Filling an order at an inventory pier
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- calculating, by a management module, a plurality of product velocities, a product velocity associated with demand for an inventory item available for ordering within an inventory system;
selecting, by the management module, a fixed number of inventory holders to be stationed at the inventory pier, the fixed number corresponding to a plurality of defined areas along a first side of an inventory pier, wherein the selection of an inventory holder to be stationed at a defined area is based at least in part upon the product velocity of the inventory item, the inventory item stored by the inventory holder;
instructing, by the management module, a mobile drive unit to transport the selected inventory holder to the defined area;
receiving, by the management module, an order for the inventory item; and
instructing, by the management module, the mobile drive unit to transport an order holder associated with the order to a second side of the inventory pier, wherein the order holder is operable to receive the inventory item at a location along the second side opposite the defined area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes an inventory pier, a mobile drive unit, and a management module. The inventory pier includes a defined area arranged to station an inventory holder. The inventory holder stores an inventory item. The mobile drive unit is operable to transport an order holder. The management module is operable to calculate a metric associated with demand for the inventory item. Based at least in part upon the metric, the management module is operable to select, from a plurality of inventory holders, the inventory holder storing the inventory item to be stationed at the defined area of the inventory pier. The management module is further operable to receive an order for the inventory item and instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the order holder to the inventory pier. The order holder is operable to receive the inventory item from the inventory holder proximate to the defined area.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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calculating, by a management module, a plurality of product velocities, a product velocity associated with demand for an inventory item available for ordering within an inventory system; selecting, by the management module, a fixed number of inventory holders to be stationed at the inventory pier, the fixed number corresponding to a plurality of defined areas along a first side of an inventory pier, wherein the selection of an inventory holder to be stationed at a defined area is based at least in part upon the product velocity of the inventory item, the inventory item stored by the inventory holder; instructing, by the management module, a mobile drive unit to transport the selected inventory holder to the defined area; receiving, by the management module, an order for the inventory item; and instructing, by the management module, the mobile drive unit to transport an order holder associated with the order to a second side of the inventory pier, wherein the order holder is operable to receive the inventory item at a location along the second side opposite the defined area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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an inventory pier comprising a defined area arranged to station an inventory holder, the inventory holder storing an inventory item; a mobile drive unit operable to transport an order holder; and a management module operable to; calculate a metric associated with demand for the inventory item; based at least in part upon the metric, select, from a plurality of inventory holders, the inventory holder storing the inventory item to be stationed at the defined area of the inventory pier; receive an order for the inventory item; instruct the mobile drive unit to transport the order holder to the inventory pier, the order holder operable to receive the inventory item from the inventory holder proximate to the defined area. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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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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instruct a first mobile drive unit to transport an inventory holder to an inventory pier, the instruction responsive to a velocity of one or more inventory items stored by the inventory holder; and instruct a second mobile drive unit to transport an order holder to the inventory pier, the instruction responsive to an order comprising the one or more inventory items, wherein the second mobile drive unit moves the order holder along the inventory pier to receive one or more of the inventory items. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification