IP Library Granted Patent US 12,187,539
Granted Patent B1
US 12,187,539 · App. 18/310,210 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Group shopping

Inventors: Korwin Jon Smith (Seattle, WA); Amber Autrey Taylor (Seattle, WA); Alexander Michael McNamara (Seattle, WA); Sridhar Boyapati (Sammamish, WA); Jason Michael Famularo (Seattle, WA); Thomas Meilandt Mathiesen (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
B65G1/1373B65G1/1371G05B15/02G06K17/0022G06Q10/087
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,187,539
App. No.
18/310,210
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

This disclosure describes a system for associating multiple totes with a single profile so that items placed into any of the multiple totes are identified on a profile item identifier list. For example, if two users located in a materials handling facility are picking items that are to be consolidated or otherwise treated together, each user may select a different tote and move separately through the materials handling facility. As either user picks items and places those items into a corresponding tote, a profile item identifier list is updated to include an item identifier for each picked item.

Claims (65)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, determining a first user as the first user enters a materials handling facility;

associating the first user with a profile item identifier list;

determining a second user as the second user enters the materials handling facility;

associating the second user with the profile item identifier list;

adding a first item identifier corresponding to a first item picked by the first user to the profile item identifier list;

adding a second item identifier corresponding to a second item picked by the second user to the profile item identifier list; and

subsequent to adding the first item identifier and the second item identifier to the profile item identifier list, transitioning the first item and the second item from the materials handling facility to the first user.

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

receiving, from at least one of the first user or the second user, an indication that the second user is to be associated with the profile item identifier list.

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

determining a purchase of the first item and the second item; and

wherein transitioning the first item and the second item is in response to the purchase.

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

determining a selection of a first tote by the first user; and

associating the first tote with the profile item identifier list.

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

associating a tote with the profile item identifier list;

determining an item pick of a third item from the tote, wherein the third item was previously placed into the tote and a corresponding third item identifier added to the profile item identifier list prior to determining the item pick of the third item from the tote; and

in response to determining the item pick of the third item from the tote:

updating the profile item identifier list to remove the corresponding third item identifier; and

sending for presentation an indication that the corresponding third item identifier has been removed from the profile item identifier list.

6. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to at least:

determine a first user in a materials handling facility;

associate the first user with a profile item identifier list;

determine a second user in the materials handling facility;

associate the second user with the profile item identifier list;

for each item picked from any of a plurality of inventory locations within the materials handling facility by the first user or the second user, add a corresponding item identifier for the picked item to the profile item identifier list;

for each item placed to any of the plurality of inventory locations by either the first user or the second user, remove the corresponding item identifier from the profile item identifier list;

determine that the items indicated on the profile item identifier list by the corresponding item identifier are being purchased; and

in response to determination that the items are being purchased, cause a transition of the items to the first user.

7. The computing system of claim 6 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to at least:

receive an indication that the second user is to be associated with the profile item identifier list; and

association of the second user with the profile item identifier list is in response to the indication.

8. The computing system of claim 6 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to at least:

determine the profile item identifier list associated with the first user.

9. The computing system of claim 6 , wherein association of the second user with the profile item identifier list is for a defined duration while the first user and the second user are located at the materials handling facility.

10. The computing system of claim 6 , wherein association of the second user with the profile item identifier list is a permanent association.

11. The computing system of claim 6 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to at least:

determine a tote picked by the first user or the second user; and

associate the tote, the first user, and the second user with the profile item identifier list.

12. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors to determine the tote, further include program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to at least:

determine based at least in part on one or more of a first image that includes a first representation of the first user selecting the tote, a second image that includes a second representation of the second user selecting the tote, the tote being issued to the first user, the tote being issued to the second user, the tote being removed from a tote storage area, or a unique identifier associated with the tote.

13. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to at least:

determine an item pick of a first item from the tote, wherein the first item was previously placed into the tote and a corresponding first item identifier added to the profile item identifier list prior to determination of the item pick of the first item from the tote; and

in response to determination of the item pick of the first item from the tote, update the profile item identifier list to remove the corresponding first item identifier.

14. The computing system of claim 6 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to at least:

for each item picked by the first user or the second user, send, for presentation to at least one of the first user or the second user, an indication that an item identifier corresponding to the picked item has been added to the profile item identifier list.

15. A method, comprising:

associating a plurality of users with a profile item identifier list;

for each item picked from any of a plurality of inventory locations within a materials handling facility by any of the plurality of users, adding a corresponding item identifier for the picked item to the profile item identifier list; and

causing a transition of each item indicated by the corresponding item identifiers added to the profile item identifier list from the materials handling facility to at least one of the plurality of users.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

for each item placed to any of the plurality of inventory locations by any of the plurality of users, removing the corresponding item identifier from the profile item identifier list.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving, from a first user of the plurality of users, an indication that each of the plurality of users are to be associated with the profile item identifier list; and

wherein associating the plurality of users with the profile item identifier list is in response to receiving the indication.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the association of the plurality of users with the profile item identifier list is temporary.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

sending, for presentation to at least one of the plurality of users, an indication of the corresponding item identifiers added to the profile item identifier list.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining that each item indicated on the profile item identifier list by the corresponding item identifier is being purchased; and

wherein causing the transition of each item is in response to determining that each item is being purchased.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2023
From: SMITH, KORWIN JON; TAYLOR, AMBER AUTREY; MCNAMARA, ALEXANDER MICHAEL; BOYAPATI, SRIDHAR; FAMULARO, JASON MICHAEL; MATHIESEN, THOMAS MEILANDT
To: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063496/0171 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17010381 · Sep 2, 2020
Continuation 14479942 · Sep 8, 2014
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