System and method for dynamic inventory management

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for managing a physical inventory. Image data from a number of cameras is processed to recognize inventory items from identifying indicia and determine their respective locations to build a three-dimensional model of the inventory item distribution. Comparison with a database model of the inventory item distribution may indicate discrepancies, such as misplaced items. A picking agent may be dispatched to pick a target item by following a particular path, which may be designated in an overlay on a portable heads-up display. The picking agent may also perform a corrective inventory management action on a non-target item while picking the target item. The corrective inventory management action may include repositioning an item, reorienting the item for better visibility of its identifying indicia, replacing the item's identifying indicia, determining if the item is of expected weight, and gathering new image data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 at least one memory;   at least one processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in the at least one memory configured to instruct the system to perform operations comprising:   determining that an inventory item has been misplaced in an inventory handling facility;   identifying a location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported;   responsive to the determination that the inventory item is misplaced, constructing a three-dimensional model of the location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported; and   communicating the constructed three-dimensional model in a notification to an agent assigned to transport the misplaced item.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the notification comprises an overlay in an augmented reality display on a display device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further instruct the system to perform operations comprising:
 determining an alternate path to the location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor further instruct the system to perform operations comprising:
 determining a delay associated with assigning a corrective inventory management action to the agent.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at east one processor further instruct the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving one or more images from one or more cameras attached to the agent.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further instruct the system to perform operations comprising:
 identifying a discrepancy between the one or more images received and an inventory model stored in a database.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a graphical depiction of the inventory items distributed in the inventory handling facility. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 determining that an inventory item has been misplaced in an inventory handling facility;   identifying a location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported;   responsive to the determination that the inventory item is misplaced, constructing a three-dimensional model of the location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported; and   communicating the constructed three-dimensional model in a notification to an agent assigned to transport the misplaced item.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the notification comprises an overlay in an augmented reality display on a display device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining an alternate path to the location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining a delay associated with assigning a corrective inventory management action to the agent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving one or more images from one or more cameras attached to the agent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a graphical depiction of the inventory items distributed in the inventory handling facility. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising identifying a discrepancy between the one or more images received and an inventory model stored in a database. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors ;  cause the one or more computer processors to perform operation comprising:
 determining that an inventory item has been misplaced in an inventory handling facility;   identifying a location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported;   responsive to the determination that the inventory item is misplaced, constructing a three-dimensional model of the location within the inventory handling facility where the misplaced item is to be transported; and   communicating the constructed three-dimensional model in a notification to an agent assigned to transport the misplaced item.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the notification comprises an overlay in an augmented reality display on a display device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a graphical depiction of the inventory items distributed in the inventory handling facility. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , further comprising determining a delay associated with assigning a corrective inventory management action to the agent. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving one or more images from one or more cameras attached to the agent. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , further comprising identifying a discrepancy between the one or more images received and an inventory model stored in a database.