Method and system for global optimization of device allocation

• US 5,487,168 A
• Filed: 12/20/1994
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jensen, David L., Geiner, Robert V.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTLEY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/359,943
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401, 364/402, 364/468, 395/650
• US Class Current: 705/7.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/18 based on priority control G06F13/1605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/20 for access to input/output bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations

Abstract

An optimal set of devices is allocated to a package of device requests. In one embodiment, for each device request within the package of requests, a determination is made as to one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying each of the device requests and for each eligible device, a preference value is obtained. The preference values are then used to assign devices to a package of device requests such that the sum of the preference values of the assigned devices satisfies a specific optimizing function. The assigned devices provide global optimization of device allocation for a package of requests, thereby improving system throughput and performance.

Claims

1. An automated, computer implemented method for allocating devices in order to satisfy requests for said devices, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a package of device requests, said package of device requests being stored in an electronic memory means of said computer;

determining for each of said device requests in said package one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying the device request;

determining a sequence of priority values associated with each eligible device of each device request, wherein priority values within said sequence of priority values are assigned to different positions;

assigning to each of said device requests an eligible device selected from said one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying said device request such that a different eligible device is assigned to each device request;

adding priority values at each common position for each selected device thereby obtaining a sequence of summed priority values, wherein said sequence of summed priority values satisfies a specific optimizing function; and

allocating, to each device request, said eligible device, said eligible device being used by said computer after said allocating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises minimizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises maximizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the step of creating a package of one or more device requests, each of said one or more device requests being specified by one or more data definition statements contained within a job step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the step of creating a package of one or more device requests generated within a preselected period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the step of creating a package of a preselected number of device requests.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more eligible devices is represented by a data definition statement.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said data definition statement includes a token name, said token name being mapped to a set of eligible devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more eligible devices includes one or more features, and wherein said step of determining said sequence of priority values for each eligible device further comprises the steps of:

assigning a priority value to each feature of an eligible device; and

ordering priority values for said eligible device to determine said sequence of priority values.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said priority value is dependent upon a specific device feature of said eligible device and the associated device request of said eligible device.

11. A system for allocating devices in order to satisfy requests for said devices, comprising:

processor means for creating a package of device requests;

means for determining for each of said device requests in said package one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying the device request;

means for determining a sequence of priority values associated with each eligible device of each device request, wherein priority values within said sequence of priority values are assigned to different positions;

means for assigning to each of said device requests an eligible device selected from said one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying said device request such that a different eligible device is assigned to each device request;

means for adding priority values at each common position for each selected device thereby obtaining a sequence of summed priority values, wherein said sequence of summed priority values satisfies a specific optimizing function; and

means for allocating, to each device request, said eligible device, said eligible device being used by said system after said allocating.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for minimizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for maximizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for creating comprises means for creating a package of one or more device requests, each of said one or more device requests being specified by one or more data definition statements contained within a job step.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for creating comprises means for creating a package of one or more device requests generated within a preselected period of time.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for creating comprises means for creating a package of a preselected number of device requests.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said one or more eligible devices is represented by a data definition statement.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said data definition statement includes a token name, said token name being mapped to a set of eligible devices.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein each of said one or more eligible devices includes one or more features, and wherein said means for determining said sequence of priority values for each eligible device further comprises:

means for assigning a priority value to each feature of an eligible device; and

means for ordering priority values for said eligible device to determine said sequence of priority values.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said priority value is dependent upon a specific device feature of said eligible device and the associated device request of said eligible device.

21. An automated, computer implemented method for allocating devices in order to satisfy requests for said devices, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a package of device requests, said package of device requests being stored in an electronic memory means;

determining for each of said device requests in said package one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying the device request;

determining an ordered sequence of priority values associated with each eligible device of each device request, wherein priority values within said ordered sequence of priority values are assigned to different positions;

assigning to each of said device requests an eligible device selected from said one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying said device request such that a different eligible device is assigned to each device request;

adding priority values at each common position for each selected device thereby obtaining an ordered sequence of summed priority values, wherein said ordered sequence of summed priority values satisfies a specific lexicographic optimizing function; and

allocating, to each device request, said eligible device, said eligible device being used by said computer after said allocating.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises minimizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises maximizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

24. A system for allocating devices in order to satisfy requests for said devices, said system comprising:

processor means for creating a package of device requests;

means for determining for each of said device requests in said package one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying the device request;

means for determining an ordered sequence of priority values associated with each eligible device of each device request, wherein priority values within said ordered sequence of priority values are assigned to different positions;

means for assigning to each of said device requests an eligible device selected from said one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying said device request such that a different eligible device is assigned to each device request;

means for adding priority values at each common position for each selected device thereby obtaining an ordered sequence of summed priority values, wherein said ordered sequence of summed priority values satisfies a specific lexicographic optimizing function; and

means for allocating, to each device request, said eligible device, said eligible device being used by said system after said allocating.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for minimizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for maximizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.