Patents by Inventor Daniel T. Brunner

Daniel T. Brunner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10482401
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a management module, an inventory unpacking sequence for a remote facility. The inventory unpacking sequence indicates a sequence for unpacking a shipment at the remote facility. An order associated with the remote facility is received that includes inventory items. The management module determines an order packing arrangement for the inventory items based on the inventory unpacking sequence. Mobile drive units are instructed to transport one or more inventory holders storing the inventory items to an inventory station, where the inventory items are packed into a shipment according to the order packing arrangement. The shipment is arranged to be unpacked at the remote facility according to the inventory unpacking sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael C. Mountz, Daniel T. Brunner, Victoria M. Eddy, Zhouzhou Peng
  • Publication number: 20180322424
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a management module, an inventory unpacking sequence for a remote facility. The inventory unpacking sequence indicates a sequence for unpacking a shipment at the remote facility. An order associated with the remote facility is received that includes inventory items. The management module determines an order packing arrangement for the inventory items based on the inventory unpacking sequence. Mobile drive units are instructed to transport one or more inventory holders storing the inventory items to an inventory station, where the inventory items are packed into a shipment according to the order packing arrangement. The shipment is arranged to be unpacked at the remote facility according to the inventory unpacking sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael C. Mountz, Daniel T. Brunner, Victoria M. Eddy
  • Patent number: 10026044
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a management module, an inventory unpacking sequence for a remote facility. The inventory unpacking sequence indicates a sequence for unpacking a shipment at the remote facility. An order associated with the remote facility is received that includes inventory items. The management module determines an order packing arrangement for the inventory items based on the inventory unpacking sequence. Mobile drive units are instructed to transport one or more inventory holders storing the inventory items to an inventory station, where the inventory items are packed into a shipment according to the order packing arrangement. The shipment is arranged to be unpacked at the remote facility according to the inventory unpacking sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael C. Mountz, Daniel T. Brunner, Victoria M. Eddy, Zhouzhou Peng
  • Patent number: 9346620
    Abstract: A system includes a first mobile drive unit and a second mobile drive unit. The system also includes a first inventory holder, a second inventory holder, and a third inventory holder. An inventory station includes a first location and a second location and the inventory station operable to receive a first inventory item from the first inventory holder at the first location. The first inventory holder is transported by the first mobile drive unit. The inventory station is also operable to receive a second inventory item from the second inventory holder at the first location. The second inventory holder is transported by the second mobile drive unit. The inventory station is also operable to receive a third inventory item from the third inventory holder at the second location. The third inventory holder is fixed at the second location while the inventory station receives the first inventory item and the second inventory item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Brunner, Michael C. Mountz, Michael T. Barbehenn, Peter R. Wurman, William J. Watt, Eryk B. Nice
  • Patent number: 9090400
    Abstract: A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Daniel T. Brunner, Michael T. Barbehenn
  • Publication number: 20140330426
    Abstract: A system includes a first mobile drive unit and a second mobile drive unit. The system also includes a first inventory holder, a second inventory holder, and a third inventory holder. An inventory station includes a first location and a second location and the inventory station operable to receive a first inventory item from the first inventory holder at the first location. The first inventory holder is transported by the first mobile drive unit. The inventory station is also operable to receive a second inventory item from the second inventory holder at the first location. The second inventory holder is transported by the second mobile drive unit. The inventory station is also operable to receive a third inventory item from the third inventory holder at the second location. The third inventory holder is fixed at the second location while the inventory station receives the first inventory item and the second inventory item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel T. Brunner, Michael C. Mountz, Michael T. Barbehenn, Peter R. Wurman, William J. Watt, Eryk B. Nice
  • Patent number: 8805573
    Abstract: A system includes a first mobile drive unit and a second mobile drive unit. The system also includes a first inventory holder, a second inventory holder, and a third inventory holder. An inventory station includes a first location and a second location and the inventory station operable to receive a first inventory item from the first inventory holder at the first location. The first inventory holder transported by the first mobile drive unit. The inventory station also operable to receive a second inventory item from the second inventory holder at the first location. The second inventory holder transported by the second mobile drive unit. The inventory station also operable to receive a third inventory item from the third inventory holder at the second location. The third inventory holder is fixed at the second location while the inventory station receives the first and second inventory item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Brunner, Michael C. Mountz, Michael T. Barbehenn, Peter R. Wurman, William J. Watt, Eryk B. Nice
  • Publication number: 20140135977
    Abstract: A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Daniel T. Brunner, Michael T. Barbehenn
  • Patent number: 8626335
    Abstract: A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Daniel T. Brunner, Michael T. Barbehenn
  • Patent number: 8483869
    Abstract: A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Daniel T. Brunner, Michael T. Barbehenn
  • Publication number: 20130173049
    Abstract: A system includes a first mobile drive unit and a second mobile drive unit. The system also includes a first inventory holder, a second inventory holder, and a third inventory holder. An inventory station includes a first location and a second location and the inventory station operable to receive a first inventory item from the first inventory holder at the first location. The first inventory holder transported by the first mobile drive unit. The inventory station also operable to receive a second inventory item from the second inventory holder at the first location. The second inventory holder transported by the second mobile drive unit. The inventory station also operable to receive a third inventory item from the third inventory holder at the second location. The third inventory holder is fixed at the second location while the inventory station receives the first and second inventory item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Kiva Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Brunner, Michael C. Mountz, Michael T. Barbehenn, Peter R. Wurman, William J. Watt, Eryk B. Nice
  • Publication number: 20130103185
    Abstract: A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Daniel T. Brunner, Michael T. Barbehenn
  • Publication number: 20090185884
    Abstract: A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Kiva Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Daniel T. Brunner, Michael T. Barbehenn