Distributed monitoring system and waste management system and method

Abstract

A monitoring system comprises a plurality of monitoring stations disposed in or associated with a respective rubbish bin housing or surround. Each monitoring station comprising an identifier, a sensor for monitoring the bin or a detectable quality of the environment in which the bin is located, a processor for receiving a signal from the sensor and a transmitter for transmitting the signal.

1 . A detector for a bin comprising:
 a first sensor positioned to sense the level of rubbish in a bin and for creating a first signal representing the sensed rubbish level in the bin;   a second sensor positioned to sense an aspect of the local environment surrounding the bin and for creating a second signal representing the local environment surrounding the bin;   a processor configured to receive the first signal and determine the level of rubbish in the bin based on the received first signal as at least two discrete representations of the level of rubbish in the bin or as a representation of no rubbish in the bin;   a processor configured to receive the second signal and determine a local environment factor based on the received second signal;   an output for indicating the level of rubbish in the bin and the determined local environmental factor.   
     
     
         2 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is configured to sense pollution external to the bin and the second signal represents a pollution level in the local environment surrounding the bin. 
     
     
         3 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is configured to sense ultraviolet (UV) radiation external to the bin and the second signal represents a UV radiation level in the local environment surrounding the bin. 
     
     
         4 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a fire external to the bin and the second signal represents a fire in the local environment surrounding the bin. 
     
     
         5 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the level of rubbish in a bin has reached one of at least two predetermined levels. 
     
     
         6 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the output is a transmitter for transmitting a level signal representing the level of rubbish in the bin and the determined local environmental factor. 
     
     
         7 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to periodically transmit the level signal. 
     
     
         8 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the transmitter to transmit the level signal when the level of rubbish in the bin reaches one of the predetermined levels or when an environmental factor meets a condition. 
     
     
         9 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive a poll signal prompting the processor to receive the sensor signal and to cause the transmitter to transmit the level signal and environmental factor. 
     
     
         10 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive a poll signal prompting the processor to retrieve a stored sensor signal and to cause the transmitter to transmit the retrieved level signal and environmental factor. 
     
     
         11 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit an identifier of the bin with the level signal and environmental factor. 
     
     
         12 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector further comprises a pollution sensor arranged to measure air pollution external to the bin, and the processor is also configured to receive a signal from the pollution sensor indicating a pollution level as one or more elements of the environmental factors, and the processor is further configured to periodically transmit the pollution level signal, and or to transmit the pollution level signal upon command. 
     
     
         13 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector further comprises a “door open” sensor for sensing when a bin surround cover or door is open, and the processor is also configured to receive a signal from the “door open” sensor, and the processor is further configured to monitor for the door open sensor to activate and/or to deactivate, and if a condition in relation to the door sensor is met to transmit a door open signal, wherein the bin surround cover or door is not a bin lid covering an opening of the bin. 
     
     
         14 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector further comprises a near field identification sensor for sensing when a near field identifier is external to and proximate to the bin surround, and the processor is also configured to receive a signal from the near field identification sensor indicating whether a near field identifier is proximate to the exterior of the bin surround as one or more elements of the environmental factors, and the processor is further configured to periodically transmit an identification signal, or if a condition in relation to the near field identifier being proximate to the bin is met to transmit an identification signal and or to transmit the an identification signal upon command. 
     
     
         15 . A detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector further comprises a receiver for receiving a signal from another bin detector, and the processor is configured to receive the other bin's signal and the processor is further configured to cause the transmitter to retransmit the other bin's signal. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of reading a rubbish level in a bin comprising
 determining a distance of rubbish in a bin from a sensor;   determining the level of rubbish in the bin based on the distance as at least two discrete representations of the level of rubbish in the bin or of no rubbish in the bin;   outputting the level of rubbish in the bin and an identifier of the bin to a personal device of a waste collector such that the waste collector can be informed by the device whether the bin needs to be emptied when the waste collector is proximate to the bin.   
     
     
         24 . A method of scheduling waste collection from or maintenance of a plurality of bins comprising
 receiving a signal representing a rubbish level, a signal representing a local environmental factor surrounding the bin and an identifier of the bin from each bin;   determining which bins have reached a predetermined level of rubbish therein from the received level signals and bin identifiers;   determining which bins have may require maintenance from the received local environmental factor signals and bin identifiers;   scheduling waste collection for those bins that have reached the predetermined level and maintenance for those bins that have local environmental factors indicative of the need for maintenance.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the environmental factor signal is a signal representing that a door to a surround of the bin is open and maintenance is scheduled when the door should not be open. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the environmental factor signal is a signal representing a fire in or in the vicinity of the bin. 
     
     
         27 . A method of creating a waste collection route comprising
 receiving a signal representing a rubbish level and an identifier of the bin from each bin;   determining which bins have reached a predetermined level of rubbish therein from the received level signals and bin identifiers;   determining the location of those bins that have reached the predetermined level;   determining a waste collection route to collect rubbish from those bins that have reached the predetermined level.   
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of a waste collection comprising receiving a signal representing a rubbish level and an identifier of the bin from each bin;
 determining the position of a waste collector and whether a bin that is proximate to the waste collector has reached the predetermined level based on the received level signals and bin identifiers;   indicating to the waste collector whether the proximate bin is to be emptied based on whether the proximate bin has reached the predetermined level.   
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of indicating to the waste collector comprises transmitting information to the waste collector for display on a personal device. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of indicating to the waste collector comprises transmitting information to the waste collector for display on an in-vehicle device. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of indicating to the waste collector comprises transmitting information to the waste collector for display as an electronic map on a display device. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of indicating to the waste collector comprises transmitting information to the waste collector for display as an augmented reality on a display device. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein the augmented reality display indicates the level of rubbish in the bin or whether the bin is to be emptied or not. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A detector for a bin comprising:
 a plurality of sensors configured to sense local environmental conditions of the bin, at least one of which is a local environmental condition external to the bin, and for creating a signal representing the local environmental conditions;   a transmitter configured to transmit a signal representative of the local environmental conditions and an identifier of the bin and/or a location of the bin.   
     
     
         40 . A detector according to  claim 39 , wherein one of the sensors detects pollution surrounding the bin. 
     
     
         41 . A detector according to  claim 39 , wherein one of the sensors detects UV radiation incident on the bin. 
     
     
         42 . A detector according to  claim 39 , wherein one of the sensors detects a fire in or external to the bin. 
     
     
         43 . A detector according to  claim 39 , wherein one of the sensors detects a bin surround door is open, wherein the bin surround door is not a bin lid covering an opening of the bin. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . (canceled)