Abstract:
Wireless active monitor system for containers/carts that hold item(s). Includes a container mount, and sensor for example to weigh the item(s), and a wireless transmitter/transceiver to transmit sensor data from the sensor to a database for remote access. The sensor may be protected via shock pads to prevent damage to the sensor if the container is dropped. The system may be implemented with a printed circuit board having a central processing unit and memory that holds program code to execute on the central processing unit, for example to transmit sensor data via the wireless transmitter. May utilize a unique identifier associated with each container, and/or vehicle utilized to interface with the container. Enables rapid determination of the physical characteristics associated with items in the container without requiring physical contact with the container. For example, allows the weight of garbage containers to be determined remotely.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to the field of containers. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a wireless active monitor system for containers and carts. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Currently available containers and carts are non-intelligent objects that store items. The containers and carts may be stationary or mobile so long as they hold items. The items have associated physical quantities associated with them. The physical quantities associated with the items are difficult or impossible to measure without performing an action on the containers or carts. 
         [0005]    For example, to obtain the weight of the items in a container or cart, current systems may physically lift, hold steady and weigh the container or cart. This operation takes skill, namely to steady the cart, and time which incurs a cost associated with labor related to the physical lifting operation. An example of this type of system is found in U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,837,945, to Cornwell, et al, filed 17 Nov. 1998. 
         [0006]    Another device, under the trademark UP-SCALE®, is utilized as an under-container scale. The under-container scale is physically unloaded, moved under a container, and forced upward to support the container. The manufacturer does not recommend use of the apparatus for every pick-up, but rather only for suspicious cases due to the labor intensity and time involved with performing the measurement. In addition, the device may cost thousands of dollars. 
         [0007]    RFID devices have been attached to various objects to identify the objects. When such devices are attached to containers, there is no possibility of measurement of physical quantities associated with items in the container for example. 
         [0008]    When collecting garbage, a garbage truck is weighed on entry to a dump site. In this example, the items from individual containers are not weighed separately, but rather as a whole after collecting a large number of containers. This method does not allow for high weight containers to be charged differently from lightly loaded containers. A better option would be to wirelessly weigh each container without requiring the container to be lifted and steadied, or alternatively raised with an under-container scale. In this manner, the entity leasing the container could be charged based on weight instead of based on the volume of the container. 
         [0009]    There is currently no known wireless active monitor system for containers and carts that allows for physical measurements to acquired without physical contact with a container or cart. For at least the limitations described above there is a need for a wireless active monitor system for containers and carts. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    One or more embodiments of the invention enable a wireless active monitor system for containers and carts. Embodiments may utilize one or more circuit boards such as Wireless Access Module (WAM) circuit boards to provide for embedded functionality associated with the container. In addition, the system may also include a sensor that can ascertain a physical quantity associated with items in the container, for example the weight of the items in the container. Embodiments of the system may utilize inexpensive load cells as sensors for example. In one or more embodiments, one or more load sensors may be mounted between the wheel casing and cart. Optionally, a shock pad or spring mount may interface between the container and the sensor to provide a measure of robustness with respect to physical forces that are imparted onto the sensor. Embodiments may also include a unique identifier for each container and a wireless transmitter or transceiver configured to transmit the unique identifier, for example from the circuit board. The system may include any type of energy source, for example a battery. Any other type of sensor that can be utilized to measure the physical characteristics of items within a container or cart may be utilized in one or more embodiments of the system. For example, embodiments of the sensor may measure any other physical characteristic of the items in the container, or associated with components of the apparatus, or of the environment, such as temperature, humidity, location, light levels, gas and/or liquid chemical compositions or percentages or any other physical item limited only by the type of sensor utilized for the intended application. By measuring the location, a determination of whether the container has been relocated, misplaced or stolen may be determined. 
         [0011]    The system may further include a receiver, for example mounted on a truck. One example of a receiver that may be utilized includes a cell phone, 3G phone or PDA or any other mobile communication device that is configured to obtain information from the sensor. One potential implementation of a communications protocol that may be utilized in communicating container-associated data with an external receiver may include the Zigbee protocol. Any protocol capable of transferring data from the transmitter associated with the container and the receiver associated with the truck may be utilized. 
         [0012]    In addition, the system may further include a database that can for example be utilized to aggregate collected data from one or more containers and or one or more trucks. A collection reporting system or web interface may be utilized for observing the results. The collection reporting system or web interface may couple with an application server, web server or simply interface with the database depending on the number of containers and trucks utilized in the implementation. The data collected from the receiver for example may be input into the database with a direct connection with a truck returns to a service center or over a wireless communications network for example. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the receiver associated with the truck may also include a transmitter that is utilized to transmit data to the database wirelessly for example. 
         [0013]    In other embodiments of the invention, no truck is required and the containers may simply wirelessly transmit sensor data to the database, for example a configurable time intervals, or when the sensor data changes. For example, a central processing unit on the printed circuit board associated with the container may wake-up occasionally and either check for a request to transmit sensor data, or may either check if the sensor data has changed or simply send the sensor data to the database at the configurable time interval. 
         [0014]    The system allows for rapid wireless data collection of accurate weights as a truck nears a container for example, and without requiring direct physical contact between the truck and container. The sensor associated with the container may be activated when a truck approaches or may poll at defined time intervals. The transmitter associated with the container may send data to a truck using a short-range wireless technology or may be sent to the database a long-range wireless technology such as a cell phone without interaction with a truck. This may allow for a container company to determine if a container is being illegally filled at night, or if an early pick-up is warranted if the container is over a threshold weight. Alternatively, both short-range and long-range wireless technologies may be associated with a single container wherein the communication technology utilized may vary based on the desired functionality. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a view of an embodiment of the system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a view of a container coupled to an embodiment of the sensor of the system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an energy graph for drop impact of a container showing a sensor threshold and impact waveforms of force in the vertical axis and time in the horizontal axis for a sensor with and without a shock pad coupled with the sensor. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an example printed circuit board layout for an embodiment of the wireless transmitter associated with the sensor of the system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart for an embodiment of the method associated with the program code associated with the printed circuit board of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a truck list showing trucks, truck type, route, number of lifts and load collected. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a container list associated with each truck of  FIG. 6 , wherein the list shows the container identifier, customer identifier, time of pickup, load picked-up, and battery status. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a list of sensors, phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and wireless technologies that may be utilized to implement a particular configuration depending on the requirements. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a more detailed view of the program code of  FIG. 5  as associated with the printed circuit board of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    A pressure compensated non-clogging drip emitter will now be described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a view of an embodiment of the system. Containers  160  hold at least one item and are shown in the lower left portion of the figure. Optionally, each container may have at least one wheel  170  for example. In other embodiments, the container are not mobile and may utilize legs or other fixed supports for example. A sensor (see  FIG. 2 ) may be coupled to the container, for example via a container mount between at least one wheel  170  and the container. The sensor is configured to produce sensor data associated with the at least one item associated with the container. In one or more embodiments, the sensor data may produce data associated with any physical characteristic of the at least one item, system component such as power source voltage, or any environmental physical variable. For example, the sensor may measure temperature of any component of the system or of the environment whether internal or external to the container and any other physical characteristic including but not limited to light values, humidity, location, light levels, gas and/or liquid chemical compositions or percentages or any other physical item limited only by the type of sensor utilized for the intended application. In addition, a wireless transmitter may be coupled to the sensor and utilized to transmit sensor data from the container. The sensor data for example may be associated with weight. The wireless transmitter may also send a unique identifier associated with the container so that the sensor data may be associated with a particular container. The sensor data may be stored for example in database  140 . In one or more embodiments, the sensor data may be transmitted wirelessly to database server  140  without use of a truck, for example at configurable time intervals, or may be transmitted to truck  110  wirelessly. The transmission of data may occur on a configurable time interval or when truck  110  requests the data, for example using a short-range wireless protocol such as BLUETOOTH® or ZIGBEE®. Alternatively, both methods may be utilized, for example a truck may request data and a container may transmit data to the database directly over a wireless data channel if for example the sensor data changes or at configurable time intervals. If truck  110  receives the sensor data, for example using a short-range wireless technology, then truck  110  may utilize a second transmitter to transmit sensor data to database server  140  or may download the data directly over a cable or memory card for example on return to the service center associated with the truck. The transmission of sensor data may occur over the Internet or any other data channel and may allow for access of the sensor data via a Web based HTML interface  130 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a view of a container coupled to an embodiment of sensor  210  of the system. In this figure container  160  couples to an optional shock pad/spring  220  to protect the sensor from hard impacts, for example when container  160  is dropped from a truck after it is emptied. Sensor  210  may be implemented as a load sensor for example. In the embodiment shown, sensor  210  may couple to wheel casing  230  that allows wheel  170  to enable container  160  to move. Alternatively, sensor  210  may couple to any other support such as a leg or may itself be fashion into the shape of a leg for non-mobile implementations. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an energy graph for drop impact of a container showing sensor threshold  310  and impact waveforms of force in the vertical axis and time in the horizontal axis for a sensor with shock pad, i.e., waveform  330  and without a shock pad coupled with the sensor, i.e., waveform  320 . As shown, without a shock pad (or other shock absorbing device), the force of impact may exceed the sensor threshold and damage the sensor. Other sensors may be impact resistant and not require a shock pad, but may for example be more expensive. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows example printed circuit board  400  for an embodiment of the wireless transmitter associated with the sensor of the system. Load cells  410  measure weight associated with item(s) held in the container. The analog to digital interface  420  converts the analog sensor signal into digital sensor data. Wireless circuit  430  interfaces with the central processor unit (or control processor)  460  which in turn interfaces to program code held in memory  470 . Wireless circuit  430  may include a wireless transmitter and may also include a wireless receiver for example. Filter  440  may condition wireless signals, for example to receive a particular frequency band via antenna interface  450 . In addition, power input  480  may be utilized to power the circuitry and for example may interface with a battery or other power source. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart for an embodiment of the method associated with the program code associated with the printed circuit board of  FIG. 4 . In the figure, the truck broadcasts a wakeup message at  510 . The central processor unit of  FIG. 4  may be sleeping at  511  to conserve power for example and may be configured to wake up and check for messages at  512  and wait for a configurable time at  513 . If the request message is received, then the sensor data is sent at  514 . The truck may acknowledge receipt of the sensor data, and optionally of the unique identifier associated with the container at  520  and optionally ask the sensor to recalibrate itself as the container has been emptied. The central processor unit may set optionally set the time at  521 , re-calibrate at  522  and sleep again at  523 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a truck list as selected by button “Truck”, i.e., button  610 . The list shows columns associated with trucks  620 , truck type  630 , route  640 , number of lifts  650  and load  660  collected. In this figure, the various trucks are associated with sensor data that is shown as horizontal rows. For example, the first truck has a unique identifier WM-1234 that has a named route, “SouthEast 76” and shows the number of lifts “87” and total load collected “5.6 Tons”. The table shown may be implemented as a web page that utilized HTML for example to display the sensor data held in the database (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a container list as selected by button “Containers”, i.e., button  710 . The list shows columns associated with each truck of  FIG. 6 , wherein the list shows the container identifier  720 , customer identifier  730 , time of pickup  740 , load picked-up  750 , and battery status  760 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a list of sensors  810 , phones  820 , personal digital assistants (PDAs)  830 , and wireless technologies  840  that may be utilized to implement a particular configuration depending on the requirements. Any other sensors, phones, personal digital assistants or wireless technologies may be utilized so long as sensor data associated with a container can be wirelessly transmitted and stored in a database. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is a more detailed view of the program code of  FIG. 5  as associated with the printed circuit board of  FIG. 5 . In this figure, upon a watchdog timer expiration (as shown near the WDT EXPIRE balloon), the Microprocessor Unit (MCU) is powered on at  910 . The radio frequency receiver circuitry (RF Rx) is powered on at  911 . After an optional wait period that may be implemented for example as 10 msec at  912 , a search determination is made at  913  as to whether or not a Host (for example a truck with a transmitter) is found. If a Host is found at  913 , then a determination is made as to whether data exists within memory at  914 . If data does exist, then a Host transfer occurs (as shown near the HOST balloon), wherein the radio frequency transmitter is powered on at  915 . Data is sent via the transmitter at  916  and the microprocessor unit waits for acknowledgment of the transmitter at  917 . If the transfer of data completed successfully as per  918 , then data is cleared from memory optionally at  919 . Alternatively, memory may be simply overwritten during the next measure cycle. After the data is optionally cleared at  919 , then the circuitry goes into sleep mode (as shown near the SLEEP balloon) wherein the radio frequency circuitry is powered off at  920 , sensors are powered off at  921 , a watchdog timer interval of a predetermined value is set, for example 5 seconds at  922 , and the microprocessor is powered off at  923 . If the data transfer does not complete properly at  918 , then the microprocessor may attempt to transfer the data a configurable number of times, by traversing to  916 . The determination of the number of repeat transfers have occurred takes place at  930 , for example if  5  transfer attempts have been made, then an error message may be sent at  931 , wherein the apparatus goes to sleep at  920 . In the case that no Host is found at  913 , then after a configurable number of minutes, if no measurement has occurred, then the sensors are measured (as shown near the MEASURE balloon) at  941 . For example, if  5  minutes have elapsed since the last sensor measurement has occurred, then a measurement is performed at  941 , wherein the sensors are powered on. The sensors are measured at  942 , the battery is optionally measured at  943  and the data is saved at  944 . The apparatus then sleeps at  920 . After the system shuts down at  923 , the watchdog timer revives the apparatus at  910  and the processing repeats as long as the battery or power source contains sufficient power. 
         [0035]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.