Waste management deposit and compaction station with wireless capability

Abstract

A multipurpose refuse receptacle that has a shell having at least one opening and defining an interior region, the interior region configured to receive refuse, a controller coupled to the shell, a network device in communication with the controller and coupled to the shell, at least one display coupled to the shell and configured to display a message communicated to the display from the controller. Wherein, the controller and network device are configured to send and receive wireless transmissions and display corresponding messages on the display responsive to the wireless transmissions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multipurpose refuse receptacle, comprising:
 a shell having at least one opening and defining an interior region, the interior region configured to receive refuse;   a controller coupled to the shell;   a network device in communication with the controller and coupled to the shell;   at least one display coupled to the shell and configured to display a message communicated to the display from the controller;   wherein, the controller and network device are configured to send and receive wireless transmissions and display corresponding messages on the display responsive to the wireless transmissions.   
     
     
         2 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 1 , further wherein the display is configured to display photos, videos, or text. 
     
     
         3 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 1 , further wherein the network device is configured to provide wireless access to the internet. 
     
     
         4 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 1 , further wherein the controller is configured to identify an alert signal via the network device. 
     
     
         5 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 1 , further wherein the controller is configured to identify an alert signal via the network device, said alert signal being transmitted from a remote device. 
     
     
         6 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 5 , further wherein the controller displays an alert message on the display responsive to the alert signal. 
     
     
         7 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 6 , further wherein the alert message is at least one of a location, a time, a name, or a photo. 
     
     
         8 . A multipurpose refuse receptacle, comprising:
 a shell defined by a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel and a bottom panel coupled to one another;   an interior region defined by the panels of the shell;   an opening defined in the front panel configured to provide a location to deposit refuse into the interior region;   a controller coupled to the shell;   a network device in communication with the controller and coupled to the shell;   at least one display coupled to at least one panel of the shell and configured to display a message communicated to the display from the controller;   wherein, the network device is configured to send and receive wireless transmissions.   
     
     
         9 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 8 , further wherein the network device is configured to provide a wireless data connection for transmitting or receiving messages from other wireless devices. 
     
     
         10 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 8 , further wherein the network device is configured to wirelessly connect to one or more multiuse refuse receptacles. 
     
     
         11 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 10 , further wherein the one or more multiuse refuse receptacles wirelessly connected to one another share a single data connection. 
     
     
         12 . The multiuse refuse receptacle of  claim 11 , further wherein a surrounding device can wirelessly couple to the single data connection through any one of the one or more multiuse refuse receptacles. 
     
     
         13 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 8 , further comprising a door pivotally coupled to the front panel to selectively provide access to the interior region through the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 13 , further comprising a foot pedal having an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the foot pedal is in the engaged position, the opening is at least partially unobstructed and when the foot pedal is in the disengaged position the opening is substantially obstructed. 
     
     
         15 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 8 , further wherein the controller is configured to identify an alert signal via the network device, said alert signal being transmitted from a wireless device. 
     
     
         16 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 15 , further wherein the controller displays an alert message on the display responsive to the alert signal. 
     
     
         17 . The multipurpose refuse receptacle of  claim 16 , further wherein the alert message is at least one of a location, a time, a name, a photo, or text. 
     
     
         18 . A refuse receptacle system, comprising:
 a plurality of refuse receptacles located within a given area, each of the receptacles comprising:
 a controller; 
 at least one panel defining a shell; 
 at least one display coupled to the panel and in communication with the controller; 
 a network assembly in communication with the controller and providing a receptacle wireless network; and 
 an interior region defined by the at least one panel for containing refuse; 
   wherein, the plurality of receptacles wirelessly connect to each other via the receptacle wireless network to provide a blanket wireless network over the given area;   further wherein, if one of the plurality of receptacles is selectively coupled to a data connection, the data connection is shared with all of the plurality of receptacles via the blanket wireless network.   
     
     
         19 . The refuse receptacle system of  claim 18 , wherein the blanket wireless network provides access to the data connection to at least one portable device through of any one of the receptacle wireless networks. 
     
     
         20 . The refuse receptacle system of  claim 19 , wherein the blanket wireless network provides access to the portable device continually as the portable device moves from the receptacle wireless network of one receptacle and into the receptacle wireless network of another receptacle.