System and method for communicating status information of inventory-related tasks using a status indicator
First Claim
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1. A method for communicating information pertaining to a task, comprising:
- receiving, by a status indicator, an instruction to indicate availability of the status indicator for a task, the status indicator comprising a portable device that includes an availability indicator and is capable of communicating with a remote device;
indicating, by the status indicator, availability of the status indicator for the task to a user by activating the availability indicator in response to receiving the instruction;
receiving, by the status indicator, a selection of the status indicator for the task from the user;
in response to receiving the selection for the task from the user;
transmitting wirelessly, by the status indicator, information identifying the status indicator to the remote device;
receiving wirelessly, by the status indicator, first status information using a wireless interface, wherein the first status information specifies a first status associated with the task;
indicating, by the status indicator, the first status to the user at an inventory station using a display;
receiving, by the status indicator, input from the user indicating a second status associated with the task; and
in response to receiving the input from the user, transmitting wirelessly, by the status indicator, second status information to the remote device, wherein the second status information specifies the second status, wherein the task is associated with an inventory holder transported to the inventory station from a remote location by a mobile drive unit, the mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered device operable to dock with the inventory holder at the remote location in response to receiving the task.
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Abstract
A method for communicating information pertaining to a task includes receiving wirelessly first status information. The first status information specifies a first status associated with a task. The method also includes indicating the first status to a user and receiving input from the user indicating a second status associated with the task. Additionally, the method includes transmitting wirelessly second status information to a remote device in response to receiving the input from the user. The second status information specifies the second status.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for communicating information pertaining to a task, comprising:
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receiving, by a status indicator, an instruction to indicate availability of the status indicator for a task, the status indicator comprising a portable device that includes an availability indicator and is capable of communicating with a remote device; indicating, by the status indicator, availability of the status indicator for the task to a user by activating the availability indicator in response to receiving the instruction; receiving, by the status indicator, a selection of the status indicator for the task from the user; in response to receiving the selection for the task from the user; transmitting wirelessly, by the status indicator, information identifying the status indicator to the remote device; receiving wirelessly, by the status indicator, first status information using a wireless interface, wherein the first status information specifies a first status associated with the task; indicating, by the status indicator, the first status to the user at an inventory station using a display; receiving, by the status indicator, input from the user indicating a second status associated with the task; and in response to receiving the input from the user, transmitting wirelessly, by the status indicator, second status information to the remote device, wherein the second status information specifies the second status, wherein the task is associated with an inventory holder transported to the inventory station from a remote location by a mobile drive unit, the mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered device operable to dock with the inventory holder at the remote location in response to receiving the task. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for communicating information pertaining to a task, comprising:
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a wireless interface operable to receive and transmit information wirelessly; a user interface operable to receive input from a user at an inventory station relating to a task; a display; and a processor operable to; receive an instruction to indicate availability of the apparatus for the task, the apparatus comprising a portable device that includes an availability indicator and is capable of communicating with a remote device; indicate availability of the apparatus for the task to the user by activating the availability indicator in response to receiving the instruction; receive a selection for the task from the user; in response to receiving the selection for the task from the user; transmit wirelessly information identifying the apparatus to the remote device; receive first status information through the wireless interface, wherein the first status information specifies a first status associated with the task; indicate the first status to the user using the display; receive input from the user indicating a second status associated with the task; and in response to receiving the input, transmit second status information to the remote device through the wireless interface, wherein the second status information specifies the second status, wherein the task is associated with an inventory holder transported to the inventory station from a remote location by a mobile drive unit, the mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered device operable to dock with the inventory holder at the remote location in response to receiving the task. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for completing tasks, comprising;
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a management module operable to wirelessly transmit status information to and wirelessly receive status information from a plurality of status indicators; and the plurality of status indicators including a first status indicator, the first status indicator operable to; receive an instruction to indicate availability of the first status indicator for a task, the first status indicator comprising a portable device that includes an availability indicator and is capable of communicating with a remote device; indicate availability of the first status indicator for the task to a user by activating the availability indicator in response to receiving the instruction; receive a selection for the task from the user; in response to receiving the selection for the task from the user; transmit wirelessly information identifying the first status indicator to the management module; wirelessly receive first status information from the management module, wherein the first status information specifies a first status associated with a task; indicate the first status to the user at an inventory station; receive input from the user indicating a second status associated with the task; and in response to receiving the input, wirelessly transmit second status information to the management module, wherein the second status information specifies the second status, wherein the task is associated with an inventory holder transported to the inventory station from a remote location by a mobile drive unit, the mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered device operable to dock with the inventory holder at the remote location in response to receiving the task. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A system for communicating information pertaining to a task, comprising:
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means for receiving an instruction to indicate an availability of a status indicator for a task, the status indicator comprising a portable device that includes an availability indicator and is capable of communicating with a remote device; means for indicating availability of the status indicator for the task to a user by activating the availability indicator in response to receiving the instruction; means for receiving a selection of the status indicator for the task from the user; in response to receiving the selection for the task from the user; means for wirelessly transmitting information identifying the status indicator to the remote device; means for wirelessly receiving first status information, wherein the first status information specifies a first status associated with the task; means for indicating the first status to the user at an inventory station; means for receiving input from the user indicating a second status associated with the task; and means for wirelessly transmitting second status information to the remote device in response to receiving the input from the user, wherein the second status information specifies the second status, wherein the task is associated with an inventory holder transported from a remote location to the inventory station by a mobile drive unit, the mobile drive unit comprising a self-powered device operable to dock with the inventory holder at the remote location in response to receiving the task.
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Specification