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Method and computer program product that determine values of characteristic value combinations for use in the production of products

  • US 7,636,670 B2
  • Filed: 10/17/2002
  • Issued: 12/22/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • receiving a total quantity value;

    receiving a plurality of distribution rules for distributing the total quantity value to a plurality of product types, each distribution rule to govern a separate characteristic of the plurality of product types;

    applying the plurality of distribution rules to the total quantity value to derive a desired quantity value for each of the plurality of product types;

    rounding in a computer processor the desired quantity value for each of the plurality of product types to an integer when the desired quantity value is a non-integer, the rounding includes;

    maintaining the sum of the desired quantity values as equal to the total quantity value;

    approximating the plurality of distribution rules for each value of each separate characteristic as applied to the desired quantity values, taking into account, for the desired quantity value of a product type of the plurality of product types being rounded, rounding errors of desired quantity values rounded prior to the desired quantity value of the product type being rounded, wherein p characteristics of the plurality of product types span a p-dimensional space and each of the plurality of product types is defined as a point in the p-dimensional space, the point being determined by a combination of values for each of the p characteristics;

    calculating a difference function for each dimension, the difference function using previously rounded quantities;

    using the calculated difference functions when rounding the desired quantity value to an integer; and

    using a bounded rounding function f[x, y]=b_r[x, y]=r[x+max[−

    0.5, 0.5−

    ε

    ;

    y]], wherein x is the desired quantity value and y is the sum of the calculated difference functions and ε

    is a small non-zero value depending on the precision of the number x, the maximum function max[x1, x2;

    y] having the value of −

    0.5 when y is smaller than −

    0.5, the value y when y is between −

    0.5 and +0.5, and the value +0.5 when y is larger than +0.5; and

    applying the rounded desired quantity values to a production of products.

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