System and method for visual verification of item processing
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- picking one or more already-finished inventory items from a finished inventory item storage area of an order fulfillment center, wherein when stored in the finished inventory item storage area, each of the one or more already-finished inventory items is ready for insertion into a final shipping container addressed for shipment to a customer to fulfill a customer order ordering the already-finished inventory item as stored in the inventory item storage area, wherein the one or more already-finished inventory items are already stored in the finished inventory item storage area of the order fulfillment center when the customer order is received at the order fulfillment center;
processing the one or more already-finished inventory items at a processing station of the order fulfillment center to fulfill an order from a customer for the one or more finished inventory items;
capturing one or more images of the one or more already-finished inventory items being processed at the processing station;
making one or more of the one or more captured images available electronically over a network, wherein the one or more of the one or more captured images are randomly accessible over the network; and
reviewing one or more of the available images to verify correct application of one or more quality assurance policies for the one or more already-finished inventory items.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Images may be captured of items being processed at a processing station of an order fulfillment center and made available electronically for review to verify quality assurance polices for the items. Alternatively, a short video clip may be captured of the items being processed. The images may be made electronically available for review from remote locations. The images may be associated with a customer order and the images may be reviewed to ensure that the order has been correctly processed. The processing station may be a shipping station and the images may be reviewed to ensure adherence to shipping quality assurance policies. The processing station may also be a receiving station and the images reviewed for defects in the shipping container or the items. The items may be associated with a returned customer order and the images may be reviewed to verify the validity of a customer complaint.
167 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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picking one or more already-finished inventory items from a finished inventory item storage area of an order fulfillment center, wherein when stored in the finished inventory item storage area, each of the one or more already-finished inventory items is ready for insertion into a final shipping container addressed for shipment to a customer to fulfill a customer order ordering the already-finished inventory item as stored in the inventory item storage area, wherein the one or more already-finished inventory items are already stored in the finished inventory item storage area of the order fulfillment center when the customer order is received at the order fulfillment center; processing the one or more already-finished inventory items at a processing station of the order fulfillment center to fulfill an order from a customer for the one or more finished inventory items; capturing one or more images of the one or more already-finished inventory items being processed at the processing station; making one or more of the one or more captured images available electronically over a network, wherein the one or more of the one or more captured images are randomly accessible over the network; and reviewing one or more of the available images to verify correct application of one or more quality assurance policies for the one or more already-finished inventory items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system, comprising:
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an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of one or more already-finished inventory items being processed, without modifying the one or more already-finished inventory items themselves, at a processing station of an order fulfillment center to fulfill an order from a customer for the one or more finished inventory items, wherein each of the one or more already-finished inventory items is ready for insertion into a final shipping container addressed for shipment to a customer to fulfill a customer order ordering the already-finished inventory item, wherein the one or more already-finished inventory items are already stored in the finished inventory item storage area of the order fulfillment center when the customer order is received at the order fulfillment center; and a computer system, coupled to the image capture device, configured to; make one or more of the one or more captured images available electronically over a network for review to verify correct application of one or more quality assurance policies for the one or more already-finished inventory items, wherein the one or more of the one or more captured images are randomly accessible over the network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A tangible computer accessible storage medium storing program instructions computer-executable to implement:
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capturing one or more images of one or more already-finished inventory items being processed, without modifying the one or more already-finished inventory items themselves, at a processing station of an order fulfillment center to fulfill an order from a customer for the one or more finished inventory items, wherein each of the one or more already-finished inventory items is ready for insertion into a final shipping container addressed for shipment to a customer to fulfill a customer order ordering the already-finished inventory item, wherein the one or more already-finished inventory items are already stored in the finished inventory item storage area of the order fulfillment center when the customer order is received at the order fulfillment center; making one or more of the one or more captured images available electronically over a network for review to verify correct application of one or more quality assurance policies for the one or more already-finished inventory items, wherein the one or more of the one or more captured images are randomly accessible over the network. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification