SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING AND RETRIEVING MERCHANDISE AT PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION CENTERS

1 . A system for storing and retrieving merchandise items in distribution centers, the system comprising:

a distribution center with a plurality of storage locations holding a plurality of merchandise items, the plurality of merchandise items being arranged in the plurality of storage locations according to a predetermined packing plan, the plan assigning a unique storage location to each merchandise item;

a plurality of sensor tags associated with the plurality of merchandise items, each sensor tag being associated with a type of merchandise item;

a plurality of routes from the plurality of storage locations to at least one merchandise handling area;

at least one tote configured to deliver merchandise items from the plurality of storage locations to the at least one merchandise handling area;

a first control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of sensor tags and to the at least one tote, the first control circuit configured to:

determine a first type of merchandise item to be delivered to the at least one merchandise handling area;

communicate with a first sensor tag to identify a first storage location of the first type of merchandise item;

communicate with a first tote to move the first tote to the first storage location to receive the first type of merchandise item; and

communicate with the first tote to move the first tote to the at least one merchandise handling area;

wherein the plurality of storage locations in the predetermined packing plan are arranged based on at least one of merchandise item type, customer information, delivery distance, projected storage time, delivery time, and weather.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of storage locations are arranged in at least one storage unit having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having unique coordinates to identify the location of the compartment within the at least one storage unit.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tote comprises a second control circuit configured to:

receive a communication from the first control circuit regarding the first storage location of the first type of merchandise item; and

determine a route to the first storage location and move the tote to the first storage location.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one tote further comprises a sensor and wherein the second control circuit is configured to:

communicate with a database to determine a first identifier for the first type of merchandise item; and

actuate the sensor to compare a second identifier for a merchandise item received at the first storage location with the first identifier to verify that the merchandise item received is of the first type.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first control circuit is configured to:

determine a second type of merchandise item to be delivered to the at least one merchandise handling area;

communicate with a second sensor tag to identify a second storage location of the second type of merchandise item; and

communicate with the first tote to move the first tote from the first storage location to the second storage location to receive the second type of merchandise.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tote further comprises a two-way wireless communications component that is attached to the tote and configured to receive information regarding a first planned automated route for the at least one tote to the first storage location.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the two-way wireless communications component is configured to receive information regarding the first type of merchandise item planned to be placed in the at least one tote at the first storage location.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one tote further comprises a first sensor to verify contents or condition of the first type of merchandise item planned to be placed in the at least one tote.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein:

the at least one tote further comprises a second sensor for reading the first sensor tag to determine the identity of the first type of merchandise item in the first storage location; and

the two-way wireless communications component is configured to transmit the read information to the control circuit to verify that the first type of merchandise item is in the corresponding storage location according to the predetermined packing plan.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the two-way wireless communications component is configured to receive information regarding a second planned automated route for the at least one tote to the at least one merchandise handling area.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an unloading apparatus configured to transport the first type of merchandise item from the first storage location to the first tote.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined packing plan is determined based on customer preferences.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first control circuit is configured to:

access partiality information for customers and to use that partiality information to form corresponding partiality vectors for customers wherein the partiality vector has a magnitude that corresponds to a magnitude of the customer's belief in an amount of good that comes from an order associated with that partiality.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first control circuit is further configured to:

form counterpart merchandise item vectors wherein the counterpart vectors have a magnitude that represents to the degree which each of the merchandise items pursues a corresponding partiality.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first control circuit is further configured to:

use the partiality vectors and the merchandise item vectors to determine the predetermined packing plan.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor tags comprise RFID tags or barcodes.

17 . A method for storing and retrieving merchandise items in distribution centers, the method comprising:

providing a distribution center with a plurality of storage locations holding a plurality of merchandise items;

arranging the plurality of merchandise items in the plurality of storage locations according to a predetermined packing plan, the plan assigning a unique storage location to each merchandise item, the arrangement of the plurality of storage locations being based on at least one of merchandise item type, customer information, delivery distance, projected storage time, delivery time, and weather;

associating a plurality of sensor tags with the plurality of merchandise items, each sensor tag being associated with a type of merchandise item;

providing a plurality of routes from the plurality of storage locations to at least one merchandise handling area;

providing at least one tote configured to deliver merchandise items from the plurality of storage locations to the at least one merchandise handling area;

identifying a first type of merchandise item to be delivered to the at least one merchandise handling area;

communicating with a first sensor tag to identify a first storage location of the first type of merchandise item;

communicating with a first tote to move the first tote to the first storage location to receive the first type of merchandise item; and

communicating with the first tote to move the first tote to the at least one merchandise handling area.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

determining a second type of merchandise item to be delivered to the at least one merchandise handling area;

communicating with a second sensor tag to identify a second storage location of the second type of merchandise item; and

communicating with the first tote to move the first tote from the first storage location to the second storage location to receive the second type of merchandise.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving information regarding a first planned automated route for the at least one tote to the first storage location.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising verifying contents or condition of the first type of merchandise item planned to be placed in the at least one tote at the first storage location.

21 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

reading the first sensor tag to determine the identity of the first type of merchandise item in the first storage location; and

transmitting the read information to the control circuit to verify that the first type of merchandise item is in the corresponding storage location according to the predetermined packing plan.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined packing plan is determined based on customer preferences.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

accessing partiality information for customers and using that partiality information to form corresponding partiality vectors for customers wherein the partiality vector has a magnitude that corresponds to a magnitude of the customer's belief in an amount of good that comes from an order associated with that partiality;

forming counterpart merchandise item vectors wherein the counterpart vectors have a magnitude that represents to the degree which each of the merchandise items pursues a corresponding partiality; and

using the partiality vectors and the merchandise item vectors to determine the predetermined packing plan.