Replenishing a retail facility
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of storage shelves at a retail facility, a storage shelf operable to store a plurality of replenishment inventory items;
a plurality of display shelves at the retail facility, a display shelf operable to receive one or more replenishment inventory items from a storage shelf;
a management module configured to;
determine to replenish a display shelf with an inventory item stored by a storage shelf; and
coordinate movement of a plurality of mobile drive units to replenish the display shelf with the inventory item stored by the storage shelf at an inventory restocking station;
a first mobile drive unit configured to receive first instructions from the management module to transport the display shelf to the inventory restocking station; and
a second mobile drive unit configured to receive second instructions from the management module to transport the storage shelf to the inventory restocking station;
wherein the display shelf receives the inventory item stored by the storage shelf at the inventory restocking station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes storage shelves and display shelves at a retail facility. The system also includes a management module operable to determine to replenish a display shelf with an inventory item stored by a storage shelf. The management module is also operable to coordinate movement of mobile drive units to replenish the display shelf with the inventory item at an inventory restocking station. The system also includes a first mobile drive unit and a second mobile drive unit. The first mobile drive unit is operable to receive first instructions from the management module to transport the display shelf to the inventory restocking station. The second mobile drive unit is operable to receive second instructions from the management module to transport the storage shelf to the inventory restocking station. At the inventory restocking station, the display shelf receives the inventory item.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of storage shelves at a retail facility, a storage shelf operable to store a plurality of replenishment inventory items; a plurality of display shelves at the retail facility, a display shelf operable to receive one or more replenishment inventory items from a storage shelf; a management module configured to; determine to replenish a display shelf with an inventory item stored by a storage shelf; and coordinate movement of a plurality of mobile drive units to replenish the display shelf with the inventory item stored by the storage shelf at an inventory restocking station; a first mobile drive unit configured to receive first instructions from the management module to transport the display shelf to the inventory restocking station; and a second mobile drive unit configured to receive second instructions from the management module to transport the storage shelf to the inventory restocking station; wherein the display shelf receives the inventory item stored by the storage shelf at the inventory restocking station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method, comprising:
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detecting, by a management module comprising memory and one or more processors, that a display shelf at a retail facility needs to be replenished with an inventory item; determining, by the management module, that the inventory item is stored in an inventory holder at the retail facility; instructing, by the management module, a first mobile drive unit to transport the display shelf to an inventory station at the retail facility; instructing, by the management module, a second mobile drive unit to transport the inventory holder to the inventory station at the retail facility; after the inventory item stored in the inventory holder is received by the display shelf at the inventory station, instructing the first mobile drive unit to transport the display shelf to a designated location within the retail facility. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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an interface to obtain an inventory replenishment sequence for a retail facility, the inventory replenishment sequence comprising a sequence in which a plurality of display shelves receive inventory items at an inventory station; and a processor communicatively coupled to the interface and operable to instruct one or more mobile drive units at the retail facility to transport the plurality of display shelves to the inventory station such that the plurality of display shelves receive inventory items according to the inventory replenishment sequence. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification