Automated storage retrieval system connection and communication protocol

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11893530-B2
Application number	US-202217826568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2022
Priority date	Jul 12, 2018
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

Systems, method and computer readable medium are provided for automated storage and retrieval. User authentication information is received via a user interface for a dynamic storage and retrieval device. The user identity is verified based upon the authentication information and previously stored authentication data. Order information is retrieved for an order associated with the user following the verifying of user identity, the order information indicating one or more locations for items associated with the order. Instructions are transmitted to initiate a physical opening of at least one of the dynamic storage and retrieval device and at least one static storage location to enable the user to retrieve at least one item of the order, the static storage location including a controller controlling a locking mechanism and communicatively coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automated storage and retrieval system, the system comprising:
a dynamic storage and retrieval device having a user interface;
at least one static storage location, the at least one static storage location including a controller controlling a locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location and communicatively coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device, wherein the at least one static storage location is configured to interact with a mobile device operated by the user to detect a presence of the user at the at least one static storage location;
a storage and retrieval module, which, when executed:
receives user authentication information from a user via the user interface,
verifies identity of the user based upon the authentication information and authentication data, and
following a verification of the identity of the user:
retrieves order information for an order associated with the user whose identity has been verified, and
transmits instructions to the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location to initiate a physical opening of the at least one static storage location to enable the verified user to retrieve at least one item of the order; and
wherein, after the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location receives instructions from the storage and retrieval module to initiate the physical opening of the at least one static storage location, the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location does not permit the locking mechanism to physically open the at least one static storage location until the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location receives a signal from the at least one static storage location indicating that the at least one static storage location detected, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one static storage location, and
wherein the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location is permitted to physically open the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location to permit the verified user to retrieve the at least one item of the order therefrom only in response to receipt by the controller of the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location of the signal indicating that the at least one static location detected, via the interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one static storage location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the static storage location is at least one of a locker and a location equipped with a lockable gate or opening.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one static storage location further includes at least one proximity sensor to detect the arrival of the user.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one proximity sensor interacts with an application executing on the mobile device operated by the user.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the dynamic storage and retrieval device further includes a robotic arm configured to retrieve the item in response to a command from the storage and retrieval module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the robotic arm is further configured to extend the item through the physical opening after retrieval.

7. A computing device-implemented method for automated storage and retrieval, the method comprising:
receiving user authentication information from a user via a user interface for a dynamic storage and retrieval device,
the dynamic storage and retrieval device including at least one static storage location having a controller controlling a locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location and communicatively coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device,
wherein the at least one static storage location is configured to interact with a mobile device operated by the user to detect a presence of the user at the at least one static storage location;
verifying identity of the user based upon the authentication information and previously stored authentication data;
following the verifying of the identity of the user:
retrieving order information for an order associated with the user whose identity has been verified, and
transmitting instructions to the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location to initiate a physical opening of the at least one static storage location to enable the verified user to retrieve at least one item of the order, and
after the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location receives the instructions transmitted by a storage and retrieval module of a computing device in communication with the dynamic storage and retrieval device to initiate the physical opening of the at least one static storage location:
not permitting the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location to physically open until the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location receives a signal from the at least one static storage location indicating that the at least one static location detected, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one static storage location, and
permitting the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location to physically open to permit the verified user to retrieve the at least one item of the order therefrom only in response to receipt by the controller of the locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location of the signal indicating that the at least one static location detected, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one static storage location.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the static storage location is at least one of a locker and a location equipped with a lockable gate or opening.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one static storage location further includes at least one proximity sensor to detect the arrival of the user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one proximity sensor interacts with an application executing on the mobile device operated by the user.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the dynamic storage and retrieval device further includes a robotic arm configured to retrieve the item in response to a command from the storage and retrieval module.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the robotic arm is further configured to extend the item through the physical opening after retrieval.

13. 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 automated storage and retrieval, the method comprising:
receiving user authentication information from a user via a user interface for a dynamic storage and retrieval device;
the dynamic storage and retrieval device including at least one static storage location having a controller controlling a locking mechanism of the at least one static storage location and communicatively coupled to
the dynamic storage and retrieval device,
wherein the at least one static storage location is configured to interact with a mobile device operated by the user to detect a presence of the user at the at least one static storage location;
verifying identity of the user based upon the aut

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Durkee Paul Edward
• Clark Stuart William
• Holmes Colin
• Shaffer Jason
• Ibbotson Mark
• Suarez John

Classifications

• G06Q10/0836 Primary

  Recipient pick-ups · CPC title

• A47F10/02

  for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets (A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D) · CPC title

• A47G29/141

  comprising electronically controlled locking means · CPC title

• B65G1/1371

  with data records · CPC title

• G07C9/00309

  operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title