US 11,948,375 B2
System and method for optimizing container contents
James Benjamin Edwards, Centerton, AR (US); Paul E. Durkee, Centerton, AR (US); and Brian C. Roth, Bentonville, AR (US)
Assigned to Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/517,748.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/111,353, filed on Nov. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0147733 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G06V 20/64 (2022.01); G06Q 10/0631 (2023.01); G06T 7/62 (2017.01); G06V 10/75 (2022.01)
CPC G06V 20/64 (2022.01) [G06Q 10/06313 (2013.01); G06T 7/62 (2017.01); G06V 10/751 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for determining information concerning products being carried by tote containers, the system comprising:
a first tote container, the first tote container being filled with one or more products;
at least one sensor, the at least one sensor obtaining three-dimensional image information regarding the first tote container and the one or more products, the three-dimensional image information including first dimensions of the first tote container and second dimensions of the one or more products;
a database at a central location, the database storing predetermined dimensions of the first tote container, predetermined dimensions of each of the one or more products, and a target container product fill amount;
a control circuit, the control circuit coupled to the database and to the sensor, the control circuit configured to:
compare the first dimensions of the first tote container to the predetermined dimensions of the first tote container to determine whether a first discrepancy exists;
compare the second dimensions of the one or more products to the predetermined dimensions of the one or more products to determine whether a second discrepancy exists;
analyze the three-dimensional image information to determine a product fill amount for the first tote container, and compare the product fill amount of the first tote container to the target container product fill amount to determine whether a third discrepancy exists;
wherein a cumulative amount of the first discrepancy, the second discrepancy, and the third discrepancy defines a total number of discrepancies;
when one or more of the first discrepancy, the second discrepancy, or the third discrepancy exists for the first tote container, take an action with respect to a second tote container that is to be filled subsequent to filling the first tote container, the action selected based upon a type of discrepancy and the total number of discrepancies detected for the first tote container and being one of: selecting a second tote container that is to be filled subsequent to filling the first tote container, the second tote container having different dimensions than the first tote container;
increasing a number of products inserted into a second tote container as compared to a number of products inserted into the first tote container;
decreasing a number of products inserted into a second tote container as compared to a number of products inserted into the first tote container;
or adjusting the target container product fill amount for the second container.