GENERIC FRAMEWORK FOR RESOURCE MODELING

• US 20080255908A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Gary S., Swanson, Aaron P.
• Application Number:
  US11/735,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255908A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Provided is a generic framework for resource modeling to assist in scheduling tasks. More specifically the model provides a structure and method for receiving a task having at least one resource requirement. Upon receipt of such a task, a set of compliant resources are retrieved. A graph is generated to indicate one or more resource paths, each path running through a subset of the compliant resources. Each resource is represented as a node on the graph, and each resource has at least one characteristic. A characteristic common to all nodes on each path is then selected and plotted upon a continuum. Each path is then evaluated to determine path viability. Path viability is indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristic for all nodes along the path.

Claims

1. A generic framework method of determining a resource model path comprising:

receiving a task having at least one resource requirement;

retrieving a set of compliant resources;

graphing at least one path through a subset of the compliant resources, each resource represented as a node on the graph, each resource having at least one characteristic;

plotting a selected characteristic common among the subset of resources upon a continuum; and

evaluating each path to determine path viability, path viability indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristic for the all nodes along the path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the paths are acyclic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein precedence is indicated by the order of the nodes along a given path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein upon the determination of multiple viable paths, the method repeated for a different characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plot is a sub-element of the graph.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

time, bandwidth, capability, frequency, consumption, movement constraints, number of consumables, capacity of consumables, geographic region, quality, duration, environmental restrictions, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuum is related to the selected characteristic.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each resource is established by an XML declaration and at least one XML nested element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein multiple instantiations of the method may be performed concurrently, each utilizing resource elements defined by different XML declarations and nested elements.

10. A generic framework method for resource modeling comprising:

providing a resource template node, the resource template node further defined to have at least one specified characteristic;

generating a plurality of uniquely identifiable resources nodes from the template node, each having at least one characteristic;

receiving a task having at least one resource requirement;

retrieving a set of compliant resources nodes from the generated plurality of uniquely identifiable resources nodes;

graphing at least one path through a subset of the compliant resources nodes, the graph further including a plot upon a continuum of a selected characteristic common among the subset of resource nodes; and

evaluating each path to determine path viability with respect to at least one objective, path viability indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristic for all the nodes along the path.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

time, bandwidth, capability, frequency, consumption, movement constraints, number of consumables, capacity of consumables, geographic region, quality, duration, environmental restrictions, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the continuum is related to the selected characteristic.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein upon the determination of multiple viable paths, the method repeated for a different characteristic.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the template node is represented as a XML data structure, the uniquely identifiable resource nodes generated by supplying a delineated stream of XML data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each resource is established by an XML declaration and at least one XML nested element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein multiple instantiations of the method may be performed concurrently, each utilizing resource elements defined by different XML declarations and nested elements.

17. A generic framework method of determining a generic resource model path comprising:

providing an acyclic resource graph, the resource graph representing at least one operation path, each path including resource nodes, each node indicating at least one characteristic;

accepting at least one operation objective;

plotting upon a continuum a selected characteristic common among the resource nodes; and

evaluating each path to determine path viability with respect to the objective, path viability indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristics for all the nodes along the path.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

time, bandwidth, capability, frequency, consumption, movement constraints, number of consumables, capacity of consumables, geographic region, quality, duration, environmental restrictions, and combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the continuum is related to the selected characteristic.

20. A resource modeling generic framework comprising:

a receivers operable to receive a task and identify at least one resource associated with the task, the receiver further operable to receive a set of compliant resources;

a node templator operable to establish a template node representative of the compliant resources;

a grapher operable to graph at least one path through a subset of the compliant recourses, each resource represented as a node on the graph, each resource having at least one characteristic;

a plotter operable to plot a selected characteristic common among the subset of resources upon a continuum; and

an evaluator operable to evaluate each path to determine path viability, path viability indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristics for all the nodes along the path.

21. The generic framework of claim 20, wherein precedence is indicated by the order of the nodes along a given path.

22. The generic framework of claim 20, wherein the plot generated by the plotter is a sub-element of the graph.

23. The generic framework of claim 20, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

time, bandwidth, capability, frequency, consumption, movement constraints, number of consumables, capacity of consumables, geographic region, quality, duration, environmental restrictions, and combinations thereof.

24. The generic framework of claim 20, wherein the continuum is related to the selected characteristic.

25. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for modeling resources, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

receiving a task having at least one resource requirement;

retrieving a set of compliant resources;

graphing at least one path through a subset of the compliant resources, each resource represented as a node on the graph, each resource having at least one characteristic,

plotting a selected characteristic common among the subset of resources upon a continuum; and

evaluating each path to determine path viability, path viability indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristic for all the nodes along the path.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein multiple instantiations of the method may be performed concurrently, each utilizing resource elements defined by different XML declarations and nested elements.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein each resource is established by an XML declaration and at least one XML nested element.

28. A computer system for scheduling activities comprising:

a processing unit;

a memory storage device coupled to the processing unit;

an input device coupled to the processing unit; and

an output device coupled to the processing unit;

the processing unit being operative to;

receiving a task having at least one resource requirement;

retrieving a set of compliant resources;

graphing at least one path through a subset of the compliant resources, each resource represented as a node on the graph, each resource having at least one characteristic,

plotting a selected characteristic common among the subset of resources upon a continuum; and

evaluating each path to determine path viability, path viability indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristic for all the nodes along the path.

29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein precedence is indicated by the order of the nodes

30. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the plot is a sub-element of the graph.

31. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

time, bandwidth, capability, frequency, consumption, movement constraints, number of consumables, capacity of consumables, geographic region, quality, duration, environmental restrictions, and combinations thereof.

32. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the continuum is related to the selected characteristic.

33. The computer system of claim 28, wherein each resource is established by an XML declaration and at least one XML nested element.