System and Method for Filling an Order

• US 20080167884A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kiva Systems, Inc (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mountz, Michael C., Wurman, Peter R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A method for fulfilling inventory requests includes receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item and selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder. The method further includes storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request and moving the order holder to a storage space. In addition, the method includes detecting a triggering event and in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the storage space.

Claims

1. A method for fulfilling inventory requests, comprising:

receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder;

storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request;

moving the order holder to a storage space;

detecting a triggering event; and

in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the storage space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an order requesting an inventory item comprises receiving an order requesting a plurality of inventory items.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder comprises selecting a plurality of requested inventory items from a plurality of inventory holders.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder comprises:

identifying an inventory holder storing the requested inventory item;

moving the identified inventory holder to a first location; and

selecting, at the first location, the requested inventory item from the identified inventory holder.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein

the order holder comprises a plurality of shipping containers;

storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises storing the requested inventory item in one of the shipping containers; and

retrieving the order holder from the storage space comprises;

in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the storage space; and

initiating shipment of the requested inventory item, wherein the requested is shipped in the shipping container.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the plurality of shipping containers in the order holder prior to receiving the inventory request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a destination indicated by the inventory request; and

storing the requested inventory item in the identified order holder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a shipping service indicated by the inventory request; and

storing the requested inventory item in the identified order holder.

5. The method of Clam 4, wherein moving the identified inventory holder to the first location comprises:

moving a mobile drive unit to the inventory holder;

docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder; and

moving the identified inventory holder to the first location.

10. A system for fulfilling inventory requests, comprising:

a plurality of inventory holders operable to store inventory items;

an order holder operable to store orders, wherein each order comprises one or more inventory items and is associated with a particular inventory request;

a plurality of mobile drive units operable to move the inventory holders and order holder within a workspace;

a management module operable to;

receive an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

instruct a first mobile drive unit to move an inventory holder storing the requested inventory item to a first location;

instruct a second mobile drive unit to move the order holder to the first location;

instruct the second mobile drive unit to move the order holder to a storage space within the workspace after the requested inventory item has been transferred from the inventory holder to the order holder;

detect a triggering event; and

in response to detecting a triggering event, instruct the mobile drive unit to retrieve the order holder from the storage space.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the management module is operable to receive an order requesting an inventory item by receiving an order requesting a plurality of inventory items.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the management module is operable to instruct a first mobile drive unit to move an inventory holder storing the requested inventory item to a first location by instructing a plurality of mobile drive units to move a plurality of inventory holders to the first location, wherein each of the plurality of inventory holders stores one or more of the requested inventory items.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the order holders holds a plurality of shipping containers operable to hold inventory items during shipping, and wherein the management module is operable to:

identify a shipping container in which the requested inventory item should be stored; and

instruct the second mobile drive unit to move the order holder by instructing the second mobile drive unit to move the order holder to a storage space after the requested inventory item has been transferred from the inventory holder to a particular shipping container.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the management module is operable to instruct the second mobile drive unit to move the order holder to the first location by:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a destination indicated by the inventory request; and

instructing the second mobile drive unit to move the identified order holder to the first location.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the management module is operable to instruct the second mobile drive unit to move the order holder to the first location by:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a shipping service indicated by the inventory request; and

instructing the second mobile drive unit to move the identified order holder to the first location.

13. The system of Clam 10, wherein the management module is operable to instruct the first mobile drive unit to move the inventory holder to the first location by instructing the mobile drive unit to:

move to the inventory holder;

dock with the inventory holder; and

move the inventory holder to the first location.

17. An apparatus for fulfilling inventory request, comprising:

a memory operable to store processor instructions; and

a processor operable, when executing the processor instructions, to receive an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

instruct a first mobile drive unit to move an inventory holder storing the requested inventory item to a first location;

instruct a second mobile drive unit to move the order holder to the first location;

instruct the second mobile drive unit to move the order holder to a storage space within the workspace after the requested inventory item has been transferred from the inventory holder to the order holder;

detect a triggering event; and

in response to detecting a triggering event, instruct the mobile drive unit to retrieve the order holder from the storage space.

18. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program operable when executed to:

receive an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

instruct a user to select the requested inventory item from an inventory holder;

instruct the user to store the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request;

instruct a mobile drive unit to move the order holder to a storage space;

detect a triggering event; and

in response to detecting the triggering event, instruct a mobile drive unit to retrieve the order holder from the storage space.

19. A system for fulfilling inventory requests, comprising:

means for receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

means for selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder;

means for storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request;

means for moving the order holder to a storage space;

means for detecting a triggering event; and

means for retrieving the order holder from the storage space in response to detecting the triggering event.

20. A method of filling inventory requests, comprising:

receiving a first inventory request requesting a first inventory item;

after receiving the first inventory request, receiving a second inventory request requesting a second inventory item;

initiating a first set of one or more tasks that are associated with filling the first inventory request;

initiating a second set of one or more tasks that are associated with filling the second inventory request;

detecting a trigger event associated with the second inventory request; and

in response to detecting the trigger event, prioritizing the second set of tasks so that at least one of the second set of tasks is completed prior to one or more tasks in the first set.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and

detecting a trigger event comprises receiving information indicating an arrival time for a transportation vehicle.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and

detecting a trigger event comprises detecting determining that the transportation vehicle has arrived.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and

detecting the trigger event comprises determining that a current time matches a scheduled arrival time for the transportation vehicle.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and

detecting the trigger event comprises determining that a current time matches is within a predetermined range of a scheduled arrival time for the transportation vehicle.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein:

at least one of the first set of tasks comprises storing the first inventory item in a first order holder; and

at least one of the second set of tasks comprises storing the second inventory item in a second order holder.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein:

at least one of the first set of tasks comprises moving an order holder storing the first inventory item to a shipping station; and

at least one of the second set of tasks comprises moving an order holder storing the second inventory item to the shipping station.