System and method for filling an order

1. A method for fulfilling inventory requests, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

selecting, by the processor, the requested inventory item from inventory holder;

facilitating, by the processor, storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request;

arranging, by the processor, one or more storage spaces according to a shipping sequence, each of the one or more storage spaces comprising an area of a workspace designated for storage of at least one of a plurality of order holders;

selecting, by the processor, one of the one or more storage spaces in which to store the order holder according to a parameter associated with the order holder, wherein the parameter is used by the processor to identify a position in the shipping sequence;

facilitating, by the processor, moving the order holder to the selected storage space;

detecting, by the processor, a triggering event; and

in response to detecting the triggering event:

transmitting, by the processor, a priority message associated with the triggering event, the priority message instructing a receiving component to adjust a priority level of a task assignment; and

wherein the receiving component, in response to receiving the priority message, retrieves the order holder from the selected storage space and moves the order holder to a shipping station, the selected storage space and the shipping station representing different areas of the workspace.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving an order requesting an inventory item comprises receiving an order requesting a plurality of inventory items.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder comprises selecting a plurality of requested inventory items from a plurality of inventory holders.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder comprises:

identifying an inventory holder storing the requested inventory item;

moving the identified inventory holder to a first location; and

selecting, at the first location, the requested inventory item from the identified inventory holder.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein moving the identified inventory holder to the first location comprises:

moving a mobile drive unit to the inventory holder;

docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder; and

moving the identified inventory holder to the first location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein

the order holder comprises a plurality of shipping containers;

storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises storing the requested inventory item in one of the shipping containers; and

retrieving the order holder from the selected storage space comprises:

in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the selected storage space; and

initiating shipment of the requested inventory item, wherein the requested inventory item is shipped in the shipping container.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising storing the plurality of shipping containers in the order holder prior to receiving the inventory request.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a destination indicated by the inventory request; and

storing the requested inventory item in the identified order holder.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request comprises:

identifying an order holder currently storing orders associated with a shipping service indicated by the inventory request; and

storing the requested inventory item in the identified order holder.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter associated with the order holder comprises a shipping date for the order holder.

11. A system for fulfilling inventory requests, comprising:

means for receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item;

means for selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder;

means for storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request;

means for arranging one or more storage spaces according to a shipping sequence, each of the one or more storage spaces comprising an area of a workspace designated for storage of at least one of a plurality of order holders;

means for selecting one of the one or more storage spaces in which to store the order holder according to a parameter associated with the order holder, wherein the parameter is used to identify a position in the shipping sequence;

means for moving the order holder to the selected storage space;

means for detecting a triggering event; and

means for, in response to detecting the triggering event, transmitting a priority message associated with the triggering event, the priority message instructing a receiving component to adjust a priority level of a task assignment; and

means for, in response to receiving the priority message, retrieving the order holder from the selected storage space and moving the order holder to a shipping station, the selected storage space and the shipping station representing different areas of the workspace.