System for crowdsourced cold-chain compliant item selection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11853963-B2
Application number	US-202117493434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Jan 11, 2018
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

Examples provide a system for cold-chain compliant item selection. A set of perishable items are selected for retrieval by a user based on item data, cold-chain compliance score(s), and/or cold-chain compliance restrictions associated with each user. The selected set of items are assigned to the user for retrieval in accordance with a set of cold-chain compliance parameters, including a per-item maximum dwell-time specifying a maximum time interval between removal of a perishable item from a temperature-controlled display area and receipt of the perishable item at an intake area. A dwell-time is calculated for an item received at an intake area. The item is accepted if the per-item maximum dwell-time exceeds the calculated dwell-time and the item is rejected if the calculated dwell-time exceeds the per-item maximum dwell-time. An incentive is provided to the identified user based on a cold-chain compliance score for the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a memory;
a processor communicatively coupled to the memory;
a dwell-time monitor, implemented on the processor, that calculates an actual dwell-time for a perishable item received at an intake area, wherein the dwell-time is an interval of time between removal of the perishable item from a temperature-controlled area and arrival of the perishable item at the intake area;
an intake component, implemented on the processor, that analyzes sensor data from the intake area and determines whether to accept or reject the perishable item based on the calculated actual dwell-time, item-specific cold-chain compliance parameters for the perishable item, and the sensor data;
a scoring component, implemented on the processor, that generates a cold-chain compliance score for a user associated with the perishable item received at the intake area, wherein the cold-chain compliance score is calculated by the scoring component using the item-specific cold-chain compliance parameters and intake data from the intake component;
a data storage device that stores the generated cold-chain compliance score associated with the user;
a priority component, implemented on the processor, that identifies a set of users available for item retrieval and selects the user from the set of users based on the cold-chain compliance score of the user; and
an assignment component, implemented on the processor, that sends an assignment of another perishable item for retrieval, the assignment including a retrieval time associated with the other perishable item and a location of a nearest intake area for item delivery.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the perishable item is scanned by a user device upon removal from the temperature controlled area.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a sensor device associated with the intake area, wherein the dwell-time monitor calculates the actual dwell-time for the perishable item based on sensor data received from the sensor device associated with the intake area and scan data from the user device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retrieval time is a maximum time period between an assignment time and a delivery time at the intake area.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a customized reward generator, implemented on the processor, that assigns a customized reward to the selected user on condition the cold-chain compliance score is within a threshold range.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a restriction component, implemented on the processor, that assigns a cold-chain compliance restriction to the selected user on condition the cold-chain compliance score is outside the threshold range.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a notification component, implemented on the processor, that sends an alert to a user device associated with the selected user, the alert indicating the calculated dwell-time of the perishable item is approaching a per-item maximum dwell-time, wherein the alert comprises a location of the nearest intake area and a recommendation to deliver the perishable item to the nearest intake area prior to expiration of the per-item maximum dwell-time to ensure cold-chain compliance.

8. A method comprising:
calculating, by a processor, an actual dwell-time for a perishable item received at an intake area, wherein the dwell-time is an interval of time between removal of the perishable item from a temperature-controlled area and arrival of the perishable item at the intake area;
analyzing, by the processor, sensor data from the intake area associated with the perishable item received;
determining whether to accept or reject the perishable item received based on the calculated actual dwell-time, item-specific cold-chain compliance parameters for the perishable item, and the sensor data;
generating a cold-chain compliance score for a user associated with delivery of the perishable item received at the intake area, the cold-chain compliance score calculated using the item-specific cold-chain compliance parameters and intake data from an intake component at the intake area;
storing the generated cold-chain compliance score at a data storage device, wherein the generated cold-chain compliance score is used for future selection of a requested user to another perishable item retrieval task.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying a set of users available for item retrieval;
selecting a target user from the set of users based on an associated cold-chain compliance score of the target user; and
sending an assignment for the item retrieval to the target user selected, the assignment including a retrieval time associated with a requested perishable item and a location of a nearest intake area for item delivery.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining whether to accept or reject the perishable item further comprises:
determining that the calculated actual dwell-time exceeds a per-item maximum dwell-time; and
rejecting the perishable item.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining whether to accept or reject the perishable item further comprises:
determining that the calculated actual dwell-time does not exceed a per-item maximum dwell-time; and
accepting the perishable item.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor, scan data from a user device, the user device scanning the perishable item upon removal from the temperature-controlled area.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that the cold-chain compliance score of the selected user is within a threshold range; and
assigning a customized reward to the selected user based on the determination.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that the cold-chain compliance score of the selected user is outside a threshold range; and
assigning a cold-chain compliance restriction to the selected user based on the determination.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
sending an alert to a user device associated with the selected user, the alert indicating the calculated actual dwell-time of the perishable item is approaching a per-item maximum dwell-time.

16. One or more non-transitory computer storage devices having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
calculate, by a processor, an actual dwell-time for a perishable item received at an intake area, wherein the dwell-time is an interval of time between removal of the perishable item from a temperature-controlled area and arrival of the perishable item at the intake area;
analyze, by the processor, sensor data from the intake area associated with the perishable item received;
determine whether to accept or reject the perishable item received based on the calculated actual dwell-time, item-specific cold-chain compliance parameters for the perishable item, and the sensor data;
generate a cold-chain compliance score for a user associated with delivery of the perishable item received at the intake area, the cold-chain compliance score calculated using the item-specific cold-chain compliance parameters and intake data from an intake component at the intake area;
store the generated cold-chain compliance score at a data storage device, wherein the generated cold-chain compliance score is used for future selection of a requested user to another perishable item retrieval task.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer storage devices of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructi

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Brightwell David Blair
• Brooks Cristy Crane
• Enssle Benjamin D
• Bryan Greg
• Eaton Jesse Lee
• Kerbs Jeffrey

Classifications

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832

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

• G06Q30/0235

  constrained by time limit or expiration date · CPC title

• G06Q30/0637

  requiring approval before final submission, e.g. parental approval · CPC title