Automated curbside fulfillment

Abstract

A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods for automated curbside fulfillment. Traditionally, a user would check in for item order fulfillment at a kiosk within a distribution center to receive an item order after a time dictated by a merchant. However, automated curbside fulfillment allows a user to receive an item order without exiting the user's vehicle and at a time dictated by the user, not by the merchant. This enhances the user's experience by reducing the amount of time that a user must take for item order fulfillment after availability at the distribution center and by catering to the user's schedule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor operatively coupled with a datastore, the at least one processor configured to:
 send an availability message to a user device, wherein the availability message indicates that an item order is ready for pickup, 
 receive a pickup message from the user device, wherein the pickup message comprises an initiation time, an initiation location, a license plate number, and a distribution center identifier for a distribution center, 
 calculate an arrival time based on the initiation time, the initiation location, and a distribution center location for the distribution center, 
 send a preparation message to a distribution center device, wherein the preparation message comprises the arrival time, 
 receive an arrival message from a distribution center image sensor, wherein the arrival message indicates that a vehicle with the license plate number has arrived at a vehicle pickup area associated with the distribution center, and 
 send a delivery message to the distribution center device, wherein the delivery message indicates that the item order is to be provided to the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the preparation message configures a material handling system to deliver the item order from a warehouse to a front office waiting area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the delivery message configures the material handling system to deliver the item order to a curbside pickup area. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the material handling system is handled manually via a human operator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a departure time when the vehicle with the license plate exits the vehicle pickup area. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a difference between the departure time and the arrival time as a fulfillment period. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send the fulfillment period to the user device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive an order message from the user device, where the order message identifies the item order prior to sending the availability message. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the availability message includes an item order pickup identifier configured to be read by a scanner. 
     
     
         10 . A method of automated curbside fulfillment comprising:
 sending, from at least one processor operatively coupled with a datastore, an availability message to a user device, wherein the availability message indicates that an item order is ready for pickup;   receiving a pickup message from the user device, wherein the pickup message comprises an initiation time, an initiation location, a license plate number, and a distribution center identifier for a distribution center;   calculating an arrival time based on the initiation time, the initiation location, and a distribution center location for the distribution center; and   sending a preparation message to a distribution center device, wherein the preparation message comprises the arrival time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 receiving an arrival message from a distribution center image sensor, wherein the arrival message indicates that a vehicle with the license plate number has arrived at a vehicle pickup area associated with the distribution center; and 
 sending a delivery message to the distribution center device, wherein the delivery message indicates that the item order is to be provided to the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 determining a departure time when the vehicle with the license plate exits the vehicle pickup area. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 determining a difference between the departure time and the arrival time as a fulfillment period. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 sending the fulfillment period to the user device. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 receiving an order message from the user device, where the order message identifies the item order prior to sending the availability message. 
 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a user device;   a distribution center device positioned at a distribution center;   a distribution center image sensor positioned at the distribution center; and   at least one processor operatively coupled with a datastore, the at least one processor configured to:
 send an availability message to the user device, wherein the availability message indicates that an item order is ready for pickup, 
 receive a pickup message from the user device, wherein the pickup message comprises an initiation time, an initiation location, a license plate number, and a distribution center identifier for a distribution center, 
 calculate an arrival time based on the initiation time, the initiation location, and a distribution center location for the distribution center, 
 send a preparation message to the distribution center device, wherein the preparation message comprises the arrival time, 
 receive an arrival message from the distribution center image sensor, wherein the arrival message indicates that a vehicle with the license plate number has arrived at a vehicle pickup area associated with the distribution center, and 
 send a delivery message to the distribution center device, wherein the delivery message indicates that the item order is to be provided to the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the preparation message configures a material handling system to deliver the item order from a warehouse to a front office waiting area. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the delivery message configures the material handling system to deliver the item order to a curbside pickup area. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the material handling system is handled manually via a human operator. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the availability message includes an item order pickup identifier configured to be read by a scanner.