Scheduling method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for scheduling a desired sequence of events which is to be accomplished by a certain date, comprising the steps of:
- for a given sequence of events each having a predeterminable length of time to accomplish and requiring predetermined amounts of resources, and for a given due date when all events in the given sequence must be accomplished, selecting one event at a time from the given sequence, in backward sequence order from a last event to a first event in the given sequence;
for each successive selected event, serially scheduling a working length of time for that event, the working length of time being equal to the respective length of time to accomplish the event during a length of time in which the respective resources are available in the predetermined amounts;
the serial scheduling of working lengths of time for each successive selected event including serially scheduling the working lengths of time from the given due date backward in time toward but excluding a present date; and
rescheduling the working lengths of time for the sequence of events if the serial scheduling of working lengths of time requires inclusion of the present date.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Scheduling software provides date and time allocation of resources to a sequence of processes for manufacturing a desired item. Scheduling is performed by a backward-forward method and alternatively by an backward-jump forward method to meet a requested due date. Resources are dynamically allocated to satisfy processes according to pre-established rules for allocation. Also resources are allocated in certain amounts or in a predetermined pattern to minimize waste or left over amounts of the resource. To allocate certain resources, purchase or production of the resource is scheduled first.
251 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for scheduling a desired sequence of events which is to be accomplished by a certain date, comprising the steps of:
-
for a given sequence of events each having a predeterminable length of time to accomplish and requiring predetermined amounts of resources, and for a given due date when all events in the given sequence must be accomplished, selecting one event at a time from the given sequence, in backward sequence order from a last event to a first event in the given sequence; for each successive selected event, serially scheduling a working length of time for that event, the working length of time being equal to the respective length of time to accomplish the event during a length of time in which the respective resources are available in the predetermined amounts;
the serial scheduling of working lengths of time for each successive selected event including serially scheduling the working lengths of time from the given due date backward in time toward but excluding a present date; andrescheduling the working lengths of time for the sequence of events if the serial scheduling of working lengths of time requires inclusion of the present date. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. In a digital processor scheduling apparatus for scheduling a desired sequence of events which is to be accomplished by a certain date, the apparatus comprising:
-
memory means coupled to the digital processor for storing a user specified due date and a corresponding sequence of events to be accomplished by the due date, each event being accomplishable in a predeterminable length of time and requiring predetermined amounts of resources; and a main computer routine performed by the digital processor for serially scheduling, from a last event to a first event in the stored sequence, working lengths of time which are equal to respective lengths of time of the events in the stored sequence, and which are times that the respective resources are available in the predetermined amounts, said serial scheduling beginning at the stored due date and proceeding backward in time toward but excluding the present date, said main computer routine further rescheduling working lengths of time for the sequence of events if the serial scheduling requires inclusion of a present date. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification