System and method for dynamic perishable item replenishment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12530644-B2
Application number	US-202318141625-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2023
Priority date	Mar 15, 2018
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

System and methods for dynamic replenishment in a facility are disclosed. A mobile inventory processing device reads a machine readable tag affixed to a perishable item and transmits an indication of the perishable item to a stock inventory processing device. The stock inventory processing device retrieves a stock inventory value corresponding to the perishable item and a historic daily sales value for the perishable item from a database. The stock inventory processing device determines a restocking value based on whether the historic daily sales value exceeds the stock inventory value. The stock inventory processing device transmits a second indication to the mobile inventory processing device, The second indication correspond to insufficient shelf stock of the perishable item. The mobile inventory processing device receives the second indication and outputs an auditory alert in response to the second indication.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A system for dynamic replenishment in a facility comprising:
a mobile inventory processing device, wherein the mobile inventory processing device comprises an electronic reader configured to read machine-readable codes, and a notification output device, the mobile inventory processing device configured to:
electronically read a machine readable code forming a product tag affixed to packaging of a perishable item via the electronic reader upon receipt of a shipment of the perishable item, the machine readable code encoding an identification of the perishable item;
transmit, to a stock inventory processing device, a first indication identifying the perishable item associated with the received shipment based on the machine readable code forming product tag;
receive, from the stock inventory processing device, a second indication of an insufficient shelf stock in the facility corresponding to the perishable item, wherein the second indication comprises a notification indication;
the stock inventory processing device, configured to:
receive from the mobile inventory processing device, the first indication identifying the perishable item associated with the received shipment;
retrieve, from a database, a real time shelf stock inventory value corresponding to the perishable item identified in the first indication;
retrieve, from the database, a historic daily sales value corresponding to the perishable item;
determine a restocking value based on whether the historic daily sales value exceeds the real time shelf stock inventory value;
transmit, to the mobile inventory processing device, the second indication, wherein the second indication corresponds to the insufficient shelf stock in the facility associated with the perishable item;
determine that there is an existing stock of the perishable item in the facility, wherein the existing stock of the perishable item is not the shelf stock or the received shipment;
retrieve, from the database, a location of the existing stock of the perishable item in the facility;
transmit, to the mobile inventory processing device, a third indication corresponding to the location of the existing stock in the facility and an instruction to transfer the existing stock to a retail area of the facility; and
transmit, to the mobile inventory processing device, a fourth indication corresponding to an instruction to store the perishable item in the received shipment in a storage area of the facility.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification output device is one selected from a group of an auditory output device and a haptic feedback device.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the auditory output device is a speaker, the second indication comprises an audible indication, and the audible indication comprises a double beep.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile inventory processing device further comprises a display device configured to display the location of the existing stock of the perishable item.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the real time shelf stock inventory value is based at least in part on an aggregate of point of sale transactions for the perishable item.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine readable code further encodes historical location information associated with the shipment of the perishable item.

7 . A method for dynamic replenishment in a facility comprising:
electronically reading, by a mobile inventory processing device comprising an electronic reader and a notification output device, a machine readable code forming a product tag affixed to packaging of a perishable item upon receipt of a shipment of the perishable item, the machine readable code encoding an identification of the perishable item wherein the mobile inventory processing device comprises one or more sensors, and a notification output device; transmitting, by the mobile inventory processing device to a stock inventory processing device, a first indication identifying the perishable item associated with the received shipment based on the machine readable code forming the product tag; receiving, by the stock inventory processing device from the mobile inventory processing device, the first indication identifying the perishable item associated with the received shipment; retrieving, by the stock inventory processing device from a database, a real time shelf stock inventory value corresponding to the perishable item identified in the first indication; retrieving, by the stock inventory processing device from the database, a historic daily sales value corresponding to the perishable item; determining, by the stock inventory processing device, a restocking value based on whether the historic daily sales value exceeds the real time shelf stock inventory value; transmitting, by the stock inventory processing device to the mobile inventory processing device, a second indication, wherein the second indication corresponds to an insufficient shelf stock in the facility associated with the perishable item; receiving, by the mobile inventory device from the stock inventory processing device, the second indication corresponding to the insufficient shelf stock in the facility associated with the perishable item, wherein the second indication comprises a notification indication; determining, by the stock inventory processing device, that there is an existing stock of the perishable item in the facility, wherein the existing stock of the perishable item is not the shelf stock or the received shipment; retrieving, by the stock inventory processing device from the database, a location of the existing stock of the perishable item in the facility; transmitting, by the stock inventory processing device to the mobile inventory processing device, a third indication corresponding to the location of the existing stock in the facility and an instruction to transfer the existing stock to a retail area of the facility; and transmitting, by the stock inventory processing device to the mobile inventory processing device, a fourth indication corresponding to an instruction to store the perishable item in the received shipment in a storage area of the facility.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the notification output device is one selected from a group of an auditory output device and a haptic feedback device.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the auditory output device is a speaker, the second indication comprises an audible indication, and the audible indication comprises a double beep.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the mobile computing device further comprises a display device configured to display the location of the existing stock of the perishable item.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the real time shelf stock inventory value is based at least in part on an aggregate of point of sale transactions for the perishable item.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the machine readable code further encodes historical location information associated with the shipment of the perishable item.

13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for dynamic replenishment in a facility, having stored thereon, instructions that when executed in a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
electronically reading, by a mobile inventory processing device comprising an electronic reader and a notification output device, a machine readable code forming a product tag affixed to packaging of a perishable item upon receipt of a shipment the perishable item, the machine readable code encoding an identification of the perishable item; transmitting a first indi

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Taylor Robert James
• Scobey Leigh Ann Marie
• Alexander Matthew D
• Cruz Jeffrey Scott
• Billings Lacrecia Lynn
• Hendricks Joseph Wayne

Classifications

• G06K19/06

  characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code · CPC title

• B65G1/1373

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title

• G06K2019/06253

  for a specific application · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

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

• G06Q10/06315 Primary

  Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis · CPC title