US 7,769,221 B1Granted

System and method for visual verification of item processing

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJonathan J. Shakes, François M. Rouaix, Donald L. Kaufman

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Abstract

Images may be captured of items being processed at a processing station of an order fulfillment center and made available electronically for review to verify quality assurance polices for the items. Alternatively, a short video clip may be captured of the items being processed. The images may be made electronically available for review from remote locations. The images may be associated with a customer order and the images may be reviewed to ensure that the order has been correctly processed. The processing station may be a shipping station and the images may be reviewed to ensure adherence to shipping quality assurance policies. The processing station may also be a receiving station and the images reviewed for defects in the shipping container or the items. The items may be associated with a returned customer order and the images may be reviewed to verify the validity of a customer complaint.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

picking one or more already-finished inventory items from a finished inventory item storage area of an order fulfillment center, wherein when stored in the finished inventory item storage area, each of the one or more already-finished inventory items is ready for insertion into a final shipping container addressed for shipment to a customer to fulfill a customer order ordering the already-finished inventory item as stored in the inventory item storage area, wherein the one or more already-finished inventory items are already stored in the finished inventory item storage area of the order fulfillment center when the customer order is received at the order fulfillment center;
processing the one or more already-finished inventory items at a processing station of the order fulfillment center to fulfill an order from a customer for the one or more finished inventory items;
capturing one or more images of the one or more already-finished inventory items being processed at the processing station;
making one or more of the one or more captured images available electronically over a network, wherein the one or more of the one or more captured images are randomly accessible over the network;
and
reviewing one or more of the available images to verify correct application of one or more quality assurance policies for the one or more already-finished inventory items.

3 more elements

A system, comprising:

an image capture device configured to capture one or more images of one or more already-finished inventory items being processed, without modifying the one or more already-finished inventory items themselves, at a processing station of an order fulfillment center to fulfill an order from a customer for the one or more finished inventory items, wherein each of the one or more already-finished inventory items is ready for insertion into a final shipping container addressed for shipment to a customer to fulfill a customer order ordering the already-finished inventory item, wherein the one or more already-finished inventory items are already stored in the finished inventory item storage area of the order fulfillment center when the customer order is received at the order fulfillment center;
and
a computer system, coupled to the image capture device, configured to:
make one or more of the one or more captured images available electronically over a network for review to verify correct application of one or more quality assurance policies for the one or more already-finished inventory items, wherein the one or more of the one or more captured images are randomly accessible over the network.

1 more element

A tangible computer accessible storage medium storing program instructions computer-executable to implement:

capturing one or more images of one or more already-finished inventory items being processed, without modifying the one or more already-finished inventory items themselves, at a processing station of an order fulfillment center to fulfill an order from a customer for the one or more finished inventory items, wherein each of the one or more already-finished inventory items is ready for insertion into a final shipping container addressed for shipment to a customer to fulfill a customer order ordering the already-finished inventory item, wherein the one or more already-finished inventory items are already stored in the finished inventory item storage area of the order fulfillment center when the customer order is received at the order fulfillment center;
making one or more of the one or more captured images available electronically over a network for review to verify correct application of one or more quality assurance policies for the one or more already-finished inventory items, wherein the one or more of the one or more captured images are randomly accessible over the network.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/077,431Filed 10 Mar 2005
Granted: 3 Aug 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B07C 3/14
Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination: using light-responsive detecting means
B07C 3/20
Sorting according to destination: arrangements for facilitating the visual reading of addresses, e.g. display arrangements coding stations
G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
G06Q 10/08741
Inventory fulfillment: by picking of items from inventory for fulfillment