System and method for filling an order

• US 8,311,902 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mountz, Michael C., Wurman, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARE, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US11/620,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 700/213, 700/226
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A method for fulfilling inventory requests includes receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item and selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder. The method further includes storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request and moving the order holder to a storage space. In addition, the method includes detecting a triggering event and in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the storage space.

Claims

1. A method for fulfilling inventory requests, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

selecting, by the processor, the requested inventory item from inventory holder;

facilitating, by the processor, storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request;

arranging, by the processor, one or more storage spaces according to a shipping sequence, each of the one or more storage spaces comprising an area of a workspace designated for storage of at least one of a plurality of order holders;

selecting, by the processor, one of the one or more storage spaces in which to store the order holder according to a parameter associated with the order holder, wherein the parameter is used by the processor to identify a position in the shipping sequence;

facilitating, by the processor, moving the order holder to the selected storage space;

detecting, by the processor, a triggering event; and

in response to detecting the triggering event;

transmitting, by the processor, a priority message associated with the triggering event, the priority message instructing a receiving component to adjust a priority level of a task assignment; and

wherein the receiving component, in response to receiving the priority message, retrieves the order holder from the selected storage space and moves the order holder to a shipping station, the selected storage space and the shipping station representing different areas of the workspace.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an order requesting an inventory item comprises receiving an order requesting a plurality of inventory items.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder comprises selecting a plurality of requested inventory items from a plurality of inventory holders.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder comprises:

identifying an inventory holder storing the requested inventory item;

moving the identified inventory holder to a first location; and

selecting, at the first location, the requested inventory item from the identified inventory holder.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein moving the identified inventory holder to the first location comprises:

moving a mobile drive unit to the inventory holder;

docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder; and

moving the identified inventory holder to the first location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein

the order holder comprises a plurality of shipping containers;

storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises storing the requested inventory item in one of the shipping containers; and

retrieving the order holder from the selected storage space comprises;

in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the selected storage space; and

initiating shipment of the requested inventory item, wherein the requested inventory item is shipped in the shipping container.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the plurality of shipping containers in the order holder prior to receiving the inventory request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a destination indicated by the inventory request; and

storing the requested inventory item in the identified order holder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a shipping service indicated by the inventory request; and

storing the requested inventory item in the identified order holder.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter associated with the order holder comprises a shipping date for the order holder.

11. A system for fulfilling inventory requests, comprising:

means for receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

means for selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder;

means for storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request;

means for arranging one or more storage spaces according to a shipping sequence, each of the one or more storage spaces comprising an area of a workspace designated for storage of at least one of a plurality of order holders;

means for selecting one of the one or more storage spaces in which to store the order holder according to a parameter associated with the order holder, wherein the parameter is used to identify a position in the shipping sequence;

means for moving the order holder to the selected storage space;

means for detecting a triggering event; and

means for, in response to detecting the triggering event, transmitting a priority message associated with the triggering event, the priority message instructing a receiving component to adjust a priority level of a task assignment; and

means for, in response to receiving the priority message, retrieving the order holder from the selected storage space and moving the order holder to a shipping station, the selected storage space and the shipping station representing different areas of the workspace.