US 12,236,393 B2
Automated storage retrieval system connection and communication protocol
Paul Edward Durkee, Centerton, AR (US); Stuart William Clark, Centerton, AR (US); Colin Holmes, Bentonville, AR (US); Jason D. Shaffer, Rogers, AR (US); Mark R. Ibbotson, Bentonville, AR (US); and John Suarez, Bentonville, AR (US)
Assigned to Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/545,141.
Application 18/545,141 is a continuation of application No. 17/826,568, filed on May 27, 2022, granted, now 11,893,530.
Application 17/826,568 is a continuation of application No. 16/510,151, filed on Jul. 12, 2019, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/697,124, filed on Jul. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0119405 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/0836 (2023.01); A47F 10/02 (2006.01); A47G 29/14 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); G07C 9/00 (2020.01); G07F 17/12 (2006.01); H04W 12/06 (2021.01); H04W 12/08 (2021.01); H04W 48/08 (2009.01)
CPC G06Q 10/0836 (2013.01) [A47F 10/02 (2013.01); A47G 29/141 (2013.01); B65G 1/1371 (2013.01); G07C 9/00309 (2013.01); G07C 9/00571 (2013.01); G07F 17/12 (2013.01); H04W 12/06 (2013.01); H04W 12/08 (2013.01); H04W 48/08 (2013.01); A47G 2029/146 (2013.01); B25J 9/1687 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated storage and retrieval system, the system comprising:
a storage and retrieval device having a user interface;
at least one storage location, the at least one storage location including a controller controlling a locking mechanism of the at least one storage location and coupled to the storage and retrieval device, wherein the at least one storage location is configured to interact with a mobile device operated by a user to detect a presence of the user at the at least one storage location;
a storage and retrieval module, which, when executed:
receives user authentication information from the user via the user interface;
verifies identity of the user; and
following a verification of the identity of the user, causes the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to initiate a physical opening of the at least one storage location to enable the verified user to retrieve at least one item from the at least one storage location;
wherein, the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location does not permit the locking mechanism to physically open the at least one storage location until the at least one storage location detects, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one storage location, and
wherein the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location is permitted to physically open the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to permit the verified user to retrieve the at least one item from the at least one storage location only in response to the at least one location detecting, via the interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one storage location.
 
7. A computing device-implemented method for automated storage and retrieval, the method comprising:
receiving user authentication information from a user via a user interface for a storage and retrieval device, the storage and retrieval device including at least one storage location having a controller controlling a locking mechanism of the at least one storage location and coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device, wherein the at least one storage location is configured to interact with a mobile device operated by the user to detect a presence of the user at the at least one storage location;
verifying identity of the user;
following the verifying of the identity of the user, causing the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to initiate a physical opening of the at least one storage location to enable the verified user to retrieve at least one item from the at least one storage location; and
by the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location:
not permitting the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to physically open until the at least one storage location detects, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one storage location; and
permitting the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to physically open to permit the verified user to retrieve the at least one item from the at least one storage location only in response to the at least one storage location detecting, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one storage location.
 
13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computing device, wherein execution of the instructions causes the computing device to implement a method for automated storage and retrieval, the method comprising:
receiving user authentication information from a user via a user interface for a storage and retrieval device, the storage and retrieval device including at least one storage location having a controller controlling a locking mechanism of the at least one storage location and coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device, wherein the at least one storage location is configured to interact with a mobile device operated by the user to detect a presence of the user at the at least one storage location;
verifying identity of the user;
following the verifying of the identity of the user, causing the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to initiate a physical opening of the at least one storage location to enable the verified user to retrieve at least one item from the at least one storage location; and
by the controller controlling the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location:
not permitting the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to physically open until the at least one storage location detects, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one storage location; and
permitting the locking mechanism of the at least one storage location to physically open to permit the verified user to retrieve the at least one item from the at least one storage location only in response to the at least one storage location detecting, via an interaction with the mobile device operated by the user, the presence of the verified user at the at least one storage location.