US 11,952,215 B2
Automated-service retail system and method
John G. Lert, Jr., Wakefield, MA (US)
Assigned to Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,783.
Application 17/499,783 is a continuation of application No. 15/816,832, filed on Nov. 17, 2017, granted, now 11,142,402, issued on Oct. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/423,614, filed on Nov. 17, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0036295 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B66F 9/06 (2006.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01); G06Q 10/06 (2023.01); G06Q 10/08 (2023.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); G06Q 20/12 (2012.01); G06Q 30/06 (2023.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01); G06K 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1373 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/137 (2013.01); B66F 9/063 (2013.01); G05B 19/41815 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01); G06Q 20/12 (2013.01); G06Q 30/06 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0617 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0633 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0635 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0641 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0643 (2013.01); G06K 7/1413 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A store, comprising:
a shopping section configured to present non-fungible goods for selection by a customer or customer proxy;
a non-fungible goods fulfillment tool configured to track selection of one or more non-fungible goods in an order comprising one or more non-fungible goods and one or more fungible goods;
an automated fulfillment section configured for automated fulfillment and gathering of the one or more fungible goods in the order;
a transfer station where the one or more non-fungible goods in the order are transferred from the shopping section to the automated fulfillment section; and
an automated service system comprising one or more computing devices, the automated service system configured to:
receive one or more identifiers from the non-fungible goods fulfillment tool of the one or more non-fungible goods selected into the order by the customer or customer proxy;
receive one or more identifiers of one or more fungible goods selected into the order;
direct the gathering by the automated fulfillment section of the one or more fungible goods selected into the order;
direct consolidation of the one or more non-fungible goods in the order received at the transfer station together with the one or more fungible goods in the order gathered by the automated fulfillment section.
 
14. A store, comprising:
a shopping section configured to present non-fungible goods for selection by a customer or customer proxy;
a non-fungible goods fulfillment tool configured to track selection of one or more non-fungible goods into an order comprising one or more non-fungible goods and one or more fungible goods;
an automated fulfillment section configured for automated fulfillment and gathering of the one or more fungible goods selected into the order; and
an automated service system comprising one or more computing devices, the automated service system configured to:
receive one or more identifiers of one or more non-fungible goods selected into the order by the customer or customer proxy from the non-fungible goods fulfillment tool;
receive one or more identifiers of one or more fungible goods selected into the order, wherein the one or more fungible goods are selected via one or more terminals within the store or remote from the store;
direct consolidation of the one or more non-fungible goods in the order received at a transfer station together with the one or more fungible goods in the order gathered by the automated fulfillment section into a delivery bundle; and
direct delivery of the delivery bundle to a customer or customer proxy at a drop off point within the store, at a customer or customer proxy vehicle or at a customer's home.
 
20. A store, comprising:
a shopping section comprising: non-fungible goods for selection by a customer or customer proxy,
one or more terminals configured to receive selection of one or more fungible goods into an order;
a non-fungible goods fulfillment tool configured to track selection of non-fungible goods in the order;
an automated fulfillment section configured for automated fulfillment and gathering of the one or more fungible goods in the order; and
an automated service system comprising one or more computing devices, the automated service system configured to:
receive one or more identifiers of one or more non-fungible goods selected into the order by the customer or customer proxy;
receive one or more identifiers of one or more fungible goods selected into the order, wherein the fungible goods are selected via the one or more terminals within the store or one or more terminals remote from the store; and
direct consolidation of the one or more non-fungible goods in the order received at a transfer station together with the one or more fungible goods in the order gathered by the automated fulfillment section into a delivery bundle.
 
24. A store, comprising:
a shopping section configured to present non-fungible goods for selection by a customer or customer proxy;
an automated fulfillment section configured for automated fulfillment and gathering of one or more fungible goods in an order; and
an automated service system comprising one or more computing devices, the automated service system configured to:
receive one or more identifiers of one or more non-fungible goods selected into the order by the customer or customer proxy;
receive one or more identifiers of one or more fungible goods selected into the order;
direct gathering by the automated fulfillment section of the one or more fungible goods in the order;
direct consolidation of the one or more non-fungible goods in the order with the one or more fungible goods in the order gathered by the automated fulfillment section into a delivery bundle; and
direct delivery of the delivery bundle to a customer or customer proxy at a drop off point within the store, at a customer or customer proxy vehicle or at a customer's home.