Sensor device for remote monitoring

1. A sensor device for use in remote monitoring of waste within a waste container, wherein the sensor device includes a sensor arrangement for monitoring the waste and for generating a corresponding waste-indicative signal, a data processing arrangement for receiving the waste-indicative signal, a wireless interface coupled to the data processing arrangement for enabling the data processing device to emit wireless signals including information derived from the waste-indicative signal, housing and a power source for providing power to operate the sensor device, wherein:

(i) the power source includes one or more batteries;

(ii) the data processing arrangement includes a processor unit having a low power functioning side, the data processing arrangement including an ultrasonic transceiver for measuring waste-indicative signal within the waste container, the data processing arrangement is configured to operate in an activated mode wherein the data processing arrangement is energized to support wireless communication via the wireless interface, and a reduced-power mode wherein the data processing arrangement is configured to consume less power in comparison to the activated mode;

(ii) the housing is filled with a filler material which is capable of thermally insulating at least some of the components, and;

(iii) the sensor arrangement additionally includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of at least the power source, and the data processing arrangement is configured to be switched from the reduced-power mode to the activated mode as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

2. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data processing arrangement is configured to revert from the activated mode to the reduced-power mode upon one or more of:

(a) receiving and/or sending a wireless signal via the wireless interface; and

(b) making a measurement via the sensor arrangement regarding a state of the waste within the waste container.

3. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data processing arrangement is configured to monitor diurnal variations in temperature as measured by the sensor arrangement, and is switchable from the reduced-power mode to the activated mode at one or more times in a diurnal period whereat the temperature of the power source is substantially minimum.

4. A sensor device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the one or more times in the diurnal period whereat the temperature of the power source is substantially minimum is determined by the data processing arrangement by way of temporal prediction based on earlier historical measurements.

5. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power source includes a Lithium-ion battery for providing operating power to the sensor device.

6. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is configured to emit a warning message via the wireless interface in an event that the temperature monitored by the sensor arrangement exceeds a predefined threshold temperature.

7. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is filled with a filler material that is of a lower density then the outer casing material to thermally insulate the one or more batteries, and the temperature sensor from an ambient temperature outside of the sensor device to enable a longer data communication time window at specified temperatures.

8. A sensor device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the sensor device filler material is polyurethane foam and the outer casing material of the sensor device is polyurethane.

9. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to receive further temperature information from an external service.

10. A method of using a sensor device to perform remote monitoring of waste within a waste container, wherein the sensor device includes a sensor arrangement for monitoring the waste and for generating a corresponding waste-indicative signal, a data processing arrangement for receiving the waste-indicative signal, a wireless interface coupled to the data processing arrangement for enabling the data processing device to em it wireless signals including information derived from the waste-indicative signal, and a power source for providing power to operate the sensor device, wherein the method includes:

arranging for the power source to include one or more batteries;

(ii) operating the data processing arrangement including a processor unit having a low power functioning side and an ultrasonic transceiver to measure the waste-indicative signal level within the waste container, the data processing arrangement operating in an activated mode wherein the data processing arrangement is energized to be capable of supporting wireless communication via the wireless interface, and in a reduced-power mode wherein the data processing arrangement is configured to consume less power in comparison to the activated mode; and

(iii) using a temperature sensor of the sensor arrangement for measuring a temperature of at least the power source, and arranging for the data processing arrangement to be switched from the reduced-power mode to the activated mode as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the method includes operating the data processing arrangement to revert from the first activated mode to the second reduced-power mode upon one or more of:

(a) receiving and/or sending a wireless signal via the wireless interface; and

(b) making a measurement via the sensor arrangement regarding a state of the waste within the waste container.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the method includes using the data processing arrangement to monitor diurnal variations in temperature as measured by the sensor arrangement, and switching the data processing arrangement from the reduced-power mode to the activated mode at one or more times in a diurnal period whereat the temperature of the power source is substantially minimum.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the one or more times in the diurnal period whereat the temperature of the power source is substantially minimum is determined by the data processing arrangement by way of temporal prediction based on earlier historical measurements.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the method includes using a Lithium-ion battery power source for providing operating power to the sensor device.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the method includes operating the sensor device to emit a warning message via the wireless interface in an event that the temperature monitored using the sensor arrangement exceeds a predefined threshold temperature.

16. A software product recorded on non-transitory machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software product is executable upon computing hardware of the sensor device of claim 1 , for enabling the sensor device to execute the method of claim 10 .

17. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein temperature information is received from an external service.

18. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the method includes using the data processing arrangement to monitor diurnal variations in temperature as measured by the sensor arrangement, and switching the data processing arrangement from the reduced-power mode to the activated mode at one or more times in a diurnal period whereat the temperature of the power source is substantially maximum.

19. The method according to claim 10 , comprising receiving further temperature information from an external service.

20. The method according to claim 10 , comprising using the data processing arrangement to monitor diurnal variations in temperature as measured by the sensor arrangement, and switching the data processing arrangement from the reduced-power mode to the activated mode at one or more times in a diurnal period whereat the temperature of the power source is substantially maximum.