Pre-order delivery of items to a pickup location
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- under control of one or more computing devices configured with executable instructions, receiving, from an electronic device of a customer, an order for an item, wherein;
a first instance of the item is contained in an interior space of a compartment of a plurality of compartments of a pickup location prior to the order being received; and
a second instance of the item is available to be transported to a delivery destination;
messaging to the electronic device a first option for the item to be transported to a delivery destination;
determining a location associated with the customer;
in response to determining that the location associated with the customer and the pickup location are within a geographic range of one another, messaging to the electronic device of the customer a second option for the item to be available for pickup at the pickup location;
determining that the second option has been selected by the customer;
restricting access to the interior space of the compartment containing the first instance of the item by the customer until a release day for the item; and
selectively disengaging, at least in part by a control station of the pickup location, a locking mechanism of the compartment containing the first instance of the item to provide the customer with access to the interior space of the compartment containing the first instance of the item on or after the release day for the item.
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Abstract
A pickup location that includes a control station and one or more storage compartment modules provides the ability for items to be ordered and delivered for pickup by a user without having to pack those items in a shipping package prior to shipping from a materials handling facility. Delivering items for pickup by a user without having to package the items prior to shipping, may provide a better experience for the customer, reduce waste in packaging material and a lower cost of delivering the ordered items to the customer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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under control of one or more computing devices configured with executable instructions, receiving, from an electronic device of a customer, an order for an item, wherein; a first instance of the item is contained in an interior space of a compartment of a plurality of compartments of a pickup location prior to the order being received; and a second instance of the item is available to be transported to a delivery destination; messaging to the electronic device a first option for the item to be transported to a delivery destination; determining a location associated with the customer; in response to determining that the location associated with the customer and the pickup location are within a geographic range of one another, messaging to the electronic device of the customer a second option for the item to be available for pickup at the pickup location; determining that the second option has been selected by the customer; restricting access to the interior space of the compartment containing the first instance of the item by the customer until a release day for the item; and selectively disengaging, at least in part by a control station of the pickup location, a locking mechanism of the compartment containing the first instance of the item to provide the customer with access to the interior space of the compartment containing the first instance of the item on or after the release day for the item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11)
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6. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
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receiving an order for an item from an electronic device of a customer, wherein; a first instance of the item is at a pickup location prior to the order being received; a second instance of the item is available to be transported to a delivery destination; and the pickup location has a plurality of storage compartments; messaging to the electronic device a first option for the item to be transported to the delivery destination; determining a location associated with the customer; in response to determining that the location associated with the customer and a location of the pickup location are within a geographic range of one another, messaging the electronic device a second option for the item to be available for pickup at the pickup location; determining that the item is to be retrieved from the pickup location based at least in part on a selection of the second option; causing access to an interior space of a storage compartment containing the first instance of the item to be restricted until a release day for the item; causing a locking mechanism of the storage compartment containing the first instance of the item to be selectively disengaged, at least in part by a control station of the pickup location, to provide access to the interior space of the storage compartment containing the first instance of the item on or after the release day for the item. - View Dependent Claims (7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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8. A computing system comprising:
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one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least; receive, prior to a release day, an order for a release day item from an electronic device of a customer, wherein; a first instance of the release day item is contained in an interior space of a storage compartment of a plurality of storage compartments of a pickup location prior to the release day for the release day item; a second instance of the release day item is available to be transported to a delivery destination; and the release day is a date when the release day item is available to customers; message the electronic device a first option for the release day item to be transported to the delivery destination; determine a location associated with the customer; determine that the location associated with the customer and a location of the pickup location are within a geographic range of one another; message the electronic device of the customer a second option for the release day item to be available for pickup at the pickup location on or after the release day; determine that the first instance of the release day item is to be retrieved from the pickup location based at least in part on a selection of the second option; cause access to the interior space of the storage compartment containing the first instance of the release day item to be restricted until the release day; associate the order with the storage compartment containing the first instance of the release day item; and cause a locking mechanism of the storage compartment containing the first instance of the release day item to be selectively disengaged, at least in part by a control station of the pickup location, to provide access to the interior space of the storage compartment containing the first instance of the release day item on or after the release day for the release day item. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification