System and method for task assignment management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11565424-B2
Application number	US-202117177853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2021
Priority date	Jun 25, 2018
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes detecting, at a processor and by a plurality of associates, a mission to be performed by the plurality of associates; identifying the mission based on associated store information comprising an inventory status, sales data, and a set of predetermined rules; generating, by the processor, a queue of tasks to complete the mission based on priorities and dependencies of the tasks; determining a task for each associate whose profile defines best abilities matching a predetermined task dataset and the associated store information; assigning the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates to complete the tasks; receiving, from each of the associates, a notification of a completion of an assigned task; verifying, by the processor, the completion of the assigned task; and determining, by the processor, completion of the mission when each task for the mission is verified to be completed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer-implemented method for assigning tasks to a plurality of associates to complete a mission, the method comprising:
detecting, at a processor, the mission to be performed by analyzing data sent from the plurality of associates;
in response to the detecting, identifying, by the processor, the mission based on associated store information comprising an inventory status, sales data, and a set of predetermined rules;
generating, by the processor, a queue of tasks to complete the mission based on priorities and dependencies of the tasks, wherein each task is prioritized based on a safety level and a timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data associated with the task;
determining, by the processor, a task for each associate whose profile defines best abilities matching a predetermined task dataset and the associated store information, wherein an associate profile comprises an experience level, skills, a skill level, a location zone, and a cost, and wherein the predetermined task dataset comprises a task value, dependency, skills required, and timeliness;
assigning, by the processor, based on the determining, for each associate, the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates to complete the tasks;
receiving, by the processor, from each of the associates, a notification of a completion of an assigned task;
verifying, by the processor, the completion of the assigned task; and
determining, by the processor, completion of the mission when each task of the queue of tasks for the mission is verified to be completed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined task dataset further comprises location data, priority, material required, recurrence, a risk to perform a task, a lost opportunity cost, or an awake cycle for continuous performance.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein assigning the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates further comprises, based on associate profiles and the predetermined task dataset of a task:
identifying the associates which are able to complete the task based on the associate profiles;
determining the cost to perform the task associated with each associates;
determining the priority of the task;
determining a duration of the task; and
determining the lost opportunity cost of the task.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, at the processor, the mission to be performed by the plurality of associates by analyzing signals sent from one or more sensors.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying, by a distributed image analytics system, a completion of the assigned task.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of associates are robots.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each task is prioritized based on the safety level and timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data related to the task.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tasks are completed sequentially to complete the mission.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tasks are completed in parallel to complete the mission.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the timeliness of the task is defined to be a time to perform the task and a period of time to complete the task.

11. A system for assigning tasks to a plurality of associates to complete a mission, the system comprising:
a processor;
one or more sensors in communication with the processor; and
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
detecting the mission to be performed by analyzing data sent from the plurality of associates;
in response to the detecting, identifying the mission based on an associated store information comprising an inventory status, sales data, and a set of predetermined rules;
generating a queue of tasks to complete the mission based on priorities and dependencies of the tasks, wherein each task is prioritized based on a safety level and a timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data associated with the task;
determining a task for each associate whose profile defines best abilities matching a predetermined task dataset and the associated store information, wherein an associate profile comprises an experience level, skills, a skill level, a location zone, a cost, and a speed to perform the task, and wherein the predetermined task dataset comprises a task value, dependency, skills required, and a task timeliness;
assigning, based on a determination for each associate, the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates to complete the tasks;
receiving, by the processor, from each of the associates, a notification of a completion of an assigned task;
verifying, by the processor, the completion of the assigned task; and
determining, by the processor, completion of the mission when each task of the queue of tasks for the mission is verified to be completed.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined task dataset further comprises location data, priority, duration, material required, recurrence, risk to perform a task, a lost opportunity cost, and an awake cycle for continuous performance.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein assigning the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates further comprising, based on associate profiles and the predetermined task dataset of a task:
identifying the associates which are able to complete the task based on the associate profiles;
determining the cost to perform the task associated with each associates;
determining the priority of the task;
determining the duration of the task; and
determining the lost opportunity cost of the task.

14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising the instructions executed to cause the processor to perform the operations comprising:
detecting, at the processor, the mission to be performed by the plurality of associates by analyzing signals sent from the one or more sensors.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of associates are robots.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein a distributed video analytics system is used to identify the completion of the assigned task.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein each task is prioritized based on the safety level and timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data related to the task.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tasks are completed sequentially to complete the mission.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tasks are completed in parallel to complete the mission.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the timeliness of the task is defined to be a time to perform the task and a period of time to complete the task.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• High Donald R
• Cantrell Robert
• Atchley Mike
• King Wallace Carrell
• Harrison Brian
• Savaiinaea Amy J

Classifications

• B25J19/04

  Viewing devices · CPC title

• B25J9/1661

  characterised by task planning, object-oriented languages · CPC title

• B25J11/008 Primary

  Manipulators for service tasks · CPC title

• B25J19/023

  including video camera means · CPC title

• B25J9/1697

  Vision controlled systems · CPC title