Method and system for fulfilling requests in an inventory system
First Claim
1. A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system, comprising:
- receiving, by a management module, a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item;
instructing, by the management module, a mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a storage location to a drift location based at least in part upon the received request, wherein the drift location is an intermediate location that is remote from a queue of an inventory station;
detecting, by the management module, a trigger event;
in response to detecting the trigger event, instructing, by the management module, the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the drift location to the inventory station.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system, comprising:
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receiving, by a management module, a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instructing, by the management module, a mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a storage location to a drift location based at least in part upon the received request, wherein the drift location is an intermediate location that is remote from a queue of an inventory station; detecting, by the management module, a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instructing, by the management module, the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the drift location to the inventory station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 8)
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4. A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system, comprising:
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receiving, by a management module, a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instructing, by the management module, a mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a storage location to a drift location based at least in part upon the received request; detecting, by the management module, a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instructing, by the management module, the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the drift location to an inventory station; wherein the inventory station is one of a plurality of inventory stations, the request is capable of being filled at more than one of the plurality of inventory stations, and detecting the trigger event comprises determining that a space associated with the inventory station is available.
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6. A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system, comprising:
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receiving, by a management module, a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instructing, by the management module, a mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a storage location to a drift location based at least in part upon the received request; detecting, by the management module, a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instructing, by the management module, the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the drift location to an inventory station; wherein the drift location comprises an area of a workspace designated as an intermediate location between a starting location and a destination location, at which a component remains until the trigger event associated with the destination location occurs; wherein the drift location is dynamically designated as a drift location based at least in part upon one or more resource requirements of the inventory system.
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7. A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system, comprising:
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receiving, by a management module, a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instructing, by the management module, a mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a storage location to a drift location based at least in part upon the received request; detecting, by the management module, a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instructing, by the management module, the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the drift location to an inventory station; wherein the drift location is selected from a plurality of locations in a workspace based at least in part upon one or more of a distance between the drift location and the storage location;
a distance between the drift location and the inventory station; and
a length of a path extending from the storage location to the inventory station through the drift location.
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9. An inventory system, comprising:
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a mobile drive unit operable to transport an inventory holder; and a management module operable to; receive a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a first location to a second location based at least in part upon the received request, wherein the second location is an intermediate location that is remote from a queue of an inventory station; detect a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the second location to the inventory station. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13)
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12. An inventory system, comprising:
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a mobile drive unit operable to transport an inventory holder; and a management module operable to; receive a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a first location to a second location based at least in part upon the received request; detect a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the second location to an inventory station; wherein the inventory station is one of a plurality of inventory stations, the request is capable of being filled at more than one of the plurality of inventory stations, and detecting the trigger event comprises determining that a space associated with the inventory station is available.
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14. An inventory system, comprising:
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a mobile drive unit operable to transport an inventory holder; and a management module operable to; receive a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a first location to a second location based at least in part upon the received request; detect a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the second location to an inventory station; wherein the second location comprises a drift location that is selected from a plurality of locations in a workspace based at least in part upon one or more of a distance between the drift location and the first location;
a distance between the drift location and the inventory station; and
a length of a path extending from the first location to the inventory station through the drift location.
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic, the logic, when executed by a processor, operable to:
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receive a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a first location to a second location based at least in part upon the received request, wherein the second location is an intermediate location that is remote from a queue of an inventory station; detect a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the second location to the inventory station. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 19)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic, the logic, when executed by a processor, operable to:
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receive a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a first location to a second location based at least in part upon the received request; detect a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the second location to an inventory station; wherein the inventory station is one of a plurality of inventory stations, the request is capable of being filled at more than one of the plurality of inventory stations, and detecting the trigger event comprises determining that a space associated with the inventory station is available.
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic, the logic, when executed by a processor, operable to:
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receive a request to complete an operation associated with an inventory item; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder from a first location to a second location based at least in part upon the received request; detect a trigger event; in response to detecting the trigger event, instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder from the second location to an inventory station; wherein the second location comprises a drift location that is selected from a plurality of locations in a workspace based at least in part upon one or more of a distance between the drift location and the first location;
a distance between the drift location and the inventory station; and
a length of a path extending from the first location to the inventory station through the drift location.
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Specification