Resource-based stock arrangement optimization in a warehouse

Abstract

A computer system obtains a computer-aided design (CAD) file of the warehouse, and the CAD file describes a floor plan of the warehouse with a plurality of patterns in a plurality of layers. A storage space and a plurality of guard objects are identified on the floor plan of the warehouse. The computer system further obtains inventory information of a plurality of product packages to be stored in the warehouse. Based on the inventory information, a plurality of storage types is identified, and a storage area is determined for a subset of product packages associated with each storage type. In accordance with the storage area needed for each storage type, the storage space is divided into a plurality of storage regions for the plurality of product packages, and each storage region is uniquely associated with a respective one of the storage types.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of arranging stock in a warehouse, comprising:
 at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors:
 obtaining a floor plan of the warehouse, the floor plan including information of a storage space and a plurality of guard objects within the storage space; 
 obtaining inventory information of a plurality of product packages to be stored in the warehouse; 
 analyzing the floor plan of the warehouse to identify a plurality of static rules for placing the plurality of product packages in the storage space of the warehouse; 
 determining a plurality of storage types based on the inventory information of the plurality of product packages; and 
 for each of the plurality of storage types, identifying, within the storage space, a respective storage area for a subset of the plurality of product packages that can be stored with the respective storage type in accordance with the plurality of static rules. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each guard object corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined object types that is involved in placement, storage or movement of packages in the warehouse, and the plurality of predefined object types includes one or more of: a wall defining the one or more storage spaces, a pillar, an obstacle, a user-reachable space, a user-inaccessible space, and one or more exits. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inventory information includes one or more of: a package type, a quantity, a package size, an expected weight, a maximal weight, an access frequency, and a storage type of each of the product packages. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of storage types includes one or more of: racking, shelving, shelving with mezzanines, stacking, frozen food, and fresh food. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein identifying the respective storage area for each of the plurality of storage types further includes:
 determining a total quantity for the subset of the plurality of product packages that need to be stored with the respective storage type in accordance with the plurality of static rules; and   determining the respective storage area based on the total quantity for the subset.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of storage types, the respective storage area has a rectangular shape having a fixed length and a respective width, and the respective width is determined based on the respective storage area, further comprising:
 physically arranging the respective storage area along a first axis parallel to the respective width of each storage area.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 reserving a staging area extending along the first axis and adjacent to a respective end of each storage space.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the floor plan of the warehouse further comprises:
 obtaining a computer-aided design (CAD) file of a warehouse, the CAD file describing a floor plan of the warehouse with a plurality of patterns in a plurality of layers;   automatically and without user intervention, extracting a first subset of the plurality of guard objects from the CAD file of the warehouse; and   identifying the storage space from the CAD file of the warehouse based on the plurality of patterns in the plurality of layers.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein obtaining the floor plan of the warehouse further comprises:
 receiving an input; and   identifying a second subset of the plurality of guard objects based on the input.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the inventory information of the plurality of product packages further comprises:
 receiving historic inventory information of product packages that were stocked in the warehouse during a previous duration of time; and   determining the inventory information of the plurality of product packages based on the historic inventory information;   wherein the storage space of the warehouse is reorganized based on the respective storage area of each storage type.   
     
     
         11 . A computer system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 obtaining a floor plan of a warehouse, the floor plan including information of a storage space and a plurality of guard objects within the storage space; 
 obtaining inventory information of a plurality of product packages to be stored in the warehouse; 
 analyzing the floor plan of the warehouse to identify a plurality of static rules for placing the plurality of product packages in the storage space of the warehouse; 
 determining a plurality of storage types based on the inventory information of the plurality of product packages; and 
 for each of the plurality of storage types, identifying, within the storage space, a respective storage area for a subset of the plurality of product packages that can be stored with the respective storage type in accordance with the plurality of static rules. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the inventory information is estimated and predicted for the plurality of product packages that will be stored in the storage space of the warehouse. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the storage space includes a first storage space, and the warehouse includes a second storage space distinct from the first storage space, the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:
 assigning the plurality of product packages to the first storage space.   
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of product packages corresponds to a respective subset of static rules defining how the respective product package can be stored using at least one of the plurality of storage types. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of static rules defines at least one of: a ceiling height of the storage space, a layout flow, and a s requirement. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs to be executed by one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 obtaining a floor plan of a warehouse, the floor plan including information of a storage space and a plurality of guard objects within the storage space;   obtaining inventory information of a plurality of product packages to be stored in the warehouse;   analyzing the floor plan of the warehouse to identify a plurality of static rules for placing the plurality of product packages in the storage space of the warehouse;   determining a plurality of storage types based on the inventory information of the plurality of product packages; and   for each of the plurality of storage types, identifying, within the storage space, a respective storage area for a subset of the plurality of product packages that can be stored with the respective storage type in accordance with the plurality of static rules.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:
 in accordance with the respective storage area needed for each of the plurality of storage types, dividing the storage space into a plurality of storage regions for the plurality of product packages, each storage region being uniquely associated with a respective one of the plurality storage types.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:
 determining a total storage area combining the respective storage area of each storage type, wherein the respective storage area is identified for each storage type to satisfy a resource cost criterion including a storage area threshold, and the total storage area is below the storage area threshold in accordance with the resource cost criterion.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the warehouse has a predetermined storage area that is greater than the total storage area by an excessive warehouse area, the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:
 dividing the excessive warehouse area into a plurality of excessive storage areas; and   assigning each of the excessive storage areas to a respective storage type to increase the storage area associated with the respective storage type.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein each guard object corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined object types that is involved in placement, storage or movement of packages in the warehouse, and the plurality of predefined object types includes one or more of: a wall defining the one or more storage spaces, a pillar, an obstacle, a user-reachable space, a user-inaccessible space, and one or more exits.