US 12,067,609 B2
System and method of sorting apparatus cell allocation for fast e-commerce order fulfillment
Woong Kim, Seoul (KR); Sang Ho Yim, Seoul (KR); Sung Jin Park, Seoul (KR); Hyeon Chang Baek, Seoul (KR); Yoo Suk Kim, Seoul (KR); and Hyunggeun Ji, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to COUPANG CORP., Seoul (KR)
Filed by Coupang Corp., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Apr. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/221,343.
Application 17/221,343 is a continuation of application No. 16/276,722, filed on Feb. 15, 2019, granted, now 10,997,648.
Prior Publication US 2021/0304288 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01); G06F 16/25 (2019.01); G06F 16/28 (2019.01); G06K 7/14 (2006.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 30/0637 (2013.01) [G06F 16/252 (2019.01); G06F 16/288 (2019.01); G06K 7/1417 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising operations performed by a computer processor for allocating cells of a sorting apparatus, each of the cells for receiving items associated with a first purchase order, the method comprising:
associating, in a database, the sorting apparatus with a first container storing a first item of a first purchase order, the first purchase order comprising a second item stored in a second container;
prior to associating the sorting apparatus with the second container, receiving an identifier of the first item;
associating, in the database, a cell of the sorting apparatus with the first purchase order;
starting a timer associated with the first purchase order;
transmitting a first signal to a first computer associated with a worker, the first signal instructing placement of the first item in the cell;
associating, in the database, the identifier of the sorting apparatus with the second container;
based on a determination that the timer reaches a predetermined value, transmitting a second signal to a second computer associated with an operator, instructing the operator to split the first purchase order based on at least one of a number of split packages, a percentage of occupied cells, or a schedule of the operator.