System and method for automatically releasing collections of goods for shipment
First Claim
1. A method for shipping items from a distribution facility according to customer orders, the method comprising:
- determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order;
determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;
in response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, automatically determining whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items; and
in response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, automatically transporting the requested items to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for shipping items from a distribution facility according to customer orders may include a step of determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order. The method may also include a step of determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment. In response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, a determination may be made as to whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items. In response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, the requested items may be automatically transported to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares.
16 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for shipping items from a distribution facility according to customer orders, the method comprising:
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determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order;
determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;
in response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, automatically determining whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items; and
in response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, automatically transporting the requested items to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A distribution facility that ships items according to customer orders, the distribution facility comprising:
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two or more pallet-build squares;
a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) dock; and
a control system that;
determines that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order;
determines that the requested items are to be a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;
in response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, automatically determines whether sufficient pallet-build squares among the two or more pallet-build squares are available to accommodate the requested items; and
in response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, automatically transports the requested items to the LTL dock via one or more of the available pallet-build squares. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A manufacturing facility comprising:
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an assembly unit that assembles products according to customer orders a distribution facility that includes;
two or more pallet-build squares;
a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) dock; and
a control system that;
determines that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order;
determines that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;
in response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, automatically determines whether sufficient pallet-build squares among the two or more pallet-build squares are available to accommodate the requested items; and
in response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, automatically transports the requested items to the LTL dock via one or more of the available pallet-build squares, the requested items including assembled products from the assembly unit.
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10. One or more computer-usable media including encoded logic for use in a distribution facility that ships items according to customer orders, the encoded logic comprising logic that performs the steps of:
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determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order;
determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;
automatically determining whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items; and
automatically transporting the requested items to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. A data processing system for use in a distribution facility that ships items according to customer orders, the data processing system comprising:
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processing resources; and
instructions that, when executed by the processing resources, perform the steps of;
determining that the distribution facility contains all items requested in a customer order;
determining that the requested items are a less-than-trailer-load (LTL) shipment;
in response to determining that the distribution facility contains the requested items, automatically determining whether sufficient pallet-build squares are available in the distribution facility to accommodate the requested items; and
in response to determining that sufficient pallet-build squares are available, automatically transporting the requested items to an LTL dock in the distribution facility via one or more of the available pallet-build squares.
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Specification