IP Library Granted Patent US 12,404,101
Granted Patent B2
US 12,404,101 · App. 18/898,569 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for operating a modular superstructure

Inventor: Kevin Hellman (Katy, TX)
Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
B65G1/0478B65G1/10B65G1/12B65G1/1373G06Q10/04G06Q10/06316G06Q10/0633
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,404,101
App. No.
18/898,569
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for movement of rectangular prisms in a multi-dimensional space are provided.

Claims (50)

1. A computer-implemented method for operating a modular superstructure, the computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying rack arrangement data comprising a cell velocity grid associated with a plurality of racks in the modular superstructure;

generating a travel time grid corresponding to the plurality of racks based at least in part on a starting position, an ending position, and the rack arrangement data;

generating a gradient grid corresponding to the plurality of racks by applying at least one filter to the travel time grid;

generating pathing data for traversing a rectangular prism from the starting position to the ending position in the modular superstructure based at least in part on applying a gradient descent algorithm to the gradient grid; and

causing the rectangular prism to traverse based at least in part on the pathing data.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the cell velocity grid comprises a plurality of cell velocities each assigned to a corresponding rack location based at least in part on a rack status associated with the corresponding rack location.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of cell velocities represents a resistance value associated with traversing the rectangular prism at the corresponding rack location.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of cell velocities comprises:

a first cell velocity assigned to a first rack location associated with an obstructed status; and

a second cell velocity assigned to a second rack location associated with an open status.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying at least one obstructed rack location from the pathing data;

generating clearing move data based at least in part on the at least one obstructed rack location; and

causing the rectangular prism to traverse based at least in part on the pathing data and the clearing move data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the travel time grid comprises applying a fast-marching method to the cell velocity grid.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the gradient grid comprises applying a Sobel filter to the travel time grid.

8. An apparatus for operating a modular superstructure, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory comprising program code, the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

identify rack arrangement data comprising a cell velocity grid associated with the plurality of racks in the modular superstructure;

generate a travel time grid corresponding to the plurality of racks based at least in part on a starting position, an ending position, and the rack arrangement data;

generate a gradient grid corresponding to the plurality of racks by applying at least one filter to the travel time grid;

generate pathing data for traversing a rectangular prism from the starting position to the ending position in the modular superstructure based at least in part on applying a gradient descent algorithm to the gradient grid; and

cause the rectangular prism to traverse based at least in part on the pathing data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cell velocity grid comprises a plurality of cell velocities each assigned to a corresponding rack location based at least in part on a rack status associated with the corresponding rack location.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of cell velocities represents a resistance value associated with traversing the rectangular prism at the corresponding rack location.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of cell velocities comprises:

a first cell velocity assigned to a first rack location associated with an obstructed status; and

a second cell velocity assigned to a second rack location associated with an open status.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

identify at least one obstructed rack location from the pathing data;

generate clearing move data based at least in part on the at least one obstructed rack location; and

cause the rectangular prism to traverse based at least in part on the pathing data and the clearing move data.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, when generating the travel time grid, the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to apply a fast-marching method to the cell velocity grid.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, when generating the gradient grid, the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to apply a Sobel filter to the travel time grid.

15. A computer program product for operating a modular superstructure, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising an executable portion configured to:

identify rack arrangement data comprising a cell velocity grid associated with the plurality of racks in the modular superstructure;

generate a travel time grid corresponding to the plurality of racks based at least in part on a starting position, an ending position, and the rack arrangement data;

generate a gradient grid corresponding to the plurality of racks by applying at least one filter to the travel time grid;

generate pathing data for traversing a rectangular prism from the starting position to the ending position in the modular superstructure based at least in part on applying a gradient descent algorithm to the gradient grid; and

cause the rectangular prism to traverse based at least in part on the pathing data.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the cell velocity grid comprises a plurality of cell velocities each assigned to a corresponding rack location based at least in part on a rack status associated with the corresponding rack location.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of cell velocities represents a resistance value associated with traversing the rectangular prism at the corresponding rack location.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of cell velocities comprises:

a first cell velocity assigned to a first rack location associated with an obstructed status; and

a second cell velocity assigned to a second rack location associated with an open status.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions comprise the executable portion configured to:

identify at least one obstructed rack location from the pathing data;

generate clearing move data based at least in part on the at least one obstructed rack location; and

cause the rectangular prism to traverse based at least in part on the pathing data and the clearing move data.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein, when generating the travel time grid, the computer-readable program code portions comprise the executable portion configured to apply a fast-marching method to the cell velocity grid.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2026
From: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC; TRANSNORM SYSTEM INC.; HILMOT, LLC; TREW, LLC; UNITED SORTATION SOLUTIONS LLC; TECH KING OPERATIONS, LLC
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 076077/0385 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2024
From: HELLMAN, KEVIN
To: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 069089/0919 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation In Part 18796132 · Aug 6, 2024
Continuation PCTUS2023012328 · Feb 3, 2023
Continuation PCTUS2023030875 · Aug 22, 2023
Provisional Application 63499680 · May 2, 2023
Provisional Application 63484601 · Feb 13, 2023
Provisional Application 63373316 · Aug 23, 2022
Provisional Application 63267629 · Feb 7, 2022
Related Publication 20250042657A1 · Feb 6, 2025
References Cited (53)
US 3860130A · Frangos · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 9796527B1 · Kaukl et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10850959B2 · Goetz · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20080211358A1 · Borgwarth et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20210130094A1 · Ingram-Tedd et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220242668A1 · Perez et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220397404A1 · Franey et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230084906A1 · Karri et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230264897A1 · Stadie et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CA 3097226A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
FR 3097852A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
FR 3139809A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020210126830A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
MY 200203A · 2023 [cited by examiner]
WO 2010118412A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015185628A2 · 2015 [cited by examiner]
WO 2017186825A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019068775A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019232651A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020011628A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020260639A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021099474A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021197941A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2022013365A1 · 2022 [cited by examiner]
WO 2022049101A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2024239096A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
IPEA/409—International Preliminary Report on Patentability Mailed on Aug. 22, 2024 for WO Application No. PCT/US23/012328, 14 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Outgoing—ISA/210—International Search Report Mailed on Feb. 27, 2024 for WO Application No. PCT/US23/030875, 24 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Outgoing—ISA/210—International Search Report Mailed on Jul. 23, 2023 for WO Application No. PCT/US23/012328, 6 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Outgoing Written Opinion of the ISA Mailed on Feb. 29, 2024 for WO Application No. PCT/US23/030875, 11 page (s). [cited by applicant]
Outgoing Written Opinion of the ISA Mailed on Jul. 23, 2023 for WO Application No. PCT/US23/012328, 12 page (s). [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/796,132, filed Aug. 6, 2024, Pending. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Rejection Mailed on Dec 12, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,566, 21 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Rejection Mailed on Nov 14, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,557, 12 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Rejection Mailed on Nov. 19, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,563, 26 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Rejection Mailed on Nov. 26, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,248, 25 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Rejection Mailed on Oct. 23, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/796,132, 8 page(s). [cited by applicant]
IPEA/409—International Preliminary Report on Patentability Mailed on Mar. 6, 2025 for WO Application No. PCT/ US23/030875, 13 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on Feb. 12, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/796,132, 9 page (s). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Rejection Mailed on Jan. 22, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,577, 16 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Examiner Interview Summary Record (PTOL-413) Mailed on Apr. 2, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,248, 1 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Final Rejection Mailed on Apr. 17, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,566, 19 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Final Rejection Mailed on Mar. 21, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,557, 15 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Final Rejection Mailed on Mar. 24, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,563, 19 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on Apr. 2, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,248, 13 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on Apr. 14, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/796,132, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on Apr. 24, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,248, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Office Action Appendix Mailed on Apr. 2, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,248, 6 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on May 14, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,248, 6 page (s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on May 20, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,577, 9 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on May 30, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,248, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Advisory Action (PTOL-303) Mailed on Jul. 21, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,563, 3 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on Jul. 16, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/898,557, 10 page(s). [cited by applicant]