# US 10,769,579 B1 · Tote association

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- Number: US 10,769,579 B1
- Document ID: US10769579B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/479,942
- Filed: 2014-09-08
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-08
- Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Korwin Jon Smith; Amber Autrey Taylor; Alexander Michael McNamara; Sridhar Boyapati; Jason Michael Famularo; Thomas Meilandt Mathiesen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769579B1

## CPC

- B65G 1/1373: {for fulfilling orders in warehouses}
- B65G 1/1375: {the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck}
- B65G 1/1371: {with data records}
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G06K 17/00: Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
- G06K 17/0022: {arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device ("transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L)}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/0874: {Inventory fulfillment (shipping G06Q10/083)}
- B65G 2203/046: RFID
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

This disclosure describes a system for associating multiple totes with a single profile so that items placed into any of the multiple totes are identified on a profile item identifier list. For example, if two users located in a materials handling facility are picking items that are to be consolidated or otherwise treated together, each user may select a different tote and move separately through the materials handling facility. As either user picks items and places those items into a corresponding tote, a profile item identifier list is updated to include an item identifier for each picked item.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method, comprising:
under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, determining a first user positioned within a materials handling facility;
determining a second user positioned within the materials handling facility;
determining a selection of a first tote by at least one of the first user or the second user;
determining a selection of a second tote by at least one of the first user or the second user;
associating the first tote, the second tote, the first user, and the second user with a profile that includes a profile item identifier list that indicates items placed into the first tote or the second tote;
determining an item place of a first item into the first tote, wherein the first item is not identified on the profile item identifier list prior to determining the item place of the first item into the first tote;
in response to determining the item place of the first item into the first tote, updating the profile item identifier list associated with the profile to include a first item identifier representative of the first item;
determining an item place of a second item into the second tote, wherein the second item is not identified on the profile item identifier list prior to determining the item place of the second item into the second tote; and
in response to determining the item place of the second item into the second tote:
updating the profile item identifier list associated with the profile to include a second item identifier representative of the second item; and
sending for display to at least one of the first tote or the second tote, the profile item identifier list.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selection of the first tote is determined based at least in part on one or more of an image that includes a representation of at least one of the first user or the second user selecting the first tote, the first tote being issued to at least one of the first user or the second user, the first tote being removed from a tote storage area, or a unique identifier associated with the first tote.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first tote and the second tote are physically coupled together.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
updating a first tote item identifier list associated with the first tote to include the first item identifier representative of the first item; and
sending for display to the first tote, the first tote item identifier list, wherein the display of the first tote item identifier list identifies items included in the first tote but does not identify items included in the second tote.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a profile of the first user; and
associating the first tote, the second tote, and the second user with the profile of the first user.

### Claim 6

A computing system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least:
determine a first user positioned within a materials handling facility;
determine a second user positioned within the materials handling facility;
associate a first tote, a second tote, the first user, and the second user with a profile item identifier list;
detect an item place of a first item into the first tote, wherein the first item is not identified on the profile item identifier list prior to detection of the item place of the first item into the first tote; and
in response to detection of the item place of the first item into the first tote:
update the profile item identifier list to include a first item identifier representative of the first item; and
send for display to at least one of the first tote or the second tote, the profile item identifier list.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The computing system of claim 6, wherein the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
associate the first tote the first user; and
associate the second tote with the second user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The computing system of claim 6, wherein the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
detect an item place of a second item into the second tote, wherein the second item is not identified on the profile item identifier list prior to detection of the item place of the second item into the second tote;
in response to detection of the item place of the second item into the second tote, update the profile item identifier list to include a second item identifier representative of the second item; and
send for display to at least one of the first tote or the second tote, the profile item identifier list.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The computing system of claim 7, wherein the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
update a second tote item identifier list to include the second item identifier representative of the second item, wherein the second tote item identifier list indicates items placed into the second tote but does not indicate items placed into the first tote; and
send for display to the second tote, the second tote item identifier list.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The computing system of claim 6, wherein the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
update a first tote item identifier list to include the first item identifier representative of the first item, wherein the first tote item identifier list indicates items placed into the first tote but does not indicate items placed into the second tote; and
send for display, the first tote item identifier list.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computing system of claim 10, wherein the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
associate a third tote with the profile item identifier list;
determine that the third tote is connected to the first tote based at least in part on a physical connection or an electrical connection between the first tote and the third tote at a connection point;
detect an item place of a second item into the third tote, wherein the second item is not identified on the profile item identifier list prior to detection of the item place of the second item into the third tote; and
in response to detection of the item place of the second item into the third tote:
update the profile item identifier list to include a second item identifier representative of the second item;
update the first tote item identifier list to include the second item identifier; and
send for display, the first tote item identifier list.

### Claim 12

A computing system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to at least:
determine a first user positioned within a materials handling facility;
determine a second user positioned within the materials handling facility;
associate a first tote with a profile item identifier list;
associate the first tote with a first user;
associate a second tote with the profile item identifier list;
associate the second tote with a second user;
associate the first user and the second user with the profile item identifier list
receive from the first tote, a first item identifier representative of a first item located in the first tote, wherein the first item is not identified on the profile item identifier list prior to receipt from the first tote of the first item identifier representative of the first item located in the first tote;
in response to receipt from the first tote of the first item identifier representative of the first item located in the first tote, update the profile item identifier list to include the first item identifier;
receive from the second tote, a second item identifier representative of a second item located in the second tote, wherein the second item is not identified on the profile item identifier list prior to receipt from the second tote of the second item identifier representative of the second item located in the second tote; and
in response to receipt from the second tote of the second item identifier representative of the second item located in the second tote:
update the profile item identifier list to include the second item identifier; and
send for display, the profile item identifier list.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The computing system of claim 12, wherein the second item is located in the second tote prior to the second tote being associated with the profile item identifier list.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The computing system of claim 12, wherein the first item is located in the first tote prior to the second tote being associated with the profile item identifier list.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The computing system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
send for display on a device, the profile item identifier list, wherein the device is at least one of: a device associated with a user, a portable device, a first display coupled to the first tote, a second display coupled to the second tote, or an output device located within a materials handling facility.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The computing system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to at least:
receive from the first tote, the first item identifier and a pick notification identifying that the first item identifier has been picked from the first tote;
update the profile item identifier list to remove the first item identifier from the profile item identifier list; and
send for display, the updated profile item identifier list.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The computing system of claim 12, wherein:
items picked by the first user are identified in the profile item identifier list; and
items picked by the second user are identified in the profile item identifier list.