System and method for filling an order

Abstract

A method for fulfilling inventory requests includes receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item and selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder. The method further includes storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request and moving the order holder to a storage space. In addition, the method includes detecting a triggering event and in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the storage space.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of filling inventory requests, comprising:
 receiving a first inventory request requesting a first inventory item;   after receiving the first inventory request, receiving a second inventory request requesting a second inventory item;   initiating a first set of one or more tasks that are associated with filling the first inventory request;   initiating a second set of one or more tasks that are associated with filling the second inventory request;   detecting a trigger event associated with the second inventory request; and   in response to detecting the trigger event, prioritizing the second set of tasks so that at least one of the second set of tasks is completed prior to one or more tasks in the first set.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and   detecting the trigger event comprises receiving information indicating an arrival time for the transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and   detecting the trigger event comprises determining that the transportation vehicle has arrived.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and   detecting the trigger event comprises determining that a current time matches a scheduled arrival time for the transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the second inventory request requests a second inventory item to be delivered by a transportation vehicle; and   detecting the trigger event comprises determining that a current time is within a predetermined range of a scheduled arrival time for the transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 at least one of the first set of tasks comprises storing the first inventory item in a first order holder; and   at least one of the second set of tasks comprises storing the second inventory item in a second order holder.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 at least one of the first set of tasks comprises moving an order holder storing the first inventory item to a shipping station; and   at least one of the second set of tasks comprises moving an order holder storing the second inventory item to the shipping station.   
     
     
         27 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A mobile drive unit, comprising:
 one or more actuators;   one or more wireless interfaces operable to receive wireless instructions from a management module; and   one or more processing units operable to:
 receive a first instruction from the management module via the one or more wireless interfaces, wherein the first instruction has a first priority; 
 determine, based on analyzing the first instruction, to initiate a first task associated with the first instruction; 
 receive a second instruction from the management module via the one or more wireless interfaces, wherein the second instruction has a second priority; 
 based on comparing the first and second priorities, determine that the second instruction has a higher priority than the first instruction; 
 interrupt progress on the first task; and 
 initiate a second task associated with the second instruction, wherein the second task involves controlling the one or more actuators to transport an order holder from a first location to a second location. 
   
     
     
         37 . The mobile drive unit of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more processing units are further operable to receive a priority message from the management module, wherein the priority message instructs the one or more processing units to adjust the second priority such that the second instruction has a higher priority than the first instruction. 
     
     
         38 . The mobile drive unit of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the first task comprises transporting an inventory holder to an inventory station; and   the second task comprises transporting the order holder to a shipping station.   
     
     
         39 . The mobile drive unit of  claim 36 , wherein the first location comprises a storage location associated with the order holder and the second location comprises a location associated with a shipping station. 
     
     
         40 . The mobile drive unit of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more processing units are further operable to, in response to determining that the second instruction has a higher priority than the first instruction, cancel the first task. 
     
     
         41 . The mobile drive unit of  claim 36 , wherein the first priority is assigned to the first instruction by the management module based at least in part on the first task comprising transporting an inventory holder to an inventory station as at least a portion of an order fulfillment operation, and the second priority is assigned to the second instruction by the management module based at least in part on the second task comprising transporting an order holder associated with one or more completed orders that are available for shipment. 
     
     
         42 . A system for filling inventory requests, comprising:
 a plurality of mobile drive units configured to transport inventory holders to a plurality of locations within a workspace in response to wireless instructions;   a management module, remote from the plurality of mobile drive units, comprising a central processing unit and one or more wireless interfaces configured to transmit the wireless instructions to one or more of the mobile drive units, the management module configured to:
 prioritize a plurality of tasks assigned to the plurality of mobile drive units within the workspace, wherein the management module is configured to transmit an interrupt message to one of the plurality of mobile drive units based on determining to assign a first task having a first priority above a first threshold; and 
 based on determining to assign the first task, transmit a first instruction comprising the interrupt message to a first mobile drive unit, wherein the first instruction is configured to cause the first mobile drive unit to cease performing a second task and to begin performing the first task. 
   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the second task has a second priority that is below the first threshold. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the management module is configured to assign the first priority associated with the first task to be above the first threshold in response to determining that the first task comprises transporting a shipping container that is available for shipment. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the first task and the first priority is assigned based on a notification received by the management module that a shipping vehicle has arrived or will arrive within a first time duration at the workspace. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein:
 the first task comprises transporting an order holder to a shipping station; and   the second task comprises transporting an inventory holder to an inventory station.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the management module is configured to assign the first task to the first mobile drive unit based at least in part upon a determination that the first mobile drive unit is closer to a shipping station than a second mobile drive unit. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the management module is configured to assign the first task to the first mobile drive unit based at least in part on either (1) determining that the first mobile drive unit does not have an assigned task, or (2) determining that the first mobile drive unit is assigned a second task that has a second priority that is lower than the first threshold.