DK202100895A1

DK202100895A1 - Method and system for collection of contents of geographically distributed containers

Info

Publication number: DK202100895A1
Application number: DKPA202100895A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Norgreen Henrik
Original assignee: Nordsense Aps
Priority date: 2021-09-21
Filing date: 2021-09-21
Publication date: 2023-06-08

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for collecting contents of geographically distributed containers upon request by the user. Typical garbage collection entails sending out a fleet of collection vehicles on a regular basis to collect the contents of distributed garbage bins or containers in a particular geographic area. The present invention relates to a method for collection of contents of one or more geographically distributed containers where each container (1) is identified and registered in an app or database at least by the following information: position of container, type of waste collected in the container, and optionally type of container, further, emptying of the geographically distributed containers (1) is organized or optimized by a central server system (3) and vehicles (5) emptying the containers (1) follow centrally defined and/or optimized collection routes. Especially, each container (1) comprises a passive or active identification unit (2), and a user or owner of the container locally reads information of the identification unit (2) by a device (4) and transmit a request for emptying of the identified container to the central server system (3).

Description

Method and system for collection of contents of geographically distributed containers

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a method and a system for collecting contents of geographically distributed containers upon request by the user.

Background of the invention

Typical garbage collection entails a government or private organization sending out a fleet of collection vehicles on a regular basis to collect the contents of distributed garbage bins or containers in a particular geographic area.

Because the operators of the vehicles do not know the quantity of contents inside a container before arriving at and inspecting the container, the operator must stop the vehicle at every container along the path and inspect every container. Normally, the operators are scheduled to perform routes at a fixed frequency (e.g., route 1 would be performed once a week on Mondays), they will typically collect whatever contents are in the container at the time they arrive, even if the contents are minimal, since they would not visit the container again for a week.

In contrast, if the container is not serviced frequently enough, the container can overflow with waste, resulting in loose waste and pollution in streets and sidewalks, creating health and safety risks and diminishing the appearance of the area and value of the local real estate. Similar processes exist for collection of other refuse container contents, such as for septic tanks, portable toilets (commonly referred to as port-a-potties), and other toxic waste collection.

The process of stopping at and inspecting every container on a fixed time frequency carries with it a number of inherent inefficiencies and other service issues.

Operators’ time is wasted by stopping, inspecting, and collecting contents from containers not in need of emptying, and operators are not able to empty the containers that fill up before a scheduled visit in a timely fashion resulting in overflowing containers - or inability of users to dispose of refuse. The wear and tear of vehicles and equipment is accelerated due to the extra stops, collections, and distance travelled. This also causes increased carbon dioxide emissions, noise pollution, and traffic congestion.

Also, some containers on low frequency collection intervals may be un-serviced for long periods of time despite being unexpectedly full. This can especially be a concern for portable toilets or other containers that fill at irregular rates, or containers located in remote or hard- to-access locations or containers being otherwise expensive or difficult to manually service.

DK 2021 00895 A1 2

Accordingly, systems and methods improving managing of distributed container collections are much desired. A system and method for reducing the route distance, time, and stops for collection of contents of refuse containers is also desired.

Some systems rely on use of sensors continuously measuring and transmitting information of filling level when optimizing emptying of geographically distributed container, however, use of sensors which are continuously measuring and transmitting information relating to the content of a container requires a lot of resources, both for manufacturing of the sensors and for operation of the sensors.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system where a user easily and without error may request emptying of containers in the user's possession, according to such a system it would be possible to avoid sensors while avoiding overflowing of containers and unnecessary driving with vehicles. A system where containers are emptied upon request also allows for a pay-per-collection.

The effect of requesting emptying of containers instead of having a standard emptying interval is generally a reduction of resources used for emptying of containers. When containers in a geographical area are emptied at a regular time interval determined, the time interval is normally determined such that none of the containers have reached a maximum fill limit this way preventing that any of the containers of are overfilled.

WO 2017/074521 Al discloses a system comprising a tool (20) for management of waste services, the tool (20) is integral with a receptacle (14) which is emptied by a vehicle (12).

The tool has an interface configured to receive input from a user indicative of an on- demand service request. The tool (20) at least comprises a communication device (24) and a controller (26) configured to transmit a waste management command to a remote service provider via the communication device based on an input which may be user induced possibly via a mobile phone.

According to the present invention, a user device such as a mobile phone reads and transmits an input to a central server system, i.e. the unit being part of the garbage container need not perform any action as such, the unit need not comprise a power source or a transmitter. The unit being part of the garbage container is very simple to produce and requires a lot less resources than the complex tool (20), it may simply be a barcode making the receptacle identifiable.

WO 2020/187796 Al discloses a method for detecting a waste container during collection of waste thereof by a waste collection vehicle. According to this method, a container is identified by one or more RFID chips fitted to the container, the purpose for fitting the container with RFID chips are to allow a vehicle to determine which container to pick-up.

It is not suggested in this document, that the RFID chips are to be read by a user device as a first step in an on-demand emptying process of the container.

By reading the electronic identification unit locally the information of geographic position of the container is both without error as well as fast and simple for the user/owner. Fast and flawless identification of a container to be emptied allows a fast, real-time update of a route including emptying of the container in question.

Summary of the invention

Thus, one aspect of the invention relates to a method for collection of contents of one or more geographically distributed containers where: - each container (1) is identified and registered in an app or database at least by the following information: position of container, type of content such as waste collected in the container, and optionally type of container, - emptying of the geographically distributed containers (1) is organized or optimized by a central server system (3) and vehicles (5) emptying the containers (1) follow centrally defined and/or optimized collection routes, and - each container (1) comprises a passive or active identification unit (2), and a user or owner of the container locally reads information of the identification unit (2) by a device (4) and transmit a request for emptying of the identified container to the central server system (3).

That the information of the container is read locally by the owner/user means that the owner/user is at the same geographic location as the container (1).

The only information that the identification unit (2) must have, is a unique identification number or similar which identify the container (1) to the central server system (3). The identification unit (2) may also comprise further information which may be read by the device (4) upon request. Also, the owner/user controlling the device (4) may add information before sending the request to the central server system (3).

When the identification unit (2) is read electronically by an app when requesting emptying or replacement of a container (1), it is possible to avoid errors and obtain a complete register used when paying for waste collection.

According to one embodiment of the first aspect, an exact position of the container (1) may be registered upon reading information of the identification unit (2) either by a geolocation unit such as GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou, LoRa or similar in the identification unit (2), or by a geolocation unit such as GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou, LoRa or similar in the device (4) used by the user/owner when reading the information of the identification unit (2).

According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the user or owner may identify a fill level for the relevant container (1) when requesting emptying of the container (1).

According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the container (1) may be emptied without receiving a request, if a request has not been received within a maximum time period, the maximum time period may be determined based on the type of waste received in the container (1).

According to one embodiment of the first aspect, an operator of the vehicle (5) used to empty the identified container (1) may read the information from the identification unit (2) upon emptying, optionally a receipt may be sent to the user/owner, and the receipt may optionally include information in respect of emptying time, the receipt may be sent either from the operator's device (6) or from the central server system (3).

According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the user or owner of the container (1) may locally read the information of the identification unit (2) by the device (4) and then transmit a request to the central server system (3) for replacement of the container due to malfunctioning of the container.

According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the user/owner of the container (1) may be charged according to the number of emptying of containers.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system for collection of contents of one or more geographically distributed containers (1) comprising: - a central server system (3) planning optimized routes for emptying of containers (1) of a specific content within the geographically distributed containers belonging to a group of users/owners, - each container (1) comprises an identification unit (2) comprising information of position of container, type of content/waste to be collected from the container (1), and optionally type of container as “type of container” may be identified by the content to be collected, - a device (4) used by a user/owner comprising a reader able to read the information comprised by the identification unit (2) and comprising a wireless communication unit able to communicate with the central server system (3) and to transmit the information of the identification unit (2) to the central server system (3).

According to one embodiment of the second aspect, the central server system (3) may comprise a wireless communication unit able to transmit an optimized route for collecting a type of waste from one or more geographically distributed containers to a device (6) in a collection vehicle (5).

According to one embodiment of the second aspect, a device (6) travelling with or connected to a collection vehicle (5) may comprise a reader able to read the information of the identification unit (2) of a container (1) and may comprise a wireless communication unit able to communicate with the central server system (3) and to transmit the information of the identification unit (2) to the central server system (3) confirming emptying of the container (1) has taken place.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a method and a system according to the invention.

The present invention will now be described in more detail in the following. 5 Definitions

Prior to discussing the present invention in further details, the following terms and conventions will be defined:

A passive identification unit is an identification unit which does not comprise a power source, a passive identification unit may be a visual code such as a barcode, an RFID unit or a Near Field communication unit.

An active identification unit is an identification unit which comprises a power source, e.g. a battery, or it might be powered by sun or heat.

A passive or active identification unit may comprise a storage memory, and a radio chip attached to an antenna.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention will now be described in further details in the following non-limiting examples.

Figure 1 illustrates a system for collection of contents of one or more geographically distributed containers 1 according to the invention, this system comprises a central server system or database 3. The central server system or database 3 register information about a group of containers 1 in a geographical area such as a municipality and may be used to plan and optimise collection of waste products in this geographic area, optimization of collection normally includes minimizing driving while preventing waste overflow in all the targeted containers 1 i.e. containers within the group. Collecting waste is complex as containers of a specific content such as bio waste, metal, cardboard, paper, glass, different fractions of plastic, residual waste for disposal/burning, etc., should be collected by vehicles adapted to the specific type of waste.

According to the invention it is assumed that the geographically distributed containers are owned or used by specific individuals or companies which owner or user may act when a container needs to be emptied.

According to the invention, each container 1 comprises a passive or active identification unit 2 e.g. an electronic identification unit such as a Near Field Communication (NFC) tag comprising information in respect of position and/or ownership of the container 1, type of

DK 2021 00895 A1 6 content of or waste to be collected from the container 1, and optionally size/type of container 1 if the type of container is not fully identified by the content to be collected. The identification unit 2 may be a passive identification unit such as a visual code such as a barcode, or an RFID unit or a Near Field communication unit or the identification unit 2 may be an active identification unit comprising a power source, e.g. a battery, or means for powering the unit by sun or heat. If the identification unit 2 is active, the user would be able to read the identification unit 2 at a longer distance and the user would not need to see the identification unit 2, i.e. the identification unit 2 may be embedded in the material of the container 1, or may be positioned below a lid or below the bottom of the container 1. If an RFID chip is used as identification unit 2, the RFID chip need only hold a unique

ID number. Upon installation, container info may be transmitted to the server by the waste company.

The owner or user of the container has a device 4 such as a mobile device e.g. a mobile phone comprising a software application including a reader able to read the information from the identification unit 2 and able to provide an interface allowing the user to transmit information to the central server system, and optionally to register further data before transmitting information to the central server system 3. Also, the device 4 comprising a wireless communication unit allowing transmission of data/information to the central server system 3 and optionally receiving of data/information from the central server system 3. When the central server system 3 receives a request from a user, the central server system 3 may send an acknowledgement or receipt and optionally inform the user about an expected time or an expect period for emptying of the container 1.

When the user or owner receives one or more waste containers 1, the containers 1 each comprises an identification unit 2 comprising a unique id number, each container 1 is registered e.g. by an installation app where the user/owner or the supplier of the containers 1 register each container 1 as belonging to the specific user/owner.

In general, each container may be equipped with an identification unit 2 during manufacturing of the container, i.e. the identification unit 2 may then be embedded in the material constituting the container 1, or the container 1 may be created with a pocket, room or similar prepared to hold an identification unit 2. Alternatively, an identification unit 2 may be fixed to the container by the user/owner of the container or a distributor of the container after the container has been delivered for use. The identification unit 2 may according to this alternative be fixed by adhesive or screws or similar.

As a minimum it is upon installation registered for each container: who the user/owner is, and what type of waste the container 1 is adapted to receive, optionally it may also be registered what type of container 1 it is, such as size of container 1 and category i.e. one or two or more compartments etc..

If the container 1 is stationary, the exact position for the container 1 may also be registered upon installation e.g. by GPS data. If the container is not stationary, an exact

DK 2021 00895 A1 7 position of the container 1 may be registered by the user's device 4 upon reading the identification unit 2 when requesting emptying of the container 1.

When the user or owner of the container finds that it is time to have a specific container emptied, the user approaches the device 4 to the container 1 and let the device 4 read the information of the identification unit 2, then the device 4 is used to transmit a request for emptying of the identified container 1 to the central server system 3. How close the device 4 should be on a container at when reading may depend on the type of identification unit 2 used for the specific container 1.

As the transmitted information is read directly from the identification unit 2, the transmitted information is free of errors.

Also, the transmitted information may include exact location information of the container 1, either from the installation information or from information obtained by the user device 4 and transmitted together with the request. Optionally, the central server system may compare information relating to location obtained by installation with information relating to location obtained at the time of request by the user's device 4 to confirm exact position of the container 1 to be emptied.

Upon requesting emptying of a container, the user may also identify a fill level for the relevant container when requesting emptying of the container. Indication of a fill level such as "1/4", "1/2", "3/4", “full” may be used to estimate how many containers a specific vehicle 5 may be able to empty, and the fill level may also indicate the urgency for emptying of a container 1. If the fill level is registered as “1/2”, it may be adequate to empty the container within a week whereas if the fill level is registered as "full", the container 1 should be emptied within a short time period such as 12 or 24 or 48 hours.

Upon receiving a request from a user, the central server system 3 may return an acknowledgement or receipt, confirming to the user that the identified container will be emptied and optionally the central server system 3 may inform the user of a period within which the identified container 1 may be expected to be emptied.

Optionally, a container 1 may also be emptied without receiving a request. If a request for emptying of a container 1 has not been received within a maximum time interval, the central server system 3 may then include the container 1 in an emptying route. The maximum time interval may be determined based on the type of waste received in the container, e.g. for bio waste the maximum time interval may be relatively short such as 1- 2 weeks, to prevent odour nuisances and rats, and for e.g. metal the maximum time interval may be relatively long, such as 3-6 months, as this waste does not create an environmental hazard and some users may produce small amounts of this type of waste.

Waste from the containers 1 may be collected by a vehicle 5, and the operator of the vehicle 5 may have a device 6 such as a mobile device e.g. a mobile phone or a tablet comprising a software application including a reader able to read the information from the identification unit 2 and able to provide an interface for the operator making it possible to transmit information to the central server system 3, and optionally to register further data before transmitting information to the central server system 3. The device 6 may also comprise a wireless communication unit allowing transmission of data/information to the central server system 3.

The information transmitted to the central server system 3 may be a confirmation that the container 1 has been emptied providing date and time for the emptying. Alternatively, the information transmitted to the central server system 3 may be that the container 1 was not emptied and a reason why the container 1 was not emptied, e.g. the container 1 was not in the specified position, the container 1 contained a wrong type of waste, the collection vehicle 5 could not reach the container 1, etc.

Upon receiving a confirmation that the container 1 has been emptied the central server system may send a confirmation to the user/owner, and if the container is subjected to a maximum time limit, the timer will be reset. Also, the central server system 3 may send a confirmation to the device 6 that the container 1 identified in a request has been correctly emptied, e.g. the container was at the position where it was expected, and it was emptied within the expected period.

Alternatively, a confirmation in respect of the container 1 having been emptied or not been emptied may be send from the user/owner's device 4.

Upon receiving information that the container 1 was not emptied the central server system may send a message to the user/owner, informing about why the container 1 has not been emptied.

Optionally, the user or owner may use the device 4 to read the information of the identification unit and transmit a request for replacement of the container to the central server system due to malfunctioning of the container. The central server system 3 may then send a message to a container administrator to replace the container 1.

The system according to the invention facilitate that, users/owners of the containers 1 are charged according to the number of times their containers have been emptied. I.e., users/owners producing large amounts of waste will pay more than users/owners producing small amounts of waste.

Example of procedure illustrated in figure 1: (i) One or more containers 1 are installed by a user/owner, upon installation each container 1 is registered in a database by at least user/owner and type of waste, normally the exact position of the container 1 is also registered, what type of container it is e.g. size, number of compartments, etc, and e.g. date of installation. (ii) During operation: (a) If a container 1 needs emptying or replacement, the user/owner creates a request for emptying of the container by reading the information from the identification unit 2 with a device 4.

(b) The request is transmitted to the central server system and the request includes information of at least position of the container 1, content of container 1 and optionally of fill level. The central server system 3 may transmit a confirmation to the user in response to the request.

The central server system 3 use incoming requests to plan optimized emptying routes for collection vehicles 5 for each type of waste handled by the central server system 3. (c) Information of the planned route is transmitted to a collection vehicle 5. (d) The collection vehicle travels on the route and empty the designated containers 1. (el) The operator of the collection vehicle 5 uses a device 6 e.g. a mobile phone or a tablet to read the identification unit 2 on the emptied containers and a confirmation that the container 1 has been emptied is transmitted to the central server system 3. The central server system 3 may transmit a confirmation to the operator in response to the received information. (e2) The user/owner uses a device 4 e.g. a mobile phone or a tablet to read the identification unit 2 on the emptied containers and a confirmation that the container 1 has been emptied is transmitted to the central server system 3. The central server system 3 may transmit a confirmation to the user in response to the received information, the confirmation may include information in respect of date and time of the emptying of the container 1.

Either el or e2 may be used, or both el and e2 may be used.

Claims

1. A method for collection of contents of one or more geographically distributed containers where; - each container (1) is identified and registered in an app or database at least by the following information: position of container, type of waste collected in the container, and optionally type of container, - emptying of the geographically distributed containers (1) is organized or optimized by a central server system (3) and vehicles (5) emptying the containers (1) follow centrally defined and/or optimized collection routes, characterized in that - each container (1) comprises a passive or active identification unit (2), and a user or owner of the container locally reads information of the identification unit (2) by a device (4) and transmit a request for emptying of the identified container to the central server system (3).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein an exact position of the container (1) is registered upon reading information of the identification unit (2) either by a geolocation unit such as GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou, LoRa or similar in the identification unit (2), or by a geolocation unit such as GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou, LoRa or similar in the device (4) used when reading the information of the identification unit (2).

3. A method according to any previous claims, wherein the user or owner identify a fill level for the relevant container (1) when requesting emptying of the container (1).

4. A method according to any previous claims, wherein the container (1) is emptied without receiving a request, if a request has not been received within a maximum time period, the maximum time period may be determined based on the type of waste received in the container (1).

5. A method according to any previous claims, wherein an operator of the vehicle (5) used to empty the identified container (1) reads the information from the identification unit (2) upon emptying, optionally a receipt is sent to the user/owner optionally including information re emptying time either from the operator's device (6) or from the central server system (3).

6. A method according to any previous claims, wherein the user or owner of the container (1) locally reads the information of the identification unit (2) by the device (4) and transmit a request to the central server system (3) for replacement of the container due to malfunctioning of the container.

7. A method according to any previous claims, wherein the user/owner of the container (1) is charged according to the number of emptying of containers.

8. A system for collection of contents of one or more geographically distributed containers (1) comprising: - a central server system (3) planning optimized routes for emptying of containers (1) of a specific content within the geographically distributed containers belonging to a group of users/owners, - each container (1) comprises an identification unit (2) comprising information of position of container, type of waste to be collected in the container, and type of container, - a device (4) used by a user/owner comprising a reader able to read the information comprised by the identification unit (2) and comprising a wireless communication unit able to communicate with the central server system (3) and to transmit the information of the identification unit (2) to the central server system (3).

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the central server system (3) comprises a wireless communication unit able to transmit an optimized route for collecting a type of waste from one or more geographically distributed containers to a device (6) in a collection vehicle (5).

10. A system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a device (6) in a collection vehicle (5) comprises a reader able to read the information of the identification unit (2) of a container (1) and comprises a wireless communication unit able to communicate with the central server system (3) and to transmit the information of the identification unit (2) to the central server system (3) confirming emptying of the container (1) has taken place.