Computer simulation system
First Claim
1. A computer system for simulating a user-specified automated manufacturing and/or materials handling (AM/MH) facility which includes as part of the facility a plurality of different types of computer-controlled components, said computer-controlled components being listed in a catalog means containing user-oriented language descriptions adapted for input by a system user to a CPU, and said system comprising:
- a central processing unit (CPU);
first means, electronically connected to said CPU, for inputting to said CPU said descriptions for said computer-controlled components which are to be simulated by said system;
second means, electronically connected to said CPU, for outputting information from said CPU; and
third means, electronically connected to said CPU, for controlling said CPU so as to generate at said second means a simulation which represents a working model of said user-specified AM/MH facility based on said component descriptions input to said CPU.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system for simulating a user-specified automated manufacturing and/or materials handling facility. The system includes a CPU interconnected to an operator terminal through which information is entered by a designer who specifies various computer-controlled components and operating parameters which are to be tested in a particular design. The system designer is provided with a catalog of user-oriented language descriptions of available components from which he can select the various components and their operating parameters. The user-oriented language descriptions entered by the system designer are used by the CPU to automatically create an operational prototype model for each selected component, which is then compiled by the CPU into a corresponding series of general purpose simulation statements which are processed to determine the simulated operation of the automated manufacturing and/or materials handling facility design. The CPU can be linked to a graphics system to produce an animated graphical display of the simulated operation of the proposed facility design.
74 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A computer system for simulating a user-specified automated manufacturing and/or materials handling (AM/MH) facility which includes as part of the facility a plurality of different types of computer-controlled components, said computer-controlled components being listed in a catalog means containing user-oriented language descriptions adapted for input by a system user to a CPU, and said system comprising:
-
a central processing unit (CPU); first means, electronically connected to said CPU, for inputting to said CPU said descriptions for said computer-controlled components which are to be simulated by said system; second means, electronically connected to said CPU, for outputting information from said CPU; and third means, electronically connected to said CPU, for controlling said CPU so as to generate at said second means a simulation which represents a working model of said user-specified AM/MH facility based on said component descriptions input to said CPU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A computer system for simulating a user-specified automated manufacturing and/or materials handling (AM/MH) facility which includes as part of the facility a plurality of different types of computer-controlled components, each said component being listed in a catalog means containing user-oriented language descriptions adapted for input by a system user to a CPU, and said system comprising:
-
a central processing unit (CPU); first means, electronically connected to said CPU, for inputting to said CPU a plurality of said descriptions selected by the system user from said catalog means; second means, electronically connected to said CPU, for outputting information from said CPU; and third means, electronically connected to said CPU, for controlling said CPU so as to generate at said second means a simulation which represents a working model of said user-specified AM/MH facility based on said component descriptions input to said CPU and said third means comprising; a first series of electronically stored files containing a plurality of arrays defining generalized prototype models of said various computer-controlled components listed is said catalog means; a second electronically stored file for receiving said user-oriented language descriptions of the computer-controlled components entered through said first means; means, electronically linked to said first series of files and to said second file, for (a) creating from the user-oriented language descriptions stored in said second file an operational prototype model of each said component to be used in said facility and for (b) compiling each operational prototype model into a corresponding series of general purpose simulation statements; a third electronically stored file for receiving each said statement; means, electronically linked to said third file, for processing said statements so as to generate therefrom a simulated working model of said user-specified AM/MH facility; and a fourth electronically stored file for receiving the information which describes said simulated working model to be output at said second means. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
-
9. In a computer system having a central processing unit (CPU), first means electronically connected to said CPU for entering information from an operator to said CPU, second means electronically connected to said CPU for outputting information from said CPU, and third means electronically connected to said CPU for electronically storing information and data sued to control said CPU, a method of simulating an automated manufacturing and/or materials handling (AM/MH) facility comprising the steps of:
-
(a) preparing a catalog listing a plurality of user-oriented language descriptions corresponding to various types of computer-controlled components available for use in said facility; (b) inputting to said CPU at said first means a plurality of user-oriented language descriptions which describe the computer-controlled components selected by a system user from said catalog and which are to be used by said system to simulate a user-specified AM/MH facility; and (c) said CPU processing each one of said user-oriented language descriptions entered in step so as to generate at said second means a simulated working model of said user-specified AM/MH facility based on said user-oriented language descriptions input to said CPU. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
-
11. In a computer system having a centeral processing unit (CPU), first means electronically connected to said CPU for entering information from an operator to said CPU, second means electronically connected to said CPU for outputting information from said CPU, and third means electronically connected to said CPU for electronically storing information and data used to control said CPU, a method of operating said system to simulate an automated manufacturing and/or materials handing (AM/MH) facility comprising the stpes of:
-
(a) preparing a catalog listing a plurality of user-oriented language descriptions corresponding to various types of computer-controlled components available for use in said facility; (b) electronically storing in said third means a series of files containing a plurality of generalized prototype models of each said computer-controlled component available for use in said facility; (c) inputting to said CPU at said first means a plurality of user-oriented language descriptions which describe the computer-controlled components selected by a system user from said catalog, and which are to be used by said system to simulate a user-specified AM/MH facility; (d) said CPU creating from said series of files stored in step (b) an operational prototype model corresponding to each component entered in step (c) and compiling each operational prototype model into a corresponding series of general purpose simulation statements; (e) said CPU storing in said third means a file containing each said statement compiled in step (d); (f) said CPU processing the statements stored in step (e) so as to generate therefrom a simulated working model of said facility; (g) said CPU storing in said third means an output file containing information which describes said simulated working model; and (h) said CPU outputting at said second means a description of said simulated working model from the information stored in step (g). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
Specification