Facilities optimization method
First Claim
1. A computer product for facilities optimization comprising a medium readable by a computer, the medium having a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon executable by a processor when loaded into main memory, the instructions including:
- simulating a physical phenomenon of charged particle interaction, thereby producing a charged particle interaction simulation;
assigning a first charge of first charge type particles to users of service supplying facilities;
assigning a second charge of second charge type particles to the service supplying facilities;
disposing a first plurality of the user particles and a second plurality of the facility particles in an initial configuration within the simulation;
constraining a first of the first and second pluralities of particles to their initial configuration;
allowing a second of the first and second pluralities of particles to move, said second of the first and second pluralities of particles finding an equilibrium state with respect to the first of the first and second pluralities of particles; and
iteratively performing the previous steps while varying first plurality and second plurality of particles, the iterative performance of the simulation settling into an optimum location and number of supply points associated with the facility particles with respect to demand points associated with the user particles.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The facilities optimization method utilizes Coulomb'"'"'s law to model placement of facilities relative to a population using the facilities. The natural phenomenon of electrical charge attraction and repulsion can be used to model a wide variety of facility layout and planning problems. The physical phenomenon of charge interaction is simulated and used to effectively find a solution for a facilities supply-demand problem. Utilizing the charge model, problem solutions are naturally reached and are self-adjusting in response to parameter changes in the problem. A methodology for static, dynamic, elastic or inelastic demand is provided. The charge simulation approach supports any distance metric. The method always provides a solution regardless of the initial conditions used. The method provides high flexibility in choosing arbitrary demand and supply patterns.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A computer product for facilities optimization comprising a medium readable by a computer, the medium having a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon executable by a processor when loaded into main memory, the instructions including:
-
simulating a physical phenomenon of charged particle interaction, thereby producing a charged particle interaction simulation; assigning a first charge of first charge type particles to users of service supplying facilities; assigning a second charge of second charge type particles to the service supplying facilities; disposing a first plurality of the user particles and a second plurality of the facility particles in an initial configuration within the simulation; constraining a first of the first and second pluralities of particles to their initial configuration; allowing a second of the first and second pluralities of particles to move, said second of the first and second pluralities of particles finding an equilibrium state with respect to the first of the first and second pluralities of particles; and iteratively performing the previous steps while varying first plurality and second plurality of particles, the iterative performance of the simulation settling into an optimum location and number of supply points associated with the facility particles with respect to demand points associated with the user particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification