Item dimension verification at packing

• US 9,142,035 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rotman, Cary, Skinner, Cameron Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELANEY, MOLLY K
• Application Number:
  US13/785,333
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 382/101, 209/584, 209/900, 705/401
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00685 Measuring the dimensions of mailpieces

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for automatically verifying stored item dimension values and package utilization at packing. In some implementations, an image(s) of a package that includes items of a shipment set is captured at a pack station and analyzed to determine an actual package utilization. The actual package utilization is compared to an expected package utilization. If a difference between the expected package utilization and the actual package utilization is identified, it may be determined that the stored item dimension values may be inaccurate.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for verifying item dimension values, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving an image of a package, the package including an item for shipment;

processing the image to;

determine a surface of the item within the package; and

determine a top edge of the package;

calculating an amount of unused space within the package based at least in part on a difference between the surface of the item within the package and the top edge of the package;

determining, based at least in part on the amount of unused space within the package, an actual package utilization;

determining that the actual package utilization exceeds an expected utilization threshold; and

updating at least one stored dimension value of the item.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a recommended package for a shipment set;

determining that the package is the recommended package;

determining an expected package utilization for the recommended package; and

wherein the expected utilization threshold is based at least in part on the expected package utilization.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the image is obtained at a pack station after the item is placed in the package.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the image is obtained after non-item content is placed in the package.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the image is obtained at a pack station before the package is closed for shipping.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein updating at least one dimension value of the item includes:

determining that the expected utilization threshold has not previously been exceeded for the item; and

maintaining a stored dimension value of the item.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein updating at least one dimension value of the item includes:

determining that the expected utilization threshold has previously been exceeded for the item;

determining a dimension value for the item; and

replacing a stored dimension value for the item with the determined dimension value for the item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining the dimension value includes an automated review of the item.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining dimension values includes a manual review of the item.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for verifying dimension values for an item during packing, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to at least:

receive at least one image of a package, the package including an item for shipment;

process the image to;

determine a surface of the item within the package; and

determine a top edge of the package;

calculate an amount of unused space within the package based at least in part on a difference between the surface of the item within the package and the top edge of the package;

determine, based at least in part on the amount of unused space within the package, an actual package utilization;

determine, based at least in part on the actual package utilization, that at least one stored dimension value of the item is incorrect; and

update the at least one stored dimension value of the item.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least:

identify a recommended package for shipping the item; and

determine that the package represented in the image is the recommended package.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least:

process the image to determine an actual dimension value of the item by identifying at least one edge of the item and determining a relative size of the item in the image; and

wherein the actual package utilization is determined at least in part on stored dimension values of the package and the actual dimension value of the item.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least:

determine a source of the at least one stored dimension value.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least:

determine that appropriate dunnage is included in the package.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least:

determine that appropriate dunnage is not included in the package; and

reroute the package for repacking.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a pack station;

at least one imaging device positioned above the pack station, the imaging device configured to capture at least one image of a package at the pack station subsequent to an item being placed in the package and prior to the package being closed;

a computing system configured to at least;

process the image to;

determine a surface of the item within the package; and

determine a top edge of the package;

calculate an amount of unused space within the package based at least in part on a difference between the surface of the item within the package and the top edge of the package;

determine, based at least in part on the amount of unused space within the package, an actual package utilization;

determine if the actual package utilization exceeds an expected utilization threshold; and

cause review of at least one stored dimension value of the item when the actual package utilization exceeds the expected utilization threshold.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the expected utilization threshold is a percentage difference from an expected package utilization.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the expected utilization threshold is a dimensional difference from an expected package utilization.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an expected package utilization is based at least in part on stored dimension values of the package and stored dimension values of the item.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the package is a recommended package.