AUTOMATED-SERVICE RETAIL SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An automated store, comprising:
- a marketplace configured to present one or more non-fungible goods to a customer for selection;
an automated fulfillment section comprising;
an automated fulfillment system configured to receive an order of one or more fungible goods selected by the customer, the automated fulfillment system comprising;
a storage structure comprising a plurality of rack structures separated by aisles and having a plurality of storage levels, the storage structure configured to store a plurality of totes; and
at least one mobile robot capable of storing and retrieving totes from the storage structure;
wherein the automated fulfillment system picks the one or more fungible goods and places the one or more fungible goods into one or more order containers for delivery to the customer; and
a delivery section configured to deliver the one or more order containers from the automated fulfillment section to the customer or a delivery proxy.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combination automated-service and self-service store for implementation at brick-and-mortar retail locations is provided. The store and corresponding method of implementation is an automated-service model in which robots, deployed at the brick-and-mortar location, fill orders for fungible goods placed by customers either online or in-store. The store also includes a shopping section where customers can select/order items and/or personally select non-fungible goods. The store includes a shopping section for non-fungible goods that customers prefer to pick out by hand and a back end automated order fulfillment section for other goods (e.g., fungible goods, dry goods, etc.). The two sets of goods are merged to a delivery bundle and delivered together for pickup by the customer. The combination automated-service and self-service store combines the convenience of online shopping and self-service shopping using an unconventional approach that reduces costs for the retailer and simultaneously increases customer satisfaction.
59 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An automated store, comprising:
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a marketplace configured to present one or more non-fungible goods to a customer for selection; an automated fulfillment section comprising; an automated fulfillment system configured to receive an order of one or more fungible goods selected by the customer, the automated fulfillment system comprising; a storage structure comprising a plurality of rack structures separated by aisles and having a plurality of storage levels, the storage structure configured to store a plurality of totes; and at least one mobile robot capable of storing and retrieving totes from the storage structure; wherein the automated fulfillment system picks the one or more fungible goods and places the one or more fungible goods into one or more order containers for delivery to the customer; and a delivery section configured to deliver the one or more order containers from the automated fulfillment section to the customer or a delivery proxy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for automated order fulfillment at an automated store, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one order for one or more goods from a customer or a proxy for the customer; dispatching one or more robots to pull a product container containing the one or more goods from inventory and to deliver the product container to a workstation; transferring the one or more goods at the workstation from the product container to an order container associated with the at least one order; and delivering the order container to the customer or a delivery proxy. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A system for implementing an automated store service model, the system comprising:
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an order processing tool configured to receive at least one order from at least one customer or a proxy for the customer; a non-fungible goods fulfillment tool configured to tally one or more non-fungible goods hand-picked by the at least one customer or a proxy picker; an automated service fulfillment tool configured to instruct automated robots to pick one or more fungible goods included within the at least one order.
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19. A method of shopping at an automated store, the method comprising:
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placing an order for one or more fungible goods for automated fulfillment utilizing a shopping terminal; collecting and tallying the one or more non-fungible goods in a non-fungible goods fulfillment section; and receiving the order of one or more fungible goods. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27)
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24. An automated store, comprising:
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a shopping section comprising; one or more shopping terminals configured to enable customers to browse and select one or more fungible goods for fulfillment by an automated fulfillment system; a non-fungible goods fulfillment section configured to enable the customers to browse and select one or more non-fungible goods; a fulfillment section, comprising; the automated fulfillment system that picks the one or more fungible goods for delivery to the customers; and a delivery fulfillment section where the one or more fungible goods are delivered by the automated fulfillment system to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers.
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25. An automated store, comprising:
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a shopping section comprising; input devices configured to enable customers to browse and select one or more fungible goods for fulfillment by an automated fulfillment system; a non-fungible goods fulfillment section configured to enable the customers to browse and select one or more non-fungible goods; a fulfillment section, comprising; the automated fulfillment system that picks the selected one or more fungible goods for delivery to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers; and a delivery fulfillment section where the one or more fungible goods are delivered to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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30. An automated store, comprising:
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a shopping section comprising a customer shopping area in which customers or a proxy picker select one or more goods for purchase; and a fulfillment section comprising an automated fulfillment system configured to pick at least some of the selected one or more goods for delivery to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers at the automated store.
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35. An automated store, comprising:
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a first identifier associated with a non-fungible good; a scale for weighing the non-fungible good; a second identifier associated with the scale; an input device for capturing the first and second identifiers; and a processor configured to; associate the first and second identifiers; determine a price of the non-fungible good from the first identifier, the second identifier and the association of the first and second identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification