INVENTORY DISTRIBUTION METHOD AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,receiving an instruction to deliver a plurality of selected items to a distribution agent for pre-stocking a kiosk in a plurality of geographically distributed kiosks, wherein the distribution agent is assigned to pre-stock the kiosk;
instructing delivery of the plurality of items to the distribution agent for pre-stocking the kiosk;
receiving information that an item has been requested that is excluded from the plurality of selected items with which the kiosk was pre-stocked by the distribution agent;
identifying a source for the requested item that is excluded;
instructing delivery of the requested item from the source to the distribution agent so that the distribution agent can stock the requested item in the kiosk; and
updating inventory information for the kiosk.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory distribution system and method of providing a plurality of items to a plurality of kiosks is provided. The inventory distribution system may maintain and update a plurality of inventory records associated with the plurality of items provided by the plurality of kiosks, which can be used to determine and update quantities of the plurality of items at specific kiosks. To provide the plurality of items to the plurality of kiosks, the inventory distribution system can provide deliveries to a plurality of distribution agents, where the distribution agents are assigned to a subset of kiosks to maintain and distribute one or more select items to the subset of kiosks.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, receiving an instruction to deliver a plurality of selected items to a distribution agent for pre-stocking a kiosk in a plurality of geographically distributed kiosks, wherein the distribution agent is assigned to pre-stock the kiosk; instructing delivery of the plurality of items to the distribution agent for pre-stocking the kiosk; receiving information that an item has been requested that is excluded from the plurality of selected items with which the kiosk was pre-stocked by the distribution agent; identifying a source for the requested item that is excluded; instructing delivery of the requested item from the source to the distribution agent so that the distribution agent can stock the requested item in the kiosk; and updating inventory information for the kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, generating an instruction to deliver a plurality of selected items to a distribution agent in a plurality of distribution agents, wherein the distribution agent is assigned to distribute the plurality of selected items to a plurality of kiosks; receiving information that an item has been requested that is excluded from the plurality of selected items distributed to the plurality of kiosks by the distribution agent; identifying a source for the requested item excluded from the plurality of selected items; generating an instruction to deliver the requested item to the distribution agent for further distribution of the requested item to a selected kiosk; and updating inventory information for the selected kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a data store configured to store inventory information for a plurality of items; and a computing device comprising a processor device and a memory, the computing device in communication with the data store and configured to at least; receive a selection of items to be stored in a plurality of kiosks, wherein the items were selected for storage in the kiosks based at least in part on at least one of the inventory information, transaction history information, and kiosk information; select a subset of kiosks in the plurality of kiosks in which to store the items; identify a distribution agent assigned to the subset of kiosks; transmit a delivery message to the distribution agent, the delivery message identifying the subset of kiosks, and identifying the selection of items and a quantity for each of the items to be distributed to each kiosk in the subset of kiosks; instruct delivery of the quantity for each of the items to the distribution agent; receive a message from the distribution agent confirming distribution of the selection of items to a kiosk of the subset of kiosks; and update the inventory information for the kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer system, configure the computer system to perform operations comprising:
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for each of a plurality kiosks located in a geographic area, maintaining inventory information for a plurality of items stored in the kiosk, wherein the plurality of items were selected for storage in the kiosk based at least in part on at least one of the inventory information, transaction history information, and kiosk information; and
wherein the plurality of items were distributed to the kiosk by a distribution agent assigned to the kiosk based at least in part on the geographic area;when an item of the plurality of items stored in the kiosk is purchased, and retrieved by a consumer from the kiosk, updating the inventory information for the kiosk to reflect that the item is no longer stored in the kiosk; and transmitting the updated inventory information to a kiosk management system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification