Targeted product distribution system and method

• US 8,116,905 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pandit, Vinayak, Amend, Brian, Chin, Louie, Elliott, Jeffrey, Emery, Kathy, Hasija, Gaurav, Isidoro, Maureen, Ng, Lionel, Peterson, Doug, Steffen, Todd, Sullivan, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Ramya
• Application Number:
  US12/358,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20090234493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 700/213, 700/222, 700/230, 700/216
• US Class Current: 700/216
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0485 Check-in, check-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Claims

1. A method of receiving, conveying, storing and shipping products within a distribution center, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a product arrival signal at a central computer indicating that products to be received have arrived;

transmitting from the central computer a first conveying signal for conveying the products to a check-in workstation for automatically conveying and storing the products in the distribution center;

receiving object identifier information originating from an object identifier located on the products from at least one of a bed scanner, a handheld scanner, a keyboard and a touch-screen monitor;

storing the object identifier information in a database associated with the central computer;

generating at the central computer a second conveying signal for conveying the products to at least one subsequent location within the distribution center, the subsequent location determined by parameters uploaded into the database, wherein the parameters comprise characteristics of the products and guidelines stored in the database which are at least in part based on the characteristics of products;

transmitting the second conveying signal for conveying the products to the at least one subsequent location;

receiving a second product arrival signal at the central computer indicating when the products have arrived at the at least one subsequent location;

generating at the central computer a first set of instructions for use in instructing a user to perform at least one task related to the products, the first set of instructions determined by parameters inputted and stored in the database relating to the at least one task;

transmitting the first set of instructions to the at least one subsequent location, for displaying the first set of instructions on a second touch-screen monitor in communication with the central computer;

receiving a first completion signal at the central computer indicating that the user has completed the first set of instructions;

transmitting a third conveying signal for conveying the products from the at least one subsequent location;

receiving at the central computer from a store, an order for products;

storing the order in the database associated with the central computer;

generating a list of requested products to compile to fulfill the order;

transmitting the list of requested products to a remote device;

receiving at the central computer a confirmation signal indicating that the requested products have been compiled to fulfill the order;

generating at the central computer a second set of instructions to transmit to a portable scanning device, the second set of instructions comprising a proper method, order and orientation for manually loading the requested products in a truck, based on information stored in the database; and

,

receiving at the central computer a order fulfilled signal indicating that the requested products have been loaded on the truck in compliance with the second set of instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are only text.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of instructions are only text.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are only graphics.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of instructions are only graphics.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are only pictures without text.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of instructions are only pictures without text.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are a combination of pictures and text.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are a combination of graphics and text.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of instructions are a combination of pictures and text.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of instructions are a combination of graphics and text.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsequent station is a de-trash station.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsequent station is a case hospital station.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsequent station is a palletizing station.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsequent station is a source tagging station.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsequent station is a pallet hospital station.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsequent station is tub hospital station.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one subsequent station is a shipping area.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the second touch-screen monitor only graphics representing the type of products received, graphics indicating what actions are to be taken with the products, graphics indicating the order in which the products are to be stacked on a pallet, an error button, a button to lower the lift, an exception button, a completed button and the first set of instructions.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the second touch-screen monitor only a tub complete button, a damaged product button, a tub hospital button, a logout button, a title and the first set of instructions in at least one of a first and/or a second information window.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the second touch-screen monitor only a de-trash level indicator, graphics indicating a first set of actions to be taken with the products, graphics indicating a second set of actions to be taken with the products, graphics indicating a third set of actions to be taken with the products, a red indicator light, a yellow indicator light, a green indicator light, a lane complete button, a product indicator text, a tub dirty button, a tub damaged button, an exceptions button and the first set of instructions.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the second touch-screen monitor only a title readout, a pallet information window, a message window, a source pallet complete button, a view pallet information button, a change license plate button, a mismatch item button, an enter item details button, a logout button, a send button and the first set of instructions in at least the message window.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the second touch-screen monitor only a title readout, a tub information window, a message area window, a source tub complete button, an inducted tub complete button, a source tub information button, a dirty tub button, a change license plate button, a mismatch item button, an enter item details button, an induct empty tub button, a logout button and the first set of instructions in at least the message area window.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the second touch-screen monitor only a title readout, a case information area, an instruction area, a message window, a logout button, a lane complete button, an item ok button, a damaged item button, a dirty tub button, a damaged tub button, a tub hospital button, a refresh button, a mismatch item button, a carrier information button and the first set of instructions.

25. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a training signal at the central computer indicating that a training mode has been entered into by at least one of the workstations;

transmitting a second set of instructions from the central computer to the at least one workstation for display on the respective touch-screen monitor;

receiving at the central computer inputs from the user at the at, least one workstation indicating various actions that have been taken with the products;

comparing the inputs received from the user with predetermined comparison data stored in the database at the central computer;

determining whether the correct actions were taken with respect to the products based on a comparison of the inputs with the predetermined comparison data stored in the database;

transmitting a results signal to the at least one workstation indicating whether the actions taken were correct; and

receiving a completed signal at the central computer, confirming that the correct actions were taken with the products.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the products are conveyed away from the at least one workstation only after the completed signal has been received.

27. The method as set forth in claim 26, wherein a supervisor enters the release signal after confirming that the correct actions have been taken with the products.