Location-Based Item List Assignment for Warehouse Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems for dividing item lists for partial acquisition by multiple resources are arbitrary, leading to inefficient routing and increased travel distances, resulting in costly systemic delays and inefficiencies, as they do not consider the geographic location of objects or the burden of items.

Innovation Solution

A system that consolidates and transforms object-descriptive input data into distributed rendered location data, using a datacenter to correlate object data with physical objects and generate optimized lists and route maps to minimize distance and time for user devices to reach objects, taking into account the geographical location of users and objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If item lists are divided at random without considering geographic location, then the division process is simple and quick, but the travel distance and time for users increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacquisition efficiencyVSAvoidtravel time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of list division from random assignment to location-based assignment. By incorporating geographic coordinates and object locations as parameters, the system optimizes which user receives which item based on their relative positions, thereby minimizing total travel distance and time while maintaining simple division execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual/mechanical process of arbitrary list division with an automated computational system. The datacenter automatically calculates optimal assignments by processing geographic data and user locations, substituting human judgment with algorithmic optimization to reduce travel time without adding manual complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If item lists are divided to give each user the same number of items, then the distribution is uniform, but some users may have to traverse too far to find items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelist distribution uniformityVSAvoidtravel distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces location parameters (geographic coordinates of users and objects) to the list distribution process. Instead of using only the parameter of item count for uniformity, the system incorporates spatial parameters to determine assignment, allowing it to balance both uniform distribution and minimized travel distance simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a spatial dimension to the list distribution problem. By considering the geographic dimension alongside the item count dimension, the system can make assignments that satisfy both uniform distribution requirements and distance minimization goals, transforming a one-dimensional problem into a multi-dimensional optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If conventional systems divide lists without considering object positions, then the system complexity is low, but acquisition efficiency and routing guidance are poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidacquisition efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a datacenter as an intermediary component that handles the complex calculations of location-based optimization. This intermediary absorbs the computational complexity, allowing the user-facing system to remain simple while benefiting from advanced routing guidance and location-aware list division that significantly improves acquisition efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If users are not provided with routing guidance regarding item location, then the system is simpler to implement, but users experience systemic delays and inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting guidance complexityVSAvoidsystemic delays

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary routing calculations and provides guidance to users before they begin their acquisition tasks. By pre-computing optimal routes and providing location-based guidance in advance, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time routing adjustments while significantly reducing the time users spend searching for items and minimizing systemic delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9797731B2Consolidating and transforming object-descriptive input data to distributed rendered location data

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for consolidating and transforming object-descriptive input data to distributed rendered location data. The systems and methods are configured to receive object-descriptive input data from a plurality of input devices, consolidate the object-descriptive input data and correlate it with a plurality of physical objects, determine first and second subsets of the plurality of physical objects based on a proximity of each of the physical objects to each of a plurality of user devices, construct user device-specific graphical maps each indicating a route to each object in a subset, and instruct each user device to display a graphical map constructed therefor.