base station is not within a predetermined distance based at least in part on the detecting.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

link a refuse removal schedule with the automation system, wherein the refuse removal schedule comprises a schedule of refuse removal days for a first category of refuse.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

alert an administrator of the automation system when the refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station a predetermined time period before a scheduled refuse removal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

detect a proximity of a first refuse bin to a first base station on a first schedule; and

detect a proximity of a second refuse bin to a second base station on a second schedule.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

detect a proximity of at least one refuse bin to a base station for the at least one refuse bin at a predetermined time period prior to a refuse removal day using one or more sensors;

alert a user of the automation system to move the at least one refuse bin to a removal location based at least in part on the detecting; and

alert an administrator of an automation system when the refuse bin is within a predetermined proximity of the base station a predetermined time period before a scheduled refuse removal.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

link a refuse removal schedule with the automation system, wherein the refuse removal schedule comprises a schedule of refuse removal days for a first category of refuse.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

detect the proximity of the at least one refuse bin to the base station a predetermined time period after a scheduled refuse removal; and

alert the user to return the at least one refuse bin to the base station when the proximity of the at least on refuse bin to the base station is not within a predetermined distance based at least in part on the detecting.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

detect a proximity of a first refuse bin to a first base station on a first schedule; and

detect a proximity of a second refuse bin to a second base station on a second schedule.

Assignments (10)