Management of inventory items
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- (a) identifying an inventory holder by reading a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the inventory holder, the inventory holder coupled to an autonomous mobile drive unit and comprising one or more compartments configured to receive items, the autonomous mobile drive unit configured to lift the inventory holder and to transport the inventory holder from a first position to a second position;
(b) transmitting a radio frequency transmission via one or more antennas in a direction of the inventory holder;
(c) receiving, by at least one reader, radio frequency responses via the one or more antennas, the radio frequency responses provided by one or more RFID tags in response to the radio frequency transmission, each RFID tag associated with an item stowed in the inventory holder;
(d) identifying, based at least in part on the radio frequency responses, items stowed in the inventory holder;
(e) instructing rotation of the inventory holder relative to the one or more antennas by the autonomous mobile drive unit, wherein the receiving of the radio frequency responses and the identifying of the items stowed occur at least partly during the rotation of the inventory holder by the autonomous mobile drive unit;
(f) receiving a manifest comprising a list of manifest items expected to be stowed in the inventory holder; and
(g) comparing the list of manifest items with the identified items stowed in the inventory holder in accordance with a confidence threshold.
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Abstract
In some examples, a reader system is provided for managing inventory items in an inventory system. The reader system may be configured to read tags associated with items stowed in an inventory holder. The inventory holder may be detachably coupled to a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder to a first position near an antenna of the reader system and the tags may begin to be read. While reading or at other times in the reading process, the mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder relative to the antenna. The identified tags may be compared to a manifest list of items expected to be stowed in the inventory holder.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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(a) identifying an inventory holder by reading a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the inventory holder, the inventory holder coupled to an autonomous mobile drive unit and comprising one or more compartments configured to receive items, the autonomous mobile drive unit configured to lift the inventory holder and to transport the inventory holder from a first position to a second position; (b) transmitting a radio frequency transmission via one or more antennas in a direction of the inventory holder; (c) receiving, by at least one reader, radio frequency responses via the one or more antennas, the radio frequency responses provided by one or more RFID tags in response to the radio frequency transmission, each RFID tag associated with an item stowed in the inventory holder; (d) identifying, based at least in part on the radio frequency responses, items stowed in the inventory holder; (e) instructing rotation of the inventory holder relative to the one or more antennas by the autonomous mobile drive unit, wherein the receiving of the radio frequency responses and the identifying of the items stowed occur at least partly during the rotation of the inventory holder by the autonomous mobile drive unit; (f) receiving a manifest comprising a list of manifest items expected to be stowed in the inventory holder; and (g) comparing the list of manifest items with the identified items stowed in the inventory holder in accordance with a confidence threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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reading a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an inventory holder to identify the inventory holder, the inventory holder detachably coupled to an autonomous mobile drive unit and comprising a plurality of items stowed in one or more compartments of the inventory holder, the autonomous mobile drive unit configured to lift the inventory holder and to transport the inventory holder; reading, via an antenna, a first portion of a plurality of RFID tags associated with the plurality of items to identify a first portion of the plurality of items when the inventory holder is located at a first position relative to the antenna; reading, via the antenna, a second portion of the plurality of RFID tags associated with the plurality of items to identify a second portion of the plurality of items after the autonomous mobile drive unit has moved the inventory holder to a second position relative to the antenna; determining a completion of the reading of the plurality of RFID tags in accordance with a threshold; and providing at least a portion of inventory information to an inventory management system, the portion of the inventory information at least including the identified portions of the plurality of items. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system, comprising:
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an antenna; an inventory management system configured to store an inventory manifest; and a reader in communication with the inventory management system and the antenna, the reader comprising; memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to at least; read a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an inventory holder, the inventory holder comprising one or more compartments and detachably coupled to an autonomous mobile drive unit, the autonomous mobile drive unit configured to lift the inventory holder and to transport the inventory holder; read, via the antenna, a second RFID tag identifying a first item, the first item associated with the second RFID tag and stowed in the inventory holder; read, via the antenna, a third RFID tag identifying a second item in response to the autonomous mobile drive unit adjusting an orientation of the inventory holder relative to the antenna, the second item associated with the third tag and stowed in the inventory holder; and provide tag information to the inventory management system, the tag information including identifiers associated with at least the first, second and third RFID tags. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification