Autonomous storage and retrieval tower

Abstract

An autonomous storage and retrieval tower for receiving, storing, and dispensing free physical products.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.