ROBOTIC AD HOC NETWORK
First Claim
1. An inventory system, comprising:
- a workstation configured for performance of a task related to one or more inventory items associated with an inventory holder when the inventory holder is positioned at the workstation;
a local area network configured to connect the workstation with one or more mobile drive units within a connectivity range from the workstation;
a management system configured to provide instructions to the one or more mobile drive units in relation to the one or more inventory items;
a mobile drive unit comprising;
a processor; and
a memory comprising instructions that, when executed with the processor, cause the mobile drive unit to, at least;
receive, from the management system, a set of instructions that comprises an indication of the workstation and a subset of instructions to be executed by the workstation with respect to the one or more inventory items;
traverse along a route determined based on the set of instructions;
connect to the local area network as the mobile drive unit enters a proximity of the workstation associated with the local area network; and
upon determining that the mobile drive unit is connected to the local area network associated with the workstation, provide the subset of instructions to the workstation via the local area network, the subset of instructions causing the workstation to perform the task related to one or more inventory items.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein is system in which separate networks are operated on behalf of system components associated within an inventory system. Mobile drive units may receive initial instructions from a central authority and may identify a number of system components relevant to the provided instructions. The mobile drive unit may be configured to traverse to locations associated with the identified system components. As the mobile drive unit traverses the inventory floor, it may connect to the separate networks that it comes into contact with. Upon connecting to a network associated with a system component relevant to its set of instructions, the mobile drive unit may provide instructions to the system component to cause it to execute an action. In some embodiments, the mobile drive unit may connect to a system component in order to perform a route guidance algorithm and/or collision avoidance algorithm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inventory system, comprising:
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a workstation configured for performance of a task related to one or more inventory items associated with an inventory holder when the inventory holder is positioned at the workstation; a local area network configured to connect the workstation with one or more mobile drive units within a connectivity range from the workstation; a management system configured to provide instructions to the one or more mobile drive units in relation to the one or more inventory items; a mobile drive unit comprising; a processor; and a memory comprising instructions that, when executed with the processor, cause the mobile drive unit to, at least; receive, from the management system, a set of instructions that comprises an indication of the workstation and a subset of instructions to be executed by the workstation with respect to the one or more inventory items; traverse along a route determined based on the set of instructions; connect to the local area network as the mobile drive unit enters a proximity of the workstation associated with the local area network; and upon determining that the mobile drive unit is connected to the local area network associated with the workstation, provide the subset of instructions to the workstation via the local area network, the subset of instructions causing the workstation to perform the task related to one or more inventory items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by a mobile drive unit, a set of instructions that includes an indication of a system component and a component instruction to be executed by the system component, the component instruction configured to cause the system component to perform at least one action; traversing, by the mobile drive unit, to the system component; while traversing, establishing a connection between the mobile drive unit and a local area network as the mobile drive unit enters a proximity of the system component; and transmitting the component instruction over the first local area network to cause the system component to perform the at least one action. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A mobile drive unit apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory including instructions that, when executed with the processor, cause the mobile drive unit apparatus to, at least; receive a set of instructions that comprises an indication of at least one system component and an action to be executed by the at least one system component; traverse to the at least one system component in accordance with the received set of instructions; detect that the mobile drive unit is within transmission range of a local area network of a plurality of local area networks; connect to the local area network to determine a system component with which the local area network is associated; and upon determining that the system component that the local area network is associated with comprises the at least one system component, provide instructions to the at least one system component to execute the action with respect to at least one inventory item. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification