# US 2019/0377334 A1 · Operational plan optimization device and operational plan optimization method

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- Number: US 2019/0377334 A1
- Document ID: US20190377334A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/487,208
- Filed: 2017-05-01
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-24
- Assignees: Lexer Research Inc.
- Applicants: LEXER RESEARCH Inc.
- Inventors: Masahiro Nakamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190377334A1

## CPC

- G05B 19/41885: {characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system}
- G05B 19/41865: {characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow}
- G06Q 10/04: Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202)
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06Q 50/04: Manufacturing
- Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
- Y02P 90/30: Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The integrated control processing unit is configured to recognize a varying processable amount over time within a predetermined period of each of the simulators; transmit a simulation request for a simulation process within an optimal processing amount within the recognized processable amount of each of the simulators to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and a simulation condition; receive a plurality of evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the simulation condition from each of the simulators; and recognize a highest evaluation value group based on an operation objective function among a plurality of received evaluation value groups. The operational plan optimization device can perform various simulation operations at high speed at lower cost and recognize an optimal operation efficiently using hardware resources when performing operation simulation.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-11. (canceled)

### Claim 12

An operational plan optimization device comprising:
an integrated control processing unit; and
a plurality of simulators communicably connected to and controlled integrally by the integrated control processing unit, wherein
the integrated control processing unit is configured to:
recognize a varying processable amount over time within a predetermined period of each of the simulators;
transmit a simulation request for a simulation process within an optimal processing amount within the recognized processable amount of each of the simulators to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and a simulation condition;
receive a plurality of evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the simulation condition from each of the simulators; and
recognize a highest evaluation value group based on an operation objective function among a plurality of received evaluation value groups.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, wherein
the evaluation value group includes a degree of similarity to a present operation as an evaluation value.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, further comprising:
an operation state information acquisition unit that acquires the operation state information, wherein
the operation state information is transmitted from the operation state information acquisition unit to the integrated control processing unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, wherein
the integrated control processing unit generates an individual operation instruction corresponding to the recognized highest evaluation value group and transmits the individual operation instruction to at least an operator terminal approximately on a real-time basis.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 14, wherein
the integrated control processing unit generates an individual operation instruction corresponding to the recognized highest evaluation value group and transmits the individual operation instruction to at least an operator terminal approximately on a real-time basis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, further comprising:
a refinement control component communicably connected to the integrated control processing unit, wherein
the integrated control processing unit generates a simulation condition on the basis of the operation state information group and a refinement condition of the refinement control component.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 17, wherein
a degree of refinement of the refinement condition of the refinement control component is changeable, or the refinement conditions of a plurality of degrees of refinement are set in the refinement control component.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 17, wherein
the refinement control component generates the refinement condition on the basis of a setting condition and a plurality of refinement control components are provided.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 18, wherein
the refinement control component generates the refinement condition on the basis of a setting condition and a plurality of refinement control components are provided.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, wherein
the integrated control processing unit receives information on the start and completion of the simulation process directly or indirectly from another integrated control processing unit of another operational plan optimization device that shares the plurality of simulators, and
the integrated control processing unit stops recognizing the varying processable amount over time within the predetermined period of each of the simulators from the start to the completion of the simulation process.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The operational plan optimization device according to claim 13, wherein
the integrated control processing unit receives information on the start and completion of the simulation process directly or indirectly from another integrated control processing unit of another operational plan optimization device that shares the plurality of simulators, and
the integrated control processing unit stops recognizing the varying processable amount over time within the predetermined period of each of the simulators from the start to the completion of the simulation process.

### Claim 23 (depends on 12)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
executing a simulation process on a first operation range to recognize a highest evaluation value group of the first operation range;
executing a simulation process on a second operation range to recognize a highest evaluation value group of the second operation range; and
setting a third simulation condition including a first simulation condition corresponding to a highest evaluation value group of the first operation range and a second simulation condition corresponding to a highest evaluation value group of the second operation range, executing a simulation process on the third operation range including the first operation range and the second operation range using the third simulation condition, and recognizing a highest evaluation value group of the third operation range.

### Claim 24 (depends on 13)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 13, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
executing a simulation process on a first operation range to recognize a highest evaluation value group of the first operation range;
executing a simulation process on a second operation range to recognize a highest evaluation value group of the second operation range; and
setting a third simulation condition including a first simulation condition corresponding to a highest evaluation value group of the first operation range and a second simulation condition corresponding to a highest evaluation value group of the second operation range, executing a simulation process on the third operation range including the first operation range and the second operation range using the third simulation condition, and recognizing a highest evaluation value group of the third operation range.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 17, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
executing a simulation process on a first operation range to recognize a highest evaluation value group of the first operation range;
executing a simulation process on a second operation range to recognize a highest evaluation value group of the second operation range; and
setting a third simulation condition including a first simulation condition corresponding to a highest evaluation value group of the first operation range and a second simulation condition corresponding to a highest evaluation value group of the second operation range, executing a simulation process on the third operation range including the first operation range and the second operation range using the third simulation condition, and recognizing a highest evaluation value group of the third operation range.

### Claim 26 (depends on 12)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
transmitting a simulation request of a first simulation condition generated on the basis of a first refinement condition to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and the first simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of first evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the first simulation condition from each of the simulators;
recognizing a first highest evaluation value group based on a first operation objective function among the received plurality of first evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
storing a second operation objective function input on the basis of the plurality of first evaluation value groups; and
recognizing a second highest evaluation value group based on a second operation objective function among the plurality of first evaluation value groups.

### Claim 27 (depends on 13)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 13, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
transmitting a simulation request of a first simulation condition generated on the basis of a first refinement condition to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and the first simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of first evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the first simulation condition from each of the simulators;
recognizing a first highest evaluation value group based on a first operation objective function among the received plurality of first evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
storing a second operation objective function input on the basis of the plurality of first evaluation value groups; and
recognizing a second highest evaluation value group based on a second operation objective function among the plurality of first evaluation value groups.

### Claim 28 (depends on 17)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 17, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
transmitting a simulation request of a first simulation condition generated on the basis of a first refinement condition to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and the first simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of first evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the first simulation condition from each of the simulators;
recognizing a first highest evaluation value group based on a first operation objective function among the received plurality of first evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
storing a second operation objective function input on the basis of the plurality of first evaluation value groups; and
recognizing a second highest evaluation value group based on a second operation objective function among the plurality of first evaluation value groups.

### Claim 29 (depends on 12)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 12, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
transmitting a simulation request of a first simulation condition generated on the basis of a first refinement condition to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and the first simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of first evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the first simulation condition from each of the simulators;
recognizing a first highest evaluation value group based on a first operation objective function among the received plurality of first evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
storing a second operation objective function input on the basis of the distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
transmitting a simulation request of a second simulation condition generated on the basis of a second refinement condition to each of the simulators together with the operation state information group and the second simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of second evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the second simulation condition from each of the simulators; and
recognizing a second highest evaluation value group based on the second operation objective function among the received plurality of second evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of second evaluation value groups.

### Claim 30 (depends on 13)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 13, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
transmitting a simulation request of a first simulation condition generated on the basis of a first refinement condition to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and the first simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of first evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the first simulation condition from each of the simulators;
recognizing a first highest evaluation value group based on a first operation objective function among the received plurality of first evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
storing a second operation objective function input on the basis of the distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
transmitting a simulation request of a second simulation condition generated on the basis of a second refinement condition to each of the simulators together with the operation state information group and the second simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of second evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the second simulation condition from each of the simulators; and
recognizing a second highest evaluation value group based on the second operation objective function among the received plurality of second evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of second evaluation value groups.

### Claim 31 (depends on 17)

An operational plan optimization method which uses the operational plan optimization device according to claim 17, wherein
the integrated control processing unit executes the steps of:
transmitting a simulation request of a first simulation condition generated on the basis of a first refinement condition to each of the simulators together with an operation state information group and the first simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of first evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the first simulation condition from each of the simulators;
recognizing a first highest evaluation value group based on a first operation objective function among the received plurality of first evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
storing a second operation objective function input on the basis of the distribution of the plurality of first evaluation value groups;
transmitting a simulation request of a second simulation condition generated on the basis of a second refinement condition to each of the simulators together with the operation state information group and the second simulation condition;
receiving a plurality of second evaluation value groups as a simulation process result based on the operation state information group and the second simulation condition from each of the simulators; and
recognizing a second highest evaluation value group based on the second operation objective function among the received plurality of second evaluation value groups and recognizing a distribution of the plurality of second evaluation value groups.