Targeted product distribution system and method

• US 8,374,924 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pandit, Vinayak, Amend, Brian, Chin, Louie, Elliott, Jeffrey, Emery, Kathy, Hasija, Gaurav, Isidoro, Maureen, Ng, Lionel, Peterson, Doug, Steffen, Todd, Sullivan, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBAID, FATEH M
• Application Number:
  US12/358,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0485 Check-in, check-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• 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

A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Claims

1. A method of converting received products to a transportable form for automatic conveyance about a distribution center, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from a central computer a first conveying signal to convey products to a trash removal workstation to convert the products to a transportable form;

receiving a signal at the central computer indicating that the products have arrived at the trash removal workstation, wherein a touchscreen monitor associated with the trash removal workstation is in communication with the central computer;

receiving product identifier information originating from a product identifier located on each product from at least one of a bed scanner, a handheld scanner, a keyboard and the touchscreen monitor;

storing the product identifier information in a database associated with the central computer;

for each identified product, determining at the central computer a first set of instructions to transmit to the touchscreen monitor, the first set of instructions comprising information on how to remove trash associated with the identified product and properly convert the identified product to a transportable form, wherein the first set of instructions is determined based on at least the product identifier information associated with the identified product;

transmitting from the central computer the first set of instructions for displaying the first set of instructions on the touch-screen monitor;

receiving at the central computer a confirmation signal from a user that the first set of instructions have been implemented; and

transmitting from the central computer a second conveying signal to convey the products away from the trash removal workstation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are only text.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are only graphics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are only pictures without text.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are a combination of graphics and text.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of instructions are a combination of pictures and text.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on the touch-screen monitor only a de-trash level indicator, graphics indicating a first set of actions to be taken with the products, graphics indicating a second set of actions to be taken with the products, graphics indicating a third set of actions to be taken with the products, a red light indicator, a yellow light indicator, a green light indicator, a lane complete button, a product indicator text, a tub dirty button, a tub damaged button, an exceptions button and the first set of instructions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the workstation comprises a remote computer connected to the central computer, wherein the handheld scanner, the bed scanner connected, the keyboard and the touch-screen monitor are each connected to the remote computer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming that no errors are associated with the products.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming that the products have been converted to the correct conveyance method.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming that the converted products are conveyable throughout the distribution center.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming that the trash has been removed from the products.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a training signal at the central computer indicating that a training mode has been entered into at the workstation;

transmitting a second set of instructions from the central computer to the workstation for display on the touch-screen monitor;

receiving at the central computer inputs from the user indicating various actions that have been taken with the products;

comparing the inputs received from the user with predetermined comparison data stored in the database at the central computer;

determining whether the correct actions were taken with respect to the products based on a comparison of the inputs with the predetermined comparison data stored in the database;

transmitting a results signal to the workstation indicating whether the actions taken were correct; and

receiving a completed signal at the central computer indicating that the correct actions were taken with the products.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the products are conveyed away from the workstation only after the completed signal has been received.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein a supervisor enters the release signal after confirming that the correct actions have been taken with the products.

16. A method of converting received products to a transportable form for automatic conveyance about a distribution center, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from a central computer a first conveying signal to convey products to a trash removal workstation to convert the products to a transportable form;

receiving a signal at the central computer indicating that the products have arrived at the trash removal workstation, wherein a touchscreen monitor associated with the trash removal workstation is in communication with the central computer;

receiving product identifier information originating from a product identifier located on each product from at least one of a bed scanner, a handheld scanner, a keyboard and the touchscreen monitor;

storing the product identifier information in a database associated with the central computer;

for each identified product, determining at the central computer a first set of instructions to transmit to the touchscreen monitor, the first set of instructions comprising information on how to remove trash associated with the identified product and properly convert the identified product to a transportable form, wherein the first set of instructions is determined based on at least the product identifier information associated with the identified product;

transmitting from the central computer the first set of instructions for displaying the first set of instructions on the touch-screen monitor;

ensuring that no errors are associated with the products;

ensuring that the products have been converted to the correct conveyance method;

ensuring that the converted products are conveyable throughout the distribution center;

ensuring that the trash has been removed from the products;

receiving at the central computer a confirmation signal from a user that the first set of instructions have been implemented; and

transmitting from the central computer a second conveying signal to convey the products away from the trash removal workstation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of instructions are only text.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first set of instructions are only graphics.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of instructions are only pictures without text.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of instructions are a combination of graphics and text.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of instructions are a combination of pictures and text.