Item processing verification using imaging

{
  "publication_number": "US9390748B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Item processing verification using imaging",
  "abstract": "This disclosure describes systems and methods for automatically verifying the processing of items within a materials handling facility. In many instances one or more items are processed in a materials handling facility and an agent processing the item must place the item in a designated container so that the item can be routed to the appropriate destination. By using image capture and analysis, the placement of the item in the appropriate container can be verified without requiring the agent to scan or otherwise identify the container into which the item was placed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A computer-implemented method for verifying a processing of an item received into a materials handling facility, comprising: under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions, receiving an identification of an item being processed at a processing station; determining a container from a plurality of containers into which the item is to be placed; sending a container identification representative of the determined container; receiving a notification that identifies a segment from a plurality of segments of the processing station associated with the processing of the item; determining if the identified segment corresponds with the determined container; and in response to determining that the identified segment corresponds with the determined container, associating in a data store the item with the determined container.",
    "2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to determining that the identified segment does not correspond with the determined container, sending a notification that the item was not placed in the determined container.",
    "3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the notification is generated based at least in part on a determined spectral level difference.",
    "4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the identification of the item includes: receiving an image of the item; and processing the image to identify the item.",
    "5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for verifying a processing of an item within a materials handling facility, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to at least: receive an identification of an item being processed at a processing station within the materials handling facility; determine a container from a plurality of containers into which the item is to be placed, the plurality of containers positioned at different ones of a plurality of segments of the processing station; receive a notification indicating a segment of the plurality of segments of the processing station associated with the processing of the item; determine if the segment is associated with the determined container; and in response to a determination that the segment is associated with the determined container, associate the item with the container.",
    "6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least: receive a second notification indicating a second segment of the plurality of segments of the processing station, the second notification being based at least in part on a second container associated with the second segment being moved from the second segment; and store an indicator that the second container has transitioned from the processing station.",
    "7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least: receive a second notification indicating a second segment of the plurality of segments of the processing station, the second notification being based at least in part on a second container being placed in the second segment; and store an association between the second container and the second segment.",
    "8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein each container of the plurality of containers is to be transitioned to different destinations.",
    "9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the different destinations include at least one of a storage location, a transshipment station for delivery of the container to a second materials handling facility, an outbound station for delivery of items included in the container to a customer, a packing station for packing of the items included in the container, a problem solving station, a liquidation station, or a rebin station for rebinning the items included in the container.",
    "10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least: determine that the item is damaged; and wherein the container is determined based at least in part on the determination that the item is damaged.",
    "11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the item is determined to be damaged by at least one of: an agent identifying the item as damaged, an expiration date associated with the item, or processing an image of the item to determine that the item is damaged.",
    "12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least: determine that the item is to be pre-processed before it is placed into the container; and send a pre-processing instruction identifying a pre-processing to be performed with respect to the item.",
    "13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, the instructions when executed by the processor further causing the processor to at least: receive a second notification indicating a segment of the processing station related to the pre-processing to be performed with respect to the item.",
    "14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the segment is at least one of a bag storage location, a tape storage location, a label storage location, a protective materials location, or a dunnage storage location.",
    "15. A system, comprising: a processing station; an imaging device positioned proximate to the processing station, the imaging device positioned to have a field of view including a segment of the processing station, wherein: a container is positioned within the segment; and the imaging device is configured to detect a change within the segment when an item is placed into or removed from the container; a computing device in communication with the imaging device, the computing device configured to at least: receive an identification of an item to be processed at the processing station; determine a container into which the item is to be placed; send an instruction to place the item in the container; receive from the imaging device a notification corresponding to the segment associated with processing of the item; determine that the container within the segment corresponds to the determined container; and in response to a determination that the container within the segment corresponds to the determined container, store in a data store an association between the determined container and the item.",
    "16. The system of claim 15, wherein the field of view includes a plurality of segments and each segment includes a container.",
    "17. The system of claim 15, wherein the imaging device is positioned above the segment.",
    "18. The system of claim 15, wherein the system includes a plurality of imaging devices and wherein each of the plurality of imaging devices has a field of view that includes at least one segment of the processing station.",
    "19. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing device is further configured to at least: in response to a determination that the container within the segment does not correspond to the determined container, provide a notification that the item was not placed in the determined container.",
    "20. The system of claim 15, wherein the notification is generated based at least in part on a determination that an item was placed into the container."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Many companies utilize a materials handling facility to receive, sort, store and ship items to customers and/or to other locations. When items are received or moved within a materials handling facility they are often handled by various workers. Typically, a worker will select an item, scan its identifier (e.g., barcode) and transport or place the item in a new location and scan an identifier associated with the new location. Handling items multiple times and manually identifying the processing and placing of those items often leads to errors. For example, if a worker is receiving items into the materials handling facility, identifies a quantity of items that is incorrect and places those items into storage, the inventory count for the items will not correspond with the actual inventory of the item as stored in the materials handling facility.\n\nErrors in the placement or quantity of items often leads to downstream problems and inefficiencies. For example, if the company believes that it has more inventory than is actually stored in the materials handling facility, it may sell more than it can deliver to customers. Such errors cost money and result in bad customer experiences.\n\nThe detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.",
  "cpc": [
    "G11B 17/225",
    "B65G 1/1371",
    "G06Q 10/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 7/00",
    "G11B 17/22"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Amazon Technologies Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Alexander Jacob Kritchevsky"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-01",
  "publication_date": "2016-07-12",
  "grant_date": "2016-07-12",
  "priority_date": "2014-02-19",
  "application_number": "US-201615012591-A",
  "family_id": "55174844",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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    "US20130076898A1"
  ]
}