Flexible modeling concept for discretely simulating and implementing, in particular, material processing and distribution systems
First Claim
1. A method to model material flow between components of a package distribution system, comprising:
- modeling each component of the package distribution system, each component having an input behavior, an output behavior, and a functional behavior, the input behavior being described by a plurality of parameterizable input ports and a plurality of parameterizable internal input queuing areas and modeled by linking the input ports to the input queuing areas according to an input behavior mapping rule, the output behavior being described by a plurality of parameterizable internal output queuing areas and a plurality of parameterizable output ports and modeled by linking the output queuing areas to the output ports according to an output behavior mapping rule; and
associating the output behavior of a preceding component with the input behavior of a succeeding component when the preceding and succeeding components are connected with an output-input relationship, whereina general communication model employing communication types is used to model material flow between associated components, andaccording to the general communication model, the communication types are switchable for each component, for each component connection or for each change in material characteristics as the material is being transferred.
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Abstract
A method for modeling conveyance or flows of material or other functional behaviors, particularly in the form of components that generate material actions; a method for modeling a system having components, particularly a postal item distribution system, and; the generation of a discrete component-oriented simulation model based on the modelings, particularly as a basis for components and/or system implementation. Modeling of each component is carried out on the basis of a flexible component model that takes the input behavior and the functional behavior of a component into account, and that two components at a time transfer discrete events or discrete material units to one another by using a general communications model, particularly by using communication types.
7 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method to model material flow between components of a package distribution system, comprising:
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modeling each component of the package distribution system, each component having an input behavior, an output behavior, and a functional behavior, the input behavior being described by a plurality of parameterizable input ports and a plurality of parameterizable internal input queuing areas and modeled by linking the input ports to the input queuing areas according to an input behavior mapping rule, the output behavior being described by a plurality of parameterizable internal output queuing areas and a plurality of parameterizable output ports and modeled by linking the output queuing areas to the output ports according to an output behavior mapping rule; and associating the output behavior of a preceding component with the input behavior of a succeeding component when the preceding and succeeding components are connected with an output-input relationship, wherein a general communication model employing communication types is used to model material flow between associated components, and according to the general communication model, the communication types are switchable for each component, for each component connection or for each change in material characteristics as the material is being transferred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A component modeled to represent a material flow function associated with the component, comprising:
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an input unit having an input behavior, the input behavior being described by a plurality of parameterizable input ports and a plurality of parameterizable internal input queuing areas and modeled by linking the input ports to the input queuing areas according to an input behavior mapping rule; a function unit having a functional behavior to process an event or a material; an output unit having an output behavior, the output behavior being described by a plurality of parameterizable internal output queuing areas and a plurality of parameterizable output ports and modeled by linking the output queuing areas to the output ports according to an output behavior mapping rule; and a connection unit that connects each of the input unit and the output unit to a respective adjacent entity having an input-output relationship with the component, wherein a general communication model employing communication types is used to model material flow between associated components, and according to the general communication model, the communication types are switchable for each component, for each component connection or for each change in material characteristics as the material is being transferred. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification