Container Selection in a Materials Handling Facility
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of selecting a container for shipping an item, comprising:
- under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,identifying a materials handling facility with inventory that includes the item;
identifying a standard container available at the materials handling facility for shipping the item, the standard container identified at least in part based upon physical characteristics associated with the item;
determining custom container dimension values for forming at the materials handling facility a custom container for shipping the item, the custom container dimension values dependent at least in part upon the physical characteristics associated with the item;
determining a standard container total fulfillment cost for shipping the item using the identified standard container;
determining a custom container total fulfillment cost for shipping the item using a container having the custom container dimension values;
if the standard container total fulfillment cost is more than the custom container total fulfillment cost;
forming a custom container having a size large enough to contain the item;
selecting the formed custom container for shipping the item; and
if the standard container total fulfillment cost is less than or equal to the custom container total fulfillment cost, selecting the standard container for shipping the item.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are systems and techniques for recommending custom containers in a materials handling facility dependent on physical characteristics of an item or group of items to be shipped and/or dependent upon estimated shipping costs. For example, the systems described herein may determine dimensions for forming a custom container within the materials handling facility that is capable of containing an item or group of items for shipment. The total cost to ship the item or group of items in the custom container or a standard container can also be determined and the container with the lowest total cost may be recommended for use in packaging the item or group of items for shipment.
77 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of selecting a container for shipping an item, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, identifying a materials handling facility with inventory that includes the item; identifying a standard container available at the materials handling facility for shipping the item, the standard container identified at least in part based upon physical characteristics associated with the item; determining custom container dimension values for forming at the materials handling facility a custom container for shipping the item, the custom container dimension values dependent at least in part upon the physical characteristics associated with the item; determining a standard container total fulfillment cost for shipping the item using the identified standard container; determining a custom container total fulfillment cost for shipping the item using a container having the custom container dimension values; if the standard container total fulfillment cost is more than the custom container total fulfillment cost; forming a custom container having a size large enough to contain the item; selecting the formed custom container for shipping the item; and if the standard container total fulfillment cost is less than or equal to the custom container total fulfillment cost, selecting the standard container for shipping the item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for enabling selection of a container for shipping an item package, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to:
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obtain an estimated standard container total fulfillment cost to ship the item package in a standard container; obtain an estimated custom container total fulfillment cost to ship the item package in a custom container; select the custom container for shipping the item package if the estimated custom container total fulfillment cost is less than the estimated standard container total fulfillment cost; and select the standard container for shipping the item package if the estimated standard container total fulfillment cost is less than the estimated custom container total fulfillment cost. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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; receive a request to ship a first item and a second item; determine at least a first item package and a second item package, each of the first item package and the second item package containing a different combination of the first item and the second item; identify a first materials handling facility and a second materials handling facility, each of the first materials handling facility and the second materials handling facility capable of shipping at least one of the first item package and the second item package; for each of the first item package and the second item package, obtain a container recommendation set for shipping the item package; if the item package can be shipped from the first materials handling facility, obtain a standard container transportation cost to ship the item package from the first materials handling facility in a standard container; obtain a custom container transportation cost to ship the item package from the first materials handling facility in a custom container; if the item package can be shipped from the second materials handling facility, obtain an estimated standard container transportation cost to ship the item package from the second materials handling facility; obtain an estimated custom container transportation cost to ship the item package from the second materials handling facility; and determine an estimated lowest total fulfillment cost combination to ship the first item and the second item based at least in part on the obtained estimated standard container transportation costs and obtained estimated custom container transportation costs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification