Attribute-based container selection for inventory
First Claim
1. An inventory system, comprising:
- one or more sensors configured to sense at least one physical attribute of an incoming inventory item;
a first destination container containing a first selection of inventory items;
at least one processor; and
at least one tangible memory device storing non-transitory instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to;
obtain incoming item attribute data for the incoming inventory item, via the one or more sensors, indicative of the at least one physical attribute of the incoming inventory item;
retrieve first destination container attribute data indicative of the at least one physical attribute for each inventory item of the first selection of inventory items contained in the first destination container; and
assess, based on the incoming item attribute data and the first destination container attribute data, whether the incoming inventory item is detectably distinguishable with respect to the first selection of inventory items to enable automated selection of the incoming inventory item from among the first selection of inventory items in the first destination container if the incoming inventory item is stored together with the first selection of inventory items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of placing inventory can include accessing a data store to retrieve item attribute data of an inventory item to be placed, comparing the item attribute data of the inventory item to attribute data corresponding to each respective inventory item in a collection of potential destination containers, and selecting a particular destination container for storage based on that comparison in order to maximize the relative distinctiveness of items stored together. The storage method results in pseudo-random storage of inventory in containers where each item is more readily identifiable from each other item in the same container, particularly by automated means, and can be used in conjunction with an automated or partially automated inventory storage and retrieval system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An inventory system, comprising:
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one or more sensors configured to sense at least one physical attribute of an incoming inventory item; a first destination container containing a first selection of inventory items; at least one processor; and at least one tangible memory device storing non-transitory instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to; obtain incoming item attribute data for the incoming inventory item, via the one or more sensors, indicative of the at least one physical attribute of the incoming inventory item; retrieve first destination container attribute data indicative of the at least one physical attribute for each inventory item of the first selection of inventory items contained in the first destination container; and assess, based on the incoming item attribute data and the first destination container attribute data, whether the incoming inventory item is detectably distinguishable with respect to the first selection of inventory items to enable automated selection of the incoming inventory item from among the first selection of inventory items in the first destination container if the incoming inventory item is stored together with the first selection of inventory items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of placing inventory, the method comprising:
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accessing a data store to retrieve item attribute data for an incoming inventory item, the item attribute data indicative of at least one physical attribute of the incoming inventory item; accessing attribute data indicative of the at least one physical attribute for each inventory item stored in a first destination container; accessing attribute data indicative of the at least one physical attribute for each inventory item stored in a second destination container; comparing the item attribute data for the incoming inventory item to the attribute data for the inventory items stored in the first destination container; comparing the item attribute data for the incoming inventory item to the attribute data for the inventory items stored in the second destination container; and selecting the first destination container for placement of the inventory item by determining, based in part on the item attribute data for the incoming inventory item and the attribute data for the inventory items stored in the first and second destination containers, that the incoming inventory item is detectably distinguishable with respect to the inventory items stored in the first destination container to enable automated selection of the incoming inventory item from among the inventory items stored in the first destination container. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An inventory system, comprising:
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a first destination container a second destination container; and a management component comprising a processor and a tangible memory device storing non-transitory instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to, at least; obtain incoming item attribute data for an incoming inventory item indicative of at least two distinct physical attributes of the incoming inventory item; access attribute data indicative of the at least one physical attribute for each inventory item stored in a first destination container; access attribute data indicative of the at least one physical attribute for each inventory item stored in a second destination container; determine first destination container distinctness values for the incoming inventory item, each of the first destination container distinctiveness values being indicative of the distinctness of the incoming inventory items relative to a respective one of the inventory items stored in the first destination container; determine a first cumulative distinctness value for the incoming inventory item relative to the inventory items stored in the first destination container based on the first destination container distinctness values; determine second destination container distinctness values for the incoming inventory item, each of the second destination container distinctiveness values being indicative of the distinctness of the incoming inventory items relative to a respective one of the inventory items stored in the second destination container; determine a second cumulative distinctness value for the incoming inventory item relative to the inventory items stored in the second destination container based on the second destination container distinctness values; select one of the first and second destination containers for placement of the inventory item based in part on one or more of the first and second cumulative distinctness values. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification