System and method for managing service and non-service related activities associated with a waste collection, disposal and/or recycling vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US10855958B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "System and method for managing service and non-service related activities associated with a waste collection, disposal and/or recycling vehicle",
  "abstract": "Systems and methods are provided for using video/still images captured by continuously recording optical sensors mounted on waste collection vehicles used in in the waste collection, disposal and recycling industry for operational and customer service related purposes. Optical sensors are integrated into the in-cab monitor as well as the onboard computer, digital video recorder and other external devices.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of auditing the status of a customer waste or recycling container using a service vehicle, the method comprising: capturing a continuous video recording of an area outside of a cab of the service vehicle during the entirety of a service operations period for the service vehicle, wherein the continuous video recording is captured by a camera on the service vehicle; storing the continuous video recording on a recording device; capturing a chapter from the continuous video recording, wherein the chapter comprises one or more of a still image and a video clip of 60 seconds or less of a customer location; associating the chapter with a customer based on stored customer identifying information; associating the chapter with a user defined scenario relevant to the service activities, wherein the user defined scenario is a customer container that has contaminated materials therein; displaying the chapter on an electronic viewing portal in association with an identification of the user defined scenario and with one or more of date, time, an identification number for the service vehicle, and an identifying feature of the customer; making the electronic viewing portal available for viewing by a user; and receiving instructions from the user regarding whether to provide one or more of a communication, a billing adjustment and an account notation to the customer based on a determination by the user of whether the customer container has contaminated materials therein.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer container is a residential container.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer container is a commercial container.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer container is an industrial roll-off container.",
    "5. A method of auditing the status of a customer waste or recycling container using a service vehicle, the method comprising: collecting a continuous video recording of an area outside of a cab of the service vehicle during the entirety of a service operations period for the service vehicle, wherein the continuous video recording is captured by an optical sensor on the service vehicle; capturing a chapter from the continuous video recording, wherein the chapter comprises one or more of a still image and a video clip of a customer location and a customer container at the customer location; connecting the chapter with a specific customer based on stored customer identifying information; connecting the chapter with a pre-defined use case associated with service operations, wherein the pre-defined use case is a customer container having contaminated materials therein; determining whether the customer container has contaminated materials therein based on the information in the chapter; and providing one or more of a communication, a billing adjustment and an account notation to the customer based on the determination of whether the customer container has contaminated materials therein.",
    "6. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer container is a residential container.",
    "7. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer container is a commercial container.",
    "8. The method of claim 5, wherein the customer container is an industrial roll-off container."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The presently disclosed subject matter relates to managing service and non-service related activities associated with a waste collection, disposal or recycling vehicle.\n\nWaste service vehicles (as well as waste container delivery vehicles) used in the waste collection, disposal and recycling industry often have on-board computers, location devices and interior and exterior safety and non-safety related cameras installed on the exterior and interior thereof. These systems provide field managers with limited data related to the waste service vehicle, location of the waste service vehicle, waste service confirmation, customer service issues, service routing issues, customer site information and safety issues and concerns.\n\nCommercial, Residential, Industrial (roll-off services) and Container Delivery waste service providers typically have assigned waste service routes for management of municipal solid waste (MSW, waste, trash or traditional garbage), recycling (residential curbside source separated or single stream) organics (source separated residential green waste and source separated residential food waste and commercial food waste) and commercial recycling (source separated dry waste including cardboard, metals, polymers, paper, other fibers, glass, woods and other inerts, etc.) for each of the waste service provider customers whether the customers are in a competitive subscription open market pursuant to a service contract/agreement or within an exclusive or non-exclusive municipal franchise system.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04N 7/188",
    "B60R 2300/105",
    "B60R 2300/406",
    "B60R 2300/70",
    "B65F 3/00",
    "Y02W 90/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65F 3/00",
    "H04N 7/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "WM Intellectual Property Holdings LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Barry S. Skolnick"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-07-02",
  "publication_date": "2020-12-01",
  "grant_date": "2020-12-01",
  "priority_date": "2018-01-09",
  "application_number": "US-202016920142-A",
  "family_id": "69778901",
  "cited_by_count": 26,
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