Patent ID: 8831771

Claim:
An automated storage and retrieval system, comprising: an enclosed area including a first zone having a first plurality of storage locations and a second zone having a second plurality of storage locations, wherein said second zone is thermally isolated from said first zone; an automated transport member operable to selectively transport an item between said first plurality of storage locations and at least one predetermined area in said enclosed area comprising an access port for accessing items from outside said enclosed area and said automated transport member is operable to selectively transport an item between said second plurality of storage locations and at least one predetermined area in said enclosed area comprising an access port for accessing items from outside said enclosed area; a controller operable to receive a plurality of user commands corresponding to a plurality of user specified items located in said first zone and said second zone, wherein said controller is operable to correspond a user specified item and determine a location corresponding to each of said plurality of user specified items, wherein said controller is operable to control the position of said automated transport member such that said automated transport member is positioned adjacent to each said location, to control said automated transport member to retrieve each of said plurality of user specified items, and to control said automated transport member to transport each of said user specified items to said access port, wherein said controller defines a priority for said plurality of user commands at least partially based on each said user specified items corresponding to each of said plurality of user commands and controls said automated transport member to retrieve said plurality of user specified items according to said prioritizing and transport said plurality of user specified items according to said priority; and an input device responsive to a user and operative to communicate with said controller.