Unified Utility Billing Controller for Waste and Service Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional system of multiple service providers generating separate bills for waste and utility services is cumbersome for customers and expensive for providers, and burdensome for managing special conditions and irregularities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes an offboard utility meter, a communication device, and a controller to receive information during waste service activities, determine utility service fees, and generate invoices for both waste and utility services, allowing for wireless communication and electronic payment distribution to multiple providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple service providers generate separate bills for waste and utility services, then each provider can independently manage their own services, but the billing and account management process becomes cumbersome for customers and expensive for providers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate billing systems into a single integrated billing system. The waste service provider's billing system is merged with utility service billing capabilities, allowing all services (waste collection, water, electricity, gas, etc.) to be billed through one unified invoice. This reduces the complexity of managing multiple separate bills while maintaining independent service management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The billing system is designed to perform multiple functions: it handles waste service billing, utility service billing, account management, and payment processing in a single system. This universal system can manage diverse services (different utility types and waste services) through a common platform, eliminating the need for separate billing systems for each service type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple service providers generate separate bills, then each provider maintains independence, but customers face difficulties in processing multiple bills and arranging special conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate customer bills into a single consolidated invoice. Instead of receiving separate bills from waste service providers and utility companies, customers receive one unified bill that itemizes all services. This significantly improves ease of operation by eliminating the need to process multiple separate bills while maintaining the independence of each service provider through the integrated system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate billing systems are used for waste and utility services, then each system can be managed independently, but it becomes expensive and time-consuming for utility companies to generate bills and manage accounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal billing platform that handles both waste services and utility services through a single system. This multi-functional system consolidates account management, billing generation, and payment processing for all services in one place, dramatically improving productivity by eliminating redundant processes across multiple separate systems while maintaining independent service management capabilities.
4Adaptability or versatility
If customers manage separate accounts with different companies, then each company can manage their services independently, but customers face burdens when arranging special conditions and schedule irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple company-specific accounts into a single unified customer account that manages all services (waste and utilities) through one interface. This allows customers to arrange special conditions, schedule irregularities, and manage account settings in one place rather than contacting multiple separate companies, while the integrated system maintains independent service delivery capabilities for each provider.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for managing services at a customer location. The system may have at least one offboard utility meter, a communication device, and a controller in communication with the at least one offboard utility meter via the communication device. The controller may be configured to receive information from the at least one offboard utility meter during a waste service activity at the customer location by a waste service vehicle and to determine based on the information from the at least one offboard utility meter a fee associated with at least one utility service provided at the customer location. The controller may also be configured to generate at least one invoice for the waste service activity and for the fee associated with the at least one utility service.