Recyclable product, tracking device, and method for tracking a recyclable product
By embedding communication devices in recyclable products to track their location and composition, the recycling process is made transparent and efficient, allowing consumers to select appropriate recyclers and ensuring proper recycling.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022557654
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-03-31
- Filing Date
- 2021-02-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-23
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-02-22
AI Technical Summary
Consumers lack transparency and assurance in the recycling process of recyclable products, as they are not provided with details on the breakdown or final destinations of recycled materials, and recycling entities may not optimally reprocess products due to varying materials and procedures.
Embedding communication devices in recyclable products to track their location and composition, enabling consumers to select appropriate recyclers and monitor the recycling process through a tracking system that includes wireless communication and computing devices.
Enhances consumer control over recycling by ensuring products are recycled correctly, providing transparency and optimizing the recycling process through high-availability, reliability, and low-latency tracking.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present technology relates to recyclable products, tracking devices, and a method for tracking recyclable products.
[0002] This application claims the priority of the Paris Convention to UK Patent Application No. 2004770.0, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] Exemplary embodiments provide a recyclable product in which one or more communication devices are embedded, and the tracking device can be used to track the location of the one or more communication devices.
Background Art
[0004] The description of the background art provided herein is intended to generally present the context of the present disclosure. The research of the present inventors is not admitted as prior art for the present invention, either explicitly or implicitly, to the same extent as aspects of the description that are not admitted as prior art at the time of filing in the scope described in this background art paragraph.
[0005] Many products, such as electronic products, glass, paper, and metal, are recyclable. Such products are called "recyclable products". Generally, consumers can choose to recycle recyclable products by putting them into designated recycling waste containers. Recyclable products are then handed over to recycling entities for recycling, and the recyclable products are reprocessed into new products. However, consumers are not given instructions regarding the results of the recycling process. In particular, consumers are not provided with details of the breakdown of recyclable products or the final destinations of the individual components of recyclable products. Also, no guarantee is provided that the product has been successfully recycled. Furthermore, the recycling entity that receives the recyclable product may not be able to optimally reprocess the recyclable product. In particular, due to differences in recycling entities, there are differences in the materials to be recycled in relation to different recyclable products, and there may be cases where specific decomposition procedures appropriate only for certain recyclable products are desired. Therefore, as the global interest in the well-being of the environment increases, an improvement in the transparency of the recycling process is desired.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0006]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] Improvements to facilitate the efficient recycling of products pose a technical challenge.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0008] Embodiments of the present technology provide a method for tracking recyclable products. The method includes activating one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a portion of a recyclable product. The one or more communication devices include circuitry configured to monitor the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product and communicate via a wireless communication network. In response to activation of the one or more communication devices, the one or more communication devices are switched from an inactive state in which the one or more communication devices do not send an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a recycling state in which the one or more communication devices send an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a tracking entity via the wireless communication network.
[0009] Other embodiments of the present technology provide a method executed on a computing device operated by a recycling entity to determine whether to recycle a recyclable product using one or more communication devices incorporated in or attached to at least a portion of the recyclable product. The computing device receives, via a wireless communication network, from a tracking entity, an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product and an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product. The computing device calculates a required parameter used to determine whether to recycle the recyclable product based on at least one of a recycling process available to the recycling entity, an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product, and an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product received from the tracking entity.
[0010] Embodiments of the present technology provide a method or system in which a product is recycled by a party independent of the product's consumer and the product's manufacturer, and the recycling is tracked by a consumer or other entity monitoring the recycling of the product.
[0011] Various further aspects and features of the present technology are defined in the appended claims.
[0012] By developing low-complexity devices that support the "Internet of Things", the inventors have recognized the possibility of tracking recyclable products in order to improve the transparency of the recycling process.
[0013] The system is expected to support further extensions related to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in order to support services with new requirements such as high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high-precision positioning.
[0014] Patent Document 1 discloses a system and a computer program product for managing and tracking recyclable products. The computer program product includes computer code for uniquely associating one or more recyclable products with unique identifiers and other product information stored in a database.
[0015] In the present disclosure, a "recyclable product" is considered to be a product that is fully or partially recyclable. The process of "recycling" shall include at least one or more of the following examples. That is, reusing a product or a component of a product for its original purpose, reusing a product or a component of a product for a different purpose, processing a product or a component of a product to extract raw materials including the product, processing a product or a component of a product to change the grade of the raw materials including the product. For example, recycling plastic may include changing the grade of the raw materials including plastic to obtain low-grade plastic. In other examples, raw materials obtained from different products during the recycling process may be blended together as part of the recycling process. The "recycling" process includes other processes not explicitly listed herein, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.
[0016] Among the advantages of the present technology is the improvement of consumer control over the recycling process. Conventionally, consumers have been required to trust that products placed in recyclable waste containers are recycled by appropriate recyclers. The present technology enables consumers to select an appropriate recycler from among multiple potential recyclers and, by tracking recyclable products, monitor the location of recyclable products and verify that the recyclable products have been recycled. Further advantages of the present technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art through an understanding of the detailed embodiments described herein.
[0017] To better understand the present invention and to show how the present invention is implemented, reference is now made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018]
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Figure 1 shows an example of a recyclable product according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 1 shows a recyclable product 100 that includes an Internet of Things (IoT) device 120. In the example of Figure 1, the recyclable product is a television (TV) 100. The TV typically includes a screen 126 and an internal circuit 128 related to the operation of the TV. According to one embodiment, the TV 100 includes an IoT device 120. In particular, the TV 100 includes an IoT device 120 embedded in the internal circuit 128 of the TV 100. Of course, the recyclable product can be any product that is at least partially recyclable. The IoT device 120 includes an IoT chip 124 and a location circuit 122 (Loc.Circ.). The location circuit 122 includes a circuit configured to track the location of the recyclable product 100. Specifically, the location circuit 122 tracks the location of the IoT device 120. Of course, the location circuit 122 can be any circuit having a function capable of determining the location of the recyclable product 100 / IoT device 120. Examples of the location circuit 122 include, but are not limited to, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chip, a circuit capable of determining the location of the recyclable product 100 / IoT device 120 by triangulation using infrastructure devices within a network, and a circuit capable of determining the location of the recyclable product 100 / IoT device 120 by geolocation using satellites. The IoT chip includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller circuit configured to enable communication between the recyclable product and a wireless communication network. The communication device 120 can also include, for example, a data store (not shown) that stores composition information regarding the materials included in the recyclable product. As an example, the composition information provides information about the material characteristics of the internal circuit of the TV or the TV screen. The composition information includes the weight of the screen, the types and proportions of materials present in the screen, an indication that the materials are recyclable, and / or an indication of the commercial value of the materials present in the screen. The data store also includes a recycling instruction. The recycling instruction includes information regarding the disassembly of the TV.For example, the recycling instructions indicate which recycling process is optimal for recycling a TV with respect to environmental impact, or minimizing waste associated with the recycling process, or energy consumption, water consumption, or other resources such as acids required for the recycling process, or potential pollution such as air and water caused by the recycling process. In some embodiments (see FIG. 11), the manufacturer of a recyclable product can send updated instructions for disassembly, including updated recycling instructions, to a tracking device or server. The server is accessible to the user of the tracking device or a person authorized by the user using another computing device. The recycling instructions may include instructions regarding new recycling processes that may not have been available at the time of purchase of the recyclable product.
[0020] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a separate location identification chip 122 is provided to generate information representing an estimated position of the recyclable product 120. However, in other examples, the IoT chip 124 includes circuitry for generating an estimated position of the recyclable product 120. In fact, in other examples, the IoT chip 124 uses techniques for estimating its position based on signals received or transmitted via a wireless access interface used by the IoT chip 124 to communicate with a wireless communication network. For example, this is the OTDOA (Observed Time Difference of Arrival) technique that measures the time difference of signals received from different base stations or U-TDOA techniques, and measures the time difference of arrival of pilot signals transmitted by a communication device.
[0021] The IoT device 120 may be embedded in a recyclable product, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the IoT device 120 may be fixed to a recyclable product (not shown). In some embodiments, the fixing / embedding of the IoT device 120 to the recyclable product is performed during the manufacture by the manufacturer of the recyclable product. In other embodiments, the fixing / embedding of the IoT device 120 to the recyclable product may be performed by the user of the recyclable product after manufacture.
[0022] The IoT device 120 is an example of a communication device. In some embodiments, the recyclable product 100 includes one or more communication devices.
[0023] Figure 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a recyclable product that includes two or more communication devices. Referring to Figure 2, TV 100 includes two communication devices 120, 130. TV 100 may be composed of a plurality of sub-assemblies, and each of the sub-assemblies has an associated communication device. In this example, the first sub-assembly is the screen 126 of TV 100, and the second sub-assembly is the internal circuit 128 of TV 100. The first communication device 120 (the first communication device corresponds to the communication device 120 embedded in the TV of Figure 1) is associated with the first sub-assembly, and the second communication device 130 is associated with the second sub-assembly 126. The first communication device includes a first IoT chip 124 and a first positioning circuit 122. The second communication device includes a second IoT chip 134 and a second positioning circuit 132. Each of the IoT chips 124, 134 includes a transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit, and a controller circuit configured to provide wireless communication between the recyclable product and an IoT chip attached to a wireless communication network. Each of the positioning circuits 122, 132 is a circuit configured to track the position of the recyclable product 200. In this embodiment, the first positioning circuit 122 tracks the position of the first sub-assembly, and the second positioning circuit 132 tracks the position of the second sub-assembly. Similarly, the first IoT chip 124 communicates position information about the first sub-assembly, and the second IoT chip 134 communicates position information about the second sub-assembly. In other embodiments (not shown), the first communication device 120 and the second communication device 130 may not both have an IoT chip and a positioning circuit. As an example, the first communication device has a first IoT chip 120 and a first positioning circuit 122, and the second communication device 130 has a second positioning circuit 132 but does not have a second IoT chip 134. In this example, the first communication device 120 communicates position information about the second communication device obtained from the second positioning circuit 132.As a modification, the first communication device 120 has the first IoT chip 120 and the first positioning circuit 122, and the second communication device 130 has the second IoT chip but does not have the second positioning circuit 132. In this example, the second communication device determines the position of the second communication device 130 by means that do not require a positioning circuit. For example, the second communication device 130 determines the position of the second communication device 130 based on the ID of the cell of the infrastructure device to which the second communication device 130 is connected. Other means for determining the position of the second communication device 130 not explicitly mentioned in this specification will be understood by those skilled in the art.
[0024] Figure 3 shows an exemplary configuration of a tracking device according to an exemplary embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 3, the tracking device 301 is a smartphone owned by a user. The tracking device 301 includes a transmitter 301a, a receiver 301b, and a controller 301c configured for communication. In the example of Figure 3, the tracking device includes a display screen 302. Of course, the tracking device 301 may be a device other than a smartphone. As a modification, the tracking device 301 may be a personal computer, a tablet, or a laptop. In some embodiments, the tracking device 301 is operated by a user who wishes to recycle a recyclable product. The tracking device 301 includes software (not shown) that includes an application used to communicate with one or more communication devices of the recyclable product, one or more recycling entities, or the manufacturer of the recyclable product. The tracking device may also store in a data store (not shown) a recycling instruction that includes information regarding instructions for disassembling the recyclable product. The tracking device 301 may also store in the data store compositional information regarding the materials of the recyclable product.
[0025] Figure 4 shows an exemplary embodiment in which a recyclable product, a tracking device, a recycling entity, a web server, a data server, and a manufacturer communicate via a network. A recyclable product 402 (such as TV100), a tracking device 404 (such as smartphone 301), a recycling entity 406, a server 410, and a manufacturer 408 are connected via a network 400. The network is, for example, a network that communicates using a communication protocol. For example, the network uses the communication protocol TCP / IP via the Internet. The network 400 may be a secure network that communicates using a communication protocol specific to the network 400. The network 400 is, for example, the Internet, an intranet, or a local area network. The connection of the recyclable product, the tracking device, the manufacturer, and the recycling entity can be made via a wireless local area network (LAN) such as Wi-Fi, for example. The recycling entity 406 is, for example, a recycling merchant or any entity involved in recycling a recyclable product. The manufacturer is the manufacturer of the recyclable product. In some embodiments, the recycling entity is the manufacturer of the recyclable product. The server 410 may be any server such as a web server or a data server. The server 410 also represents a combination of servers, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, the server 410 includes a web server and a data server. The server 410 provides a user interface for the tracking device 404, a computing device for the recycling entity 407, and a computing device for the manufacturer 408. In particular, the server can provide a user interface for an application. The server 408 also stores the information received by the server in a database. In one embodiment, the server may be a combination of a data server and a web server. In this embodiment, the web server provides a user interface for an application, and the web server transmits information to the data server for storage.
[0026] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an exemplary procedure to which the present technology is applied. After the starting point (502), a user such as a consumer purchases a recyclable product (504). The user proceeds to use the recyclable product over a period of time (506). After that period, the user determines that the recyclable product has reached the end of its life (508). The end of life corresponds to the point in time when the user decides to recycle the recyclable product. This decision is based on, for example, damage that occurred to the recyclable product during the period the user was using it, and / or the user's desire to purchase a new product, and / or obsolescence of the software in or connected to the product. After reaching the end of life, the user selects to recycle the recyclable product (510). The user may or may not be the owner of the recyclable product. The user can permit another party to make the selection via a computer system connected to the network. The selection to recycle the recyclable product is made by the user logging into an application on the user's smartphone (the smartphone as an example of a tracking device) and selecting an option to recycle the recyclable product. By selecting the option to recycle the recyclable product in the application, the smartphone can be triggered to send an indication that the recyclable product should be recycled to the recyclable product. Specifically, an indication that the recyclable product should be recycled is sent to one or more communication devices associated with the recyclable product. After the user selects to recycle the recyclable product, step A512 is reached.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process implemented by a recyclable product according to one embodiment. After step A512 of FIG. 5, the recyclable product receives an indication that the recyclable product is to be recycled. In some embodiments, a tracking device such as smartphone 301 transmits an indication that the recyclable product is to be recycled to the recyclable product (604). For example, the indication that the recyclable product is to be recycled is transmitted to the recyclable product using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, or other wireless / wired communication technology as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In other embodiments, the indication is received by the recyclable product from the user, or a person authorized by the user, and activates a physical switch of the recyclable product. In some embodiments, the physical switch may be attached to or embedded in the recyclable product. In response to the received indication, a communication device of the recyclable product, such as IoT device 120, enters a recycling mode 606. In other embodiments, the recyclable product can determine to enter a recyclable mode without receiving an indication from a smartphone or via a physical switch. For example, the recyclable product determines to enter the recycling mode based on the expiration of a predetermined time limit. In this embodiment, an indication that the communication device of the recyclable product has entered the recycling mode can be transmitted to a tracking device or a server (such as server 410). Thus, references to recyclable products that enter the recycling mode in response to receiving an indication from a tracking device throughout this disclosure are exemplary embodiments, and it is contemplated that any of the above means for enabling a recyclable product to enter the recycling mode can be used alternatively. In the recycling mode, the communication device of the recyclable product transmits location information to the tracking device (608). The location information includes, for example, the location of the recyclable product overlaid in real time on a map within an application of the tracking device.In some embodiments, identification information for identifying a recyclable product is transmitted together with location information. The recycling mode is regarded as the "active" state of the communication device that transmits at least the location information. When the communication device is not in the recycling mode, the communication device is in an "inactive" state corresponding to the low power state of the communication device.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a recyclable product according to a modified embodiment. In this embodiment, a communication device of a recyclable product such as the IoT device 120 receives an instruction (704) from a tracking device such as the smartphone 301 that the recyclable product should be recycled. In response to the received instruction, the communication device of the recyclable product enters the recycling mode (706). In the recycling mode, the communication device of the recyclable product transmits location information to the tracking device (708). In this embodiment, the communication device of the recyclable product is configured to have a predetermined time limit. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication device determines whether the time limit has been exceeded (710). If the time limit is exceeded, the communication device stops transmitting the location information (712). If the time limit is not exceeded, the communication device continues to transmit the location information of the recyclable product to the tracking device (708). In other words, the communication device transmits the location information of the recyclable product for a predetermined period. In some embodiments, the transmission of the location information is determined by the duration and availability of the power source. In some embodiments, the configuration of the communication device to report the location information is released.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a recyclable product according to a modified embodiment. In this embodiment, after step A512, the communication device of the recyclable product such as the IoT device 120 receives an instruction from a tracking device such as the smartphone 301 that the recyclable product should be recycled (804). In response to the received instruction, the communication device of the recyclable product enters the recycling mode (806). The communication device of the recyclable product switches off the power (808). Next, with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the power switching will be described.
[0030] FIG. 9A shows a TV such as the TV 100 of FIG. 1 including the communication device 120. The communication device corresponds to the communication device 120 of FIG. 1. Although the IoT chip and the positioning circuit are not shown explicitly for clarity, it is assumed that they exist in this example. The communication device includes a circuit 142 configured to supply power to the communication device. In FIG. 9A, the switch 146 of the circuit is in the open position. Therefore, in FIG. 9A, the battery 144 of the internal circuit 142 does not supply power to the communication device 120 in this example. The internal circuit 128 of the TV 100 is powered by the main power supply 140. In this example, the communication device is also connected to the main power supply 140 via the TV 100. Therefore, the main power supply 140 supplies power to the communication device 120.
[0031] FIG. 9B shows TV 100 of FIG. 9A after the power switching is triggered (step 808 in FIG. 8). The main power supply 150 continues to supply power to the internal circuit of TV 100, but does not supply power to the communication device 120. The switch 152 of the circuit 128 configured to supply power to the communication device 120 is in the closed position. Accordingly, the battery 144 supplies power to the communication device. In this embodiment, the battery 144 is regarded as the internal power supply of the communication device 120. The battery 144 is, for example, a lithium battery. The battery 144 is, in one example, a coin cell. In other embodiments, the switch 152 may be outside or attached to the recyclable product 100 or the communication device 120. The switch 152 may be powered by a power source (not shown) other than the battery 144. The switch 152 is manually operated by the user or a person authorized by the user. In other embodiments, the communication device is powered by bringing an induction device closer to the communication device 120. In some embodiments, the recyclable product transmits an instruction that the communication device 120 should switch to an independent power supply to a server (such as server 410). In this example, the user of the tracking device accesses the instruction that the communication device should switch to an independent power supply. Alternatively, a person authorized by the user accesses the instruction using a computing device other than the tracking device. The instruction prompts the user to switch the power manually or using an induction device as described above.
[0032] In a variant embodiment, the communication device is powered only from an independent power source, rather than from the power source of a recyclable product. However, after the communication device enters the recycling mode, switching to an independent power source is preferred in order to minimize the amount of time the communication device depends on the independent power source. For example, if the communication device is powered only from an independent power source such as a lithium battery, the life of the lithium battery may expire before the recycling mode becomes operative. Returning to FIG. 8, after switching the power source, the recyclable product transmits the location information to the tracking device (810).
[0033] It is contemplated that the internal power source of the communication device may not be a battery and may be an alternative internal power source such as an induction coil.
[0034] The above-described embodiments are considered to be combinable in various ways. The above-described embodiments are applicable when the recyclable product has two or more communication devices such as IoT devices 120 and 130. For example, one embodiment includes two or more communication devices having a predetermined limit time and two or more communication devices that switch the power source when entering the recycling mode. In an embodiment, the communication device is conditionally commanded to stop transmitting or to turn itself off. In some embodiments, the communication device may not continuously transmit location information when in the recycling mode. In this embodiment, the communication device transmits the location information in configurable time slots for a specified duration in order to reduce power consumption. In some embodiments, the communication devices communicate with each other using two or more communication devices.
[0035] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a tracking device according to an embodiment. After step A512, the tracking device transmits an instruction that the recyclable product should be recycled to a communication device associated with the recyclable product (1004). The tracking device then receives location information of the recyclable product from the communication device (1006). Specifically, the tracking device receives the location information of the communication device of the recycled product. In some embodiments, the tracking device also receives composition information along with the location information. The composition information includes information about the materials of the recyclable product. In some embodiments where multiple communication devices are associated with multiple sub-assemblies (such as the example shown in FIG. 2), the composition information received from each communication device provides only the composition information regarding the sub-assembly associated with that communication device.
[0036] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a manufacturer according to an embodiment. The manufacturer manufactures a recyclable product (1104). The manufacturer embeds a communication device in the recyclable product. Alternatively, the manufacturer fixes the communication device to the recyclable product. The manufacturer stores instructions on how to disassemble the recyclable product in the data store of at least one communication device. The manufacturer also stores composition information in the data store of the communication device. The composition information includes information about the materials of the recyclable product. The manufacturer determines whether updated composition information or updated instructions for disassembling the recyclable product are needed (1106). The updated instructions for disassembly include recycling instructions. The recycling instructions include instructions related to a new recycling process that were not available at the time of purchase (504) of the recyclable product. If necessary, the manufacturer transmits the update information to the tracking device (1108). The update information can include the updated composition information and / or updated instructions on how to disassemble the recyclable product. Alternatively, the manufacturer transmits the update information directly to the communication device.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a manufacturer according to one embodiment. The manufacturer manufactures a recyclable product (1204). The manufacturer embeds a communication device in the recyclable product. Alternatively, the manufacturer attaches the communication device to the recyclable product. The manufacturer manufactures the recyclable product such that the manufacturer can detect tampering by a third party. In this embodiment, the manufacturer determines whether the communication device has been tampered with (1206). If the user removes or attempts to remove the communication device of the recyclable product, the communication device sends a signal to the manufacturer or other party (1208) and optionally invalidates the warranty (1210). Removing the communication device renders the user unable to recycle or recover the recyclable product on behalf of the manufacturer, retailer, or other party. These responsibilities may subject the manufacturer, retailer, or other party to legal fines or penalties. In an alternative embodiment, when the communication device is removed or an attempt is made to remove it, the communication device may be fixed so as to interfere with the function of the recyclable product or have an adverse effect on the aesthetics of the recyclable product.
[0038] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a recycling entity according to one embodiment. The recycling entity receives an indication from a tracking device that a recyclable product should be recycled (1304). A user of the tracking device sends this indication using an application of the tracking device. In an alternative embodiment, the user of the tracking device stores the indication in a database accessible to the recycling entity. In this embodiment, the recycling entity accesses the database containing the indication. Next, the recycling entity determines whether the recyclable product is suitable for being recycled by the recycling entity (1306). In one embodiment, the tracking device sends composition information and / or instructions for disassembly to the recycling entity. The determination of whether the recyclable product is suitable for being recycled by the recycling entity is based on the instructions for composition and / or disassembly. As an example, the recycling entity may prefer to recycle a particular material or may prefer to use a particular disassembly procedure. If the recycling entity determines that the recyclable product is suitable for being recycled by the recycling entity, the recycling entity sends request information to the tracking device (1308). The request information includes a request for recycling the recyclable product and / or a proposal including an offer of compensation to the user of the tracking device. In some embodiments, the user may not own the recyclable product. In this embodiment, the offer of compensation may be made to the owner of the recyclable product. In other embodiments, the offer of compensation is made to both the user of the tracking device and the owner of the recyclable product. Next, the user of the tracking device determines whether to accept the request information (1310). The determination of whether to accept the request information is based on the offer of compensation. If the user of the tracking device accepts the request information, the recycling entity recycles the recyclable product (1312).The user of the recycling entity and the tracking device can, for example, arrange for the collection of recyclable products by the recycling entity. This arrangement can be made through the application of the tracking device. As a variant, the user can send the recyclable product to the recycling entity or transport it to a recycling location to be collected or transported by the recycling entity. After the recycling entity has recycled the recyclable product, the recycling entity transmits the disassembly information to the tracking device (1314). The disassembly information includes information regarding the disassembly of the recyclable product. For example, the disassembly information includes the amount of each material of the recycled recyclable product and information regarding a plurality of communication devices associated with the recyclable product that was not disassembled during the recycling process.
[0039] FIG. 14 shows an example of a processing procedure at the end of the life of a recyclable product according to an embodiment. The user of the tracking device 1420 determines that the recyclable product 1440 should be recycled and selects, for example, via an application provided by the server 1480, that the recyclable product should be recycled (step S1402). The tracking device 1420 transmits an instruction to the server 1480 that the selected recyclable product 1440 should be recycled (step SI404). Next, the server 1480 stores an instruction that the recyclable product 1440 should be recycled in the database (step S1406). The instruction includes the ID of the recyclable product 1440 to be recycled and the time when the instruction was sent. Next, the server transmits an instruction that the recyclable product should be recycled to the recyclable product (step S1408). In response to this, the recyclable product transmits location information to the server (step S1410). The server stores the location information of the recyclable product (step S1412). Next, the server 1480 transmits an instruction that the recyclable product should be recycled to the recycling entity 1460 (step S1414). This can occur, for example, when the recycling entity 1460 uses a computing device to access an application provided by the server and the server searches the database in the server for an instruction that the recyclable product should be recycled. The server also transmits the location information to the backing device (step S1415). Next, the recycling entity determines, for example, from the database whether the recyclable product is suitable for recycling by the recycling entity (step S1416). If the recycling entity determines that the recyclable product is suitable for recycling (see FIG. 15), the recycling entity transmits request information to the server (step S1418). This can occur, for example, when the recycling entity uses a computing device and transmits the request information via the application.The requirement information includes requirements for recycling recyclable products and / or a plan for providing compensation to users of the tracking device. The server stores the requirement information (step S1420) and transmits the requirement information to the tracking device (step S1422). Next, the user of the tracking device determines whether to accept the requirement information (SI424). The user may be presented with multiple plans from multiple recycling entities (shown in FIG. 14) via an application, all of which send a requirement to the user to recycle the recyclable product. If the user accepts the requirement information from recycling entity 1460, for example, via the application, the tracking device sends an approval to the server (step S1425). The server stores the approval (step S1426) and transmits the approval to the recycling entity (step S1428). Then, the recycling entity recycles the recyclable product (step S1430). Next, the recycling entity transmits, via the application, disassembly information regarding the recyclable product to the server, for example (step S1432). The server stores the disassembly information (step S1434) and transmits the disassembly information to the tracking device (step S1436). During the recycling process, one or more communication devices present in the recyclable product (communication devices 120, 130, etc.) are recycled. In some embodiments, one or more communication devices are returned to the manufacturer of the recyclable product, for example, based on an agreement between the manufacturer and the recycling entity. In some embodiments, the IoT chips (IoT chips 124, 134, etc.) within the communication device are returned to the manufacturer. The manufacturer embeds the recycled communication device or IoT chip into a new recyclable product. In some embodiments, the recycling entity embeds the communication device or IoT chip into a new recyclable product. FIG. 14 is considered to represent an exemplary embodiment. In a modified embodiment, the server 1480 may not be present.
[0040] In some embodiments, as described above in step S1418 (or 1306), the recycling entity (or recycling entities) determines whether a recyclable product is suitable for being recycled by the recycling entity. The server (such as server 410 in FIG. 14) provides the recycling entity with a list of recyclable products belonging to various users who have entered the recycling mode.
[0041] Figure 15 shows a processing procedure performed by a recycling entity to determine whether each recyclable product in a list of recyclable products provided by a server is suitable for being recycled by the recycling entity. The recycling entity receives location information of the recyclable product (1504). The location information is sent by the server to the recycling entity. The location information is received by the recycling entity together with identification information for identifying the recyclable product. The recycling entity receives composition information regarding the material including the recyclable product (1506). In some embodiments, the recycling entity uses the identification information to obtain composition information regarding the material including the recyclable product. Next, the recycling entity calculates a request parameter based on at least one of a recycling process available to the recycling entity, composition information regarding the material including the recyclable product, and location information of the recyclable product (1508). The recycling entity then determines whether to send request information including a request to recycle the recyclable product to the server based on the request parameter (1510). If it is determined that the request parameter is acceptable, the recycling entity sends the request information to the server (1512). If it is determined that the request parameter is not acceptable, the recycling entity does not send the request information to the server. The request parameter may be an estimated value of the amount of the identified material including the recyclable product obtained by the recycling process used to recycle the recyclable product. For example, if the estimated amount of the material including the recyclable product exceeds a predetermined threshold, the recycling entity sends the request information. The request parameter may be an estimated cost for moving to the location of the recyclable product. The request parameter may be an updated value of the material including the recyclable product. The request parameter may be a plurality of recyclable products belonging to the recycling entity for which the same recycling process is performed.The requirement information includes a requirement to recycle a recyclable product that is conditional on a user providing a predetermined number of recyclable products for which the same recycling process is to be performed.
[0042] In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 16, one or more recycling entities pay a subscription (1604) to a service (1606) managed by a server (such as server 410) that provides the ID and location information of a list of recyclable products in recycling mode. The subscription is paid in whole or in part to a manufacturer, a sensor of a communication device, or a party authorized by the manufacturer. The subscription includes all or part of the unit price of the recyclable product.
[0043] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 17, the recycling entity determines (1704) whether the request parameters are acceptable. If it is determined that the request parameters are acceptable, the process proceeds to step 1512. If it is determined that the request parameters are not acceptable (for example, the cost of recycling a recyclable product may exceed the value of the estimated amount of material to be recovered therefrom), the manufacturer, seller, or distributor that installs the communication device in the recyclable product pays a recycling fee 1706 to the recycling entity in addition to the cost of the communication device. In some embodiments, the recycling fee is transferred in whole or in part from the manufacturer (or contracting party) to the recycling entity. In some embodiments, the manufacturer, seller, or distributor is consequently exempted from the obligation to recycle or recover. In some embodiments, the recycling fee is held in escrow and is released to the recycling entity only if the costs cannot be recovered from the recovered materials from the recyclable product.
[0044] As can be understood from the above embodiments, the embodiments enable a third party different from the manufacturer to make reliable arrangements for recycling the product. Accordingly, the user can select a third party from the range of possible recyclers with the confidence that, by following the tracking arrangements provided by the exemplary embodiments, the product will be recycled correctly. Further, the manufacturer can provide recycling capabilities to the purchasers and users of the product.
[0045] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the sequence of transmission and reception of information as shown in the above figures can be changed. The sequence of transmission and reception of information shown in the above figures is an example sequence in the exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the order in which transmission and / or reception are performed. Also, of course, any of the above embodiments apply to recyclable products having a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of sub-assemblies within the recyclable product, such as IoT devices 120 and 130 (Figure 2) associated with the internal circuits of screen 126 and TV 100. In this way, individual sub-assemblies of the recyclable product that can withstand the recycling process can be tracked even after the recycling process.
[0046] The following numbered items illustrate further exemplary aspects and features of the present technology. Item 1 A method of tracking a recyclable product, comprising: activating one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a portion of the recyclable product, the one or more communication devices including circuitry configured to monitor the position of at least a portion of the recyclable product and communicate via a wireless communication network; A method comprising: in response to activation of the one or more communication devices, switching from an inactive state in which the one or more communication devices do not transmit an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a recycling state in which the one or more communication devices transmit, via the wireless communication network, an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a tracking entity. Item 2. The method according to item 1, wherein the one or more communication devices transmit, via the wireless communication network, to the tracking entity an ID of the recyclable product or an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product together with an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product. Item 3. The tracking entity is a server configured to receive and store an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product together with the ID of the recyclable product or at least a portion of the recyclable product, and the indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product is accessible on the server via a communication network or the wireless communication network with which the one or more communication devices communicate. The method according to item 1 or 2. Item 4. The tracking entity is a communication device configured to access the server via the communication network or the wireless communication network. The method according to item 1. Item 5. The communication device configured to access the server via the communication network or the wireless communication network is a smartphone. The method according to item 3. Item 6. The method according to any one of items 1 to 5, comprising transmitting, via the wireless communication network, to the tracking entity, by the one or more communication devices, composition information regarding the material including the recyclable product together with an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product. Method according to any one of items 1 to 6, including receiving, by the one or more communication devices, a recycling instruction provided by a manufacturer of the recyclable product for recycling the recyclable product. Item 8 Activating the one or more communication devices Method according to any one of items 1 to 7, including activating a switch of the recyclable product or the one or more communication devices. Item 9 Activating the one or more communication devices Method according to any one of items 1 to 7, including receiving a signal transmitted by the tracking entity via the wireless communication network, the signal being detected by the one or more communication devices to activate the one or more communication devices. Item 10 Activating the one or more communication devices Method according to any one of items 1 to 7, including receiving an activation signal at a network interface of the one or more communication devices. Item 11 Activating the one or more communication devices Method according to any one of items 8, 9, and 10, including switching to an independent power source. Item 12 Each of the one or more communication devices includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chip for monitoring the position of the recyclable product. Method according to any one of items 1 to 11. Item 13 The one or more communication devices stop transmitting an indication of the position of at least a part of the recyclable product via the wireless communication network after a predetermined limit time. Method according to any one of items 1 to 12. Item 14 The one or more communication devices stop transmitting an indication of the position of at least a part of the recyclable product via the wireless communication network when the manufacturer resets the one or more communication devices. Method according to any one of items 1 to 11. Item 15. A communication device embedded in or attached to at least a part of a recyclable product, a receiver circuit configured to receive signals, a transmitter circuit configured to transmit signals, and a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit to transmit or receive signals, comprising: The controller circuit is configured to monitor at least a part of the recyclable product, and in response to activation of the communication device, from an inactive state in which the communication device does not transmit an indication of at least a part of the recyclable product, the controller circuit, in combination with the receiver circuit, transmits an indication of at least a part of the recyclable product to a tracking entity via a wireless communication network in a recycling state. A communication device including switching to. Item 16. A server that operates as a tracking entity for tracking a recyclable product by one or more communication devices attached to or embedded in at least a part of the recyclable product, a network interface for transmitting information to and receiving information from a communication network, a processor for executing program code, comprising: The program code configures the processor to receive an indication of at least a part of the recyclable product via a wireless communication network in response to activation of the one or more communication devices. A server. Item 17. The server according to Item 16, wherein the processor is configured to receive request information including a request to recycle the recyclable product from the tracking entity via the network interface. Item 18. The server according to item 17, wherein the processor is configured to receive disassembly information including information regarding disassembly of the recyclable product from the at least one recycling entity via the wireless communication network or another communication network. Item 19. The server according to item 17, wherein the disassembly information includes instructions for a plurality of the one or more communication devices disassembled, embedded in, or attached to at least a part of the recyclable product in a recycling process executed by the at least one recycling entity. Item 20. The server according to any one of items 16 to 19, wherein the request information includes an ID of the recyclable product or an ID of at least a part of the recyclable product, and the processor is configured to use the ID of the recyclable product or the ID of at least a part of the recyclable product to obtain a recycling instruction for the recyclable product from a manufacturer of the recyclable product. Item 21. A server for tracking a recyclable product by one or more communication devices attached to or embedded in at least a part of the recyclable product, a receiver circuit configured to receive a signal; a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal; and a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit to transmit or receive a signal, wherein the controller circuit is configured to receive an indication of a location of at least a part of the recyclable product via a wireless communication network in combination with the receiver circuit in response to activation of the communication device. Item 22. The server according to item 21, wherein the processor is configured to receive request information including a request to recycle the recyclable product from the tracking entity via the network interface. Item 23. The server according to item 21, wherein the processor is configured to receive disassembly information including information regarding disassembly of the recyclable product from the at least one recycling entity via the wireless communication network or another communication network. Item 24. The server according to item 21, wherein the disassembly information includes instructions for a plurality of the one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a part of the recyclable product disassembled in a recycling process executed by the at least one recycling entity. Item 25. The server according to any one of items 21 to 24, wherein the request information includes an ID of the recyclable product or an ID of at least a part of the recyclable product, and the processor is configured to use the ID of the recyclable product or the ID of at least a part of the recyclable product to obtain a recycling instruction for the recyclable product from a manufacturer of the recyclable product. Item 26. A method executed on a computing device operated by a recycling entity to determine whether to recycle a recyclable product having one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a part of the recyclable product, receiving, via a wireless communication network, from a tracking entity, an indication of a location of at least a part of the recyclable product and an ID of at least a part of the recyclable product, calculating request parameters used to determine whether to recycle the recyclable product based on at least one of the recycling process available to the recycling entity, the ID of at least a part of the recyclable product, and the indication of the location of at least a part of the recyclable product received from the tracking entity. Item 27. The method according to item 26, including receiving, from the tracking entity, a list of recyclable products including an ID and a location indication for each of the recyclable products in the list. Item 28. The method according to Item 26 or 27, comprising receiving, from the tracking entity, composition information regarding a material including the recyclable product. Item 29. The method according to any one of Items 26 or 27, comprising determining composition information regarding a material including the recyclable product based on the identification information received from the server. Item 30. The method according to any one of Items 26 to 29, wherein the required parameter is an estimated value of the amount of each material including the recyclable product. Item 31. The method according to any one of Items 26 to 30, wherein the required parameter is an estimated cost of moving to the position of the recyclable product indicated by an indication of the position of the recyclable product received from the tracking entity. Item 32. A computer program including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the method of Item 1 or 26. Item 33. A system for tracking a recyclable product, including the recyclable product having one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a part of the recyclable product, the one or more communication devices including a circuit configured to monitor at least a part of the position of the recyclable product, and in response to activation, the one or more communication devices switch from an inactive state in which the one or more communication devices do not transmit an indication of at least a part of the position of the recyclable product to a recycling state in which the one or more communication devices transmit an indication of at least a part of the position of the recyclable product to a tracking entity via a wireless communication network. The tracking entity is configured to receive an indication of at least a part of the position of the recyclable product from the one or more communication devices via the wireless communication network. A computing device operated by a recycling entity, Receive, from the tracking entity via the wireless communication network or another communication network, an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product and an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product. A system configured to calculate request parameters used to determine whether to recycle the recyclable product based on at least one of the recycling processes available to the recycling entity, the ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product, and the indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product received from the tracking entity.
[0047] For clarity, the above description is considered to have described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuits, and / or processors. However, it is clear that the functions between different functional units, circuits, and / or processors can be arbitrarily and appropriately distributed without departing from the embodiments.
[0048] The described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. The described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least in part as computer software executed on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The components and requirements in any embodiment are physically, functionally, and logically implemented in a suitable manner. In fact, the functions may be implemented in a single unit, in multiple units, or as part of other functional units. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed among different units, circuits, and / or processors.
[0049] Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to several embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific forms described herein. Further, although the features of the present disclosure have been described with respect to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable for practicing the technology.
Claims
**Claim 1** A method for tracking recyclable products, comprising: activating one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a portion of the recyclable product, the one or more communication devices including circuitry configured to monitor the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product and communicate via a wireless communication network; in response to activation of the one or more communication devices, switching from a non-active state in which the one or more communication devices do not send an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a recycling state in which the one or more communication devices send an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a tracking entity via the wireless communication network; receiving, by the one or more communication devices, a recycling instruction provided by a manufacturer of the recyclable product for recycling the recyclable product. **Claim 2** The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more communication devices transmit, via the wireless communication network to the tracking entity, an ID of the recyclable product or an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product, together with an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product. **Claim 3** The tracking entity is a server configured to receive and store an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product together with the ID of the recyclable product or at least a portion of the recyclable product, and the indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product is accessible on the server via a communication network or the wireless communication network through which the one or more communication devices communicate. The method according to claim 2. **Claim 4** The tracking entity is a communication device configured to access the server via the communication network or the wireless communication network. The method according to claim 3. **Claim 5** The communication device configured to access the server via the communication network or the wireless communication network is a smartphone. The method according to claim 3. **Claim 6** The method according to claim 5, comprising transmitting, via the wireless communication network, to the tracking entity, by the one or more communication devices, composition information regarding a material including the recyclable product, together with an indication of the location of at least a part of the recyclable product.
7. Activating the one or more communication devices comprises activating a switch of the recyclable product or the one or more communication devices, the method according to claim 1.
8. Activating the one or more communication devices comprises receiving a signal transmitted by the tracking entity via the wireless communication network, the signal being detected by the one or more communication devices to activate the one or more communication devices, the method according to claim 1.
9. Activating the one or more communication devices comprises receiving an activation signal at a network interface of the one or more communication devices, the method according to claim 1.
10. Activating the one or more communication devices comprises switching to an independent power source, the method according to claim 9.
11. Each of the one or more communication devices includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chip for monitoring the location of the recyclable product, the method according to claim 10.
12. The one or more communication devices stop transmitting an indication of the location of at least a part of the recyclable product via the wireless communication network after a predetermined limit time, the method according to claim 11.
13. The one or more communication devices stop transmitting an indication of the location of at least a part of the recyclable product via the wireless communication network when the manufacturer resets the one or more communication devices, the method according to claim 10.
14. A communication device embedded in or attached to at least a part of a recyclable product, a receiver circuit configured to receive a signal, a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal, and a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit to transmit or receive a signal and includes The controller circuit is configured to monitor at least a part of the position of the recyclable product, and in response to the activation of the communication device, from an inactive state in which the communication device does not transmit an indication of at least a part of the position of the recyclable product, the controller circuit, in combination with the receiver circuit, transmits an indication of at least a part of the position of the recyclable product to a tracking entity via a wireless communication network, including switching to a recycling state. The receiver circuit is a communication device including receiving a recycling instruction provided by a manufacturer of the recyclable product for recycling the recyclable product.
15. A server operating as a tracking entity for tracking a recyclable product by one or more communication devices attached to or embedded in at least a part of the recyclable product, A network interface for transmitting information to and receiving information from the communication network, A processor for executing program code Including, The program code configures the processor to receive an indication of at least a part of the position of the recyclable product via a wireless communication network in response to the activation of the one or more communication devices. The processor is configured to receive request information including a request to recycle the recyclable product from the tracking entity via the network interface. The server.
16. The processor is configured to receive disassembly information including information regarding disassembly of the recyclable product from the at least one recycling entity via the wireless communication network or another communication network. The server according to claim 15.
17. The disassembly information includes instructions of the plurality of the one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a part of the recyclable product disassembled in a recycling process executed by the at least one recycling entity. The server according to claim 16.
18. The requirement information includes the ID of the recyclable product or the ID of at least a part of the recyclable product, and the processor is configured to use the ID of the recyclable product or the ID of at least a part of the recyclable product to obtain a recycling instruction for the recyclable product from the manufacturer of the recyclable product. The server according to claim 17.
19. A server for tracking a recyclable product by one or more communication devices attached to or embedded in at least a part of the recyclable product, a receiver circuit configured to receive signals; a transmitter circuit configured to transmit signals; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit to transmit or receive signals including, The controller circuit is configured to receive an indication of the location of at least a part of the recyclable product via a wireless communication network in combination with the receiver circuit in response to activation of the communication device. The controller circuit is configured to receive disassembly information including information regarding disassembly of the recyclable product from the at least one recycling entity via the wireless communication network or another communication network. The disassembly information includes instructions for the one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a part of the recyclable product disassembled in a recycling process performed by the at least one recycling entity. Server.
20. The controller circuit of the server according to claim 19 is configured to receive requirement information including a request to recycle the recyclable product from a tracking entity via the network interface.
21. The requirement information includes the ID of the recyclable product or the ID of at least a part of the recyclable product, and the controller circuit is configured to use the ID of the recyclable product or the ID of at least a part of the recyclable product to obtain a recycling instruction for the recyclable product from the manufacturer of the recyclable product. The server according to claim 20.
22. A method executed on a computing device operated by a recycling entity to determine whether to recycle a recyclable product having one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a portion of the recyclable product, comprising: Receiving, from a tracking entity via a wireless communication network, an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product and an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product; Calculating request parameters used to determine whether to recycle the recyclable product based on at least one of a recycling process available to the recycling entity, an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product, and an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product received from the tracking entity; Receiving, from the at least one recycling entity via the wireless communication network or another communication network, decomposition information including information regarding the decomposition of the recyclable product; The decomposition information includes an indication of a plurality of the one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a portion of the recyclable product decomposed in a recycling process executed by the at least one recycling entity; A method comprising the steps of: **Claim 23** The method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving, from the tracking entity, a list of recyclable products including an ID and a location indication for each of the recyclable products in the list. **Claim 24** The method according to claim 23, further comprising receiving, from the tracking entity, composition information regarding the materials including the recyclable product. **Claim 25** The method according to claim 22, further comprising determining composition information regarding the materials including the recyclable product based on the identification information received from the tracking entity. **Claim 26** The method according to claim 25, wherein the request parameter is an estimated amount of each material including the recyclable product. **Claim 27** The method according to claim 26, wherein the request parameter is an estimated cost of moving to the location of the recyclable product indicated by the location indication of the recyclable product received from the tracking entity. Claim 28 A computer program comprising instructions that cause a computer to execute the method of claim 1 or 22 when the program is executed by the computer. Claim 29 A system for tracking recyclable products, comprising the recyclable product having one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a portion of the recyclable product, the one or more communication devices including circuitry configured to monitor the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product, and in response to activation, the one or more communication devices switch from an inactive state in which the one or more communication devices do not send an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a recycling state in which the one or more communication devices send an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product to a tracking entity via a wireless communication network, the tracking entity being configured to receive, via the wireless communication network, an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product from the one or more communication devices, a computing device operated by a recycling entity, receives, via the wireless communication network or another communication network, from the tracking entity, an indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product and an ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product, configured to calculate request parameters used to determine whether to recycle the recyclable product based on at least one of the recycling process available to the recycling entity, the ID of at least a portion of the recyclable product, and the indication of the location of at least a portion of the recyclable product received from the tracking entity, configured to receive, via the wireless communication network or another communication network, disassembly information including information regarding disassembly of the recyclable product from the at least one recycling entity, the disassembly information including instructions for a plurality of the one or more communication devices embedded in or attached to at least a portion of the recyclable product disassembled in the recycling process executed by the at least one recycling entity. System.
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