Patent ID: 6965310

Claim:
A method for identifying the presence of an item to a user interface comprising the steps of: a. using a container having a loading opening and a collection opening; b. passing the item through the loading opening activating a first sensor; c. sending a first signal from the first sensor to an intelligent device; d. creating a first intelligent device signal from the intelligent device; e. communicating the first intelligent device signal to a communication system, wherein said communication system is selected from the group: radio, cellular, fiber optic, satellite, and wires; f. opening the collection opening to collect the item, thereby activating a second sensor; g. sending a second signal from the second sensor to the intelligent device; h. creating a second intelligent device signal from the intelligent device; i. communicating the second intelligent device signal to the communication system; and j. using a software interface to process the first intelligent device signal and the second intelligent device signal and present the first intelligent device signal and the second intelligent device signal processed by the software interface to the user interface by a member of the group: the Internet, Intranet, phone, fax, and pager.