	US 12,008,640 B1
	Methods and apparatus for managing information in connection with an account-based recycling program
William Hunscher, Portland, ME (US); and Frank Whittier, Portland, ME (US)
Assigned to Count & Crush Systems, LLC
Filed by Count & Crush Systems, LLC, South Portland, ME (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/129,805.
Application 18/129,805 is a continuation of application No. 17/321,937, filed on May 17, 2021, granted, now 11,636,535.
Application 17/321,937 is a continuation of application No. 16/816,099, filed on Mar. 11, 2020, granted, now 11,037,235.
Application 16/816,099 is a continuation of application No. 16/120,176, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, granted, now 10,607,283.
Application 16/120,176 is a continuation of application No. 15/582,438, filed on Apr. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,089,685.
Application 15/582,438 is a continuation of application No. 14/696,850, filed on Apr. 27, 2015, abandoned.
Application 14/696,850 is a continuation of application No. 13/564,307, filed on Aug. 1, 2012, granted, now 9,047,652.
Application 13/564,307 is a continuation of application No. 11/336,359, filed on Jan. 20, 2006, abandoned.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06Q 40/00 (2023.01); G06F 16/245 (2019.01); G06K 7/14 (2006.01); G06Q 10/30 (2023.01); G06Q 20/10 (2012.01); G06Q 40/02 (2023.01); G06Q 99/00 (2006.01); G07F 7/06 (2006.01); G06Q 50/26 (2012.01)

CPC G06Q 40/02 (2013.01) [G06F 16/245 (2019.01); G06K 7/1417 (2013.01); G06Q 10/30 (2013.01); G06Q 20/10 (2013.01); G06Q 99/00 (2013.01); G07F 7/0609 (2013.01); G06Q 50/26 (2013.01); Y02W 90/00 (2015.05)]

10 Claims

1. A recycling information management method, the method comprising:

transporting a first bag associated with a first consumer, the first bag holding a first plurality of recyclable objects, and a second bag associated with a second consumer, the second bag holding a second plurality of recyclable objects, from a retail location recycling return center to a processing center;

receiving, from a scanning system located at the processing center, a first set of information for the first bag representing a first recycling transaction, the first set of information including information about individual recyclable objects of the first plurality of recyclable objects, selected from:

a redemption value for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects;

a material for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects;

a color for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects;

a Universal Product Code (UPC) for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects;

a container identifier for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects; or

a type for each of the first plurality of recyclable objects;

receiving, from the scanning system located at the processing center, a second set of information for the second bag representing a second recycling transaction, the second set of information including information about individual recyclable objects of the second plurality of recyclable objects, selected from:

a redemption value for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects;

a material for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects;

a color for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects;

a Universal Product Code (UPC) for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects;

a container identifier for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects; or

a type for each of the second plurality of recyclable objects;

establishing correspondence, in at least one computing device, between the first set of information, stored in the at least one computing device, and a first consumer account associated with the first consumer;

establishing correspondence, in at least one computing device, between the second set of information, stored in the at least one computing device, and a second consumer account associated with the second consumer; and

in response to receiving a query relating to at least two recycling transactions from at least one input device, accessing in the at least one computing device information relating to at least the first and second sets of information.