U.S. patent application number 16/692789 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-04 for systems and methods for object storage and retrieval.
The applicant listed for this patent is Walmart Apollo, LLC. Invention is credited to Alexander Bell, Frank Seo.
Application Number | 20200172338 16/692789 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70849962 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200172338 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seo; Frank ; et al. |
June 4, 2020 |
Systems and Methods for Object Storage and Retrieval
Abstract
Described in detail herein are object storage and retrieval
systems and methods. A storage receptacle can be configured to
receive an input from the user device including the decoded
identifier from the machine-readable element associated with the
one or more physical objects, via a input device, confirm the one
or more physical objects are stored within the interior volume of
the at least one storage receptacle, and dispense the one or more
physical objects via the at least one opening of the at least one
storage receptacle.
Inventors: |
Seo; Frank; (Bentonville,
AR) ; Bell; Alexander; (Bentonville, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Walmart Apollo, LLC |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
70849962 |
Appl. No.: |
16/692789 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62773456 |
Nov 30, 2018 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/087 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; B65G 1/1371 20130101; B65G 2209/02 20130101;
G06Q 50/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65G 1/137 20060101
B65G001/137 |
Claims
1. An autonomous storage and retrieval system comprising: a user
device configured to execute an instance of a first application; an
electronic device disposed in a facility, the electronic device
including an interactive display and a communications interface,
the electronic device configured to: execute the an instance of a
second application configured to communicate with the first
application executing on the user device; receive a first input
corresponding to one or more physical objects associated with a
section of the facility within a proximate distance of the at least
one electronic device; generate a unique optical machine-readable
element encoded with an identifier associated with the one or more
physical objects; display the unique optical machine-readable
element on the interactive display; communicatively pair with the
user device, via interaction between the second application of the
electronic device and the first application of the user device; and
transmit the unique optical machine-readable element to the user
device; a storage receptacle, the storage receptacle including an
input device, an interior volume, and at least one opening, the
storage receptacle configured to store a plurality of physical
objects within the interior volume and to: receive, using the input
device, a second input from the user device from which the one or
more physical objects are identified; confirm the one or more
physical objects are stored within the interior volume of the
storage receptacle; and dispense the one or more physical objects
via the at least one opening of the storage receptacle.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a terminal disposed in
the facility and in communication with the one or more storage
receptacles.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the terminal is configured to:
receive a third input from the user device including the
machine-readable element encoded with the identifier associated
with the one or more physical objects; determine the one or more
physical objects are disposed in the storage receptacle; and
transmit an authorization to dispense the one or more physical
objects to the storage receptacle.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the terminal is configured to:
receive identifiers associated with the one or more physical
objects; and generate a new optical machine-readable element
associated with the one or more physical objects.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device generates a
print-out of the optical machine-readable element.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device is an optical
scanner configured to scan and decode the optical machine-readable
element rendered on a display of the user device.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications interface is a
Near Field Communications (NFC) device.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a local computing
system associated with the facility and including a first database
and a remote computing system including a second database.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein in response to transmitting the
unique optical machine-readable element to the user device, the
electronic device receives a fourth input associated with
delivering the one or more physical objects to a specified
location.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein in response to the electronic
device receiving the fourth input, the electronic device is
configured to generate a communications bridge between the
electronic device and the remote computing system.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote computing system is
configured to update the second database.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein in response to the dispensing of
the one or more physical objects the local computing system is
configured to update the first database.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of electronic
devices are disposed in the facility, the plurality of electronic
devices include the electronic device, each of the plurality of
electronic devices are associated with a different section of the
facility.
14. An autonomous storage and retrieval method comprising:
executing, via a user device configured to, an instance of a first
application; executing, via an electronic device disposed in a
facility, the electronic device including an interactive display
and a communications interface, an instance of a second application
configured to communicate with the first application executing on
the user device; receiving, via the electronic device, a first
input corresponding to one or more physical objects associated with
a section of the facility within a proximate distance of the at
least one electronic device; generating, via the electronic device,
a unique optical machine-readable element encoded with an
identifier associated with the one or more physical objects;
displaying, via the electronic device, the unique optical
machine-readable element on the interactive display;
communicatively pairing, via the electronic device, with the user
device, via interaction between the second application of the
electronic device and the first application of the user device; and
transmitting, via the electronic device, the unique optical
machine-readable element to the user device; receiving, via a
storage receptacle including an input device, an interior volume,
at least one opening, the storage receptacle configured to store a
plurality of physical objects within the interior volume using the
input device, a second input from the user device from which the
one or more physical objects are identified; confirming, via the
storage receptacle, the one or more physical objects are stored
within the interior volume of the storage receptacle; and
dispensing, via the storage receptacle, the one or more physical
objects via the at least one opening of the storage receptacle.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein a terminal is disposed in the
facility and is in communication with the one or more storage
receptacles.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving, via the
terminal, a third input from the user device including the
machine-readable element encoded with the identifier associated
with the one or more physical objects; determining, via the
terminal, the one or more physical objects are disposed in the
storage receptacle; and transmitting, via the terminal, an
authorization to dispense the one or more physical objects to the
storage receptacle.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving, via the
terminal, identifiers associated with the one or more physical
objects; and generating, via the terminal, a new optical
machine-readable element associated with the one or more physical
objects.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating, via the
electronic device, a print-out of the optical machine-readable
element.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the input device is an optical
scanner configured to scan and decode the optical machine-readable
element rendered on a display of the user device.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the communications interface is
a Near Field Communications (NFC) device.
21. The method of claim 14, a local computing system is associated
with the facility and includes a first database and a remote
computing system includes a second database.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving, via the
electronic device, a fourth input associated with delivering the
one or more physical objects to a specified location, in response
to transmitting the unique optical machine-readable element to the
user device.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising generating, via the
electronic device, a communications bridge between the electronic
device and the remote computing system, in response to the
electronic device receiving the fourth input.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising, updating, via the
remote computing system the second database.
25. The method of claim 21, further comprising updating, via the
local computing system, the first database, in response to the
dispensing of the one or more physical objects.
26. The method of claim 14, a plurality of electronic devices are
disposed in the facility, the plurality of electronic devices
include the electronic device, each of the plurality of electronic
devices are associated with a different section of the facility.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/773,456, filed on Nov. 30,
2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Inventory can be stored in various locations in a facility.
Typically, inventory can be stored in a back room, on display racks
and shelves on a sales floor, and in other locations. When
inventory is not stored on the sales floor, an employee of the
facility is typically required to retrieve the inventory and
provide it to a customer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] Illustrative embodiments are shown by way of example in the
accompanying drawings and should not be considered as a limitation
of the present disclosure:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a facility including
electronic devices in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0005] FIG. 2 depicts a mobile device in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 3 depicts an electronic device in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 4 depicts a user device in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 5 depicts a terminal disposed with respect to a storage
receptacle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an autonomous object
storage and retrieval system in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating of an exemplary
computing device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment; and
[0012] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the
autonomous storage and retrieval system according to exemplary
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Described in detail herein are object storage and retrieval
systems and methods. In one embodiment, an autonomous storage and
retrieval system can interface with one or more user devices
configured to execute an instance of a first application, and
electronic devices disposed throughout a facility. Each electronic
device can include an interactive display and a communications
interface. The electronic devices can be configured to execute an
instance of a second application to receive a first input
associated with one or more physical objects associated with a
section of the facility within a proximate distance of the at least
one electronic device, generate a unique optical machine-readable
element encoded with an identifier associated with the one or more
physical objects, display the unique optical machine-readable
element on the interactive display, communicatively pair with at
least one user device of the one or more user devices, via the
first and second applications, and transmit the unique optical
machine-readable element to the at least user device.
[0014] In one embodiment, one or more terminals can be disposed in
the facility. The terminals can be in communication with the one or
more storage receptacles. A terminal can be configured to receive a
third input from the at least one user device including the
machine-readable element encoded with the identifier associated
with the one or more machine-readable elements, determine the one
or more physical objects are disposed in the storage receptacle,
and generate a new optical machine-readable element associated with
requesting retrieval of the one or more physical objects. In one
embodiment, the terminal can transmit the optical machine-readable
element to the user device or print the optical machine-readable
element.
[0015] The system can further include one or more autonomous
storage receptacles. Each storage receptacles can include an input
device, an interior volume, at least one opening, and can be
configured to store physical objects within the interior volume. A
storage receptacle can be configured to receive a second input from
the user device including the identifier from the optical
machine-readable element associated with the one or more physical
objects, via the input device, confirm the one or more physical
objects are stored within the interior volume of the at least one
storage receptacle, and dispense the one or more physical objects
via the at least one opening of the at least one storage
receptacle. In one embodiment, the second input can include the
optical machine-readable element transmitted to the user device by
the electronic device. In another embodiment, the second input can
include the new optical machine-readable element generated by the
terminal. In one embodiment, the terminal can communicate with the
storage receptacle to authorize the storage receptacle to dispense
the physical object.
[0016] In one embodiment, the input device of the storage
receptacle can be an optical scanner configured to scan and decode
the machine-readable element rendered on a display of the at least
one user device. The communications interface of the storage
receptacle can be a Near Field Communications (NFC) device.
[0017] In one embodiment, the system can further include a local
computing system associated with the facility and a remote
computing system. The local computing system can include a first
database and the remote computing system can include a second
database. In response to transmitting the unique machine-readable
element to the at least user device from the electronic device, the
electronic device can receive a fourth input associated with
delivering the one or more physical objects to a specified
location. In response to the electronic device receiving the fourth
input, the electronic device can be configured to generate a
communications bridge between the at least one electronic device
and the remote computing system. The remote computing system can be
configured to update the second database. In response to the
dispensing of the one or more physical objects the local computing
system can be configured to update the first database. Each
electronic device disposed in the facility is associated with a
different section of the facility and/or a different physical
object designated to be stored in the facility.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary autonomous object storage
and retrieval system 150 in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment. The autonomous object storage and retrieval system 150
can include one or more databases 105, one or more servers 110, one
or more storage receptacles 104, one or more terminals 160, one or
more electronic devices 130, one or more local computing systems
140, and one or more remote computing systems 100. The storage
receptacles 104, terminals 160, electronic devices 130 can be
disposed in each facility 190. One or more user devices 141 can be
configured and/or programmed to communicate with and/or interact
with the one or more servers 110, the one or more storage
receptacles 104, the one or more terminals 160, the one or more
electronic devices 130, the one or more local computing systems
140, and/or the one or more remote computing systems 100. In an
example embodiment, each facility 190 can include at least the one
or more storage receptacles 104, the one or more terminals 160, the
one or more electronic devices 130, and the one or more local
computing systems 140. The local computing system 140 can include a
local repository 142 configured to store information associated
with the facility 190 in which the local computing system 140 is
disposed and information associated with the physical objects
disposed in the facility 190. The user device 141 can include an
interactive display 144 and a communications interface 114. The
user device 141 can execute a first application 146. The electronic
device 131 can include an interactive display 148 and a
communications interface 112. The electronic device 131 can execute
an instance of the second application 152. The communications
interfaces 112 and 114 can be near-field communication (NFC)
devices. The storage receptacle 104 can include an input device
106, a communications interface 116, a controller 118, and a
dispensing mechanism 109. In one embodiment, the remote computing
system 100 can host the first and second application 146 and 152.
The terminal 160 can include an input device 162.
[0019] In an example embodiment, one or more portions of the
communications network 115 can be an ad hoc network, a mesh
network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN),
a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area
network (WAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a metropolitan
area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular telephone
network, a wireless network, a WiFi network, a WiMax network, any
other type of network, or a combination of two or more such
networks.
[0020] The server 110 includes one or more computers or processors
configured to communicate with the remote computing system 100, the
local computing systems 140, and the databases 105, storage
receptacle 104, via a communications network 115. The server 110
hosts one or more applications configured to interact with one or
more components of the remote computing system 100 and/or
facilitates access to the content of the databases 105. The
databases 105 may store information/data, as described herein. For
example, the databases 105 can include physical objects database
125 and receptacles database 135. The physical objects database 125
can store information associated with physical objects disposed in
each of the facilities. The receptacles database 135 can store
information associated with the storage receptacles location and
physical object disposed in the storage receptacles. The databases
105 can be located at one or more geographically distributed
locations from the remote computing system 100. Alternatively, the
databases 105 can be located at the same geographically as the
remote computing system 100.
[0021] In one embodiment, a user can operate a user device 141 in
the facility 190. The user device 141 can execute an instance of
the first application 146. A user device 141 can receive input or
can scan various physical objects disposed in the facility.
Information associated with each of the physical objects can be
rendered on the interactive display 144, via the first application
146. The user may further interface with an electronic device 130
disposed in a section of a facility to request to retrieve a
physical object from a storage receptacle 104, not disposed in the
respective section of the facility.
[0022] The electronic device 130 can receive input associated with
the requested physical object. The electronic device 130 can query,
via the second application 152, the local repository 142 to
retrieve information associated with the requested physical object.
The information can include a quantity of the requested physical
object stored in the storage receptacle, and information associated
with the storage receptacle in which the requested physical object
is disposed. The electronic device 130 can render the information
on the interactive display 148, via the second application 152. The
electronic device 130 can further generate an optical
machine-readable element, such as a barcode or a QR code, encoded
with an identifier associated with the requested physical object.
The electronic device 130 can render the optical machine-readable
element on the interactive display 148, via the second application
148.
[0023] In one embodiment, the user device can capture an image or
scan the displayed optical machine-readable element. The first
application 146 executing on the user device 141 can process and/or
reproduce the optical machine-readable element which can be
rendered on the display of the user device 141.
[0024] In one embodiment, the second application 148 of the
electronic device 130 can receive a request to commutatively pair
with of the user device 141 from the first application 146 of the
user device 141. The electronic device 148 can use the
communications interface 112 to pair with the user device 141. The
user device 141 can use the communications interface 114 to pair
with the electronic device 130. In response to pairing with the
user device 141, the electronic device 130 can transmit the
information associated with the requested physical object along
with the optical machine-readable element. In response to receiving
the information associated with the requested physical object along
with the optical machine-readable element, the user device 141 can
render the information associated with the requested physical
object along with the optical machine-readable element on the
interactive display 144, using the first application 146.
[0025] In one embodiment, the electronic device 130 can receive a
request to pair with the user device 140 prior to receiving a
request for the physical object. Subsequently to pairing with the
user device the user device 140 can interface with the electronic
device 130 using the facility application to request the physical
object to be retrieved from the storage receptacle 104 and to
receive the information associated with the requested physical
object along with the optical machine-readable element associated
with the requested physical object.
[0026] In one embodiment, the electronic device 130 can include a
printer 172. The electronic device 130 can instruct the printer 172
to print an image of the optical machine-readable element of the
requested physical object.
[0027] The terminal 160 can be a point-of-sale system configured to
scan machine-readable elements of physical objects to facilitate a
transaction with a user. In one embodiment, the terminal 160 can be
a self-checkout POS and the user can interface with the terminal
using the input device 162 of the terminal 160. In one embodiment,
the terminal 160 can be a cashier-operated terminal and a cashier
can interface with the terminal 160 using the input device 162. The
input device 162 can receive information associated with each
physical objects including information from any physical objects
retrieved from the facility and transported to the terminal 160,
information for any physical objects which were scanned by the user
device 140 or for which the user device 140 received input, and/or
any optical machine-readable elements for physical objects to be
retrieved from the storage receptacle. For the machine-readable
elements to be retrieved from the storage receptacle after
processing by the terminal 160, the input device 162 can either
scan the optical machine-readable element rendered on the
interactive display 144 of the user device 140 or receive manual
input associated with the identifier encoded in the optical
machine-readable element. The terminal 140 can query the local
repository 142 to determine which storage receptacle 104 is storing
the requested physical object. After the machine readable elements
of the physical objects transported to the terminal 160 and the
machine-readable elements rendered on the display of the user
device 160 have been scanned and/or processed by the terminal 160,
the terminal 160 can generate a receipt, which can include a new
optical machine-readable element corresponding to the transaction
at the terminal 160. The new machine-readable element can be
encoded with a transaction or order number and can be used to
look-up the physical objects that were part of the transaction. In
one embodiment, the terminal can print the receipt with the new
machine-readable element or can transmit receipt to the user device
directly (e.g., via a direct communication link with the user
device) or indirectly (e.g., via e-mail, text message, adding it to
an account associated with the user of the user device).
[0028] The user can interface with the storage receptacle 104 using
the input device 106 of the storage receptacle 104. The input
device 106 can either scan the new optical machine-readable element
which can be rendered on the interactive display 144 of the user
device 140, rendered on the printed receipt, or can receive manual
input associated with the identifier encoded in the new optical
machine-readable element. The storage receptacle can interface with
the local and/or remote computing systems using the order number
encoded in the new machine-readable element and the local and/or
remote computing systems can retrieve information about the
transaction using the order number to identify a physical object
from the set of physical objects in the order which is stored in
the storage receptacle and which has not yet been retrieved by the
user. The local and/or remote computing system can provide the
storage receptacle with information about the physical object to be
retrieved and can provide authorization to the storage receptacle
to dispense the physical object. The controller 118 can determine
the location of the physical object within the interior volume of
the storage receptacle 104. The controller 118 can control the
operation of the dispensing device 109 to pick-up, transport, and
dispense the physical object through opening of the storage
receptacle.
[0029] In one embodiment, the electronic device 130 and/or terminal
160 can be in communication with the remote and local computing
system. Each time a physical object is retrieved from the storage
receptacle 104 or is requested to be retrieved from the storage
receptacle, the remote computing system can update the physical
objects database 125 and the local computing system can update the
local repository 142.
[0030] In one embodiment, the electronic device 130 can determine
the physical object is unavailable in the facility. The electronic
device 130 can provide a selection for the physical object to be
delivered to a specified location. The electronic device 130 can
receive input associated with the specified location. The
electronic device 130 can transmit the request to deliver the
requested physical object to the remote computing system, for
fulfillment.
[0031] In one embodiment, the electronic device 130 and/or terminal
160 can transmit an optical machine-readable element for retrieving
the physical object from the storage receptacle 104. The user
device 140 can store the optical machine-readable element in
memory. The user can retrieve the optical machine-readable element
stored in the user device 140 to retrieve the physical object from
the storage receptacle without interfacing with the terminal
160.
[0032] In one embodiment, the terminal 160 can communicate the
identifier of the physical object to the communications interface
116 of the appropriate storage receptacle storing requested
physical object, to authorize the storage receptacle 104 to
dispense the physical object so that the storage receptacle does
not interface with the local and/or remote computing system to
identify the physical object to be dispensed and obtain
authorization to dispense the physical object.
[0033] As a non-limiting example, the autonomous object storage and
retrieval system 150 can be implemented in a retail store
environment. The users can be customers in the retail store. The
physical objects can be items for sale in the retail store. The
terminal 160 can be embodied by a Point of Sale (POS) terminal. The
retail store can store items in storage receptacles, which are
prone to shrinkage/loss or which cannot be stored on the sales
floor. The customer can use their user device 400 to checkout at
the POS terminal for each of the items purchased including the
items to be retrieved at the storage receptacle 104
[0034] In on embodiment, the customer can complete a transaction of
purchasing one or more items at the POS terminal. The items can
include an item which is to be retrieved at the storage receptacle
104. The POS terminal can generate and issue a receipt for the
transaction which can include an optical machine-readable element
representing the order including the item to be retrieved from the
storage receptacle 104. The POS terminal can transmit the receipt
to the user device 141 and/or print the receipt. The customer an
interface with the storage receptacle 104 using the optical
machine-readable element generated by the POS terminal to retrieve
the order.
[0035] FIG. 2 depicts a user interface 200 of an electronic device
130 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In one embodiment
the electronic device 130. Electronic devices can be disposed
throughout the facility and can be programmed to correspond with
specific sections of the facility and/or specific physical objects
in the facility. Execution of the second application by the
electronic device can cause the electronic device to render a
graphical user interface (GUI) on the interactive display 148. The
electronic device 130 can receive input associated with one or more
physical objects via the interactive display 148, a
keypad/keyboard, or other input device. The input can be a request
to retrieve the physical object at a storage receptacle located at
a different location than the electronic device 130. The second
application can render information 204 on the display 148 that is
associated with physical objects to be retrieved. The second
application can further generate and render a unique optical
machine-readable element 206, such as a barcode or QR code, on the
interactive display 148. The optical machine-readable element 206
can be encoded with an identifier for the physical objects to be
retrieved. In one embodiment, a single optical machine-readable
element 206 can be encoded with an identifier associated with each
of the physical objects to be retrieved. In another embodiment,
facility application can generate multiple optical machine readable
elements 206 for each physical object to be retrieved. In yet
another embodiment, the optical machine readable element 206 can be
encoded with multiple identifiers of corresponding to each physical
object to be retrieved.
[0036] FIG. 3 depicts a user interface 300 of the user device 140
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The user device 140 can
execute a first application to render a graphical user interface
(GUI) 300 on the display 302. The facility application can render
information 204 associated with items that have already been
retrieved and/or scanned by the user device 140.
[0037] The user device 140 can interface with the first application
executing on the electronic device (e.g., electronic device 130 as
shown in FIG. 2), using the second application, to request to
retrieve physical objects from the storage receptacle. The user
device 140 can receive the optical machine-readable element 206
associated with physical objects to be retrieved from a storage
receptacle, from the electronic device 130 in response to
interfacing with the electronic device 130. The second application
can render the unique optical machine-readable element 206 on the
interactive display 302. The facility application can further
render information 306 associated with the physical objects to be
retrieved from the storage receptacle on the interactive display
302.
[0038] FIG. 4 depicts a terminal 160 disposed with respect to a
storage receptacle 104 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
In one embodiment, terminals 160 and storage receptacles 104 can be
disposed throughout a facility. A terminal 160 can include an input
device 162. As an example, the input device 162 can be one or more
or a combination of: a keypad, keyboard, optical scanner, or a
touch-sensitive display.
[0039] The storage receptacle 104 can include an interior volume
405, an input device 106, shelving units 408, a dispensing
mechanism 109, and an opening 412. The shelving units 408 can hold
and support one or more physical objects 410 within the interior
volume 405. The opening 412 can provide access to the interior
volume. The dispensing mechanism 109 can transport and dispense one
or more physical objects 410 through the opening 112. The input
device 106 can receive input associated with physical objects 410
to be retrieved and dispensed.
[0040] In one embodiment, the terminal 160 can receive input from
the input device 162 associated with one or more physical objects
410 to be retrieved from the storage receptacle 104. The terminal
160 can communicate with the storage receptacle 104 to authorize
the storage receptacle 104 to dispense the one or more physical
objects 410 to be dispensed. The storage receptacle 104 can receive
input using the input device 106. The input can be associated with
the physical objects to be retrieved from the storage receptacle
104. The storage receptacle 104 can confirm the one or more
physical objects 410 are in fact being stored in the storage
receptacle 104. The storage receptacle 104 can control the
dispensing mechanism 109 to pick-up the one or more physical
objects 410 from the shelving units 408, transport the one or more
physical objects 410, and dispense the one or more physical objects
410 through the opening 412.
[0041] In one embodiment, the storage receptacle 104 can be
embodied as a storage tower. The storage tower can include a
housing having a base coupled to side walls or surfaces extending
from the base. In the present example, the side walls or surfaces
of the storage tower can form octagonal cylinder or column such
that there are eight side walls or surfaces.
[0042] FIG. 5 depicts a mobile device 500 in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment. The mobile device 500 can embody the
electronic device 130 and/or user device 140. The mobile device 500
can be a smartphone, tablet, subnotebook, laptop, personal digital
assistant (PDA), handheld device, and/or any other suitable mobile
device that can be programmed and/or configured to implement and/or
interact with embodiments of the system via wireless communication.
The mobile device 500 can include a processing device 504, such as
a digital signal processor (DSP) or microprocessor, memory/storage
506 in the form a non-transitory computer-readable medium, an image
capture device 508, a touch-sensitive display 510, a power source
512, a radio frequency transceiver 514 and a reader 530. Some
embodiments of the mobile device 500 can also include other common
components commonly, such as sensors 516, subscriber identity
module (SIM) card 518, audio input/output components 520 and 522
(including e.g., one or more microphones and one or more speakers),
and power management circuitry 524. The sensors 516 can include a
location-based sensor 534, configured to determine the location of
the mobile device 500.
[0043] The memory 506 can include any suitable, non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium, e.g., read-only memory (ROM),
erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically-erasable
programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, and the like. In exemplary
embodiments, an operating system 526 and applications 528 can be
embodied as computer-readable/executable program code stored on the
non-transitory computer-readable memory 506 and implemented using
any suitable, high or low level computing language and/or platform,
such as, e.g., Java, C, C++, C #, assembly code, machine readable
language, and the like. In some embodiments, the applications 528
can include applications 532 such as the first application
executing on the user device and the second application executing
on the electronic device, configured to interact with the
microphone, a web browser application, a mobile application
specifically coded to interface with one or more servers of
embodiments of the system for data transfer in a distributed
environment. While memory is depicted as a single component those
skilled in the art will recognize that the memory can be formed
from multiple components and that separate non-volatile and
volatile memory devices can be used.
[0044] The processing device 504 can include any suitable single-
or multiple-core microprocessor of any suitable architecture that
is capable of implementing and/or facilitating an operation of the
mobile device 500. For example, a user can use the mobile device
500 in a facility to perform an image capture operation, capture a
voice input of the user (e.g., via the microphone), transmit
messages including a captured image and/or a voice input and
receive messages from a remote computing system, display
data/information including GUIs of the user interface 510, captured
images, voice input transcribed as text, and the like. The mobile
device 500 can perform the aforementioned operations using on an
internet browser executing on the user device, or any web-based
application. The processing device 504 can be programmed and/or
configured to execute the operating system 526 and applications 528
to implement one or more processes and/or perform one or more
operations. The processing device 504 can retrieve information/data
from and store information/data to the storage device 506.
[0045] The RF transceiver 514 can be configured to transmit and/or
receive wireless transmissions via an antenna 515. For example, the
RF transceiver 514 can be configured to transmit data/information,
such as input based on user interaction with the mobile device 500.
The RF transceiver 514 can be configured to transmit and/or receive
data/information having at a specified frequency and/or according
to a specified sequence and/or packet arrangement.
[0046] The touch-sensitive display 510 can render user interfaces,
such as graphical user interfaces to a user and in some embodiments
can provide a mechanism that allows the user to interact with the
GUIs. For example, a user may interact with the mobile device 500
through touch-sensitive display 510, which may be implemented as a
liquid crystal touch-screen (or haptic) display, a light emitting
diode touch-screen display, and/or any other suitable display
device, which may display one or more user interfaces (e.g., GUIs)
that may be provided in accordance with exemplary embodiments.
[0047] The power source 512 can be implemented as a battery or
capacitive elements configured to store an electric charge and
power the mobile device 500. In exemplary embodiments, the power
source 512 can be a rechargeable power source, such as a battery or
one or more capacitive elements configured to be recharged via a
connection to an external power supply. The scanner 530 can be
implemented as an optical reader configured to scan and decode
machine-readable elements disposed on objects.
[0048] In one embodiment, the mobile device 500 can operate as an
embodiment of the user devices or the electronic devices described
herein. In one embodiment, the mobile device 500 can execute the
application 532 so that the user device and/or electronic device
can interface with one another. The user device can execute the
first application and the electronic device can execute a second
application. The first and second application can be programmed to
facilitate communication and interaction between the user device
and the electronic devices. The application 532 while executing on
the user or electronic device can render a machine-readable element
such as a barcode and/or QR code encoded with an identifier
associated with one or more physical objects to be retrieved from a
storage receptacle. The machine-readable element can be scanned at
the storage receptacle.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting a facility 600 including
electronic devices 130a-e in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment. In embodiment, electronic devices 130a-e can be
disposed throughout a facility 600. Each electronic device can be
disposed in, and associated with one of multiple sections 602a-e of
the facility. For example, electronic device 104a can be disposed
in section 602a, electronic device 130b can be disposed in section
602b, electronic device 130c can be disposed in section 102c,
electronic device 130d can be disposed in section 602d, and
electronic device 130e can be disposed in section 602e.
[0050] Each section 602a-e can be associated with different types
of physical objects. For example, section 602a can be associated
with furniture, while section 602b can be associated with
electronics. Some physical objects can be disposed in the
respective sections. However, some physical objects may only be
available for retrieval at a storage receptacle in a different part
of the facility. A user may interface with the electronic devices
130a-e in the sections 602a-e, using a mobile device and/or an
interface of the electronic device, to receive an optical
machine-readable element encoded with an identifier of one or more
physical objects associated with the particular section, that are
not disposed in the particular section and can be retrieved at the
storage receptacle.
[0051] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example computing device for
implementing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The
computing device 700 may be, but is not limited to, a smartphone,
laptop, tablet, desktop computer, server or network appliance. The
computing device 700 can be embodied as part of the local or remote
computing system, electronic device, or terminal. The computing
device 700 includes one or more non-transitory computer-readable
media for storing one or more computer-executable instructions or
software for implementing exemplary embodiments. The non-transitory
computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, one or
more types of hardware memory, non-transitory tangible media (for
example, one or more magnetic storage disks, one or more optical
disks, one or more flash drives, one or more solid state disks),
and the like. For example, memory 706 included in the computing
device 700 may store computer-readable and computer-executable
instructions or software (e.g., applications 730 such as the
facility application 148 described herein with respect to FIG. 1)
for implementing exemplary operations of the computing device 700.
The computing device 700 also includes configurable and/or
programmable processor 702 and associated core(s) 704, and
optionally, one or more additional configurable and/or programmable
processor(s) 702' and associated core(s) 704' (for example, in the
case of computer systems having multiple processors/cores), for
executing computer-readable and computer-executable instructions or
software stored in the memory 706 and other programs for
implementing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
Processor 702 and processor(s) 702' may each be a single core
processor or multiple core (704 and 704') processor. Either or both
of processor 702 and processor(s) 702' may be configured to execute
one or more of the instructions described in connection with
computing device 700.
[0052] Virtualization may be employed in the computing device 700
so that infrastructure and resources in the computing device 700
may be shared dynamically. A virtual machine 712 may be provided to
handle a process running on multiple processors so that the process
appears to be using only one computing resource rather than
multiple computing resources. Multiple virtual machines may also be
used with one processor.
[0053] Memory 706 may include a computer system memory or random
access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, and the like. Memory
706 may include other types of memory as well, or combinations
thereof.
[0054] A user may interact with the computing device 700 through a
visual display device 714, such as a computer monitor, which may
display one or more graphical user interfaces 716, multi touch
interface 720, a pointing device 718, an image capturing device 734
and a scanner 732.
[0055] The computing device 700 may also include one or more
computer storage devices 726, such as a hard-drive, CD-ROM, or
other computer readable media, for storing data and
computer-readable instructions and/or software that implement
exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g.,
applications). For example, exemplary storage device 726 can
include one or more databases 728 for storing information regarding
physical objects and the storage receptacles. The databases 728 may
be updated manually or automatically at any suitable time to add,
delete, and/or update one or more data items in the databases.
[0056] The computing device 700 can include a network interface 708
configured to interface via one or more network devices 724 with
one or more networks, for example, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide
Area Network (WAN) or the Internet through a variety of connections
including, but not limited to, standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN
links (for example, 802.11, T1, T3, 56 kb, X.25), broadband
connections (for example, ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM), wireless
connections, controller area network (CAN), or some combination of
any or all of the above. In exemplary embodiments, the computing
system can include one or more antennas 722 to facilitate wireless
communication (e.g., via the network interface) between the
computing device 700 and a network and/or between the computing
device 700 and other computing devices. The network interface 708
may include a built-in network adapter, network interface card,
PCMCIA network card, card bus network adapter, wireless network
adapter, USB network adapter, modem or any other device suitable
for interfacing the computing device 700 to any type of network
capable of communication and performing the operations described
herein.
[0057] The computing device 700 may run any operating system 710,
such as versions of the Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. operating
systems, different releases of the Unix and Linux operating
systems, versions of the MacOS.RTM. for Macintosh computers,
embedded operating systems, real-time operating systems, open
source operating systems, proprietary operating systems, or any
other operating system capable of running on the computing device
700 and performing the operations described herein. In exemplary
embodiments, the operating system 710 may be run in native mode or
emulated mode. In an exemplary embodiment, the operating system 710
may be run on one or more cloud machine instances.
[0058] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the
autonomous storage and retrieval system according to exemplary
embodiment. In operation 800, each of one or more user devices
(e.g., user devices 140 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) can execute an
instance of a first application (e.g., first application 146 as
shown in FIG. 1). In operation 802, electronic devices (e.g.,
electronic devices 130 and 130a-e as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6)
can execute an instance of a second application. The electronic
devices can be disposed throughout a facility (e.g., facility 600
as shown in FIG. 6) and can include an interactive display (e.g.,
interactive display 148 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and a
communications interface (e.g., communications interface 112 as
shown in FIG. 1).
[0059] In operation 804, an electronic device can receive a first
input associated with one or more physical objects (e.g., physical
objects 410 as shown in FIG. 4) normally stored in a section of the
facility within a proximate distance of the electronic device, but
which is now stored in the storage receptacle. In operation 806,
the electronic device can generate a unique optical
machine-readable element (e.g., optical machine-readable element
206 as shown in FIGS. 2-3) encoded with an identifier associated
with the one or more physical objects. In operation 808, the
electronic device can display the unique optical machine-readable
element on the interactive display.
[0060] In operation 810, the electronic device can communicatively
pair with a user device, via the application. In operation 812, the
electronic device can transmit the unique optical machine-readable
element to the user device. In operation 814, a storage receptacle
(e.g., storage receptacle 104 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) disposed
in the facility and including an input device, an interior volume,
and at least one opening and configured to store physical objects,
can scan the optical machine-readable element associated with the
one or more physical objects, via the input device, rendered on the
user device. In operation 816, the storage receptacle can confirm
the one or more physical objects are stored within the interior
volume of the storage receptacle. In operation 818, the storage
receptacle can dispense the one or more physical objects via the at
least one opening of the at least one storage receptacle.
[0061] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the
autonomous storage and retrieval system according to exemplary
embodiment. In operation 900, each of one or more user devices
(e.g., user devices 141 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) can execute an
instance of a first application (e.g., first application 146 as
shown in FIG. 1). In operation 902, electronic devices (e.g.,
electronic devices 130 and 130a-e as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6)
can execute an instance of a second application. The electronic
devices can be disposed throughout a facility (e.g., facility 600
as shown in FIG. 6) and can include an interactive display (e.g.,
interactive display 148 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and a
communications interface (e.g., communications interface 112 as
shown in FIG. 1).
[0062] In operation 904, an electronic device can receive a first
input associated with one or more physical objects (e.g., physical
objects 410 as shown in FIG. 4) normally stored in a section of the
facility within a proximate distance of the electronic device, but
which is now stored in the storage receptacle. In operation 906,
the electronic device can generate a unique optical
machine-readable element (e.g., optical machine-readable element
206 as shown in FIGS. 2-3) encoded with an identifier associated
with the one or more physical objects. In operation 908, the
electronic device can display the unique optical machine-readable
element on the interactive display.
[0063] In operation 910, the electronic device can generate a
print-out of the optical machine-readable element. In operation
912, a storage receptacle (e.g., storage receptacle 104 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4) disposed in the facility and including an input
device, an interior volume, and at least one opening and configured
to store physical objects, can scan the optical machine-readable
element associated with the one or more physical objects, via the
input device, rendered on the print out. In operation 914, the
storage receptacle can confirm the one or more physical objects are
stored within the interior volume of the storage receptacle as
described herein. In operation 916, the storage receptacle can
dispense the one or more physical objects via the at least one
opening of the at least one storage receptacle
[0064] In describing exemplary embodiments, specific terminology is
used for the sake of clarity. For purposes of description, each
specific term is intended to at least include all technical and
functional equivalents that operate in a similar manner to
accomplish a similar purpose. Additionally, in some instances where
a particular exemplary embodiment includes a multiple system
elements, device components or method steps, those elements,
components or steps may be replaced with a single element,
component or step. Likewise, a single element, component or step
may be replaced with multiple elements, components or steps that
serve the same purpose. Moreover, while exemplary embodiments have
been shown and described with references to particular embodiments
thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that
various substitutions and alterations in form and detail may be
made therein without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure. Further still, other aspects, functions and advantages
are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0065] One or more of the exemplary embodiments, include one or
more localized Internet of Things (IoT) devices and controllers. As
a result, in an exemplary embodiment, the localized IoT devices and
controllers can perform most, if not all, of the computational load
and associated monitoring and then later asynchronous uploading of
summary data can be performed by a designated one of the IoT
devices to a remote server. In this manner, the computational
effort of the overall system may be reduced significantly. For
example, whenever a localized monitoring allows remote
transmission, secondary utilization of controllers keeps securing
data for other IoT devices and permits periodic asynchronous
uploading of the summary data to the remote server. In addition, in
an exemplary embodiment, the periodic asynchronous uploading of
summary data may include a key kernel index summary of the data as
created under nominal conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, the
kernel encodes relatively recently acquired intermittent data
("KRI"). As a result, in an exemplary embodiment, KRI is a
continuously utilized near term source of data, but KRI may be
discarded depending upon the degree to which such KRI has any value
based on local processing and evaluation of such KRI. In an
exemplary embodiment, KRI may not even be utilized in any form if
it is determined that KRI is transient and may be considered as
signal noise. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the kernel
rejects generic data ("KRG") by filtering incoming raw data using a
stochastic filter that provides a predictive model of one or more
future states of the system and can thereby filter out data that is
not consistent with the modeled future states which may, for
example, reflect generic background data. In an exemplary
embodiment, KRG incrementally sequences all future undefined cached
kernels of data in order to filter out data that may reflect
generic background data. In an exemplary embodiment, KRG
incrementally sequences all future undefined cached kernels having
encoded asynchronous data in order to filter out data that may
reflect generic background data.
[0066] Exemplary flowcharts are provided herein for illustrative
purposes and are non-limiting examples of methods. One of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that exemplary methods may include
more or fewer steps than those illustrated in the exemplary
flowcharts, and that the steps in the exemplary flowcharts may be
performed in a different order than the order shown in the
illustrative flowcharts.
* * * * *