U.S. patent application number 17/570687 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-28 for autonomous storage and retrieval tower.
The applicant listed for this patent is Walmart Apollo, LLC. Invention is credited to Paul E. Durkee, Bradley Johnson.
Application Number | 20220127078 17/570687 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-04-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220127078 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Durkee; Paul E. ; et
al. |
April 28, 2022 |
AUTONOMOUS STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL TOWER
Abstract
An autonomous storage and retrieval tower for receiving,
storing, and dispensing free physical products.
Inventors: |
Durkee; Paul E.; (Centerton,
AR) ; Johnson; Bradley; (Bentonville, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Walmart Apollo, LLC |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/570687 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16507998 |
Jul 10, 2019 |
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17570687 |
|
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62697238 |
Jul 12, 2018 |
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International
Class: |
B65G 1/137 20060101
B65G001/137; B65G 1/04 20060101 B65G001/04 |
Claims
1. An autonomous storage and retrieval system, the system
comprising: a plurality of storage locations, each of the storage
locations configured to support one or more physical items
purchased by one or more customers; a receptacle for receiving the
one or more physical items to be stored by the autonomous storage
and retrieval system for outputting the one or more physical items
from the autonomous storage and retrieval system; an application
programming interface (API) in communication with a fulfillment
server for tracking at least one physical item of the one or more
physical items within the autonomous storage and retrieval system;
an input device for receiving an input from a user for storing or
retrieving a physical item of the one or more physical items from
the autonomous storage and retrieval system; a controller in
communication with the API, the controller configured to operate in
a normal mode of operation or an exception mode of operation,
wherein the controller is configured to: receive the input from the
input device for storing the physical item in the autonomous
storage and retrieval system; analyze the input for a specified
identifier, wherein the specified identifier is associated with
storing a free physical item not purchased by the one or more
customers; identify the specified identifier in the input;
transition from the normal mode of operation to the exception mode
of operation; disable the API; instruct storing of the free
physical item associated with the input wherein the free physical
item is retrieved from the receptacle; transition from the
exception mode of operation to the normal mode of operation; and
enable the API.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further
configured to: receive the input from the input device for
retrieving the physical item from the autonomous storage and
retrieval system; analyze the input for a specified identifier,
wherein the specified identifier is associated with retrieving the
free physical item not purchased by the one or more customers;
identify the specified identifier in the input; transition from the
normal mode of operation to the exception mode of operation;
disable the API; instruct retrieval of the free physical item
associated with the input, wherein the free physical item is placed
in the receptacle; transition from the exception mode of operation
to the normal mode of operation; and enable the API.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the free physical item is a free
gift dispensed to the one or more customers.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input is an alpha-numerical
code.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the specified identifier is one
or more letters or one or more numbers included within the
alpha-numerical code.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the alpha-numeric code is decoded
from a barcode.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the disabling of the API prevents
the autonomous storage and retrieval tower from communicating with
the fulfillment server.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the autonomous storage and
retrieval system is a tower having a hosing.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the storage locations are
shelves.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the free physical item is
retrieved from the receptacle onto a tray.
11. A method of storing and retrieving one or more physical items,
the method comprising: providing a plurality of storage locations,
each of the storage locations configured to support one or more
physical items purchased by one or more customers; providing a
receptacle for receiving the one or more physical items to be
stored by the autonomous storage and retrieval system for
outputting the one or more physical items from the autonomous
storage and retrieval system; providing an application programming
interface (API) in communication with a fulfillment server for
tracking at least one physical item of the one or more physical
items within the autonomous storage and retrieval system; providing
an input device for receiving an input from a user for storing or
retrieving a physical item of the one or more physical items from
the autonomous storage and retrieval system; providing a controller
in communication with the API, the controller configured to operate
in a normal mode of operation or an exception mode of operation; by
the controller: receiving the input from the input device for
storing the physical item in the autonomous storage and retrieval
system; analyzing the input for a specified identifier, wherein the
specified identifier is associated with storing a free physical
item not purchased by the one or more customers; identifying the
specified identifier in the input; transitioning from the normal
mode of operation to the exception mode of operation; disabling the
API; instructing storing of the free physical item associated with
the input wherein the free physical item is retrieved from the
receptacle; transitioning from the exception mode of operation to
the normal mode of operation; and enabling the API.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, by the controller:
receiving the input from the input device for retrieving the
physical item from the autonomous storage and retrieval system;
analyzing the input for a specified identifier, wherein the
specified identifier is associated with retrieving the free
physical item not purchased by the one or more customers;
identifying the specified identifier in the input; transitioning
from the normal mode of operation to the exception mode of
operation; disabling the API; instructing retrieval of the free
physical item associated with the input, wherein the free physical
item is placed in the receptacle; transitioning from the exception
mode of operation to the normal mode of operation; and enabling the
API.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the free physical item is a
free gift dispensed to the one or more customers.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the input is an alpha-numerical
code.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the specified identifier is one
or more letters or one or more numbers included within the
alpha-numerical code.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the alpha-numeric code is
decoded from a barcode.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the disabling of the API
prevents the autonomous storage and retrieval tower from
communicating with the fulfillment server.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the autonomous storage and
retrieval system is a tower having a hosing.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the storage locations are
shelves.
20. The method of claim 11, further comprising retrieving the free
physical item from the receptacle onto a tray.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/507,998, filed Jul. 10, 2019, which claims priority to U.S.
Application No. 62/697,238, filed on Jul. 12, 2018, the content of
each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Storage and retrieval towers, also known as automated kiosks
or pickup towers, are used in some retail facilities to enable
customers to retrieve items from the pickup towers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more
embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description,
help to explain the disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily to
scale, or inclusive of all elements of a system, emphasis instead
generally being placed upon illustrating the concepts, structures,
and techniques sought to be protected herein. In the drawings:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an interior view of an
autonomous storage and retrieval tower in accordance with an
example embodiment;
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a network diagram depicting a system for
implementing the autonomous storage and retrieval tower in
accordance with an example embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device
that may be used to implement exemplary embodiments described
herein; and
[0007] FIGS. 4A-4B are flow diagrams showing illustrative
processing that can be implemented with the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower in accordance with an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Exemplary embodiments provide an autonomous storage and
retrieval tower used to receive, store, and dispense physical
items, including free physical items. A customer may order physical
items online and select the "pick-up" option at checkout. When the
ordered physical items arrive at a store local to the customer, a
store associate may load the ordered physical items into the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower. When the customer arrives
at the store, the customer can proceed to the autonomous storage
and retrieval tower and enter or scan a code associated with the
order. The customer may then promptly receive the ordered physical
items from the autonomous storage and retrieval tower.
[0009] The autonomous storage and retrieval tower includes a
housing and shelves within the housing. Each shelf is configured to
support one or more physical items. The tower further includes a
storage receptacle for receiving physical items to be stored by the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower and/or for outputting
physical items from the autonomous storage and retrieval tower. The
autonomous storage and retrieval tower includes and/or is in
communication with an application programming interface (API). The
API is in communication with a fulfillment server and enables the
fulfillment server to interact with the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower for tracking physical items within the autonomous
storage and retrieval tower. The fulfillment server is part of a
fulfillment system used to receive and fulfill customer orders,
such as orders submitted online. Orders are received through the
fulfillment system, including orders being shipped into a store for
pick-up by a customer. The orders may include information, such as
an image, a price, an order number, a universal item code (UPC),
and a deadline.
[0010] The autonomous storage and retrieval tower includes an input
device for receiving input, such as a code, from a user when
storing a physical item in the autonomous storage and retrieval
tower. The input device may be a keyboard or a scanner. The input
is entered into the input device to identify the physical item
being entered into the autonomous storage and retrieval tower. The
input is received by a controller that controls receiving and
storing the physical item within the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower. The controller further communicates with the
fulfillment server regarding a location of the physical item stored
within the autonomous storage and retrieval tower.
[0011] In some embodiments, the input is an alphabetical code, a
numerical code, or an alpha-numerical code. In further embodiments,
the code may be encoded in a machine readable identifier such as a
bar code, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, or other
type of machine readable codes. For example, the code may be
encoded as a barcode that, for example, may be rendered on paper or
on a mobile device that the user can scan at the scanner.
[0012] In some embodiments, when storing a free physical item in
the autonomous storage and retrieval tower, a code that includes a
specified identifier is entered into the input device to identify
the physical item as a free physical item. For example, the user
may enter or scan a code that starts with a specified character or
characters, such as, for example, "G" for gift. The free physical
item is not associated with an order. In a normal operating mode,
scanning a UPC or other identifier associated with a physical item
when the physical item is being inserted into the tower for storage
causes the controller associated with the tower to communicate with
the fulfillment system via the API. However, entering the code
causes the controller within the autonomous storage and retrieval
tower to implement an exception operating mode in which the
controller disables and/or does not engage the API. In some
instances, if the code was input to the API, the code may cause an
error in the API or otherwise may not be recognized by the API. The
autonomous storage and retrieval tower then receives the physical
item on a tray and stores the physical item on a shelf within the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower without communicating with
the fulfillment system via the API. The controller enters a
location of the physical item into a database within the autonomous
storage and retrieval tower. Once the item is stored within the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower, the controller reactivates
or re-engages the API.
[0013] In an illustrative example, the controller receives an input
from the input device, where the input is associated with a free
gift that will be provided to a customer using the autonomous
storage and retrieval tower to pick-up an order. The controller
analyzes the input for a specified identifier, where the specified
identifier is associated with storing a free physical item, such as
a gift, that is not associated with an order. In some embodiments,
the specified identifier is one or more letters or one or more
numbers included within the code. The controller identifies the
specified identifier in the input as an identifier associated with
a free physical item. Accordingly, the controller disables or does
not engage the API. The disabling or disengaging of the API
prevents the autonomous storage and retrieval tower from
communicating with the fulfillment server. The controller instructs
the storing of the free physical item associated with the input,
wherein the physical item is placed on a tray in the storage
receptacle and transported to a shelf within the tower. The
controller further enters a location (e.g., a container number and
a shelf number) of the physical item within the autonomous storage
and retrieval tower into the database. After the free physical item
is stored with the autonomous storage and retrieval tower, the
controller enables or re-engages the API.
[0014] In some embodiment, upon storing the physical item in the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower, the controller transmits a
notification, such as an e-mail or text message, to a customer that
includes the code. The customer can enter or scan the code at the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower to retrieve the physical
item for free. The tower recognizes the code as a free or
promotional item code, thereupon the API is deactivated and/or is
not engaged, and the physical item is dispensed as a gift, as
described above.
[0015] The input device may also be used to receive an input from a
user for retrieving a physical item from the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower. In an exemplary embodiment, when retrieving a free
physical item in the autonomous storage and retrieval tower, the
controller receives the input from the input device. In some
embodiments, the input used to store the free physical item in the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower may be different from the
input used to retrieve the free physical item from the autonomous
storage and retrieval tower. The controller analyzes the input that
includes the specified identifier associated with the free physical
item. Upon identifying the specified identifier in the input, the
controller disables and/or does not engage the API. The disabling
or disengaging of the API prevents the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower from communicating with the fulfillment server. The
controller instructs retrieval of the free physical item associated
with the input. The free physical item is transported from its
storage location to the storage receptacle. Once the free physical
item is dispensed from the storage receptacle, the controller
enables or re-engages the API.
[0016] In some embodiments, the autonomous storage and retrieval
tower may include a user interface that displays database
information associated with the free physical items, such as types
of free physical items, locations of the free physical items, how
many trays are used for the free physical items, etc. Once a free
physical item is dispensed, the database may be updated but the
information associated with the free physical product is typically
not used for other purposes.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an interior view of an
autonomous storage and retrieval tower 100 (referred to as storage
tower 100) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The storage
tower 100 may be physically located at the front area of a store
and used for storing orders for customer pickup. For example, the
customer may arrive at a receiving and/or delivery opening 116 and
present proof of purchase (e.g., a code) to an input device, and
the item is dispensed from the storage tower 100 to the
customer.
[0018] The storage tower 100 can include a housing 101. The housing
101 can include, for example, eight interior walls. In some
embodiments, the housing can have an octagonal column or octagonal
cylinder shape. The interior of the storage tower 100 can include a
shelving unit 102, physical items 104 disposed in or on containers
108 on the shelving unit 102, a robotic crane 106, a boom or shaft
110, a rotating base 112, and at least one receiving and/or
delivery opening 116 (e.g., a storage receptacle). Containers 108
may be received at the autonomous storage and retrieval tower 100
via a variety of mechanisms such as, but not limited to, a conveyor
belt delivering the containers to or through the opening 116.
Containers 108 may be inserted into the storage tower 100 or
dispensed from the storage tower 100 through the opening 116. The
shelving unit 102 can include shelves configured to store and
support containers holding physical items 104. The shelving unit
102 can be disposed along one or each of the interior walls of the
storage tower 100. The shaft 110 can extend vertically within the
housing 101 in a cavity surrounded by the shelves. In some
embodiments, the shaft 110 can extend along a central axis of the
housing. The robotic crane 106 can extend perpendicularly from the
shaft 110. The robotic crane 106 is configured to traverse the
shaft 110 to store and retrieve containers 108 on the shelving unit
102. The rotating base 112 can be configured to rotate the shaft
110, 360 degrees, around the interior of the storage tower 100 so
that the shaft 112 is perpendicular to the appropriate shelving
unit 102 containing a physical item 104. The robotic crane 106 can
move up and down vertically along the shaft 110 to align itself
with the shelf on which a physical item 104 is disposed. The
robotic crane 106 can receive instructions from a controller 125 to
load a physical item 104 from the shelving unit 102 (or its
container) onto the robotic crane 106 and transport the physical
item 104 to the opening 116 or to retrieve a physical item 104 from
the opening 116 to load the physical item 104 onto a shelving unit
102 for storage in the storage tower 100.
[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the storage tower 100 includes
and/or is in communication with an application programming
interface (API) 126. The API 126 is in communication with a
fulfillment server 128 and enables the fulfillment server 128 to
interact with the storage tower 100 for tracking physical items
within the storage tower 100. The fulfillment server 128 may also
include an API 130 that can interact with the storage tower 100.
The storage tower 100 may further includes a database 127 for
storing data and locations associated with physical items stored
within the storage tower 100.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a network diagram depicting a system 200
for implementing the autonomous storage and retrieval tower 100,
according to an example embodiment. The system 200 can include the
autonomous storage and retrieval tower 100, a network 204, and the
fulfillment server 128. Each of the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower 100 and the server 128 is in communication with the
network 204 and may connect to network 204 via a wired or wireless
connection. The server 128 comprises one or more computers or
processors configured to communicate with the autonomous storage
and retrieval tower 100 via network 204. The server 128 can include
one or more components of device 300 of FIG. 3.
[0021] In an example embodiment, one or more portions of network
204 may be an ad hoc 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, another type of network, or a combination
of two or more such networks.
[0022] Server 128 hosts one or more software systems, applications
or websites, including one or more components of the fulfillment
system described herein. In an example embodiment, the server 128
also includes various software services that facilitate the
functionalities of the fulfillment system. The fulfillment system
is used to receive and fulfill orders, such as orders submitted
online. Orders being shipped into a store are received through the
fulfillment system. The orders may include information, such as an
image, a price, an order number, a universal item code (UPC), and a
deadline.
[0023] The autonomous storage and retrieval tower 100 includes
and/or is in communication with the application programming
interface (API) 126, which can be in communication with a
fulfillment server 128 and can enable the fulfillment server 128 to
interact with the storage tower 100 for tracking physical items
within the storage tower 100 when the storage tower is operating in
a normal mode of operation. The fulfillment server 128 may also
include the API 130 that can interact with the storage tower
100.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device
300 that can be used to perform one or more steps of the methods
provided by exemplary embodiments. For example, computing device
300 may be the fulfillment server 128 or included within autonomous
storage and retrieval tower 100. The computing device 300 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 can 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 USB flashdrives), and the like. For example,
memory 306 included in the computing device 300 can store
computer-readable and computer-executable instructions or software
for implementing exemplary embodiments. The computing device 300
also includes processor 302 and associated core 304, and
optionally, one or more additional processor(s) 302' and associated
core(s) 304' (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
306 and other programs for controlling system hardware. Processor
302 and processor(s) 302' can each be a single core processor or
multiple core (304 and 304') processor.
[0025] Virtualization can be employed in the computing device 300
so that infrastructure and resources in the computing device can be
shared dynamically. A virtual machine 314 can 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 can also be
used with one processor.
[0026] Memory 306 can include a computer system memory or random
access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, and the like. Memory
306 can include other types of memory as well, or combinations
thereof. An individual can interact with the computing device 300
through a visual display device 318, such as a touch screen display
or computer monitor, which can display, via a graphical user
interface 322, one or more user interfaces 319 for receiving data
from the individual (e.g., an input for ordered physical items or
free physical items). In some embodiments, the visual display
device 318 can act as an input device. The visual display device
318 can also display other aspects, elements and/or information or
data associated with exemplary embodiments. The computing device
300 can include other I/O devices for receiving input from a
individual, for example, a keyboard or another suitable multi-point
touch interface 308, a pointing device 310 (e.g., a pen, stylus,
mouse, or trackpad). The multi-point touch interface 308 and the
pointing device 310 can be coupled to the visual display device
318. The computing device 300 can include other suitable
conventional I/O peripherals.
[0027] The computing device 300 can also include one or more
storage devices 324, such as a hard-drive, CD-ROM, or other
computer readable media, for storing data and computer-readable
instructions and/or software, that implements exemplary embodiments
of the system as described herein (e.g., the fulfillment system,
API 130), or portions thereof, which can be executed to generate
user interface 319 on display 318. Exemplary storage device 324 can
also store one or more databases for storing suitable information
required to implement exemplary embodiments. The databases can be
updated by an individual or automatically at a suitable time to
add, delete, or update one or more items in the databases.
Exemplary storage device 324 can store one or more databases 326
for storing data, and other data/information used to implement
exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods described
herein.
[0028] The computing device 300 can include a network interface 312
configured to interface via one or more network devices 320 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, 56kb, 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. The network interface 312 can include a
built-in network adapter, network interface card, PCMCIA network
card, card bus network adapter, wireless network adapter, USB
network adapter, modem or another device suitable for interfacing
the computing device 300 to a type of network capable of
communication and performing the operations described herein.
Moreover, the computing device 300 can be a computer system, such
as a workstation, desktop computer, server, laptop, handheld
computer, tablet computer (e.g., the iPad.RTM. tablet computer),
mobile computing or communication device (e.g., the iPhone.RTM.
communication device), or other form of computing or
telecommunications device that is capable of communication and that
has sufficient processor power and memory capacity to perform the
operations described herein.
[0029] The computing device 300 can run an operating system 316,
such as versions of the Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. operating
systems, the different releases of the Unix and Linux operating
systems, a version of the MacOS.RTM. for Macintosh computers, an
embedded operating system, a real-time operating system, an open
source operating system, a proprietary operating system, an
operating systems for mobile computing devices, or another
operating system capable of running on the computing device and
performing the operations described herein. In exemplary
embodiments, the operating system 316 can be run in native mode or
emulated mode. In an exemplary embodiment, the operating system 316
can be run on one or more cloud machine instances.
[0030] FIGS. 4A-4B are flow diagrams showing illustrative
processing that can be implemented within a system for receiving,
storing, and dispensing free physical items from an autonomous
storage and retrieval tower in an exemplary embodiment. Rectangular
elements are herein denoted "processing blocks" and represent
computer software instructions or groups of instructions.
Alternatively, the processing blocks may represent steps performed
by functionally equivalent circuits such as a digital signal
processor (DSP) circuit or an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC). The flow diagrams do not depict the syntax of any
particular programming language but rather illustrate the
functional information one of ordinary skill in the art requires to
fabricate circuits or to generate computer software to perform the
processing required of the particular apparatus. It should be noted
that many routine program elements, such as initialization of loops
and variables and the use of temporary variables may be omitted for
clarity. The particular sequence of blocks described is
illustrative only and can be varied without departing from the
spirit of the concepts, structures, and techniques sought to be
protected herein. Thus, unless otherwise stated, the blocks
described below are unordered meaning that, when possible, the
functions represented by the blocks can be performed in any
convenient or desirable order.
[0031] FIG. 4A is a flow diagram illustrating a process for storing
a free physical item in the autonomous storage and retrieval tower
in accordance with an example embodiment. The controller of the
storage tower operates in a normal operating mode at the beginning
of the process. At step 402, the controller of the storage tower
receives an input from the input device. The input is associated
with storing a free physical item in the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower. At step 404, the controller analyzes the input for
a specified character or sequence of characters in an identifier
included in the input, wherein the specified identifier is
associated with storing a free physical item not associated with an
order. At step 406, the controller identifies the specified
identifier in the input. At step 408, the controller enters an
exception operating state and disables or does not engage the
application programming interface (API) associated with the storage
to communicate with the fulfillment server. The fulfillment server
tracks physical items within the autonomous storage and retrieval
tower. At step 410, the controller instructs storing of the free
physical item associated with the input, wherein the free physical
item is received in the storage receptacle of the storage tower and
stored in the autonomous storage tower. For example, the crane
retrieves the free physical item from the storage receptacle and
transports the free physical item on the shaft to a shelf to store
the free physical item in the storage tower. At step 412, the
controller re-enters the normal operating mode and enables the
API.
[0032] FIG. 4B is a flow diagram illustrating a process for
dispensing a free physical item from the autonomous storage and
retrieval tower in accordance with an example embodiment. The
controller of the storage tower operates in a normal operating mode
at the beginning of the process. At step 414, a controller receives
an input from the input device. The input is entered by a user for
retrieving a free physical item from the storage tower. At step
416, the controller analyzes the input for a specified character or
sequence of characters in an identifier included in the input,
wherein the specified identifier is associated with retrieving a
free physical item not associated with an order. At step 418, the
controller identifies the specified identifier in the input. At
step 420, the controller enters an exception operating mode and
disables or does not engage the application programming interface
(API) of the storage tower to communicate with the fulfillment
server for tracking the physical items within the storage tower. At
step 422, the controller instructs retrieval of the free physical
item associated with the input, wherein the free physical item is
placed in the storage receptacle. For example, the crane retrieves
the free physical item from a shelf in the storage tower and
transports the free physical item on the shaft to storage
receptacle in the storage tower to dispense the free physical item
from the storage receptacle. At step 424, the controller re-enters
the normal mode of operation and enables or re-engages the API.
[0033] The description is presented to enable a person skilled in
the art to create and use a computer system configuration and
related method and systems for receiving, storing, and dispensing
free physical items from an autonomous storage and retrieval tower.
Various modifications to the example embodiments will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles
defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Moreover, in the following description, numerous details are set
forth for the purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary
skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced
without the use of these specific details. In other instances,
well-known structures and processes are shown in block diagram form
in order not to obscure the description of the invention with
unnecessary detail. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to
be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the
widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed
herein.
[0034] 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 plurality of system
elements, device components or method steps, those elements,
components or steps can be replaced with a single element,
component, or step. Likewise, a single element, component, or step
can be replaced with a plurality of 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 can be made therein without departing from the scope of the
invention. Further still, other aspects, functions, and advantages
are also within the scope of the invention.
[0035] Exemplary flowcharts have been provided herein for
illustrative purposes and are non-limiting examples of methods. One
of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that exemplary methods
can include more or fewer steps than those illustrated in the
exemplary flowcharts, and that the steps in the exemplary
flowcharts can be performed in a different order than the order
shown in the illustrative flowcharts.
[0036] Having described certain embodiments, which serve to
illustrate various concepts, structures, and techniques sought to
be protected herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art that other embodiments incorporating these concepts,
structures, and techniques may be used. Elements of different
embodiments described hereinabove may be combined to form other
embodiments not specifically set forth above and, further, elements
described in the context of a single embodiment may be provided
separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Accordingly, it is
submitted that the scope of protection sought herein should not be
limited to the described embodiments but rather should be limited
only by the spirit and scope of the following claims. Other
technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art after review of the following figures and
description.
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