Network-based grocery store

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of fulfilling a network-based product order, the method comprising: 
 providing product subgroups, each product subgroup having a distinct product subgroup area;    separating the network-based product order into subgroup orders based on the product subgroups; and    retrieving ordered products from each product subgroup area in an independent parallel fashion.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein retrieving products from each product subgroup area in an independent parallel fashion further comprises simultaneously retrieving products from each product subgroup area.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transporting the ordered products to a delivery area.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein retrieving ordered products from each product subgroup area further comprises: 
 transporting a carrier to the product subgroup area;  
 placing the ordered products into the carrier; and  
 providing notification that the ordered products are in the carrier.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein providing notification that the ordered products are in the carrier further comprises scanning a label associated with each of the ordered products.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the placing the ordered products into the carrier further comprises placing each of the ordered products into a designated area of the carrier based on a delivery route designation.  
     
     
         7 . A method of retrieving ordered products for a network-based product order, the method comprising: 
 providing an order label listing the ordered products;    scanning the order label;    providing a plurality of actuable indicators, each indicator being associated with a product;    actuating the indicators associated with the ordered products based on the scanning of the order label;    locating and retrieving each of the ordered products;    placing the ordered products into a carrier; and    transporting the carrier to a delivery area.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising actuating the indicator a second time to indicate that the ordered product has been retrieved.  
     
     
         9 . A method of retrieving ordered products for a network-based product order, the method comprising: 
 providing a list of the ordered products;    retrieving one of the ordered products;    scanning an area of the one of the ordered products;    providing a plurality of actuable indicators, each indicator being associated with a carrier for a single order;    actuating the indicator associated with the carrier for the single order requiring the one of the ordered products;    placing the one of the ordered products into the carrier for the single order requiring the one of the ordered products; and    transporting the carrier to a delivery area.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising actuating the indicator a second time to indicate that the one of the ordered products has been placed into the carrier for the single order requiring the one of the ordered products.  
     
     
         11 . A method of fulfilling network-based product orders and delivering ordered products, the method comprising: 
 creating an order summary based on all received orders;    separating the order summary into subgroup orders based on product subgroups;    retrieving products from each of the product subgroups in an independent parallel fashion; and    combining the products into delivery packages based on the received orders; and    delivering the delivery packages.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising establishing at least one delivery route schedule.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein establishing the at least one delivery route schedule is based on the order summary, the product subgroups, and a wave estimate.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising including in the order summary only received orders received prior to a predetermined deadline.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising identifying inventory needs based on the received orders and communicating the inventory needs to a vendor.  
     
     
         16 . A method of ordering and delivering a network-based product, the method comprising: 
 providing a customer interface wherein a customer can place an order;    allowing the customer to select at least one meal plan from a plurality of meal plans;    designating for delivery each product required for the at least one meal plan selected by the customer; and    adding each product required for the at least one meal plan to a delivery package; and    delivering the delivery package.    
     
     
         17 . The method of claim- 16  further comprising allowing the customer to select a desired product from a product category and to add the desired product to the delivery package.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein allowing the customer to select the desired product from the product category comprises: 
 allowing the customer to select the product category; and  
 allowing the customer to select the desired product from the product category.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising allowing the customer to select a desired predefined product from a predefined list of products and to add the desired predefined product to the delivery package.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein allowing the customer to select the desired predefined product from the predefined list of products comprises: 
 allowing the customer to select the predefined list of products; and  
 allowing the customer to select the desired predefined product from the predefined list of products.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the predefined list of products is previously created by the customer.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the predefined list of products includes products previously ordered by the customer.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising requiring the customer to complete product selection prior to a predetermined deadline.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising requiring the customer to select a delivery time for delivery of the order package.  
     
     
         25 . A fulfillment hub for fulfilling a network-based product order, the fulfillment hub comprising: 
 at least two subgroup areas, each subgroup area designated for a particular type of product;    a delivery area positioned to facilitate transportation of products between the delivery area and the at least two subgroup areas.    
     
     
         26 . The fulfillment hub of  claim 25  wherein one of the at least two subgroup areas comprises: 
 at least two levels;  
 at least two zones on each of the at least two levels;  
 at least two bays within each of the at least two zones, the at least two bays being configured to contain products for retrieval;  
 a conveyance system adjacent to the at least two zones, the conveyance system configured to convey products between the at least two levels and between the subgroup area and the delivery area.  
 
     
     
         27 . The fulfillment hub of  claim 26  wherein the at least two bays have a plurality of actuable indicators, wherein each of the actuable indicators is associated with a product; the actuable indicators configured to indicate the location of ordered products.  
     
     
         28 . The fulfillment hub of  claim 25  further comprising a moveable cart in one of the at least two subgroup areas, the cart having at least two totes, wherein each of the at least two totes has an actuable indicator configured to indicate that an ordered product should be placed in the one of the at least two totes associated with the indicator.  
     
     
         29 . A network-based grocery store process for receiving, filling, and delivering grocery items, the items located in a plurality of predefined gathering sites, the process comprising: 
 grouping items in an order based on their respective gathering site;    concurrently gathering items in an order at their respective gathering site; and    reassembling the order at a distribution point.    
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 29  further comprising the additional steps of providing an internet-based website for receiving orders.  
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 29  further comprising the additional steps of determining a time to initiate gathering of items based on an order's requested delivery time.  
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 29  further comprising the additional step of optimizing a delivery route for the orders.  
     
     
         33 . A method of supplying grocery items over a computer network, the method comprising: 
 providing a website in communication over the computer network with an order receiving interface;    placing each order into at least one subgroup;    gathering items in each subgroup in parallel;    reassembling the items gathered for each subgroup of an order to form a complete order; and    delivering the order.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising the step of creating a plurality of waves based on a delivery time of an order.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising the step of utilizing an order to generate a resupply schedule.  
     
     
         36 . A network-based system for receiving an order for grocery items from a customer, filling the order, and delivering the order to the customer, the system comprising: 
 a server adapted to receive the order from the customer over the network;    a warehouse for storing a plurality of grocery items, the warehouse including a plurality of locations corresponding to a plurality of types of grocery items;    a server engine programmed to place each of a plurality of requested grocery items included in the order into a plurality of subgroups, based on the corresponding location of the grocery item in the warehouse;    a gathering system adapted to fill the items for each of the subgroups of the order, in parallel;    a reassembly system adapted to gather the filled items for each subgroup of an order to form a complete order; and    a plurality of delivery vehicles for transporting the completed order to the customer.