System for managing utility and waste services
A system is disclosed for managing services at a customer location. The system may have at least one offboard utility meter, a communication device, and a controller in communication with the at least one offboard utility meter via the communication device. The controller may be configured to receive information from the at least one offboard utility meter during a waste service activity at the customer location by a waste service vehicle and to determine based on the information from the at least one offboard utility meter a fee associated with at least one utility service provided at the customer location. The controller may also be configured to generate at least one invoice for the waste service activity and for the fee associated with the at least one utility service.
1. A system for managing services, comprising:
at least one wireless transmitter/receiver onboard a waste service vehicle; and
a controller in communication with at least one utility meter via the at least one wireless transmitter/receiver, the at least one utility meter being positioned at a customer location, and the controller being configured to:
receive a first signal from at least one locating device positioned onboard the waste service vehicle and determine that the waste service vehicle is within a threshold proximity of the customer location for performance of a waste-related service activity,
monitor a second signal from one or more sensors for performance of the waste-related service activity and determine waste service-related information associated with the customer location based on the first and second signals;
receive, via the at least one wireless transmitter/receiver, a third signal from the at least one utility meter, the third signal including utility consumption information associated with the customer location;
determine, based on the utility consumption information and the waste service-related information, a trend of usage at the customer location;
determine, based on the trend of usage at the customer location, an occupancy status of the customer location;
determine, based on the trend of usage at the customer location and the occupancy status of the customer location, an abnormality status; and
based on the determined abnormality status, transmit a signal causing an adjustment to utility or waste services at the customer location.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is onboard the waste service vehicle.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the at least one utility meter only when a proximity of the waste service vehicle to the customer location is within the threshold proximity.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one utility meter includes a plurality of utility meters, each associated with at least one utility selected from a group consisting of electricity, water, gas, telephone, internet, and sewer.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive electronic payment for the at least one invoice; and
selectively distribute the payment to a plurality of utility providers corresponding with the plurality of utility meters.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one utility meter is configured to communicate to the controller via the at least one wireless transmitter/receiver at least one of a corresponding level of utility consumption, an amount remaining of a particular necessity, and a current consumption setting.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a fourth signal that causes a utility associated with the at least one utility meter to shut off based on the determined abnormality status.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
generate an analysis of the utility consumption information received from the at least one utility meter; and
selectively generate an alert directed to at least one of a customer associated with the customer location, a utility provider, and local authorities based on the analysis.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the analysis includes a comparison of a current consumption rate with a historical consumption rate.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wireless transmitter/receiver includes an onboard Wi-Fi receiver and an offboard Wi-Fi transmitter.
11. The system of claim 1 , further including an input device, wherein the controller is further configured to receive input from an operator of the waste service vehicle via the input device regarding the waste service activity at the customer location.
12. A method for managing services at a customer location, comprising:
receiving, at a controller in communication with at least one utility meter via at least one wireless transmitter/receiver, a first signal from at least one locating device positioned onboard the waste service vehicle and determine that the waste service vehicle is within a threshold proximity of the customer location for performance of a waste-related service activity, the at least one utility meter being positioned at a customer location;
monitoring a second signal from one or more sensors for performance of the waste-related service activity and determine waste service-related information associated with the customer location based on the first and second signals;
receiving, via the at least one wireless transmitter/receiver, a third signal from the at least one utility meter, the third signal including utility consumption information associated with the customer location;
determining, based on the utility consumption information and the waste service-related information, a trend of usage at the customer location;
determining, based on the trend of usage at the customer location, an occupancy status of the customer location;
determining, based on the trend of usage at the customer location and the occupancy status of the customer location, an abnormality status; and
based on the determined abnormality status, transmitting a signal causing an adjustment to utility or waste services at the customer location.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one utility meter includes a plurality of utility meters, each associated with at least one utility selected from a group consisting of electricity, water, gas, telephone, internet, and sewer.
14. The method of claim 12 , further including wirelessly receiving the second signal only when a proximity of the waste service vehicle to the customer location is within the threshold proximity.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one utility meter is associated with a plurality of utility services provided by a plurality of different providers.
16. The method of claim 15 , further including:
receiving electronic payment for at least one invoice; and
selectively distributing the electronic payment to the plurality of providers corresponding with the plurality of utility services.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the utility consumption information includes at least one of a corresponding level of utility consumption, an amount remaining of a particular necessity, and a current consumption setting.
18. The method of claim 17 , further including transmitting a fourth signal that causes a utility associated with the at least one utility meter to shut off based on the determined abnormality status.
19. The method of claim 12 , further including:
generating an analysis of the utility consumption information about the at least one utility meter; and
selectively generating an alert directed to at least one of a customer associated with the customer location, a utility provider, and local authorities based on the analysis.
20. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable programming instructions for performing a method of service management at a customer location, the method comprising:
receiving, at a controller in communication with at least one utility meter via at least one wireless transmitter/receiver, a first signal from at least one locating device positioned onboard the waste service vehicle and determine that the waste service vehicle is within a threshold proximity of the customer location for performance of a waste-related service activity, the at least one utility meter being positioned at a customer location;
monitoring a second signal from one or more sensors for performance of the waste-related service activity and determine waste service-related information associated with the customer location based on the first and second signals;
receiving, via the at least one wireless transmitter/receiver, a third signal from the at least one utility meter, the third signal including utility consumption information associated with the customer location;
determining, based on the utility consumption information and the waste service-related information, a trend of usage at the customer location;
determining, based on the trend of usage at the customer location, an occupancy status of the customer location;
determining, based on the trend of usage at the customer location and the occupancy status of the customer location, an abnormality status; and
based on the determined abnormality status, transmitting a signal causing an adjustment to utility or waste services at the customer location.