Systems and methods for best-fit allocation in a warehouse environment
AssigneeORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, A California corporation
InventorDavid Wertheimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, an optimal allocation of items to meet a particular order is calculated. The items, then, may be allocated to the order according to the calculated allocation. In one set of embodiments, a procedure may be implemented to allocate items so as to provide an amount of material closest to the ordered amount. In another set of embodiments, a procedure may be implemented to allocate items so as to minimize the number of items chosen while still remaining within a tolerance for the order (which may be established by customer policy, company policy, etc.).
Claims29
In a warehouse environment, a method of allocating items to an order, the method comprising:
- identifying an order, the order comprising a requested quantity of material;
- determining a tolerance for the order, the tolerance defining a variation from the requested quantity of material, wherein a quantity within the tolerance is still is acceptable for the order;
- identifying a set of items, the set of items comprising a plurality of items available for allocation, each of the plurality of items comprising some quantity of the material;
- calculating with a computer a first allocation of one or more of the plurality of items available for allocation, wherein the first allocation is based on the requested quantity;
- calculating with the computer a second allocation of one or more of the plurality items available for allocation, wherein the second allocation is based on a target value within the tolerance;
- comparing the first allocation with the second allocation to find a best allocation of items;
- and
- allocating the best allocation of items to the order.
A system for allocating items to an order, the system comprising one or more computers configured to:
- identify an order, the order comprising a requested quantity of material;
- determine a tolerance for the order, the tolerance defining a variation from the requested quantity of material, wherein a quantity within the tolerance is still is acceptable for the order;
- identify a set of items, the set of items comprising a plurality of items available for allocation, each of the plurality of items comprising some quantity of the material;
- calculate a first allocation of one or more of the plurality of items available for allocation, wherein the first allocation is based on the requested quantity;
- calculate a second allocation of one or more of the plurality items available for allocation, wherein the second allocation is based on a target value within the tolerance;
- compare the first allocation with the second allocation to find a best allocation of items;
- and
- allocate the best allocation of items to the order.
A software program embodied on a computer readable medium, the software program comprising instructions executable by one or more computers to:
- identify an order, the order comprising a requested quantity of material;
- determine a tolerance for the order, the tolerance defining a variation from the requested quantity of material, wherein a quantity within the tolerance is still is acceptable for the order;
- identify a set of items, the set of items comprising a plurality of items available for allocation, each of the plurality of items comprising some quantity of the material;
- calculate a first allocation of one or more of the plurality of items available for allocation, wherein the first allocation is based on the requested quantity;
- calculate a second allocation of one or more of the plurality items available for allocation, wherein the second allocation is based on a target value within the tolerance;
- compare the first allocation with the second allocation to find a best allocation of items;
- and
- allocate the best allocation of items to the order.
In a warehouse environment, a system for fulfilling an order, the order comprising a requested quantity of a material and a tolerance, the tolerance defining a variation from the requested quantity of material wherein a quantity within the tolerance is still acceptable for the order, the system comprising:
- means for calculating a first allocation of one or more of a plurality of items available for allocation, wherein the first allocation is based on the requested quantity;
- means for calculating a second allocation of one or more of the plurality items available for allocation, wherein the second allocation is based on a target value within the tolerance;
- means for comparing the first allocation with the second allocation to find a best allocation of items;
- and
- means for allocating the best allocation of items to the order.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.