Systems for allocating multi-function resources in a process system and methods of operating the same

• US 6,957,113 B1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elmore, Gary, Logsdon, George
• Primary Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US10/299,949
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 700 29- 31, 700/99, 700/100, 700/103, 700/104, 700/121, 705/8, 705/9, 705/11, 703/2
• US Class Current: 700/100
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31264 Control, autonomous self learn knowledge, rearrange task, reallocate resources
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31379 Master monitors controllers, updates production progress, allocates resources
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45031 Manufacturing semiconductor wafers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

There are disclosed systems, as well as methods of operation, for allocating multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a process system. An exemplary resource allocator is introduced that allocates multi-function resources among tasks within a process system capable of executing at least one application process. The resource allocator comprises a monitoring controller, model of the process system and a resource allocation controller. The monitoring controller monitors measurable characteristics associated with the executing application process, multi-function resources and tasks, each of the measurable characteristics being one of a status characteristic and a logistical characteristic. The model represents mathematically the multi-function resources and the tasks, and defines relationships among related ones thereof as a function of the application process. The resource allocation controller operates the model in response to the monitored measurable characteristics and allocates ones of the multi-function resources among ones of the tasks within the process system to efficiently execute the at least one application process.

Claims

1. A resource allocator operable to allocate a plurality of multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a process system, said process system capable of executing at least one application process, said resource allocator comprising:

a monitoring controller that monitors measurable characteristics associated with said at least one application process, said plurality of multi-function resources, and said plurality of tasks, wherein each of said measurable characteristics comprises one of;

a status characteristic and a logistical characteristic;

a model of said process system representing mathematically said plurality of multi-function resources and said plurality of tasks, and defining relationships among related ones thereof as a function of said at least one application process; and

a resource allocation controller that operates said model in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics and allocates ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said process system to efficiently execute said at least one application process.

2. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resource allocation controller is operable to modify one or more mathematical representations in the model.

3. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a graphical user interface that is operable to enable supervisory interaction.

4. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a data repository having at least a knowledge database, said resource allocator operable to modify said knowledge database in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics thereby enabling said resource allocator to be self-learning.

5. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resource allocation controller is operable to reselect one of said allocated ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said process system in response to said monitored measurable characteristics.

6. A method of operating a resource allocator to allocate a plurality of multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a process system, said process system capable of executing at least one application process, said method of operating said resource allocator comprising the steps of:

monitoring measurable characteristics with a monitoring controller, said measurable characteristics associated with said at least one application process, said plurality of multi-function resources, and said plurality of tasks, wherein each of said measurable characteristics comprises one of;

a status characteristic and a logistical characteristic;

representing mathematically said plurality of multi-function resources and said plurality of tasks within a model of said process system, and defining relationships among related ones thereof as a function of said at least one application process; and

operating said model in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics, and allocating ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said process system using a resource allocation controller to efficiently execute said at least one application process.

7. The method of operating the resource allocator as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface operable to enable supervisory interaction.

8. The method of operating the resource allocator as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of modifying one or more mathematical representations in the model.

9. The method of operating the resource allocator as set forth in claim 7 wherein the resource allocator further comprises a data repository having at least a knowledge database, and said method further comprises the step of modifying said knowledge database in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics thereby enabling said resource allocator to be self-learning.

10. The method of operating the resource allocator resource allocator as set forth in claim 7 further comprising the step of reselecting one of said allocated ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said process system in response to said monitored measurable characteristics.

11. A process system capable of executing at least one application process, said process system comprising:

a plurality of process subsystems;

a plurality of tasks to be performed within said plurality of process subsystems;

a plurality of multi-function resources; and

a resource allocator that is operable to allocate said plurality of multi-function resources among said plurality of tasks, said resource allocator comprising;

a monitoring controller that monitors measurable characteristics associated with said at least one application process, said plurality of multi-function resources, and said plurality of tasks, wherein each of said measurable characteristics comprises one of;

a status characteristic and a logistical characteristic;

a model of said process system representing mathematically said plurality of multi-function resources and said plurality of tasks, and defining relationships among related ones thereof as a function of said at least one application process; and

a resource allocation controller that operates said model in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics, and allocates ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said process system to efficiently execute said at least one application process.

12. The process system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said resource allocation controller is operable to modify one or more mathematical representations in the model.

13. The process system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a graphical user interface that is operable to enable supervisory interaction.

14. The process system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a data repository having at least a knowledge database, said resource allocator operable to modify said knowledge database in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics thereby enabling said resource allocator to be self-learning.

15. The process system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said resource allocation controller is operable to reselect one of said allocated ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said process system in response to said monitored measurable characteristics.

16. The process system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said process system controls one of a manufacturing plant, a refinery, a hotel, a restaurant, a traffic control system, a transportation control system and an emergency services system.

17. The process system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said resource allocator is an information management system.

18. A resource allocator operable to allocate a plurality of multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a diffusion process, said diffusion process capable of executing at least one diffusion process plan, said resource allocator comprising:

a monitoring controller that monitors measurable characteristics associated with said at least one diffusion process plan, said plurality of multi-function resources, and said plurality of tasks, wherein each of said measurable characteristics comprises one of;

a status characteristic and a logistical characteristic;

a model of said diffusion process representing mathematically said plurality of multi-function resources and said plurality of tasks, and defining relationships among related ones thereof as a function of said at least one diffusion process plan; and

a resource allocation controller that operates said model in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics and allocates ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said diffusion process to efficiently execute said at least one diffusion process plan.

19. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 18 wherein said resource allocation controller is operable to modify one or more mathematical representations in the model.

20. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a graphical user interface that is operable to enable supervisory interaction.

21. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a data repository having at least a knowledge database, said resource allocator operable to modify said knowledge database in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics thereby enabling said resource allocator to be self-learning.

22. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 18 wherein said resource allocation controller is operable to reselect one of said allocated ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said diffusion process in response to said monitored measurable characteristics.

23. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 18 wherein each said status characteristic is one of execution data, timing data, alert data, completion data.

24. The resource allocator as set forth in claim 18 wherein each said logistical characteristic is one of assignment data, availability data, capacity data, diffusion process plan data, prioritization data.

25. A method of operating a resource allocator to allocate a plurality of multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a diffusion process, said diffusion process capable of executing at least one diffusion process plan, said method of operating said resource allocator comprising the steps of:

monitoring measurable characteristics with a monitoring controller, said measurable characteristics associated with said at least one diffusion process plan, said plurality of multi-function resources, and said plurality of tasks, wherein each of said measurable characteristics comprises one of a status characteristic and a logistical characteristic;

representing mathematically said plurality of multi-function resources and said plurality of tasks within a model of said diffusion process, and defining relationships among related ones thereof as a function of said at least one diffusion process plan; and

operating said model in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics, and allocating ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said diffusion process using a resource allocation controller to efficiently execute said at least one diffusion process plan.

26. The method of operating a resource allocator as set forth in claim 25 further comprising the step of modifying one or more mathematical representations in the model.

27. The method of operating a resource allocator as set forth in claim 25 wherein said resource allocator comprises a graphical user interface that is operable to enable supervisory interaction.

28. The method of operating a resource allocator as set forth in claim 25 wherein said resource allocator comprises a data repository having at least a knowledge database, said resource allocator operable to modify said knowledge database in response to ones of said monitored measurable characteristics thereby enabling said resource allocator to be self-learning.

29. The method of operating a resource allocator as set forth in claim 25 further comprising the step of reselecting one of said allocated ones of said plurality of multi-function resources among ones of said plurality of tasks within said diffusion process in response to said monitored measurable characteristics.

30. The method of operating a resource allocator as set forth in claim 25 wherein each said status characteristic is one of execution data, timing data, alert data, completion data.

31. The method of operating a resource allocator as set forth in claim 25 wherein each said logistical characteristic is one of assignment data, availability data, capacity data, diffusion process plan data, prioritization data.