US Patent 10315231 Attribute-based container selection for inventory

A method of placing inventory can include accessing a data store to retrieve item attribute data of an inventory item to be placed, comparing the item attribute data of the inventory item to attribute data corresponding to each respective inventory item in a collection of potential destination containers, and selecting a particular destination container for storage based on that comparison in order to maximize the relative distinctiveness of items stored together. The storage method results in pseudo-random storage of inventory in containers where each item is more readily identifiable from each other item in the same container, particularly by automated means, and can be used in conjunction with an automated or partially automated inventory storage and retrieval system.