IP Library Granted Patent US 10,521,852
Granted Patent B2
US 10,521,852 · App. 15/675,898 · Granted Dec 31, 2019

Network-based grocery store

Inventors: Simon Foster (Golden Valley, MN); Bruce Clark (Watertown, MN); Chris Servais (Eagan, MN); Tom Zosel (Hawthorn Woods, IL)
Assignee: c2morrow IP, LLC
G06Q30/0635G06Q30/06G06Q30/0601G06Q30/0633
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,521,852
App. No.
15/675,898
Granted
Dec 31, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery.

Claims (25)

1. A computer-implemented method for fulfilling a plurality of network-based product orders in a warehouse using a wheeled cart, comprising:

storing, in a database, a plurality of network-based product orders;

utilizing a processing system to perform the steps of:

associating each of the orders with at least one of a plurality of order fulfillment spaces contained in a wheeled cart, each of the order fulfillment spaces including an actuable indicator communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to notify a user of the wheeled cart;

receiving, from an electronic scanner communicatively coupled to the processing unit, data identifying at least one product to be retrieved;

receiving from the electronic scanner, data related to a scanned code associated with the at least one identified product to be retrieved for at least one of the plurality of network-based product orders, the at least one identified product located in the warehouse;

identifying a network-based product order including the at least one identified product associated with the data related to the scanned code;

transmitting a signal to the actuable indicator associated with the order fulfillment space corresponding to the identified network-based product order containing the at least one identified product with the scanned code, wherein the transmitted signal causes the actuable indicator to turn on; and

receiving a signal indicating the at least one identified product corresponding to the identified network-based product order has been added to the order fulfillment space, wherein the signal causes the actuable indicator to turn off.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of network-based product orders are grouped according to a subgroup area in which the products within the product orders are located in the warehouse.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of network-based product orders are subgroup orders, and upon fulfilling the subgroup orders, the subgroup orders are transported to a hub for aggregation with one or more other subgroup orders.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more other subgroup orders are filled in parallel with filling the subgroup orders associated with the wheeled cart.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the warehouse comprises a plurality of different subgroup areas.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the subgroup areas comprises a conveyor belt configured to transport a plurality of totes.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the subgroup areas comprises a cold goods area divided into individual zones, the zones connected by the conveyor belt.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an order label for each of the plurality of orders, each order label comprising a bar code associated with the products in an order from the plurality of orders,

wherein the data identifying at least one product to be retrieved is based on at least one scanned bar code from the plurality of provided order labels.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scanner is cordless.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising lighting an identification button in a bay of the warehouse corresponding to the data identifying at least one product to be retrieved.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing, at a display, a required quantity of the at least one product to be retrieved.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising confirming, at the processing system, an order deadline confirmation, wherein the order deadline confirmation distinguishes qualifying orders that qualify for a next-day delivery from non-qualifying orders that do not qualify for the next day delivery.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the non-qualifying orders become qualifying orders after a period of time.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising planning a delivery route based on the plurality of network-based product orders.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of order fulfillment spaces contained in the wheeled cart is configured to receive a plurality of totes, and wherein the wheeled cart further defines a space configured to mount a computer and scanning equipment.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wheeled cart comprises a plurality of cages configured to receive bulk goods.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: FOSTER, SIMON; CLARK, BRUCE; SERVAIS, CHRIS; ZOSEL, TOM
To: SIMONDELIVER.COM, INC.
Reel/Frame 043279/0168 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: SIMONDELIVERS INC.
To: C2MORROW IP, LLC
Reel/Frame 043279/0221 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: SIMONDELIVERS.COM, INC.
To: SIMONDELIVERS INC.
Reel/Frame 043539/0511 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14632410 · Feb 26, 2015
Continuation 12508143 · Jul 23, 2009
Continuation 10281064 · Oct 25, 2002
Provisional Application 60347950 · Oct 25, 2001
Related Publication 20180012289A1 · Jan 11, 2018