Patent ID: 7243001

Claim:
In a computer system, a method for generating a map establishing relative locations in a distribution warehouse configured for storing items for customer orders, the method comprising: defining locations in the distribution warehouse, wherein the defining includes assigning an identity to each location in the distribution warehouse, so that each location in the distribution warehouse is uniquely identifiable; tracking movement times between the locations in the distribution warehouse such that, for each pair of the locations, the tracking comprises: assigning a picker to pick a first item at a first location and recording the picker's presence at the first location; assigning the picker to pick a second item at a second location and recording the picker's presence at the second location; tracking the time it takes for the picker to move between the first location and the second location, wherein the tracking includes analyzing information associated with the picker's presence at the first location and analyzing information associated with the picker's presence at the second location; and creating a record for the time it takes for the picker to move between the first location and the second location, wherein the record includes an identifier for the first location, an identifier for the second location, and an actual movement time; generating a map of the distribution warehouse, wherein the map comprises a collection of temporal relationships between a substantial portion of the uniquely identifiable locations in the distribution warehouse, and wherein the temporal relationships are based on either actual movement times obtained from the tracking or, where an actual movement time for a pair of locations is not available, on estimated movement times derived from the actual movement times; and using the generated map to schedule future picks to occur at the distribution warehouse.