SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FILLING AN ORDER
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
24 Citations
39 Claims
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1-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. A method of filling inventory requests, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A management module operable to:
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transmit one or more tasks to a plurality of mobile drive units; determine to transmit a high priority task based on a determination that a trigger event associated with the high priority task has occurred; select, from the plurality of mobile drive units, a first mobile drive unit to complete the high priority task based on a determination that a first time to complete the high priority task by the first mobile drive unit is less than a second time to complete the high priority task by a second mobile drive unit; and transmit an interrupt message to the first mobile drive unit, wherein the first mobile drive unit, in response to receiving the interrupt message, ceases to perform its current task and begins to perform the high priority task. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A mobile drive unit, comprising:
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one or more actuators; one or more wireless interfaces operable to receive wireless instructions from a management module; and one or more processing units operable to; receive a first instruction from the management module via the one or more wireless interfaces, wherein the first instruction has a first priority; determine, based on analyzing the first instruction, to initiate a first task associated with the first instruction; receive a second instruction from the management module via the one or more wireless interfaces, wherein the second instruction has a second priority; based on comparing the first and second priorities, determine that the second instruction has a higher priority than the first instruction; interrupt progress on the first task; and initiate a second task associated with the second instruction, wherein the second task involves controlling the one or more actuators to transport an order holder from a first location to a second location. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification