Apparatus and method for processing picking information of fulfillment center, and recording medium

Abstract

The present disclosure presents a technology for processing picking information of a fulfillment center. An apparatus according to the present disclosure can determine a first order including two or more first items from among a plurality of orders, determine the location of each of the two or more first items in a fulfillment warehouse, determine, on the basis of the location of each of the two or more first items in the fulfillment warehouse, a second order for which picking is to be performed together with the first order on a single movement line, and transmit, to another apparatus, picking information, which is information related to the first order, the second order and the movement line, wherein, in determining the second order, the second order can be determined such that an average movement distance for each item that should be moved on the movement line in order for the two or more first items and one or more second items to be picked is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

Description

Device, method, and recording medium for processing order picking information of a logistics center

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for processing collection information of a fulfillment center.

[0002] Consumers can purchase items using online orders. E-commerce services provided online can take various forms. For example, by having products desired by users (such as consumers) picked up from a logistics center and shipped, users can conveniently search for and purchase products online and receive them offline without having to visit a shopping mall or market in person.

[0003] With the expansion of e-commerce services, the demand for elemental technologies related to e-commerce services is also increasing, such as technologies for receiving customer orders, shipping products corresponding to those orders, and delivering products to customers.

[0004] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a technology for a picker collecting goods in a logistics center to collect goods along an optimal movement path.

[0005] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a technology that presents information to a picker indicating an optimal movement path for picking up goods.

[0006] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a technology in which a picker collects more goods in a single line.

[0007] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a technology that improves the efficiency of product dispatch within a logistics center by providing an optimal movement path for picking up products.

[0008] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a technology that improves the operational efficiency of a logistics center and the shopping convenience of an online order service user by improving the efficiency of product shipment.

[0009] The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art of the present disclosure from the description below.

[0010] An apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises one or more processors and one or more memories in which instructions executed by the one or more processors are stored. When the instructions are executed, the one or more processors determine a first order including two or more first items among a plurality of orders, wherein at least two of the two or more first items are different types of items, and determine the location within a logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, and determine a second order to perform pick-up along a single path with the first order based on the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, wherein the second order includes one or more second items of the same type, and are configured to transmit pick-up information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the path, to another device. In determining the second order, the one or more processors may determine the second order such that the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick the two or more first items and the one or more second items along the path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

[0011] In one embodiment, the movement path may indicate a location within the logistics warehouse to collect at least two first items and one or more second items, and an order of collection.

[0012] In one embodiment, the order of collection may be an order corresponding to the minimum distance for collecting at least two first items and one or more second items.

[0013] In one embodiment, the movement path may instruct the collection of at least two first items and one or more second items located in a preset area within the logistics warehouse.

[0014] In one embodiment, the one or more processors may determine the second order as the order in which the average movement distance for each item that must be moved to pick up the item together with the two or more first items along the movement path is minimized among the plurality of orders.

[0015] In one embodiment, the one or more processors determine the urgency of each of the plurality of orders, and in determining the first order, among the plurality of orders, the first order may be determined from among orders in which the urgency is higher than a preset threshold urgency.

[0016] In one embodiment, the one or more processors determine the urgency of each of the plurality of orders and, in determining the second order, may determine the second order among the plurality of orders, the order in which the urgency is equal to or lower than the urgency of the first order.

[0017] In one embodiment, the one or more processors, in determining the second order, may determine the second order among the plurality of orders, the order in which the urgency is equal to or lower than a preset threshold urgency.

[0018] In one embodiment, the threshold value may be adjusted based on the urgency of the first order.

[0019] In one embodiment, the threshold value may be adjusted based on the urgency of the second order.

[0020] In one embodiment, the one or more processors determine the available capacity of a tote in which the two or more first items are collected, and in determining the second order, the second order may be determined from among the multiple orders that correspond to a capacity not greater than the available capacity.

[0021] In one embodiment, the one or more processors determine the urgency of the first order, and the available capacity may be adjusted based on the urgency of the first order.

[0022] In one embodiment, the one or more processors determine the urgency of the second order, and the available capacity may be adjusted based on the urgency of the second order.

[0023] In one embodiment, the available capacity may include at least one of information regarding the number of items loaded in the tote, the volume of the tote, the current load of the tote, or the maximum load of the tote.

[0024] In one embodiment, the one or more processors may determine the second order from among the orders that each include only one or more items of the same type when determining the second order.

[0025] In one embodiment, the one or more processors may determine the second order after the point in time when the operation of picking the two or more first items is initiated, in determining the second order.

[0026] In one embodiment, the one or more processors determine a third order to be picked together with the first order and the second order in the same path, wherein the third order each includes one or more third items of the same type, and may update the picking information such that the picking information includes picking information that is information regarding the first order, the second order, the third order and the path.

[0027] In one embodiment, the one or more processors may update the collection information such that at least one of the two or more first items or the one or more second items collected on the path is excluded from the collection information.

[0028] A method performed in a device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories for storing instructions to be executed by said one or more processors according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the method comprises: a step in which said one or more processors determine a first order including two or more first items among a plurality of orders, wherein at least two of said two or more first items are items of different types; a step in which a location within a logistics warehouse for each of said two or more first items is determined; a step in which a second order to be picked together with said first order on a single path based on the location within the logistics warehouse for each of said two or more first items, wherein said second order each includes one or more second items of the same type; and a step of transmitting picking information, which is information regarding said first order, said second order, and said path, to another device, wherein the step of determining said second order may include a step in which the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick said two or more first items and said one or more second items on said path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

[0029] In a non-transient computer-readable recording medium having instructions to be executed by one or more processors according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions are such that, at the time of execution of the instructions, the one or more processors determine a first order including two or more first items among a plurality of orders, wherein at least two of the two or more first items are items of different types, and determine the location within a logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, and determine a second order to perform picking together with the first order on a single path based on the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, wherein the second order includes one or more second items of the same type, and transmit picking information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the path, to another device, and the one or more processors determine the second order such that, in determining the second order, the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick the two or more first items and the one or more second items on the path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

[0030] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a picker collecting goods within a logistics center can collect goods along an optimal movement path.

[0031] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, information indicating an optimal movement path for picking up goods can be presented to a picker.

[0032] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a picker can pick more products in a single line.

[0033] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the efficiency of product dispatch within a logistics center can be improved by providing an optimal movement path for picking up products.

[0034] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure can improve the operational efficiency of a logistics center and the shopping convenience of online order service users by improving the efficiency of product shipment.

[0035] The effects according to the technical concept of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the description in the specification.

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which a device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a shipping process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIGS. 4a to 4c are drawings showing a movement path for picking items within a logistics center according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a step flowchart illustrating an operation for generating an SMP task according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 6 is a step flowchart showing the steps following the SMP job creation step described with reference to Figure 5.

[0042] Figure 7 is a step flowchart showing the detailed steps of the holding pool release or waiting decision step described with reference to Figure 5.

[0043] FIG. 8 is a step flowchart illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] The various embodiments described in this disclosure are illustrative for the purpose of clearly explaining the technical concept of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it to specific embodiments. The technical concept of this disclosure includes various modifications, equivalents, alternatives, and embodiments selectively combined from all or part of each embodiment described in this disclosure. Furthermore, the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure is not limited to the various embodiments presented below or the specific descriptions thereof.

[0045] Terms used in this disclosure, including technical or scientific terms, may have the meaning generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains, unless otherwise defined.

[0046] Expressions used in this disclosure, such as “comprising,” “may compose,” “possessing,” “possessing,” “having,” and “possessing,” mean that the subject feature (e.g., function, operation, or component, etc.) exists and do not exclude the existence of other additional features. That is, such expressions should be understood as open-ended terms implying the possibility of including other embodiments.

[0047] Singular expressions used in this disclosure may include the meaning of the plural form unless otherwise indicated by the context, and this applies likewise to singular expressions described in the claims.

[0048] Expressions such as "first," "second," or "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure are used to distinguish one object from another when referring to a plurality of objects of the same kind, unless otherwise indicated in the context, and do not limit the order or importance of said objects.

[0049] Expressions used in the present disclosure, such as “A, B, and C”, “A, B, or C”, “A, B, and / or C”, “at least one of A, B, and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “at least one of A, B, and / or C”, etc., may mean each of the listed items or all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, “at least one of A or B” may refer to (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B.

[0050] The expression “based on” as used in this disclosure is used to describe one or more factors affecting an act or action of a decision or judgment described in the phrase or sentence containing this expression, and this expression does not exclude additional factors affecting said act or action of a decision or judgment.

[0051] As used in this disclosure, the expression "configured to" may have meanings such as "set to," "capable of," "modified to," "made to," or "capable of." This expression is not limited to the meaning of "specifically designed in hardware." For example, a processor configured to perform a specific operation may mean a generic-purpose processor capable of performing that specific operation by executing software, or a special-purpose computer structured through programming to perform that specific operation.

[0052] Hereinafter, various embodiments described in this disclosure will be explained with reference to the attached drawings. In the attached drawings and the description thereof, identical or substantially equivalent components may be given the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in the description of the various embodiments below, the description of identical or corresponding components may be omitted, but this does not mean that such components are not included in the embodiments.

[0053] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which a device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied. This environment may include a device (100) and another device (200). Meanwhile, FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which one other device (200) is applied to the device (100), but this is merely for convenience of understanding, and the number of other devices that the device (100) can manage may vary. That is, additional devices other than the other device (200) may be used under the management of the device (100) to perform tasks related to the shipment of items corresponding to customer order information.

[0054] The device (100) may be a server device that manages the dispatch of items corresponding to customer order information. Specifically, the device (100) may process a series of operations ranging from the operation of acquiring a customer order to the operation of assigning dispatch operations (e.g., pick-up operation, rebin operation, packing operation, etc.) related to the order to another device (200). A pick-up operation may refer collectively to the operation of picking or collecting items placed in a specific area within a logistics center. A rebin operation may be the operation of gathering all items corresponding to an order in one place to pack them all at once. A packing operation may be the operation of packing all items corresponding to an order for delivery or delivery.

[0055] As a more specific example, the device (100) can obtain a customer's order from a customer's terminal. In one embodiment, the device (100) can generate order information corresponding to the customer's order. Order information refers to information generated based on a customer's request (i.e., order), and may mean information generated in a format that can be used by the device (100). For example, the order information may include item categories such as milk or fruit included in the customer's order, the number of each item ordered, identification information of a logistics center equipped with items corresponding to the order, or information regarding the location of items corresponding to the order within the logistics center. In one embodiment, the device (100) can identify items corresponding to the order information. Additionally, the device (100) can assign tasks for shipping items corresponding to the order to another device (200) located within the logistics center equipped with items corresponding to the order.

[0056] In one embodiment, the device (100) may determine (select) an order (hereinafter referred to as "first order") that includes two or more items (hereinafter referred to as "first items") among a plurality of orders based on order information. The device (100) may determine the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, and based on the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, determine an order (hereinafter referred to as "second order") to be picked together with the first order in one route. The device (100) may transmit the picking information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the route, to another device (200). In addition, the device (100) may perform various operations to manage the shipment of items corresponding to the customer's order information.

[0057] Another device (200) may be a terminal of a worker who performs tasks related to the dispatch of an item corresponding to the customer's order information. In one embodiment, the other device (200) may be a worker terminal that performs picking, a device for performing picking, or a component of a robot that performs picking.

[0058] In one embodiment, the other device (200) may be an Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) or a robot. In one embodiment, if the other device (200) is an AGV or a robot, all known technologies regarding AGVs or robots applicable in the field of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) may be applied to the present disclosure.

[0059] The device (100) and other devices (200) can communicate through a network. This network can be implemented as any kind of wired or wireless network, such as, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Mobile Radio Communication Network (MRCN), or WiBro (Wireless Broadband).

[0060] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the device (100) may include one or more processors (210) and / or one or more memories (220) as components. In one embodiment, at least one of the components of the device (100) may be omitted, or another component may be added to the device (100). In one embodiment, additionally or alternatively, some components may be implemented as a single or multiple entities. In the present disclosure, one or more processors (210) may be expressed as processors (210). Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the expression processors (210) may mean a set of one or more processors. In the present disclosure, one or more memories (220) may be expressed as memories (220). Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the expression memories (220) may mean a set of one or more memories. In one embodiment, at least some of the components inside and outside the device (100) may be connected to each other via a bus, GPIO (general purpose input / output), SPI (serial peripheral interface) or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface), etc., to exchange information (data, signals, etc.).

[0061] In one embodiment, the device (100) may assign tasks related to outbound operations, such as picking, rebining, or packing, to another device (200). In one embodiment, regarding the completion of a task, the other device (200) may include one or more sensors for determining the completion of a task. In other words, the device (100) may determine the completion of a task based on information detected by a sensor included in the other device (200). For example, the device (100) may determine the completion of "Task A" based on information that a camera sensor included in the other device (200) detects an "A code" displayed at "Spot A" within the logistics center. Alternatively, the device (100) may determine the completion of "Task B" based on information that a location sensor included in the other device (200) is located at "Spot B" within the logistics center. According to the present embodiment, the device (100) may also determine the completion of tasks assigned to the other device (200).

[0062] In one embodiment, another device (200) may display a page with a user interface provided by the device (100) on a display. Additionally, the other device (200) may obtain input from a worker regarding the page and transmit the input to the device (100) to perform operations defined to correspond to the input. In this way, a web browser or application may be installed on the other device (200) to allow the worker to use the page with the user interface. This other device (200) may be any one of devices such as, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a wearable device, or a smartphone, but is not limited thereto, and any type of device equipped with computing capabilities may be the other device (200).

[0063] The processor (210) can perform various information processing operations related to the pick-up information processing technology of the present disclosure (e.g., determination, operation, judgment, information generation, output, modification, update, control of other components, etc.). The processor (210) can perform the corresponding operations by executing instructions stored in memory (220). That is, the processor (210) can cause the device (100) to perform each embodiment of the present disclosure according to the instructions executed. In one embodiment, the processor (210) can determine a first order including two or more first items among a plurality of orders, determine the location within a logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, determine a second order to perform pick-up along with the first order on a single route based on the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, and transmit pick-up information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the route, to another device. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the second order such that the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items and one or more second items along the path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

[0064] In the present disclosure, the processor (210) is hardware configured to perform the operations described above. The processor (210) may be a general-purpose processor capable of performing specific operations by executing instructions, or a special-purpose processor structured to perform said operations through programming. For example, the processor (210) may be a circuit comprising a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), NPU (Neural Processing Unit), integrated circuit, microprocessor, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), conventional circuitry, or a combination thereof. That is, the processor (210) may be implemented as a circuit comprising transistors, integrated circuits, or other circuits.

[0065] The memory (220) can store various data. The data stored in the memory (220) may include instructions (e.g., code, software, program, etc.) as data acquired, processed, or used by at least one component of the device (100). The memory (220) may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory. In the present disclosure, instructions or programs are software stored in the memory (220) and may include an operating system for controlling the resources of the device (100), an application, and / or middleware that provides various functions to the application so that the application can utilize the resources of the device (100). In one embodiment, the memory (220) may store instructions that cause the processor (210) to perform calculations when executed by the processor (210). In one embodiment, the processor (210) may acquire information from a predetermined server by controlling a communication circuit. The information acquired from the server may be stored in the memory (220).

[0066] In one embodiment, the device (100) may further include a communication circuit (230). The communication circuit (230) may be omitted from the device (100) depending on the embodiment. The communication circuit (230) may perform wireless or wired communication between the device (100) and a server, or between the device (100) and another device. For example, the communication circuit (230) can perform wireless communication according to methods such as eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband), URLLC (Ultra Reliable Low-Latency Communications), MMTC (Massive Machine Type Communications), LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE Advance), NR (New Radio), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), WiBro (Wireless Broadband), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth, NFC (Near Field Communication), GPS (Global Positioning System), or GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). For example, the communication circuit (230) can perform wired communication according to methods such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface), RS-232 (Recommended Standard-232), or POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service). In one embodiment, the device (100) may be implemented by being integrated with another device.In this case, the communication circuit (230) can function as a connection circuit or interface connecting the device (100) and the other device. The communication circuit (230) can be implemented as a circuit or chip configured to perform data transmission and reception.

[0067] In one embodiment, the device (100) may further include an input / output device. Depending on the embodiment, the input / output device may be omitted from the device (100). In one embodiment, the input / output device may include an input device and / or an output device. The input device may receive various information from a user and transmit the input information to at least one component of the device (100). The output device may receive various information output by at least one component of the device (100) and provide (display) the information to the user in an audiovisual form. For example, the input device may include a mouse, keyboard, touchpad, etc. The output device may include, for example, a display, projector, hologram, etc. In one embodiment, the input / output device may receive various information from a user and display various information to the user.

[0068] In one embodiment, the device (100) may be a device of various forms. For example, the device (100) may be a computer device, a back-end server, a front-end server, a portable communication device, a portable multimedia device, a wearable device, a device according to a combination of the aforementioned devices, or a chip, board, circuit, etc. within the aforementioned devices. However, the device (100) of the present disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned devices.

[0069] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a shipping process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the shipping process may include a picking operation (301) and a packaging operation (302).

[0070] The picking operation (301) can be performed by a picking worker, i.e., a picker. The picker can check instructions for the picking operation received from another device (200) and proceed with the picking operation according to the confirmed instructions. For example, instructions for the picking operation may include information about items assigned to a single assigned tote. For example, information about the assigned items may include a photo of the item, a location where the item can be picked, an identifier of the item, etc. Additionally, instructions for the picking operation may include a deadline for the picking operation to be performed.

[0071] In one embodiment, another device (200) is connected to a barcode reader to obtain barcode information of the tote and barcode information of the item being picked. That is, during the process of the picker performing the picking operation, the barcode of the item being picked is read through the barcode reader, thereby transmitting the information of the tote and the information of the item being picked to the other device (200). Additionally, the information of the tote and the information of the item being picked are transmitted to the device (100), so that the picking operation can be monitored at the device (100).

[0072] In one embodiment, the worker of the picking operation (301) may be a human, an AGV, or a robot. For example, if the worker is a human, the worker may carry another worker device (200), check the task assigned from the device (100) through the other device (200), and perform the assigned task within the logistics center. For example, if a picking operation to pick "Item A" is assigned from the device (100), "Worker A" may reach "A Zone" within the logistics center where "Item A" is stored, pick "Item A", and transport it to a defined "Spot A". For another example, if the worker is an AGV, the AGV itself may function as another device (200) and perform the task assigned from the device (100).

[0073] The packing operation (302) can be performed by a packing worker, i.e., a packer. The packer can check instructions for the packing operation displayed on the packer's terminal and proceed with the packing operation according to the confirmed instructions. For example, the packing operation (302) may include a rebining operation in which items collected in tote units are reclassified into shipment units or packing units before physical packing is performed. In this case, the instructions for the packing operation may also include instructions for the rebining operation. Additionally, the instructions for the packing operation may include information about the items collected in the tote and information about the shipment to which each item must be packed.

[0074] In one embodiment, during the process of a packer performing a packing operation, the barcode of the tote and the barcode of the item picked up in the tote are read through a barcode reader, and the information of the tote and the information of the item picked up in the tote can be transmitted to the packer's terminal. The information of the tote and the information of the item picked up in the tote are transmitted to the device (100), and the device (100) determines which classification unit to classify or pack the item based on the transmitted information, and can transmit the determined information back to the packer's terminal. Based on the information regarding which classification unit to classify or pack the item displayed at the packer's terminal, the packer can perform a packing operation.

[0075] In one embodiment, the shipping process may correspond to a process in which an item corresponding to a customer's order information is picked up within a logistics center through a picking operation (301) and moved to a packaging area, and the item moved to the packaging area is packaged through a packaging operation (302) and delivered to a customer.

[0076] FIGS. 4a to 4c are drawings illustrating a movement path for picking up items within a logistics center according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to FIG. 4a, a movement path for picking up a first item within a logistics center (400) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The logistics center (400) of FIG. 4a can be understood as being drawn in correspondence with a floor plan of the logistics center. In one embodiment, a processor (210) may determine a first order containing two or more first items among a plurality of received orders. At this time, at least two of the two or more first items may be items of different types. For example, the two or more first items may include milk, snacks, and ramen. In the present disclosure, an order containing items of different types, such as the first order, may be referred to as a multi-order.

[0077] In one embodiment, the processor (210) can determine the location (412, 414, 416, 418) of each of the two or more first items within the warehouse. The warehouse may correspond to a part of the logistics center (400). For example, the processor (210) can determine the location (412, 414, 416, 418) of each of the two or more first items within the warehouse and transmit information regarding the location (412, 414, 416, 418) of each of the two or more first items within the warehouse to another device (200).

[0078] A logistics center (400) is a logistics center managed by the device (100) and can be understood as a place for storing items corresponding to customer order information. The logistics center (400) may include one or more zones. One or more zones may be areas of the logistics center that store items classified according to the type of item. For example, "Zone A" may be a zone where fresh products such as vegetables and fruits are stored. As another example, "Zone B" may be a zone where furniture products are stored. Unlike the examples described above, the zones of the logistics center (400) may be determined in a manner for quickly shipping items corresponding to customer order information, and any method of dividing the zones of the logistics center (400) to store items may be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0079] The picking start point (402) may correspond to a location within the logistics center (400) where the picking operation is initiated. In one embodiment, the picking start point (402) may correspond to a location where another device (200) receives picking information that includes information regarding a movement path for picking up items. At this time, a picker located at the picking start point (402) may perform a picking operation based on the picking information displayed on or received by the other device (200). The picking information may include information regarding an order and a movement path that includes the items to be picked.

[0080] In one embodiment, the picker located at the picking start point (402) may correspond to a picker to which no picking task has been assigned. In one embodiment, the picker located at the picking start point (402) may correspond to a picker to which a picking task has already been assigned, but whose current tote has sufficient available capacity to accommodate additional items. That is, the processor (210) may assign an additional picking task to the picker based on at least one of information regarding the target picker's current picking task, information regarding the picking task to be added to the target picker, or the capacity of the target picker's current tote.

[0081] The collection end point (404) may correspond to a location within the logistics center (400) where the collection operation is completed. In one embodiment, the collection end point (404) may correspond to a location for the rebinding operation of items collected by a picker, or a location where items collected by a picker are transferred to a packer for packaging. In one embodiment, the collection end point (404) may correspond to a location corresponding to a rebinding zone or a packaging zone.

[0082] The picking path (410) may correspond to the path of a picker for performing a picking operation. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may generate picking information including a picking path based on the location of each of two or more first items within the logistics warehouse. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the optimal path for performing a picking operation as the picking path (410).

[0083] In one embodiment, the picking route (410) may indicate the location within the logistics warehouse for picking two or more first items and the order of picking. At this time, the order of picking may be an order corresponding to the minimum distance for picking two or more first items. In one embodiment, the picking route (410) may instruct the picking of an item located in a preset zone within the logistics warehouse among two or more first items. For example, the picking route (410) may instruct the picking of only the item located on the first floor within the logistics warehouse among two or more first items. That is, it may instruct the picker not to pick items from floors other than the first floor.

[0084] In one embodiment, the processor (210) can calculate the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items for a picking path (410). For example, for a picking path (410) that starts from a picking starting point (402), picks up first items in the order of location (412), location (414), location (416) and location (418), and arrives at a picking end point (404), the processor (210) can calculate the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items by dividing the total travel distance of the picking path (410) by 4, which is the number of first items picked up.

[0085] The locations (412, 414, 416, 418) of each of the two or more first items within the logistics warehouse can be determined by a processor (210) that receives the customer's first order information. In one embodiment, the processor (210) can determine the optimal location among the locations of each of the two or more first items within the logistics warehouse to generate a picking path (410). For example, Item A included in the first item may be located at different locations within the logistics warehouse even though they are of the same type. At this time, the processor (210) can determine the location of Item A that can generate a short picking path (410) among the different locations of Item A.

[0086] Referring to FIG. 4b, a movement path for picking up a first item and a second item within a logistics center (400) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In one embodiment, a processor (210) determines a first order containing two or more first items among a plurality of received orders, and can determine a second order to be picked up along with the first order in one movement path based on the location (412, 414, 416, 418) within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items. At this time, the second order may each contain one or more second items of the same type. For example, one or more second items may correspond to five soy milks. In the present disclosure, an order containing items of the same type, such as the second order, may be referred to as a single order. In one embodiment, the second order to the single order may contain only items of the same type.

[0087] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the second order such that the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick two or more first items and one or more second items along a path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value. As described with reference to FIG. 4b, the operation of picking the first item and the second item based on the processor (210) determining the second order to be picked together with the first order along a path may be referred to as a singulation multi pick (SMP) operation.

[0088] The processor (210) can generate collection information corresponding to an SMP operation. The collection information corresponding to an SMP operation may include information regarding a first order, a second order to perform collection together with the first order, and a movement path. For example, the operation of the processor (210) generating collection information corresponding to an SMP operation may include the operation of determining a second order among a plurality of orders in which the second item location can generate an optimal movement path in order to perform collection together with the first order. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine a second order for an SMP operation after the time when the collection of items of the first order is initiated, and may assign the collection of the second order to a picker who is performing the collection of the first order.

[0089] That is, the operation of the processor (210) generating collection information corresponding to the SMP operation may include determining which of the multiple orders can generate an optimal movement path when collected together with the first order. For example, if the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to collect two or more first items and one or more second items by adding a target order is too far, the processor (210) may not determine the target order as the second order.

[0090] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine a second order including one or more second items based on the locations (412, 414, 416, 418) of each of two or more first items within the warehouse, and may determine the locations (422, 424, 426) of each of one or more second items within the warehouse. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the locations (422, 424, 426) of each of one or more second items within the warehouse and transmit information regarding the locations (422, 424, 426) of each of one or more second items within the warehouse to another device (200). The locations (422, 424, 426) of each of one or more second items within the warehouse may be included in the collection information corresponding to the SMP operation.

[0091] The logistics center (400), the collection starting point (402), the collection ending point (404), and the locations (412, 414, 416, 418) within the logistics warehouse of each of the two or more first items, as illustrated in FIG. 4b, can be understood as described above in FIG. 4a, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0092] The picking path (420) may correspond to the path of a picker for performing a picking operation. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine a second order to be picked along with a first order in one path based on the locations (412, 414, 416, 418) within the logistics warehouse of each of two or more first items, and may generate picking information which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the path. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the optimal path for performing a picking operation as the picking path (420).

[0093] The processor (210) can determine a second order to generate an SMP task having an optimal movement path. For example, the processor (210) can determine a second order such that the average movement distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items and one or more second items along the movement path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value. Alternatively, the processor (210) can determine, among multiple orders, the order that has the minimum average movement distance for each item that must be moved to pick up items along two or more first items along the movement path as the second order. For example, among multiple orders, the processor (210) can determine, as the second order, the order that is expected to have the largest number of items that can be picked up relative to the movement path when picked up together with the first item.

[0094] In one embodiment, the collection path (420) may indicate a location within a logistics warehouse to collect at least two first items and one or more second items, and the order of collection. At this time, the order of collection may be a sequence corresponding to the minimum distance for collecting at least two first items and one or more second items. For example, the order of collection may correspond to a sequence in which the first item and the second item are mixed and collected regardless of order to form an optimal path, rather than collecting the first item and the second item separately, such as collecting the first item first and then collecting the second item.

[0095] In one embodiment, the picking path (420) may instruct the picking path to pick items located in a preset area within the logistics warehouse among at least two first items and one or more second items. For example, the picking path (420) may instruct the picking path to pick only items located on the first floor within the logistics warehouse among at least two first items and one or more second items. That is, the picking path may instruct the picking path not to pick items on floors other than the first floor.

[0096] In one embodiment, the processor (210) can calculate the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items and one or more second items for a picking path (420). For example, for a picking path (420) that starts from a picking starting point (402) and picks up the first item and the second item respectively in the order of location (422), location (412), location (414), location (424), location (416), location (418), and location (426), and arrives at a picking end point (404), the processor (210) can calculate the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items and one or more second items by dividing the total travel distance of the picking path (420) by 7, which is the number of first items and second items picked up.

[0097] The location (422, 424, 426) of each of one or more second items within the logistics warehouse can be determined by a processor (210) that receives the customer's second order information. In one embodiment, the processor (210) can determine the optimal location among the locations of each of one or more second items within the logistics warehouse to generate a picking path (420).

[0098] With reference to FIG. 4c, a movement path for picking up a first item and a second item within a logistics center (400) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In one embodiment, a processor (210) determines a first order containing two or more first items among a plurality of received orders, and can determine a second order to be picked up along with the first order in one movement path based on the location (412, 414, 416, 418) within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items. At this time, the second order may each include one or more second items of the same type.

[0099] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the second order such that the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items and one or more second items along the path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value. In one embodiment, regarding the determination of the second order, referring together with FIG. 4b, FIG. 4b corresponds to the case where the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items and one or more second items along the path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value, and FIG. 4c corresponds to the case where the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up two or more first items and one or more second items along the path exceeds a preset threshold value.

[0100] That is, in the case of FIG. 4b, in one embodiment, the processor (210) may include a second order containing one or more second items in an SMP operation because the location within the warehouse of each of one or more second items (422, 424, 426) is relatively close to the location within the warehouse of each of two or more first items (412, 414, 416, 418). On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4c, in one embodiment, the processor (210) may not include a second order containing one or more second items in an SMP operation because the location within the warehouse of each of one or more second items (432, 434) is relatively far from the location within the warehouse of each of two or more first items (412, 414, 416, 418).

[0101] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine a second order including one or more second items based on the locations (412, 414, 416, 418) of each of two or more first items within the warehouse, and may determine the locations (432, 434) of each of the one or more second items within the warehouse. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the locations (432, 434) of each of the one or more second items within the warehouse and transmit information regarding the locations (432, 434) of each of the one or more second items within the warehouse to another device (200).

[0102] The logistics center (400), the collection starting point (402), the collection ending point (404), and the locations (412, 414, 416, 418) within the logistics warehouse of each of the two or more first items, as illustrated in FIG. 4c, can be understood as described above in FIG. 4a, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0103] The picking path (430) may correspond to the path of a picker for performing a picking operation. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine a second order to be picked along with a first order in one path based on the locations (412, 414, 416, 418) within the logistics warehouse of each of two or more first items, and may generate picking information which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the path. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the optimal path for performing a picking operation as the picking path (430).

[0104] In one embodiment, the collection path (430) may indicate a location within a logistics warehouse to collect at least two first items and one or more second items, and the order of collection. At this time, the order of collection may be a sequence corresponding to the minimum distance for collecting at least two first items and one or more second items.

[0105] In one embodiment, the processor (210) can calculate the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to collect two or more first items and one or more second items for the collection path (430). For example, for a collection path (420) that starts from a collection start point (402) and picks up the first item and the second item respectively in the order of location (432), location (412), location (414), location (434), location (416), and location (418), and arrives at a collection end point (404), the processor (210) can calculate the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to collect two or more first items and one or more second items by dividing the total travel distance of the collection path (420) by 6, which is the number of collected first items and second items.

[0106] The location (432, 434) of each of one or more second items within the logistics warehouse can be determined by a processor (210) that receives the customer's second order information. In one embodiment, the processor (210) can determine the optimal location among the locations of each of one or more second items within the logistics warehouse to generate a picking path (430).

[0107] In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c together, the collection path (420) of FIG. 4b may correspond to a path where a relatively large number of items can be collected relative to the path. The collection path (430) of FIG. 4c may correspond to a path where a relatively large number of items can be collected relative to the path. The processor (210) may determine that an order corresponding to the collection path (420) of FIG. 4b, rather than an order corresponding to the collection path (430) of FIG. 4c, is an order included in the SMP operation.

[0108] As such, there may be various ways for the processor (210) to determine which single orders to include in the SMP task. For example, the processor (210) may determine whether to add a single order to the SMP task based on the urgency of each of the multi-order and single-order.

[0109] The processor (210) can determine the urgency of each of multiple orders. Urgency can be divided into normal, near, and urgent grades, and can be understood as the urgency increasing in the order of normal, near, and urgent. This classification of urgency is exemplary, and urgency may be classified in other forms. Urgency may change depending on the time of order creation. For example, if 48 hours pass from the time of order creation, the urgency of the order may switch from normal to near. In one embodiment, the urgency of the order may be adjusted according to price, user grade, delivery distance, settings of the device (100) manager, etc.

[0110] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may include a single order in an SMP task when the urgency of the single order is the same as the urgency of the multi-order or when the urgency of the single order is lower than the urgency of the multi-order. For example, the processor (210) may not include a single order in an SMP task when the urgency of the single order is at an urgent level and the urgency of the multi-order is at a normal level. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may not create an SMP task for a multi-order that is not urgent.

[0111] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may adjust the threshold value of the average travel distance per item, which is a criterion for determining a second order included in an SMP operation, based on urgency. For example, if the urgency of the first order is low, the processor (210) may determine a second order including a second item that is relatively far from the first item. That is, if the urgency of the first order is low, the processor (210) may determine an order corresponding to the picking path (430) of FIG. 4c as an order included in an SMP operation. In one embodiment, if the urgency of the second order is low, the processor (210) may determine a second order including a second item that is relatively far from the first item.

[0112] The processor (210) may use the available capacity of the current tote of the picker as a determination criterion to determine the second order included in the SMP operation. In this case, the processor (210) determines the available capacity of the tote from which two or more first items are picked, and in determining the second order, may determine the second order from among the multiple orders that correspond to a capacity not greater than the current available capacity. In one embodiment, the available capacity may correspond to the capacity obtained by subtracting the current loaded capacity of the tote from the set limit capacity of the tote.

[0113] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may adjust the available capacity of the current tote based on urgency, which is a criterion for determining a second order to be included in an SMP operation. The available capacity may include at least one of information regarding the number of items loaded in the tote, the volume of the tote, the current load of the tote, or the maximum load of the tote. For example, if the urgency of the first order is low, the processor (210) may set the available capacity to a large value so that more items corresponding to single orders may be included in the SMP operation. In one embodiment, if the urgency of the second order is low, the processor (210) may set the available capacity to a large value so that other single orders may also be included in the SMP operation.

[0114] FIG. 5 is a step flowchart illustrating operations for generating an SMP operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Steps S500 to S560 of FIG. 5 can be understood as steps for determining a first order to perform an SMP operation.

[0115] In step S500, the processor (210) can determine the urgency of each of the multiple orders and determine the urgency of the holding pool, which is a waiting pool of orders for SMP operations. The holding pool may correspond to a waiting pool of orders grouped for SMP operations. For example, the orders included in the holding pool may correspond to a common batch. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the urgency of the holding pool based on the urgency of the multi-orders included in the holding pool and the urgency of the remaining orders excluding the multi-orders included in the holding pool. For example, the urgency of the holding pool may correspond to the urgency of the multi-order with the highest urgency among the multi-orders included in the holding pool. Additionally, the urgency of the remaining orders excluding the multi-orders included in the holding pool may correspond to the urgency of the multi-order with the highest urgency among the remaining orders.

[0116] In one embodiment, the urgency of an SMP job may correspond to the urgency of a holding pool. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may not generate an SMP job if the urgency of the holding pool is lower than the urgency of the remaining orders, excluding multi-orders included in the holding pool.

[0117] In step S510, the processor (210) can determine whether the number of multi-orders included in the holding pool is greater than or equal to the number of critical orders. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may ignore the number of critical orders if the urgency level of the holding pool is urgent or imminent. That is, if the urgency level of the holding pool is urgent or imminent, the processor (210) may perform step S520 without determining whether the number of multi-orders included in the holding pool is greater than or equal to the number of critical orders.

[0118] In step S520, the processor (210) can determine whether the target picker is a new picker or a picker where the tot is empty at the current location or the current tot capacity is lower than the threshold capacity. In one embodiment, the processor (210) can determine whether the target picker is a picker suitable for assigning SMP tasks if the number of multi-orders included in the holding pool is greater than or equal to the threshold number of orders (yes in S510).

[0119] In step S530, the processor (210) may determine whether to release or wait for the holding pool. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine whether to stop the creation operation of the SMP job if the number of orders included in the holding pool is less than the number of critical orders (no of S510) or if the target picker is a picker that is currently working and has a tote filled at the current location, or if the current tote capacity is equal to or higher than the critical capacity (no of S520). A detailed description of step S530 will be provided later in FIG. 7.

[0120] In step S540, the processor (210) may determine the order among the multi-orders in the holding pool that has the minimum average travel distance for each item to be moved to pick items along the path as the first order. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may assign the first order to the target picker if the target picker is a new picker or a picker whose tote is empty at the current location or whose current tote capacity is lower than the threshold capacity (yes in S520). At this time, the number of orders in the holding pool must be one or more. For example, at least one multi-order must remain in the holding pool.

[0121] In step S550, the processor (210) can determine whether the tote's available capacity is less than or equal to the first order added to the current tote. At this time, the available capacity may include the size, weight, or shape of two or more items included in the first order.

[0122] In step S560, the processor (210) may exclude the first order from the holding pool. In one embodiment, if the available capacity of the tot is exceeded when adding the first order to the current tot (no of S550), the processor (210) may exclude the first order determined in the preceding step S540 from the holding pool in the SMP operation, and return to step S540 to determine a new first order among a plurality of orders in the holding pool.

[0123] In one embodiment, even though the first order is the smallest order, if the tote available capacity is exceeded when the first order is added, and the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up the items of the first order is less than or equal to a preset threshold value, an SMP task including the determined first order can be created. That is, in this case, the processor (210) can perform step S570. In one embodiment, even though the first order is the smallest order, if the tote available capacity is exceeded when the first order is added, and the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up the items exceeds a preset threshold value, the operation to create an SMP task can be terminated.

[0124] In step S570, the processor (210) may generate an SMP task including a first order. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may initiate a picking task for the first order if the available capacity of the tote is less than or equal to the first order even after adding the first order to the current tote (yes in S550), and may perform steps to determine a second order to be picked together with the first order. At this time, the number of orders in the holding pool must be one or more. A single order included in the SMP task must be located in an area corresponding to the placement of a multi-order. In one embodiment, a single order included in the SMP task must have an urgency equal to or lower than that of a multi-order. A detailed description of the operation of the processor (210) performed after step S570 will be described later in FIG. 6.

[0125] FIG. 6 is a step flowchart illustrating steps following the SMP job creation step described with reference to FIG. 5. Steps S600 to S650 of FIG. 6 can be understood as steps for determining a second order included in the SMP job.

[0126] In step S600, the processor (210) can determine the second order as the order in which the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up the item along the path with the item of the first order is the minimum among the single orders of the holding pool.

[0127] In step S610, the processor (210) can determine whether the tote's available capacity is less than or equal to the second order added to the current tote. At this time, the available capacity may include the size, weight, or shape of one or more items included in the second order.

[0128] In step S620, the processor (210) may exclude the second order from the holding pool. In one embodiment, if the available capacity of the tot is exceeded when adding the second order to the current tot (no of S550), the processor (210) may exclude the second order determined in the preceding step S600 from the holding pool in the SMP operation, and return to step S600 to determine a new second order among a plurality of orders in the holding pool.

[0129] In step S630, the processor (210) can determine whether the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up items of the first order and the second order is less than or equal to a preset threshold value. In one embodiment, if the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up items of the first order and the second order is less than or equal to a preset threshold value, the processor (210) can include the second order in the SMP operation. At this time, a process of determining whether additional single orders can be added may be performed. For example, step S600 may be performed again considering the current available capacity of the tote or the average travel distance, etc.

[0130] In step S640, the processor (210) may determine whether to release the holding pool or wait. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine whether to stop the creation operation of the SMP job if the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick up items of the first order and the second order exceeds a preset threshold value (no of S630). A detailed description of step S640 will be provided later in FIG. 7.

[0131] In step S650, the target picker may perform an SMP operation including a first order and a second order. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may include the second order in the SMP operation including the first order if the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick items of the first order and the second order is less than or equal to a preset threshold value (no of S630). At this time, the number of single orders in the holding pool must be one or more. Through the SMP operation, items of the first order and the second order can be efficiently picked.

[0132] FIG. 7 is a step flowchart showing detailed steps of the holding pool release or wait decision step described with reference to FIG. 5. Steps S700 to S760 of FIG. 7 can be understood as steps included in step S530 of FIG. 5.

[0133] In step S700, the processor (210) can determine whether the urgency of the holding pool exceeds a critical urgency. For example, the processor (210) can set the critical urgency to an imminent level, and if the urgency of the holding pool is an urgent level, it can perform step S710.

[0134] In step S710, the processor (210) can determine whether the urgency of a single order included in the holding pool exceeds a critical urgency. This is to determine whether a single order, even if it is included in the holding pool for an SMP operation, should be processed separately and quickly without going through the SMP operation.

[0135] In step S720, the processor (210) may have multi-orders wait in a holding pool or single orders be processed as general picking. For example, if a single order included in the holding pool has high urgency, the processor (210) may classify it so that it is processed individually and quickly through a general picking operation rather than being picked together as an SMP operation. At this time, multi-orders may wait in the holding pool to be processed as an SMP operation.

[0136] In step S730, the processor (210) may process back orders other than those included in the holding pool as general picks, or release the holding pool. For example, the processor (210) may determine that processing back orders other than those included in the holding pool is relatively urgent and may first process the back orders using the general pick method. Alternatively, the processor (210) may determine that SMP work is not necessary and release the holding pool.

[0137] In step S740, the processor (210) can determine whether the number of backorders other than those included in the holding pool exceeds the number of multi-orders included in the holding pool. This is to determine whether backorders need to be processed quickly separately because there are many backorders other than those included in the holding pool.

[0138] In step S750, the processor (210) may have multi-orders wait in the holding pool or process back orders other than those included in the holding pool as general picks. For example, since the number of back orders is large and the urgency of the holding pool is not high, the processor (210) may process the back orders separately using the general pick method, while the orders remaining in the holding pool may wait until the SMP job creation conditions are satisfied.

[0139] In step S760, the processor (210) may process back orders other than those included in the holding pool as general picks, or release the holding pool. For example, the processor (210) may determine that processing back orders other than those included in the holding pool is relatively urgent and may first process the back orders using the general pick method. Alternatively, the processor (210) may determine that SMP work is not necessary and release the holding pool.

[0140] In one embodiment, since the urgency may increase as time passes for order creation, even items that are difficult to include in SMP creation, such as items located in a corner of the warehouse, may be picked up preferentially as the urgency increases. Accordingly, according to the present disclosure, overall order dispatch efficiency can be improved by performing SMP operations.

[0141] FIG. 8 is a step flowchart illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. A method for processing collection information of a logistics center according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed by a device (100). The present method may include a step of determining a first order including two or more first items among a plurality of orders (S800); a step of determining the location within a logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items (S810); a step of determining a second order to perform collection together with the first order on a single path based on the location within a logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items (S820); and / or a step of transmitting collection information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the path, to a first other device (S830).

[0142] In step S800, the processor (210) may determine a first order that includes two or more first items among a plurality of orders. In step S810, the processor (210) may determine the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items. In step S820, the processor (210) may determine a second order to perform picking along with the first order on a single route based on the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items. At this time, the second order may include one or more second items of the same type. In step S830, the processor (210) may transmit picking information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the route, to another device (200).

[0143] In the step (S800) of determining a first order including two or more first items among a plurality of orders, at least two of the two or more first items may be items of different types. In one embodiment, the processor (210) determines the urgency of each of the plurality of orders and, in determining the first order, may determine the first order among the orders among the plurality of orders, the order whose urgency is higher than a preset threshold urgency.

[0144] In the step (S810) of determining the location within the logistics warehouse for each of the two or more first items, the processor (210) may determine an optimal movement path based on the locations within the logistics warehouse (412, 414, 416, 418) for each of the two or more first items. In one embodiment, the movement path may indicate the location within the logistics warehouse for picking at least two first items and one or more second items, and the order of picking. In one embodiment, the order of picking may be an order corresponding to the minimum distance for picking at least two first items and one or more second items. In one embodiment, the movement path may indicate picking an item located in a preset zone within the logistics warehouse among at least two first items and one or more second items.

[0145] In the step (S820) of determining a second order to be picked along with a first order on a single path based on the location within the logistics warehouse of each of two or more first items, the second order may include one or more second items of the same type. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the second order such that the average travel distance for each item that must be moved to pick two or more first items and one or more second items on the path is less than or equal to a preset threshold value. In one embodiment, when determining the second order, the processor (210) may determine the second order from among a plurality of orders that each include only one or more items of the same type.

[0146] In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the second order from among a plurality of orders, the order having an urgency equal to or lower than the urgency of the first order. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the second order from among a plurality of orders, the order having an urgency equal to or lower than a preset threshold urgency. At this time, the threshold value may be adjusted based on the urgency of the first order or the urgency of the second order. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the available capacity of a tote in which two or more first items are picked, and in determining the second order, may determine the second order from among a plurality of orders, the order corresponding to a capacity not greater than the available capacity. The available capacity may include at least one of information regarding the number of items loaded in the tote, the volume of the tote, the current load of the tote, or the maximum load of the tote. At this time, the available capacity may be adjusted based on the urgency of the first order or the urgency of the second order. In one embodiment, the processor (210) may determine the second order after the point in time when the operation of picking two or more first items is initiated, in determining the second order.

[0147] In the step (S830) of transmitting collection information, which is information regarding a first order, a second order, and a movement path, to another device, the movement path may indicate a location within a logistics warehouse to collect two or more first items and one or more second items, and an order of collection. In one embodiment, the order of collection may be an order corresponding to the minimum distance for collecting at least two or more first items and one or more second items. In one embodiment, the movement path may instruct to collect an item located in a preset zone within the logistics warehouse among at least two or more first items and one or more second items. In one embodiment, the processor (210) determines a third order to be collected along with the first order and the second order in a single movement path, and may update the collection information so that the collection information includes collection information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, the third order, and the movement path. At this time, the third order may each include one or more third items of the same type. In one embodiment, the processor (210) can update the collection information so that at least one of two or more first items or one or more second items collected along the path is excluded from the collection information.

[0148] The methods according to the present disclosure may be computer-implemented methods. In the present disclosure, each step of the methods is illustrated and described in a predetermined order, but each step may be performed in an order that can be arbitrarily combined according to the present disclosure, other than being performed sequentially. In one embodiment, at least some of the steps may be performed in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically. The present disclosure does not exclude variations or modifications to the methods. In one embodiment, at least some of the steps may be omitted, or other steps may be added.

[0149] Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software recorded on a machine-readable recording medium. The software may be software for implementing the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above. The software may be inferred from the various embodiments of the present disclosure by programmers skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. For example, the software may be a machine-readable instruction (e.g., code or code segment) or a program. The machine may be a device capable of operating according to instructions called from the recording medium, for example, a computer. In one embodiment, the machine may be a device (100) according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the processor of the machine may execute the called instruction to cause the components of the machine to perform a function corresponding to the instruction. In one embodiment, the processor may be a processor (210) according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The recording medium may mean any type of recording medium in which data is stored that can be read by the machine. The recording medium may include, for example, ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, etc. In one embodiment, the recording medium may be a memory (220). In one embodiment, the recording medium may be implemented in a distributed form in a computer system connected by a network, etc. Software may be stored and executed in a distributed form in a computer system, etc. The recording medium may be a non-transitory recording medium. A non-transitory recording medium means a tangible medium that exists regardless of whether data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily, and does not include a signal that is transmitted transitory.

[0150] Although the technical concept of the present disclosure has been described by various embodiments above, the technical concept of the present disclosure includes various substitutions, modifications, and alterations that can be made within the scope of understanding of those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Furthermore, it should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and alterations may be included within the scope of the appended claims. Embodiments according to the present disclosure may be combined with one another. Each embodiment may be combined in various ways depending on the circumstances, and embodiments created by combining also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. One or more processors; and It includes one or more memories in which instructions executed by the above one or more processors are stored, and When executing the above instructions, the one or more processors, Determining a first order comprising two or more first items among a plurality of orders, wherein at least two of the two or more first items are items of different types, and Determining the location within the logistics warehouse of each of the above two or more first items, and Based on the location of each of the two or more first items within the logistics warehouse, a second order to be picked up together with the first order in a single path is determined, wherein each second order comprises one or more second items of the same type, and It is configured to transmit the collection information, which is information regarding the above-mentioned first order, the above-mentioned second order, and the above-mentioned movement path, to another device, and The above one or more processors, in determining the above second order, A device for determining the second order such that the average movement distance for each item, which must be moved to pick up the two or more first items and the one or more second items along the above movement path, is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above movement path is a device that indicates the location within the logistics warehouse to collect at least two first items and one or more second items, and the order of collection.

3. In Paragraph 2, A device in which the order of collecting items is a sequence corresponding to the minimum distance for collecting at least two first items and one or more second items.

4. In Paragraph 2, The above movement path is a device that instructs the collection of at least two first items and one or more second items located in a preset area within the logistics warehouse.

5. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, in determining the above second order, A device for determining, among the plurality of orders above, the order having the minimum average movement distance for each item that must be moved to pick up an item along the movement path together with two or more first items as the second order.

6. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, Determining the urgency of each of the above multiple orders, and In determining the above first order, A device for determining the first order among the plurality of orders above, wherein the urgency level is higher than a preset threshold urgency level.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, Determining the urgency of each of the above multiple orders, and In determining the above second order, A device for determining the second order among the plurality of orders, wherein the urgency is equal to or lower than the urgency of the first order.

8. In Paragraph 7, The above one or more processors, in determining the above second order, A device for determining the second order among the multiple orders above, wherein the urgency level is equal to or lower than a preset threshold urgency level.

9. In Paragraph 7, The above threshold value is a device that is adjusted based on the urgency of the above first order.

10. In Paragraph 7, The above threshold value is a device that is adjusted based on the urgency of the above second order.

11. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, Determining the available capacity of a tote in which the above two or more first items are collected, In determining the above second order, A device for determining the second order among the orders corresponding to a capacity not greater than the available capacity among the plurality of orders above.

12. In Paragraph 11, The above one or more processors, Determine the urgency of the above first order, and The above available capacity is a device that is adjusted based on the urgency of the first order.

13. In Paragraph 11, The above one or more processors, Determine the urgency of the above second order, and The above available capacity is a device that is adjusted based on the urgency of the above second order.

14. In Paragraph 11, A device wherein the above available capacity includes at least one of information regarding the number of loaded items of the tote, the volume of the tote, the current load of the tote, or the maximum load of the tote.

15. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, in determining the above second order, A device for determining the second order among the above multiple orders, each containing only one or more items of the same type.

16. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, in determining the above second order, A device for determining the second order after the point in time when the operation of picking the two or more first items is initiated.

17. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, Determining a third order to perform picking together with the first order and the second order in the above single movement path - the third order each includes one or more third items of the same type - , A device for updating the collection information such that the collection information includes the collection information which is information regarding the first order, the second order, the third order, and the movement path.

18. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, A device for updating the collection information such that at least one of the two or more first items or the one or more second items collected along the movement path is excluded from the collection information.

19. A method performed in a device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions to be executed by said one or more processors, wherein One or more of the above processors, A step of determining a first order including two or more first items among a plurality of orders - at least two of the two or more first items are items of different types - ; A step of determining the location within a logistics warehouse for each of the above two or more first items; A step of determining a second order to be picked together with the first order in a single path based on the location within the logistics warehouse of each of the two or more first items above - each of the second orders includes one or more second items of the same type - ; and It includes the step of transmitting the collection information, which is information regarding the first order, the second order, and the movement path, to another device, and The step of determining the above second order is, A method comprising the step of determining the second order such that the average movement distance for each item, which must be moved to pick the two or more first items and the one or more second items along the above movement path, is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

20. A non-transient computer-readable recording medium storing instructions to be executed by one or more processors, The above instructions, when executed, the above one or more processors, Determining a first order comprising two or more first items among a plurality of orders, wherein at least two of the two or more first items are items of different types, and Determining the location within the logistics warehouse of each of the above two or more first items, and Based on the location of each of the two or more first items within the logistics warehouse, a second order to be picked together with the first order in a single path is determined, wherein each second order comprises one or more second items of the same type, and The above first order, the above second order, and the collection information, which is information regarding the above movement path, are to be transmitted to another device, and In determining the second order, the above one or more processors A computer-readable recording medium that determines the second order such that the average travel distance for each item, which must be moved to pick up the two or more first items and the one or more second items along the above path, is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.

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