Systems And Methods For Simulating A Resource Constrained Process

• US 20120035903A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAS Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SAS Institute Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Hong, Lada, Emily
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for simulation of a resource constrained process. Controlling entity definition data is received, wherein a controlling entity is configured to control resources using a control hierarchy. Resource definition data is received and populated into a resource data structure, wherein the resource is configured to control other resources using the control hierarchy. The resource constrained process is simulated, wherein simulating the resource constrained process includes propagating the controlling entity through the simulation of the resource constrained process, wherein the resource constrained process contains a plurality of stages, at a stage, associating a first resource with the controlling entity using the control hierarchy when the first resource is not allocated to another entity and the first resource fulfills the one or more resource rules, and generating simulation metrics as the controlling entity propagates through the simulation of the resource constrained process.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for simulation of a resource constrained process, wherein the resource constrained process contains a controlling entity and resources, the method comprising:

receiving controlling entity definition data and populating a controlling entity data structure with the controlling entity definition data, wherein the controlling entity is configured to control a first resource using a control hierarchy;

receiving first resource definition data and populating a resource data structure with the first resource definition data, wherein the first resource is configured to control a second resource using the control hierarchy;

simulating the resource constrained process, wherein simulating the resource constrained process includes;

propagating the controlling entity through the simulation of the resource constrained process, wherein the resource constrained process contains a plurality of stages;

at one of the stages;

requesting the first resource be associated with the controlling entity;

determining whether the first resource is available by providing a resource availability check comprising a query that includes one or more resource rules that provide constraints on the first resource; and

associating the first resource with the controlling entity using the control hierarchy when the first resource is not allocated to another entity and the first resource fulfills the one or more resource rules;

at a subsequent stage, associating the second resource with the first resource using the control hierarchy; and

generating simulation metrics as the controlling entity propagates through the simulation of the resource constrained process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling entity data structure and the resource data structure are entity data structures;

wherein an entity data structure contains attributes of the entity;

wherein an entity is mobile and moves through the stages of the simulation alone or in association with another entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling entity is placed into a queue to wait if the first resource is not available.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the resource rules specify one or more of the group comprising:

a number of first resources sought by the controlling entity, a type of first resource sought by the controlling entity, and a characteristic of the first resource sought by the controlling entity.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the resource rules are Boolean rules that must be met by the first resource for the first resource to be associated with the controlling entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein simulating the resource constrained process further includes:

at another stage, associating a third resource with the controlling entity using the control hierarchy;

wherein the third resource is at a same level in the control hierarchy as the first resource.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first resource associated with the controlling entity propagates through the simulation of the resource constrained process with the controlling entity while the first resource is controlled by the controlling entity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first resource are stored in a resource pool;

wherein the resource constrained process includes a seize resource stage;

wherein, when the controlling entity encounters a resource seize stage, the seize resource stage provides a resource request to the resource pool that includes resource needs of the controlling entity;

wherein the resource pool allocates and delivers the first resource if the resource pool can meet the resource needs of the controlling entity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first resource are stored in a plurality of resource pools;

wherein the seize resource stage provides resource requests to the plurality of resource pools;

wherein one or more of the plurality of resource pools allocate and deliver the first resource if the plurality of resource pools can meet the resource needs of the controlling entity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a resource scheduler manages resources according to a resource agenda and a resource scheduling rule;

wherein, when the resource agenda identifies a task for the first resource that is a higher priority than the association of the first resource with the controlling entity, the resource scheduler provides a preemption message to a stage with which the controlling entity is associated, wherein the stage with which the first resource is associated determines whether or not to preempt the association between the first resource and the controlling entity by deallocating the association between the controlling entity and the first resource.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein simulating the resource constrained process further includes:

dynamically creating, during the simulation, the first resource;

dynamically creating, during the simulation, the second resource.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation is a discrete event simulation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource constrained process is modified according to the generated simulation metrics.

14. A computer-implemented system for simulation of a resource constrained process, wherein the resource constrained process contains a controlling entity and resources, the system comprising:

one or more data processors;

a computer-readable memory encoded with instructions for commanding the one or more data processors to execute a method comprising;

receiving controlling entity definition data and populating a controlling entity data structure with the controlling entity definition data, wherein the controlling entity is configured to control a first resource using a control hierarchy;

receiving first resource definition data and populating a resource data structure with the first resource definition data, wherein the first resource is configured to control a second resource using the control hierarchy;

simulating the resource constrained process, wherein simulating the resource constrained process includes;

propagating the controlling entity through the simulation of the resource constrained process, wherein the resource constrained process contains a plurality of stages;

at one of the stages;

 

requesting the first resource be associated with the controlling entity;

 

determining whether the first resource is available by providing a resource availability check comprising a query that includes one or more resource rules that provide constraints on the first resource; and

 

associating the first resource with the controlling entity using the control hierarchy when the first resource is not allocated to another entity and the first resource fulfills the one or more resource rules;

at a subsequent stage, associating the second resource with the first resource using the control hierarchy; and

generating simulation metrics as the controlling entity propagates through the simulation of the resource constrained process.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controlling entity data structure and the resource data structure are entity data structures;

wherein an entity data structure contains attributes of the entity;

wherein an entity is mobile and moves through the stages of the simulation alone or in association with another entity.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the controlling entity is placed into a queue to wait if the first resource is not available.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the resource rules specify one or more of the group comprising:

a number of first resources sought by the controlling entity, a type of first resource sought by the controlling entity, and a characteristic of the first resource sought by the controlling entity.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the resource rules are Boolean rules that must be met by the first resource for the first resource to be associated with the controlling entity.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein a resource scheduler manages resources according to a resource agenda and a resource scheduling rule;

wherein, when the resource agenda identifies a task for the first resource that is a higher priority than the association of the first resource with the controlling entity, the resource scheduler provides a preemption message to a stage with which the controlling entity is associated, wherein the stage with which the first resource is associated determines whether or not to preempt the association between the first resource and the controlling entity by deallocating the association between the controlling entity and the first resource.

20. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for commanding a data processor to execute steps for simulation of a resource constrained process, wherein the resource constrained process contains a controlling entity and resources, the steps comprising:

receiving controlling entity definition data and populating a controlling entity data structure with the controlling entity definition data, wherein the controlling entity is configured to control a first resource using a control hierarchy;

receiving first resource definition data and populating a resource data structure with the first resource definition data, wherein the first resource is configured to control a second resource using the control hierarchy;

simulating the resource constrained process, wherein simulating the resource constrained process includes;

propagating the controlling entity through the simulation of the resource constrained process, wherein the resource constrained process contains a plurality of stages;

at one of the stages;

requesting the first resource be associated with the controlling entity;

determining whether the first resource is available by providing a resource availability check comprising a query that includes one or more resource rules that provide constraints on the first resource; and

associating the first resource with the controlling entity using the control hierarchy when the first resource is not allocated to another entity and the first resource fulfills the one or more resource rules;

at a subsequent stage, associating the second resource with the first resource using the control hierarchy; and

generating simulation metrics as the controlling entity propagates through the simulation of the resource constrained process.