System and method for providing visual aids

• US 20070142961A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Venkata Sukhavasi, Nanda, Bhasin, Vijaya
• Application Number:
  US11/312,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/216
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a visual aid for a picking operation. In one embodiment, a process is disclosed that includes capturing an image of a storage structure and associating an item to the captured image of the storage structure. The process may further include associating a task corresponding to the picking operation with the storage structure and receiving a request to provide a visual aid for the task and the storage structure. To fulfill the request for the visual aid, the process may generate the visual aid based on the image of the storage structure and then display the visual aid.

Claims

1. A method for providing a visual aid for a picking operation, comprising:

capturing an image of a storage structure;

associating an item to the captured image of the storage structure;

associating a task corresponding to the picking operation with the storage structure;

receiving a request to provide a visual aid for the task and the storage structure;

generating the visual aid based on the image of the storage structure; and

displaying the visual aid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the image of the storage structure includes capturing a physical layout of the storage structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the task to the storage structure includes locating an item associated with the task, locating the storage structure holding the item, and locating the captured image of the storage structure based on the association between the item and the task.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request to provide the visual aid for the task and the storage structure includes receiving identification of the task and the storage structure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the visual aid includes modifying the captured image of the storage structure, and generating the visual aid based on the modification.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying the captured image includes overlaying an operation instruction on the identified image.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the operation instruction includes data identifying a quantity of the item to be picked from the storage structure.

8. A visual aid system comprising:

a storage unit including a database; and

a processor configured to;

collect images of storage racks, each storage rack including bins holding respective items,

associate a task with a first image data of a first storage rack with a second image data of a first storage bin holding first items within the first storage bin, and

generate a visual aid for the task including the first and second image data such that a display is generated showing a real image of the first storage rack, the first bin, and first items along with an instruction corresponding to the task.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to capture images of a storage rack including capturing a physical layout of a storage rack.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to locate an item associated with the task, locate the storage rack holding the item, and locate the captured image of the storage rack based on the association between the item and the task.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to receive a request to provide a visual aid for a task or a storage rack.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to modify the second image of the first storage bin and generate the visual aid based on the modification.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to modify the second image by overlaying an operation instruction on the second image.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operation instruction includes data identifying a quantity of the item to be picked from the first storage bin.

15. A system for providing a visual aid for a picking operation, comprising:

means for capturing an image of a storage structure;

means for associating an item to the captured image of the storage structure;

means for associating a task corresponding to the picking operation with the storage structure;

means for receiving a request to provide a visual aid for the task and the storage structure;

means for generating the visual aid based on the image of the storage structure; and

means for displaying the visual aid.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for capturing the image of the storage structure includes means for capturing a physical layout of the storage structure.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for associating the task to the storage structure includes means for locating an item associated with the task, means for locating the storage structure holding the item, and means for locating the captured image of the storage structure based on the association between the item and the task.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving the request to provide a visual aid for the task and the storage structure includes means for receiving identification of the task and the storage structure.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for generating the visual aid includes means for modifying the captured image of the storage structure, and means for generating the visual aid based on the modification.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for modifying the captured image includes means for overlaying an operation instruction on the identified image.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the operation instruction includes data identifying a quantity of the item to be picked from the storage structure.