	US 12,482,037 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 C&C Consolidated Holdings, LLC, South Portland, ME (US)
Filed by C&C Consolidated Holdings, LLC, South Portland, ME (US)
Filed on May 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/662,771.
Application 18/662,771 is a continuation of application No. 18/129,805, filed on Mar. 31, 2023, granted, now 12,008,640, issued on Jun. 11, 2024.
Application 18/129,805 is a continuation of application No. 17/321,937, filed on May 17, 2021, granted, now 11,636,535, issued on Apr. 25, 2023.
Application 17/321,937 is a continuation of application No. 16/816,099, filed on Mar. 11, 2020, granted, now 11,037,235, issued on Jun. 15, 2021.
Application 16/816,099 is a continuation of application No. 16/120,176, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, granted, now 10,607,283, issued on Mar. 31, 2020.
Application 16/120,176 is a continuation of application No. 15/582,438, filed on Apr. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,089,685, issued on Oct. 2, 2018.
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, issued on Jun. 2, 2015.
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)]

4 Claims

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

receiving, at a processing center, from a retail location recycling return center, a first article associated with a first consumer, the first article holding a first plurality of recyclable objects, and a second article associated with a second consumer, the second article holding a second plurality of recyclable objects;

receiving, from a scanning system of the processing center, first information for the first article representing a first recycling transaction, the first 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 of the processing center, second information for the second article representing a second recycling transaction, the second 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 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 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 information and the second information.