System and method for product recognition and assignment at an automated storage and retrieval device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11397910-B2
Application number	US-201916510114-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Jul 12, 2018
Publication date	Jul 26, 2022
Grant date	Jul 26, 2022

Abstract

Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are provided for processing items within an automated storage and retrieval device. A scanned machine-readable identifier associated with an item is received at an automated storage and retrieval device. A determination is made whether the machine-readable identifier that was scanned is a container identification (ID). The machine-readable identifier is identified based on pre-defined criteria when the machine-readable identifier is determined not to be a container ID. The machine-readable identifier is mapped to an existing order using stored order information. A container ID is created by the fulfillment system and passed back to the automated storage and retrieval device. The item is stored in the automated storage and retrieval device using the created container ID.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product identifier recognition and assignment system, the system comprising:
an automated storage and retrieval device;
a scanning device in communication with the automated storage and retrieval device;
one or more databases holding order information for a plurality of orders; and
a computing device in communication with the scanning device and the automated storage and retrieval device, the computing device configured to execute a recognition module, wherein the recognition module, when executed:
receives a scanned machine-readable identifier associated with an item received at the automated storage and retrieval device;
determines if the scanned machine-readable identifier is a container identification (ID) recognized by the system as being already stored by the system to identify the item;
and
when the scanned machine-readable identifier is determined not to be a container ID recognized by the system as being already stored by the system to identify the item:
identifies the scanned machine-readable identifier based on pre-defined criteria;

maps the scanned machine-readable identifier to an existing order using the order information;
creates a container ID for the item to be tracked by a fulfillment system, the created container ID identifying both the item and the storage location of the item within the automated storage and retrieval device; and
stores the item in the automated storage and retrieval device using the created container ID.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanner is integrated into the automated storage and retrieval device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the automated storage and retrieval device is a tower.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein when the machine-readable identifier is one of an Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) number and a tracking number.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the automated storage and retrieval device provides access to the item by a customer.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein a user provides credentials to the automated storage and retrieval device to initiate retrieval of the item.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the automated storage and retrieval device is one of a drone and an Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV).

8. A computer-implemented method for product identifier recognition and assignment, the method comprising:
receiving a scanned machine-readable identifier associated with an item received at an automated storage and retrieval device;
determining that the scanned machine-readable identifier is not a container identification (ID) recognized by the system as being already stored by the system to identify the item; and
when the scanned machine-readable identifier is determined not to be a container ID recognized by the system as being already stored by the system to identify the item:
identifying the scanned machine-readable identifier based on pre-defined criteria;

mapping the scanned machine-readable identifier to an existing order using stored order information;
creating a container ID for the item to be tracked by a fulfillment system, the created container ID identifying both the item and a storage location of the item within the automated storage and retrieval device; and
storing the item in the automated storage and retrieval device using the created container ID.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the scanner is integrated into the automated storage and retrieval device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the automated storage and retrieval device is a tower.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein when the machine-readable identifier is one of an Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) number and a tracking number.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing access by the automated storage and retrieval device to the item by a customer.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising a user providing credentials to the automated storage and retrieval device to initiate retrieval of the item.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the automated storage and retrieval device is one of a drone and an Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV).

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computing device, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to implement a method for product identifier recognition and assignment, the method comprising:
receiving a scanned machine-readable identifier associated with an item received at an automated storage and retrieval device;
determining if the scanned machine-readable identifier is a container identification (ID) recognized by the system as being already stored by the system to identify the item; and
when the scanned machine-readable identifier is determined not to be a container ID recognized by the system as being already stored by the system to identify the item:
identifying the scanned machine-readable identifier based on pre-defined criteria;
mapping the scanned machine-readable identifier to an existing order using stored order information;
creating a container ID for the item to be tracked by a fulfillment system, the created container ID identifying both the item and a storage location of the item within the automated storage and retrieval device; and
storing the item in the automated storage and retrieval device using the created container ID.

16. The medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions wherein the automated storage and retrieval device is a tower.

17. The medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions wherein when the machine-readable identifier is one of an Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) number and a tracking number.

18. The medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions providing access by the automated storage and retrieval device to the item by a customer.

19. The medium of claim 18 further comprising instructions for verifying credentials to the automated storage and retrieval device to initiate retrieval of the item.

20. The medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions wherein the automated storage and retrieval device is one of a drone and an Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV).

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Durkee Paul Edward
• Reed Edwin H
• Clark Stuart William
• Johnson Bradley

Classifications

• G06Q10/08 Primary

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title

• G06Q10/0836

  Recipient pick-ups · CPC title

• G06Q10/0833 Primary

  Tracking · CPC title

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title