WO2017116321A1

WO2017116321A1 - A waste container tracking method for waste collecting systems

Info

Publication number: WO2017116321A1
Application number: PCT/TR2015/050278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cagdas CIRPAN; Ahmet Yorukoglu
Original assignee: Onlab Elektrik Elektronik Bilisim Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.Ş.
Priority date: 2015-12-28
Filing date: 2015-12-28
Publication date: 2017-07-06

Abstract

The invention is related to an active tag (10) comprising an energy source (100), a power unit (101), a control unit (103), a time counter unit (1030) and a communication unit (104) providing data transfer, a motion sensing unit (102) having the property of ability of sensing any motion, acceleration, impact, force etc. of the waste collection receptacle (K) in one or more axis and getting the active tag (10) from the sleep mode to the active mode by sending signal to the control unit (103) in order that the communication unit (104) broadcasts to send data to the control unit (103) when the motion sensing unit (102) senses any motion, and control unit (103) getting back the tag (10) from the active mode into the sleep mode at the end of the pre-determined time after the tag (10) gets into the active mode and providing that the tag (10) stays in the sleep mode when the motion sensing unit (102) does not sense any motion, acceleration, impact, force.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A WASTE CONTAINER TRACKING METHOD FOR WASTE COLLECTING

SYSTEMS

Related Technical Field of the Invention:

The invention is related to a waste collecting and tracking system comprising an active tag.

Prior Art:

The waste collecting service is one of the public services for which the municipalities spare a significant part of their annual budget. A percentage of the municipalities provide this service directly by using their own equipment and by their own permanent staff, however; a significant percentage of them give the cleaning services to the private cleaning companies via tenders. Control of the service quality and managing controllably if the public resources are used effectively are needs of the municipalities to inspect if this cleaning service given via tenders is carried out by the cleaning company, neighborhoods and streets in which the containers are collected, when they are collected, how many times they are collected in a day, how many times they are collected in a week etc. Similarly, the cleaning companies also need this inspection in terms of controlling of working of staff and reporting their service to the municipality.

Nowadays, the municipalities charge mostly more than one staff for this inspection work and these staffs report by going around every neighborhood, avenue, boulevard and street with vehicle(s) which belongs to the municipality. Salaries and vested benefits which belong to the staff employed for this work, vehicles and equipment allocated to the staff create an important expense item for the municipalities. Employing staff on the purpose of control which is the common method is a quite inefficient and costly method. For this reason, the municipalities and cleaning companies are in search of technological equipment for this work.

Nowadays, it is seen that the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is used in some places to solve this problem. At this point, the first solution which can be found in the market is passive or active RFID tagged systems. In this systems becoming a method of the state of the art, the passive RFID tags (the tag type which takes its energy from RFID reader electromagnetically) are mounted on any surface of the waste containers. An RFID reader communicating with the container is present also on the waste collection vehicle. There are an electronic control unit, an RFID antenna and a circuit providing the internet connection (GSM modem etc.) in this reader. When the waste collection vehicle enters into the related street on the purpose of waste collection, it communicates with the passive tags of the containers which are in its coverage area in this street. Then, the reader records the identification (ID) numbers of these passive tags communicated in its memory and/or sends them to the central server through the internet. The location where the containers are collected is recorded into the system via GPS data. On the purpose of learning if the containers are collected; the system users (municipality officers, cleaning company executives etc.) who want to connect to the system connect to the server through any device (computer, tablet, phone etc.) connected to the internet and they can see which container is discharged and when it is discharged. In some applications, active RFID tags (tags which take their energy from battery (batteries) that is present on themselves) are used in the waste containers, however; their numbers are more limited. Their energy source is different but their working principle is the same as passive RFID tagged systems. The only difference is that the tag wakes up and sends its own identification (ID) number with a pre-determined constant period for example in every 10 seconds. At that moment; if there is a waste container that is present in the coverage area, the reader senses this identification (ID) number and the part after that continues as in the passive tagged system.

The reading range of the passive RFID tagged systems in the state of the art is quite low and problems like not being able to be read by the RFID reader are experienced in most of the applications in the field. On the other hand; the active RFID tag which is another application in the state of the art solves the range problem, however, the most important problem this system faces is the lifetime problem of the battery that is present on the tag. The system which wakes up at the end of a pre-determined period; for example every 10 seconds; and sends its identification number (ID number) comes back to the sleep mode again after a certain time period, this provides that the energy in the battery is used more efficiently, however, it still cannot be sufficient. In this case; the batteries that run out in short times have to be changed, so this increases the maintenance cost of the tags and brings a serious service load.

In the patent document with the number of US20140340197 in the state of the art, a method for deploying waste containers in the waste deploying system via active or passive signal means is mentioned.

In another patent document with the number of US20120242481 in the state of the art, miniaturized apparatus for location, tracking, recognizing and controlling objects using miniature RF circuits programmed by an active tag or a controller are mentioned.

In another patent document with the number of US5892441 in the state of the art, various mechanisms to minimize the energy consumption of the battery powered tags are mentioned.

Brief Description of the Invention:

The aim of the disclosed method of the invention is to realize increasing the battery lifetime of the active tags which are mounted onto the waste containers and which use any wireless data transfer technology (RFID, Bluetooth, BLE etc.).

In addition, another aim of the disclosed method of the invention is to decrease the tag cost with smaller sized batteries used in the active tags and to remove the service costs based on battery changing.

In the invention, the lifetime of the battery is used efficiently due to the fact that the active tag stays in the passive mode when the motion sensing unit used in the active tag does not sense any motion in the waste collection receptacle and sends a signal to the control unit, and the active tag gets into the active mode when the motion sensing unit senses a motion and sends a signal to the control unit.

The disclosed active tag of the invention comprises an energy source, a power unit, a time counter unit and a communication unit providing data transfer. Also; the disclosed active tag of the invention comprises a motion sensing unit having the property of ability of sensing any motion, acceleration, impact, force etc. in one or more axis for a waste collection receptacle and getting the active tag from sleep mode into the active mode by sending signal to the control unit in order that the communication unit broadcasts to send data to the control unit when the motion sensing unit senses any motion, and said control unit getting back the tag from the active mode into the sleep mode at the end of the pre- determined time after the tag gets into the active mode and providing that the tag stays in the sleep mode when the motion sensing unit does not sense any motion, acceleration, impact, force.

The waste collection system comprises a waste collection receptacle comprising the active tag and a waste collection vehicle comprising a reader having a communication unit which reads the data broadcasted by the communication unit in the tag in the case that the tag is in the active mode and in case of every kind of motion of the waste collection receptacle.

The waste collection system comprises a time counter unit which stays at the zero value if the waste collection receptacle is motionless in the passive mode and which is increased from zero by the control unit with pre-determined periodical ranges during the time that the waste collection receptacle is moving.

Detailed Description of the Invention:

Description of the Figures

Figure 1: It is the block diagram of the disclosed system of the invention.

Figure 2: It is the flow chart of the working principle of the active tag used in the disclosed system of the invention.

Description of the references in the figures:

The parts in the attached figures are numbered respectively for being understandable of the invention and the equivalents of these numbers are given below.

1- Waste collection system

10- Active tag

100- Energy unit

101 Power unit

102- Motion sensing unit

103 Control unit 1030- Time counter unit

104- Communication unit

20- Reader

200- Energy unit

201- Power unit

202- Control unit

203- Communication unit

204- Memory unit

205- Wireless network connection unit

K- Waste collection receptacle

T- Waste collection vehicle

E- Threshold value

A- Sensed value

T- Value of the time counter unit

Tp- Active working time of the time counter unit

The disclosed waste collection system (1) of the invention comprises an active tag (10) and a reader (20).

The active tag (10) comprises an energy unit (100), a power unit (101), a motion sensing unit (102), a control unit (103) and a communication unit (104). The reader (20) comprises an energy unit (200), a power unit (201), a control unit (202); for example a microcontroller; a communication unit (203), a memory unit (204) and wireless network connection unit (205).

The motion sensing unit (102) which the active tag (10) has has the property of ability of sensing any motion, acceleration, impact, force etc. in one or more axis. When this motion sensing unit (102) senses any motion, it sends signal to the control unit (103) and the control unit (103) gets the active tag (10) from the sleep mode into the awake mode. In other words, the control unit (103) gets the active tag (10) from the passive mode into the active mode. The block diagram of the disclosed waste collection system of the invention is shown in the Figure- 1. The waste collection receptacle (K) used in the disclosed system (1) of the invention can be a container, a garbage can or a waste bin according to the embodiments of the invention, however, it is not limited with them.

The active tag (10) is positioned on any place of the waste collection receptacle (K) according to the embodiments of the invention. The active tag (10) comprises an energy unit (100) and the required energy for all units that the tag (10) comprises for working of the active tag (10) is taken from this storing unit (100). The power unit (101) produces the voltages and currents which all units in the active tag (10) need. In another embodiment of the invention, this power unit (101) can satisfy its energy from an external energy source such as units like electric network, solar cell, solar panel, piezoelectric structures that converts motion energy to electricity etc. and it can store the electrical energy that it takes from the external energy source into the energy unit (100).

The flow diagram showing the working principle of the active tag (10) is given in the Figure-2. The active tag (10) has two operating modes such as sleep mode (passive mode) and operating mode (active mode). The control unit (103) decides that all units in the active tag (10) are in sleep mode during the time that a command does not come from the motion sensing unit (102). All units in the active tag (10) is awakened by the control unit (103) as from the moment that the motion acknowledgement signal comes from the motion sensing unit (102). In some embodiments of the invention; even if the motion sensing unit (102) does not sense motion, the control unit (103) can wake up by itself and it can awaken all units including the motion sensing unit (102) respectively according to the need. In the invention, all units excluding the motion sensing unit (102) are in passive mode during the time that the waste collection receptacle (K) is motionless. Also in some embodiments, the motion sensing unit (102) may have the passive mode in itself. In this case, all the active tag (10) stays in the passive mode during the time that the waste collection receptacle (K) is motionless.

If the active tag (10) is in the sleep mode, the control unit (103) decides that energy is not taken from the energy unit (100). Therefore; if the active tag is in the sleep mode, the energy consumed by the energy unit (100) is in minimum amount. The active tag (10) is in the passive, namely, sleep mode when the waste collection receptacle (K) is motionless or when it is not exposed to an impact or when it does not perform the pre-determined motion profile. If a motion profile is defined, the active tag (10) passes to the active mode due to the fact that the waste collection receptacle (K) performs this motion; on the other hand, it keeps on staying in the sleep mode in case of other motion profiles. The active tag (10) in the sleep mode passes to the active mode via the control unit (103) in itself when a motion occurs in the waste collection receptacle (K). The motion sensing unit (102) senses the single or multi axis motion of the waste collection receptacle (K) and also impacts, forces, vibrations or accelerations which come to the waste collection receptacle (K).

The motion sensing unit (102) comprises two values which are motion sensing value (A) and threshold value (E) that is defined earlier. If the motion sensing value (A) for the motion sensing unit (102) passes the pre-determined threshold value (E) when the waste collection receptacle (K) performs a motion, namely if A>E condition is provided, the motion sensing unit (102) sends a signal to the control unit (103). With this signal, the control unit (103) wakes up and the active tag (10) passes to the active mode. The condition of A>E is related to the magnitudes like motion, force, acceleration, vibration, impact etc. in one or more axis. For this embodiment of the invention, this condition is the "magnitude threshold value". In another embodiment, how long the sensed motion is applied and if a different "time threshold value" is exceeded can be evaluated by adding time data to these motions in order to decide to wake up. The control unit (103) comprises a time counter unit (1030). A time counter unit (1030) in the control unit (103) in the passive mode stays at the zero value if the waste collection receptacle (K) is motionless. All units in the active tag (10) are powered at the moment that the waste collection receptacle (K) performs a motion in the active mode. The value of the time counter unit (1030) starts to be increased periodically by the control unit (103) from zero with the pre-determined ranges during the time that the waste collection receptacle (K) is moving in the active mode. The active tag (10) broadcasts wirelessly to the external environment continuously via the communication unit (104) until the value of the time counter unit (T) passes the pre-determined active working time (Tp) (T<Tp). When the value of the time counter unit (T) passes the pre-determined active working time (Tp) (T>Tp), the active tag (10) goes back to the sleep mode again. After the active tag (10) passes to the sleep mode, the active tag (10) keeps on staying in this mode until the motion sensing unit (102) senses a new motion. The processes mentioned here continue through the whole life of the active tag (10).

The energy management system generated for the disclosed active tags (10) of the invention works according to the method (500) steps below. - Sending a signal to the control unit (103) by the motion sensing unit (102) if the waste collection receptacle (K) is motionless, namely if the motion sensing value (A) for the motion sensing unit (102) is lower than the threshold value (E) which is the pre-determined value, namely when the condition of E>A is provided (501) Keeping the active tag (10) in the passive mode by the control unit (103) in case of being motionless of the waste collection receptacle (K) and staying at the zero value of a time counter unit (1030) in the control unit (103) in this mode (502) Sending a signal to the control unit (103) by the motion sensing unit (102) if the motion sensing value (A) for the motion sensing unit (102) passes the threshold value (E) which is the pre-determined value when the waste collection receptacle (K) performs a motion, namely when the condition of A>E is provided (503)

Getting the active tag (10) into the active mode by the control unit (103) at the moment that the waste collection receptacle (K) performs motion and powering all units in the tag (10) by the control unit (103) during the active mode (504)

During the time that the motion sensing unit (102) senses motion, keeping the active tag (10) in the active mode by the control unit (103) during a pre-determined period (505)

Starting the value of the time counter unit (T) to be increased periodically by the control unit (103) from zero with the pre-determined ranges during the time that the waste collection receptacle (K) is moving (506)

- Broadcasting wirelessly to the external environment continuously via the communication unit (104) until the value (T) of the time counter unit (1030) of the active tag (10) passes the pre-determined active working time (Tp) (T<Tp) (507) Getting the active tag (10) into the sleep mode again by the control unit (103) when the value of the time counter unit (T) passes the pre-determined active working time (Tp) (T>Tp) (508) When the waste collection receptacle (K) turns back to the motionless position again, sending a signal to the control unit (103) by the motion sensing unit (102) if the motion sensing value (A) for the motion sensing unit (102) is lower than the threshold value (E) which is the pre-determined value, namely when the condition of E>A is provided (509)

With this signal received by the control unit (103), getting the active tag (10) from the active mode into the passive mode, namely the sleep mode, by the control unit (103) (510)

After the motion sensing unit (102) gets into the sleep mode, the motion sensing unit's (102) keeping on staying in this mode until it senses a new motion (511)

The reader (20) in the disclosed system of the invention follows all wireless broadcasts which are in its coverage area in the environment where it is present and which are in accordance with its own protocol (RFID, Bluetooth, BLE etc.) continuously via the communication unit (203). It can record the identification numbers (ID numbers) of the broadcasts whose passwords and/or identifications (ID) are familiar among the broadcasts, that it reads, into the memory unit (204) and/or it can send to the central server directly via the wireless network connection unit (205) through the wireless network. In case of recording the identification numbers into the memory unit (204), the users can read the identification numbers themselves directly from the memory after a specific time period or the control unit (202) can send the data which are in the memory unit (204) to the central server through the wireless network by using the wireless network connection unit (205) at the end of a pre-determined time period or at a pre-determined location. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reader (20) can be fed directly by an energy unit (200) in itself; in another embodiment of the invention, it can be fed by an external energy source such as an accumulator on the waste collection vehicle, solar cell, solar panel etc. instead of this energy unit (200). In another embodiment of the invention, the reader (20) can be fed by an external energy source and the energy unit (200) on itself as well.

The invention is not limited with the disclosed embodiments above, a skilled person in the art can produce different embodiments of the invention easily. They should be evaluated within the scope of invention protection demanded with claims.

Claims

1- An active tag (10) used in the waste collection systems comprising an energy source (100), a power unit (101), a control unit (103), a time counter unit (1030) and a communication unit (104) providing data transfer; characterized by comprising a motion sensing unit (102) having the property of ability of sensing any motion, acceleration, impact, force etc. in one or more axis for a waste collection receptacle (K) and getting the active tag (10) from the sleep mode to the active mode by sending signal to the control unit (103) in order that the communication unit (104) broadcasts to send data to the control unit (103) when the motion sensing unit (102) senses any motion, and said control unit (103) getting back the tag (10) from the active mode into the sleep mode at the end of the pre-determined time after the tag (10) gets into the active mode and providing that the tag (10) stays in the sleep mode when the motion sensing unit (102) does not sense any motion, acceleration, impact, force. 2- A waste collection receptacle (K) comprising the active tag (10) of claim 1 and a waste collection system (1) comprising a waste collection vehicle (T) comprising a reader (20) having a communication unit (203) reading the data broadcasted by the communication unit (104) in the tag in the case that the tag is in the active mode and in case of every kind of motion of the waste collection receptacle (K). 3- A waste collection system (1) according to claim 2 characterized by a time counter unit (1030) which stays at the zero value if the waste collection receptacle (K) is motionless in the passive mode and whose value is increased periodically by the control unit (103) from zero with the pre-determined ranges during the time the waste collection receptacle (K) is moving in the active mode.

4- A waste collection system (1) according to claim 3 which works according the steps of;

Sending a signal to the control unit (103) by the motion sensing unit (102) if the waste collection receptacle (K) is motionless, namely if the motion sensing value (A) for the motion sensing unit (102) is lower than the threshold value (E) which is the pre-determined value, namely when the condition of E>A is provided (501) Keeping the active tag (10) in the passive mode by the control unit (103) in case of being motionless of the waste collection receptacle (K) and staying at the zero value of a time counter unit (1030) in the control unit (103) in this mode (502) Sending a signal to the control unit (103) by the motion sensing unit (102) if the motion sensing value (A) for the motion sensing unit (102) passes the threshold value (E) which is the pre-determined value when the waste collection receptacle (K) performs a motion, namely when the condition of A>E is provided (503) Getting the active tag (10) into the active mode by the control unit (103) at the moment that the waste collection receptacle (K) performs motion and powering all units in the tag (10) by the control unit (103) during the active mode (504)

Broadcasting wirelessly to the external environment continuously via the communication unit (104) until the value (T) of the time counter unit (1030) of the active tag (10) passes the pre-determined active working time (Tp) (T<Tp) (507) - Getting the active tag (10) into the sleep mode again by the control unit (103) when the value of the time counter unit (T) passes the pre-determined active working time (Tp) (T>Tp) (508)

When the waste collection receptacle (K) turns back to the motionless position again, sending a signal to the control unit (103) by the motion sensing unit (102) if the motion sensing value (A) for the motion sensing unit (102) is lower than the threshold value (E) which is the pre-determined value, namely when the condition of E>A is provided (509)

After the motion sensing unit (102) gets into the sleep mode, the motion sensing unit's (102) keeping on staying in this mode until it senses a new motion (511).