Method and apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory storing program instructions that are executed by the one or more processors to implement a control system, wherein the control system is configured to:
• direct ones of a plurality of items to ones of a plurality of sorting stations via a conveyance mechanism in which the plurality of items are inducted, wherein each sorting station comprises a plurality of sorting slots for sorting items of said plurality of items into respective shipments;
• assign a given item of said plurality of items to a particular sorting station of said plurality of sorting stations, wherein the control system is configured to determine said particular sorting station to which said given item is assigned dependent upon a determined quantity of other items located at said particular sorting station and a determined quantity of other items en route to said particular sorting station;
• and
• direct the given item to said particular sorting station assigned by the control system.

A method, comprising:

• directing, by a control system, ones of a plurality of items to ones of a plurality of sorting stations via a conveyance mechanism in which the plurality of items are inducted, wherein each sorting station comprises a plurality of sorting slots for sorting items of said plurality of items into respective shipments;
• assigning, by the control system, a given item of said plurality of items to a particular sorting station of said plurality of sorting stations, wherein the method comprises determining said particular sorting station to which said given item is assigned dependent upon a determined quantity of other items located at said particular sorting station and a determined quantity of other items en route to said particular sorting station;
• and
• directing, by the control system, the given item to said particular sorting station assigned to the given item.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising program instructions computer-executable to implement an item allocation component configured to:

• direct ones of a plurality of items to ones of a plurality of sorting stations via a conveyance mechanism in which the plurality of items are inducted, wherein each sorting station comprises a plurality of sorting slots for sorting items of said plurality of items into respective shipments;
• assign a given item of said plurality of items to a particular sorting station of said plurality of sorting stations, wherein the item allocation component is configured to determine said particular sorting station to which said given item is assigned dependent upon a determined quantity of other items located at said particular sorting station and a determined quantity of other items en route to said particular sorting station;
• and
• direct the given item to said particular sorting station assigned by the item allocation component.