IP Library › Granted Patent US 12705565
Granted Patent B2
US 12705565 · App. 18/642,053 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

System for inbound item preparation in a fulfillment facility

Inventors: Jeremiah Constant (Inver Grove Heights, MN); Mohanraj Subramaniam (Carver, MN); Jonathan Lawman (Dayton, MN); Kapil Gangwal (Corcoran, MN); Marquise Allen (Plymouth, MN); Richard Hines (Plymouth, MN); Miranda Orr (Elkader, IA); Noah E Dahlien (Minneapolis, MN); Carissa Staples (Saint Louis Park, MN); Simhan Mahesh Puduppadi Kuppaswamy (Plymouth, MN); Matthew Anderson (Blaine, MN)
Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
G06Q10/0832
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12705565
App. No.
18/642,053
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosed technology provides for preparing items for packaging and shipping at a fulfillment location. A method can include receiving, using a user computing device, item information about an item, where the user computing device is configured to receive item information about a plurality of items via a server; transmitting, using the user computing device, the item information to a remote computing device, where the remote computing device is a remote database configured to store information about the plurality of items via the server; obtaining, using the remote computing device, item preparation instructions; receiving, using the user computing device, the item preparation instructions from the remote computing device; and outputting, using the user computing device, the item preparation instructions.

Claims (74)

1 . A method for preparing items for packaging and shipping, the method comprising:

receiving, using a user computing device, item information about an item by capturing, using a scanner of the user computing device, a first identifier provided at the item, wherein the user computing device is configured to receive item information about a plurality of items via a server;

transmitting, using the user computing device, the item information to a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device comprises a remote central item information database configured to store information about the plurality of items via the server;

obtaining, using the remote computing device, item preparation instructions;

receiving, using the user computing device, the item preparation instructions from the remote computing device, wherein the item preparation instructions comprise: one or more steps, one or more materials, or a combination thereof for enabling a procedure for the item;

outputting, using the user computing device, the item preparation instructions;

preparing, by a user of the user computing device, the item based on item preparation instructions by following the one or more steps, wrapping the item with the one or more materials, or both, wherein the preparing further comprises:

determining, by the user of the user computing device, that the item does not require particular wrapping;

providing, by the user of the user computing device, feedback to the central item information database indicating that the item does not require particular wrapping; and

updating item attribute data associated with the item in the central item information database based on the feedback, such that the updated item attribute data is used for subsequent preparation of the item;

receiving, by the user computing device, unique printer identifier information by capturing, using the scanner of the user computing device, a third identifier provided at a printer configured to communicate with the user computing device;

transmitting, by the user computing device, data to the printer based on receiving the unique printer identifier information, wherein the data comprises at least the item information;

printing, by a printer configured to communicate with the user computing device, a second identifier for the item, wherein the second identifier is configured to be applied to the item by the user, wherein the second identifier is different than the first identifier;

applying the second identifier to the prepared item;

placing, by the user, the prepared item on a conveyor belt of a conveyance system after preparing the item;

transmitting, by the conveyance system, an indication to the remote computing device that indicates that the item has been placed on the conveyor belt;

transmitting, by the remote computing device, routing information for the item to the conveyance system based on receiving the indication, wherein the routing information comprises instructions for routing the item to a particular location via the conveyor belt;

routing, by the conveyor belt of the conveyance system, the item to the particular location based on the conveyance system receiving the routing information; and

receiving, by a second user computing device, order preparation information of the item by capturing the second identifier applied on the item using a second scanner of the second user computing device, wherein the order preparation information is configured to enable a second procedure of the second user computing device by a second user associated with the second user computing device as part of an order.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user computing device is configured to receive item information about a plurality of items from a server, a database, or a combination thereof.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the remote computing device further comprises a computing system, a storage device, or a combination thereof, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to store the item preparation instructions for the plurality of items as item attribute data within the central information database.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the item information is digitalized data associated with the item preparation instructions, and wherein the first identifier is a barcode label.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second identifier is a barcode label.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second procedure comprises the item being packaged by the second user as part of an order.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the item is a sensitive item that must be packaged using the item preparation instructions to ensure that the order is not compromised.

8 . A user computing device configured to perform operations for preparing items for packaging and comprising:

an image capturing device,

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that are executable by the processor to cause performance of the operations comprising:

receiving item information about an item by capturing, using a scanner of the user computing device, a first identifier provided at the item, wherein the user computing device is configured to receive item information about a plurality of items;

transmitting the item information to a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device comprises a remote central item information database configured to store information about the plurality of items via the server;

receiving item preparation instructions from the remote computing device, wherein the item preparation instructions comprise: one or more steps, one or more materials, or a combination thereof for enabling a procedure for the item;

outputting the item preparation instructions;

preparing, by a user of the user computing device, the item based on item preparation instructions by following the one or more steps, wrapping the item with the one or more materials, or both, wherein the preparing further comprises:

determining, by the user of the user computing device, that the item does not require particular wrapping;

providing, by the user of the user computing device, feedback to the central item information database indicating that the item does not require particular wrapping; and

updating item attribute data associated with the item in the central item information database based on the feedback, such that the updated item attribute data is used for subsequent preparation of the item;

receiving, by the user computing device, unique printer identifier information by capturing, using the scanner of the user computing device, a third identifier provided at a printer configured to communicate with the user computing device;

transmitting, by the user computing device, data to the printer based on receiving the unique printer identifier information, wherein the data comprises at least the item information;

printing, by a printer configured to communicate with the user computing device, a second identifier for the item, wherein the second identifier is configured to be applied to the item by the user, wherein the second identifier is different than the first identifier;

applying the second identifier to the prepared item;

placing, by the user, the prepared item on a conveyor belt of a conveyance system after preparing the item;

transmitting, by the conveyance system, an indication to the remote computing device that indicates that the item has been placed on the conveyor belt;

transmitting, by the remote computing device, routing information for the item to the conveyance system based on receiving the indication, wherein the routing information comprises instructions for routing the item to a particular location via the conveyor belt;

routing, by the conveyor belt of the conveyance system, the item to the particular location based on the conveyance system receiving the routing information; and

receiving, by a second user computing device, order preparation information of the item by capturing the second identifier applied on the item using a second scanner of the second user computing device, wherein the order preparation information is configured to enable a second procedure of the second user computing device by a second user associated with the second user computing device as part of an order.

9 . The user computing device of claim 8 , wherein the user computing device is configured to receive the item information about the plurality of items from a server, a database, or a combination thereof.

10 . The user computing device of claim 8 , wherein the item information is digitalized data associated with the item preparation instructions, and wherein the first identifier is a barcode label.

11 . The user computing device of claim 10 , wherein the second identifier is a barcode label.

12 . The user computing device of claim 8 , wherein the second procedure comprises the item being packaged by the second user as part of an order.

13 . A system for preparing items for packaging and shipping, the system comprising:

a user computing device and the remote computing device configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving, using a user computing device, item information about an item by capturing, using a scanner of the user computing device, a first identifier provided at the item, wherein the user computing device is configured to receive item information about a plurality of items via a server;

transmitting, using the user computing device, the item information to a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device comprises a remote central item information database configured to store information about the plurality of items via the server;

obtaining, using the remote computing device, item preparation instructions;

receiving, using the user computing device, the item preparation instructions from the remote computing device, wherein the item preparation instructions comprise: one or more steps, one or more materials, or a combination thereof for enabling a procedure for the item;

outputting, using the user computing device, the item preparation instructions;

preparing, by a user of the user computing device, the item based on item preparation instructions by following the one or more steps, wrapping the item with the one or more materials, or both, wherein the preparing further comprises:

determining, by the user of the user computing device, that the item does not require particular wrapping;

providing, by the user of the user computing device, feedback to the central item information database indicating that the item does not require particular wrapping; and

updating item attribute data associated with the item in the central item information database based on the feedback, such that the updated item attribute data is used for subsequent preparation of the item;

receiving, by the user computing device, unique printer identifier information by capturing, using the scanner of the user computing device, a third identifier provided at a printer configured to communicate with the user computing device;

transmitting, by the user computing device, data to the printer based on receiving the unique printer identifier information, wherein the data comprises at least the item information;

printing, by a printer configured to communicate with the user computing device, a second identifier for the item, wherein the second identifier is configured to be applied to the item by the user, wherein the second identifier is different than the first identifier;

applying the second identifier to the prepared item;

placing, by the user, the prepared item on a conveyor belt of a conveyance system after preparing the item;

transmitting, by the conveyance system, an indication to the remote computing device that indicates that the item has been placed on the conveyor belt;

transmitting, by the remote computing device, routing information for the item to the conveyance system based on receiving the indication, wherein the routing information comprises instructions for routing the item to a particular location via the conveyor belt;

routing, by the conveyor belt of the conveyance system, the item to the particular location based on the conveyance system receiving the routing information; and

receiving, by a second user computing device, order preparation information of the item by capturing the second identifier applied on the item using a second scanner of the second user computing device, wherein the order preparation information is configured to enable a second procedure of the second user computing device by a second user associated with the second user computing device as part of an order.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the user computing device is configured to receive the item information about a plurality of items from a server, a database, or a combination thereof.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the remote computing device further comprises a computing system, a storage device, or a combination thereof, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to store the item preparation instructions for the plurality of items as item attribute data within the central information database.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the item information is digitalized data associated with the item preparation instructions, and wherein the first identifier is a barcode label.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the second identifier is a barcode label.