# US 5,487,144 A · Scheduling system

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- Number: US 5,487,144 A
- Document ID: US5487144A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/124,401
- Filed: 1993-09-20
- Granted: 1996-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 1992-12-01
- Assignees: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Kimikazu Takahashi; Haruko Mitake; Shigeru Fujimura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5487144A

## CPC

- G05B 19/41865: {characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow}
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G05B 2219/32244: By using graphical display of array and selecting elements, rearrange them
- Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
- Y10S 715/963: Calendar or scheduling
- Y10S 715/965: for process control and configuration
- Y10S 715/967: Visual or iconic programming
- 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
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A scheduling system for preparing an operational plan for a production process which is carried out by using a computer system with an improved easier programming method which does not require a human operator to have knowledge of computer programming. In the system, the operation to be scheduled is inputted as a plurality of input element rows or letter rows on a display field using a computer, a CRT display device, and various pointing devices, such as keyboard, mouse, etc. Function blocks which can assign predetermined program operations are located on the display field, and are used in combination, and are relocated to specify the operation contents and the operation order or the program, to thereby complete the logics for the scheduling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A scheduling system for displaying, on a display field, a plurality of function blocks, each of which assigns a predetermined program operation, and for relocating the plurality of function blocks to realize a plurality of logics for scheduling, said scheduling system comprising
a logic formation interface for combining and relocating ones of said function blocks for assigning predetermined program operations, thereby assigning operational contents and operational order of a program and completing formed logics for scheduling;
a logic storage unit for storing the formed logics;
an execution unit for executing the scheduling by using the formed logics stored in said logic storage unit; and
wherein each of said plurality of function blocks comprises
means for performing evaluation on basis of element selection in a function block;
means for transferring a row of output elements from a first function block to an adjacent function block located in a first location when a row of input elements in said first function block is identical to the performed evaluation; and
means for transferring said row of input elements from said first function block to another adjacent function block located in a second location when said row of input elements in said first function block is not identical to the performed evaluation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a logic display field formed of the function block which assigns a plurality of predetermined program operations is used as a first stage layer, and any function block located in the first stage layer is again pointed by a pointing device so that, using an input element to the function block which has been again pointed as an input element, and a display field for a second stage layer which can form a location of the function blocks in a same manner as in the first stage layer, is provided and a final output of the last-mentioned display field is used as an output of the function block previously assigned in the first stage layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an element row retrieval block is prepared as a function block which selects any desired number of jobs counting from a first job or from a last job in accordance with an order of input jobs, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "elements from `A`-th job counting from the first/last job to `B`-th job counting from the last/first job" in the order of input jobs, wherein numerals representative of the order of jobs are entered into A and B.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an attribute selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a job on basis of a specific product name, an applied code, a working mode, or a job name, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "A selects B and C", wherein one of a product, an applied code, a working mode, a name,and an usage attribute is entered into A, one of the actually set name, applied code, working mode, and job name, is entered into B in conformity with A, and "equal to" or "except for" is entered into C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a previously selected attribute restriction block is prepared as a function block, which selects a specific job in accordance with a content of the previously selected job, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if A of the previously selected job is B, A selects B and C", where one of a product, an applied code, a working mode, a name, a product name, and an attribute, is entered into A, one of the actually set product name, applied code,working mode, and job name, is entered into B in conformity with A, and "equal to" and "except for" is entered into C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a delivery order sorting block is prepared as a function block, which relocates order of jobs entered into the block in accordance with delivery time or start time, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "the elements A and B are relocated" where one of the earliest delivery, latest delivery and start time is entered into A and one of ascending order and descending order is entered into B.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a production quantity selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a job in accordance with a production quantity, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element whose production quantity is A is selected and an element whose production quantity is B and C is selected", where highest or lowest is entered into A, a numeral which is representative of the production quantity is entered into B, and "more than" or "less than" is entered into C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an assigned time selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a specific job in accordance with a use of a unit, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if the final use time B of a current step of a unit A is in the range of E from C to D, F selects a job G" where name of the unit is entered into A, one of a non-period, a day unit, a week unit, and a month unit, is selectively entered into B, amount of use of unit entered in A is entered into C and D, "within" or "out of" is entered into E, one of a product, an applied code, a working mode, and a name, is selectively entered into F, and any one of actually set product name, applied code, working mode, and job name, is entered into G in conformity with F.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a delivery order element selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a job in accordance with delivery time and start time, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element whose A is B is selected", where any one of earliest delivery, latest delivery, and start time, is entered into A and the earliest delivery or the latest delivery is entered into B.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a delivery difference selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a job in accordance with a difference in term relative to a previously selected job, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element whose difference in A relative to the previously selected job is B, C and D is selected", where one of earliest delivery, latest delivery, and start time is entered into A, a numeral representative of the difference in terms relative to A is entered into B, any one of day, week, and month, is entered into C, and "less than" or "more than" is entered into D.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a same attribute selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a job which has the same attribute as that of the previously selected job, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if A of the previously selected job is B, an element C the same attribute as that of the previously selected job is selected", where on of a product, an applied code, and a working mode, is selectively entered into A, one of the actually set product name, applied code, and working mode, is entered into B in conformity with A, and "equal to" or "not equal to" is entered into C.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a stock level upper/lower limit selection block is prepared as a function block a job whose stock level in a specific unit does not exceed an upper limit or a lower limit of the unit, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element in which a sum of the stock quantity at the final use time of a current step of the unit A and the feed/discharge quantity will not exceed the upper/lower limit is selected", where a name of the unit is entered into A.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a use status selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a unit in accordance with a use time or a use frequency of the unit, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element whose use A is B is selected" where time or frequency is entered into A, and the highest or lowest is entered into B.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a part element number restricting block is prepared as a function block which selects an upper limit of an usable unit number in accordance with a composite condition of recipes and parts, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if a recipe is A and a part is B, the upper limit of tile usable unit number is C, but this is valid for D", where a name of the recipe is entered into A, a name of the part is entered into B, a numeral representative of the upper limit of the usable number is entered into C, and "within one job" or "within all jobs" is entered into D.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a same element consecutive selection block is prepared as a function block which consecutively sets a same unit in a plurality of parts within the job, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "a name of a part to be selected in the same unit in a current job is A", where a name of the part is entered into A.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a stock level upper/lower limit selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a unit in accordance with a difference in stock quantity between an upper limit and a lower limit of the unit, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "a unit in which a sum of the stock quantity at the final use time in a current step and a feed/discharge amount of the unit will not exceed upper/lower limits and a difference relative to A limit is B is selected", where "upper" and "lower" is entered into A and highest or lowest is entered into B.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a job attribute selection block is prepared as a function block which selects all units under specific conditions of a job, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if A of the job is C B, all the elements are selected", where any one of a product,an applied code, a working mode, and a name, is entered into A, any one of an actually set product name, applied code, working mode, and job name, is entered into B in conformity with A, and "equal to" or "not equal to" is entered into C.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a part selection block is prepared as a function block which selects all units under a composite condition of a recipe and a part, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if/unless a recipe is A and a part is B, all the elements are selected", where a name of the recipe is entered into A, and a name of the part is entered into B.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a production quantity selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a unit in accordance with the production quantity of a job or a part, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if the production quantity of A is C B, all the elements are selected", where the job or the part is entered into A, a numeral representative of the production quantity is entered into B, and "more than" or "less than" is entered into C.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an assigned time selection block is prepared as a function block which selects a unit in accordance with time, and
wherein an adjustment field is structure so that the field shows "an element whose time to stick a schedule bar at a current step is A is selected", where earliest or latest is entered into A.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a use status selection block in feeding is prepared as a function block which selects a unit whose use or frequency in an actual unit is lowest, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element whose A of usage in feeding is the lowest is selected", where time or frequency is entered into A.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a stock status selection block in feeding is prepared as a function block which selects an unit in accordance with feeding amount, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if the feeding possible amount is positive and A, an element is selected" where one of highest, lowest, and "more than feeding amount" is entered into A.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a use status selection block in discharging is prepared as a function block which selects a unit whose use or frequency of use in an unit is lowest, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element whose A of usage in discharging is the lowest is selected" where time or frequency is entered into A.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a stock status selection block in discharging is prepared as a function block which selects an unit in accordance with a discharging amount, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "if the discharging possible amount is positive and A, an element is selected", where one of highest, lowest and "more than discharging amount" is entered into A.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a feed time selection is prepared as a function block which selects an unit in accordance with a time a stock quantity has been fed, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "an element in which a time the stock quantity bas been fed is A is selected", where "earliest" or "latest" is entered into A.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an empty stock selection block is prepared as a function block which selects an unit in accordance with stock quantity, and
wherein an adjustment field is structured so that the field shows "a unit whose stock quantity is empty is selected".