Method and apparatus for multi-destination item selection using motes

• US 9,409,710 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shakes, Jonathan J., Rouaix, Franois M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMBESS, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US14/281,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1378 the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Method and apparatus for multi-destination pick using motes. In embodiments, each receptacle may be assigned to a destination and may have a mote that may include an indicator that may be activated by a control system to indicate to the agent that the receptacle is the destination receptacle for a picked item. The agent may then place the item in the indicated destination receptacle. A mote may include a communication interface for communicating with a control system and with other motes in an ad-hoc network. In one embodiment, the mote on the destination receptacle may be activated when the picked item is scanned by the agent. In some embodiments, each receptacle may also have a sensor that detects when an item is placed in the receptacle to deactivate the indicator and/or to verify that the item was placed in the correct receptacle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving and transporting items picked from a materials handling facility to one of a plurality of destinations in the materials handling facility, the apparatus comprising:

a receptacle configured to hold the items; and

a mote, comprising;

a mote core comprising;

a processor;

a memory; and

a communications interface;

an indicator coupled to the mote core;

wherein the mote is configured to communicate with a materials handling facility control system to activate said indicator to indicate to an agent of the materials handling facility that N item is to be placed into the receptacle; and

a sensor communicatively coupled to the mote, wherein the sensor is configured to read information from the item that identifies the item that has been placed into the receptacle;

wherein the mote is configured to communicate with the materials handling facility control system to send a signal that includes information uniquely identifying the receptacle corresponding to the sensor, or information that identifies the item that has been placed into the receptacle.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to detect placement of the item in the receptacle.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of destinations is a sorting station, packing station, or a station for performing value-added services.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a light, wherein said activating the indicator comprises activating the light.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect placement of a picked item into the receptacle, and wherein the mote is configured to communicate with the materials handling facility control system to send a signal in response to the sensor detecting placement of the picked item into the receptacle.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is one of a tote, a basket, a box, a bin, a hopper, a shelf, or an induct lane of an automated sorting mechanism.

7. A mote coupled to a portable receptacle, the mote comprising:

a mote core comprising;

a processor;

a memory; and

a wireless communications interface;

an indicator coupled to the mote core;

wherein the mote is configured to;

receive, via the wireless communications interface, a message with instructions to activate the indicator coupled to the mote core to indicate to an agent that an item is to be placed into the portable receptacle; and

in response to the received message, activate the indicator; and

a sensor communicatively coupled to the mote core, wherein the sensor is configured to read information from the item that has been placed into the portable receptacle;

wherein the mote is configured to send a signal over the wireless communication interface that includes information uniquely identifying the receptacle corresponding to the sensor, or information that identifies the item that has been placed into the portable receptacle.

8. The mote of claim 7, wherein the indicator comprises a light, and wherein said activating the indicator comprises activating the light.

9. The mote of claim 7,

wherein the sensor is configured to detect placement of the item in the portable receptacle;

wherein the mote is further configured to;

send, via the wireless communications interface, a signal to a control system in response to the sensor detecting placement of the item into the portable receptacle, wherein the signal includes information that uniquely identifies the portable receptacle corresponding to the sensor; and

deactivate the activated indicator in response to receipt of an instruction from the control system, wherein the instruction from the control system is based, at least in part, on the information that uniquely identifies the portable receptacle corresponding to the sensor.

10. The mote of claim 9,

wherein the instruction from the control system is further based, at least in part, on the information identifying the item placed into the portable receptacle.

11. The mote of claim 7, wherein the indicator comprises a light, and wherein said activation of the indicator comprises activation of the light, the mote further configured to:

receive an indication that the item was placed in an incorrect receptacle; and

instruct further activation of the indicator or activation of another indicator to indicate that the item was placed in the incorrect receptacle, further activation comprising activation of flashing, activation of a different color, or display of a text message.

12. The mote of claim 7, wherein the portable receptacle is a compartment in one of a partitioned tote, a partitioned basket, a partitioned box, a partitioned bin, or a partitioned shelf.

13. A mote, comprising:

a mote core comprising;

a processor;

a memory; and

a wireless communications interface;

an indicator coupled to the mote core;

a sensor communicatively coupled to the mote core, wherein the sensor is configured to read information from an item that identifies the item that has been placed into a receptacle;

wherein the mote is configured to communicate with a control system via the wireless communications interface to activate said indicator to indicate to an agent that the item is to be placed in the receptacle;

wherein the mote is configured to communicate with a control system via the wireless communications interface to send a signal that includes information uniquely identifying the receptacle corresponding to the sensor, or information that identifies the item that has been placed into the receptacle.

14. The mote as recited in claim 13, wherein the mote is further configured to deactivate the activated indicator in response to receiving an instruction from the control system, wherein the instruction from the control system is based, at least in part, on the information uniquely identifying the receptacle corresponding to the sensor.

15. The mote as recited in claim 14,

wherein the instruction from the control system is further based, at least in part, on the information that identifies the item placed into the receptacle.

16. The mote as recited in claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises a light, wherein said activating the indicator comprises activating the light, and wherein the mote is further configured to:

receive an indication that the item was placed in an incorrect receptacle; and

instruct, responsive to the received indication, further activation of the indicator or activation of another indicator to indicate that the item was placed in the incorrect receptacle, further activation comprising activation of flashing of the indicator, activation of a different color of the indicator, or display of a text message.

17. The mote as recited in claim 13, wherein the receptacle is a compartment in one of a partitioned tote, a partitioned basket, a partitioned box, a partitioned bin, or a partitioned shelf.