PICKUP LOCATIONS AS A TRANSFER POINT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- under control of one or more computing devices configured with executable instructions,receiving from a customer a request to purchase an item and a delivery destination for the purchased item;
identifying an automated pickup location at which the item may be delivered and stored for retrieval;
initiating transport of the item from a materials handling facility to the identified automated pickup location;
providing instructions at the automated pickup location to store the item at the automated pickup location; and
identifying a carrier at the automated pickup location and providing access to the item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pickup location that includes a control station and one or more storage compartment modules provides the ability for items to be ordered and delivered for pickup by a user without having to pack those items in a shipping package prior to shipping from a materials handling facility. Delivering items for pickup by a user without having to package the items prior to shipping, may provide a better experience for the customer, reduce waste in packaging material and a lower cost of delivering the ordered items to the customer.
51 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
under control of one or more computing devices configured with executable instructions, receiving from a customer a request to purchase an item and a delivery destination for the purchased item; identifying an automated pickup location at which the item may be delivered and stored for retrieval; initiating transport of the item from a materials handling facility to the identified automated pickup location; providing instructions at the automated pickup location to store the item at the automated pickup location; and identifying a carrier at the automated pickup location and providing access to the item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
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receiving instructions fulfill an item to a destination; determining a normal cost to fulfill the item to the destination, wherein the normal cost includes an estimated cost to transport the item from a materials handling facility to the destination using a carrier; identifying a pickup location within a geographic range of the destination; determining a transfer cost to fulfill the item to the destination, wherein the transfer cost includes an estimated cost to transport the item from the materials handling facility to the identified pickup location and to transport the item from the identified pickup location to the destination; and selecting to transport the item from the materials handling facility to the identified pickup location and to transport the item from the identified pickup location to the destination if the determined transfer cost is less than or equal to the determined normal cost. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
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receiving instructions to fulfill a first item with a first destination within a geographic range of an automated pickup location; identifying instructions to fulfill a second item with a second destination of the automated pickup location; causing the first item and the second item to be picked from a materials handling facility; and initiating transport of the first item and the second item to the automated pickup location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for enabling receive of a transfer container at an automated pickup location, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to:
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identify the transfer container at the automated pickup location, wherein the transfer container is associated with a delivery destination within a geographic region of the automated pickup location, and wherein an item located in the transfer container is scheduled for delivery to a destination other than the pickup location; determine a location at the automated pickup location to store the transfer container; provide instructions for placing the transfer container in the determined location; and confirm placement of the transfer container in the determined location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification