System and method for communicating status information of inventory-related tasks using a status indicator

• US 8,239,291 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kiva Systems, Inc (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Andrew E., Breheny, Sean H., Verminski, Matthew D., Mountz, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARE, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US11/620,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/29, 705/7.13, 700/216
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving first status information from the remote device comprises receiving information instructing the user to begin the task.

3. The method of claim 1, receiving input from the user comprises receiving input from the user indicating that the user has completed the task.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving wirelessly first status information comprises receiving first status information in accordance with at least one of a Bluetooth, an 802.11, an 802.15.4, and a ZigBee wireless communication standard; and

transmitting wirelessly second status information comprises transmitting second status information in accordance with at least one of a Bluetooth, an 802.11, an 802.15.4, and a ZigBee wireless communication standard.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving first status information, wirelessly transmitting information identifying a status indicator to the remote device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the task comprises a first task and the remote device comprises a management module operable to generate task assignments that describe tasks to be completed, and further comprising:

receiving second status information at the management module, and

in response to receiving second status information, generating a task assignment specifying a second task that is to be initiated after the user completes the first task.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first task comprises a first task to be completed by a first user and the second task comprises a second task to be completed by a second user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first task comprises a first task to be completed at a first location and the second task comprises a second task to be completed at a second location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving first status information comprises:

associating, in a memory, each of a plurality of status indicators with one of a plurality of components;

identifying, based on information stored in the memory, a status indicator associated with a component involved in the task;

transmitting the first status information to the identified status indicator; and

receiving wirelessly the first status information at the identified status indicator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the status indicator includes an indicator identifier, and wherein associating, in the memory, the status indicator with the first task comprises:

reading the indicator identifier;

transmitting the indicator identifier to a management module; and

storing the indicator identifier at the management module.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the indicator identifier comprises a bar code and wherein reading the indicator identifier comprises scanning the bar code.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the indicator identifier comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and wherein reading the indicator identifier comprises receiving radio frequency information identifying the status indicator from the RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving first status information comprises:

receiving information identifying a first status indicator from a plurality of status indicators;

receiving information specifying a state of the first status indicator;

rejecting the status indicator based on the state of the first status indicator;

in response to rejecting the status indicator, prompting a user to identify a second status indicator from the plurality of status indicators.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving information specifying a state of the first status indicator comprises receiving information indicating an energy level of the first status indicator.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving information specifying a state of the first status indicator comprises receiving information indicating whether the first status indicator is currently assigned to a task.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving information specifying a state of the first status indicator comprises receiving information indicating a status of a task currently assigned to the first status indicator.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the first status to the user comprises activating a light.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input from the user comprises detecting that the user has pressed a button.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input from the user comprises activating a lighted button, and wherein receiving input from the user comprises detecting that the user has pressed the lighted button.

20. An apparatus for communicating information pertaining to a task, comprising:

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.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first status information comprises information instructing the user to begin the task.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is operable to receive input from the user indicating the second status by receiving input from the user indicating that the user has completed the task.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the wireless interface is operable to receive and transmit information in accordance with at least one of a Bluetooth, an 802.11, an 802.15.4, and a ZigBee wireless communication standard.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further operable to transmit information identifying the apparatus through the wireless interface prior to receiving the first status information.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus includes an indicator identifier that identifies the apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the indicator identifier comprises a bar code.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the indicator identifier comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the indicator identifier displays an alphanumeric value that uniquely identifies the apparatus.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the indicator identifier comprises a colored portion that is colored a color uniquely associated with the apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display comprises a light and wherein the processor is operable to indicate the first status to the user by activating the light.

31. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the user interface comprises a button, and wherein the processor is operable to receive input from the user by detecting that the user has pressed the button.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein receiving input from the user comprises activating a lighted button, and wherein receiving input from the user comprises detecting that the user has pressed the lighted button.

33. A system for completing tasks, comprising;

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.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the first status indicator is operable to receive first status information from the remote device by receiving information instructing the user to begin the task.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the first status indicator is operable to receive input from the user by receiving input from the user indicating that the user has completed the task.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the first status indicator is operable to:

wirelessly receive first status information by receiving first status information in accordance with at least one of a Bluetooth, an 802.11, an 802.15.4, and a ZigBee wireless communication standard; and

wirelessly transmit second status information by transmitting second status information in accordance with at least one of a Bluetooth, an 802.11, an 802.15.4, and a ZigBee wireless communication standard.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the task comprises a first task and the management module is further operable to;

receive second status information from the status indicator; and

in response to receiving the second status information, generate a task assignment specifying a second task that is to be initiated after the user completes the first task.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the management module comprises a memory, and wherein the management module is further operable to:

associate, in the memory, each of the status indicators with one of a plurality of components;

identify, based on information stored in the memory, a status indicator associated with a component involved in the task; and

transmit the first status information to the identified status indicator.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein each of the plurality of status indicators includes an indicator identifier, and wherein the management module is operable to associate each of the status indicators with one of a plurality of components by:

receiving information from the indicator identifier; and

associating the received information with the status indicator in the memory.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein each of the indicator identifiers comprises a bar code, and further comprising a bar code reader operable to:

scan a bar code; and

transmit the bar code to the management module.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein each of the indicator identifiers comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and further comprising a radio frequency (RF) scanner operable to:

receive radio frequency information identifying the status indicator from the RFID tag; and

transmit information identifying the status indicator to the management module.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein each of the indicator identifiers displays an alphanumeric value that uniquely identifies that status indicator.

43. The system of claim 33, wherein each of the indicator identifiers comprises a colored portion and each of the colored portions is colored a different color.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein each status indicator comprises a light, and each status indicator is operable to indicate the first status to the user by activating the light.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein each status indicator comprises a button, and wherein each status indicator is operable to receive input from the user by detecting that the user has pressed the button.

46. The system of claim 33, wherein each status indicator comprises a lighted button, and wherein each status indicator is operable to receive input from the receiving input from the user comprises activating a lighted button and wherein receiving input from the user comprises detecting that the user has pressed the lighted button.

47. A system for communicating information pertaining to a task, comprising:

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.