Computer simulation system

Claim 2

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.

Claim 3

A computer system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for cataloging comprises a plurality of graphical descriptions corresponding to said various types of computer-controlled components available for use in said facility, and wherein said system further comprises: fourth means, electronically connected to said CPU, for graphically entering and outputting information to and from said CPU; and wherein said third means further comprises means for controlling said CPU so as to generate at said fourth means an animated graphical display of said simulated working model, said animated graphical displays being generated in response to graphical descriptions selected by a system user from said cataloging means and input to said CPU through said fourth means.

Claim 4

A computer system as defined in claim 1 wherein said third means further comprises: a first series of electronically stored files containing a plurality of arrays defining generalized prototype models of said various computer-controlled components available for use in said facility; 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 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.

Claim 5

A computer system as defined in claim 3 wherein said arrays defining said generalized prototype models comprise means for modeling one or more components that are selected to perform random task assignments in said AM/MH facility.

Claim 6

A computer system as defined in claim 3 wherein said arrays defining said generalized prototype models comprise means for modeling one or more components that are selected to perform task assignments in said AM/MH facility that are known and prioritized in advance of the time that such tasks are to be performed by said components.

Claim 7

A computer system as defined in claim 3 wherein said catalog means comprises a plurality of graphical descriptions corresponding to said various types of computer-controlled components available for use in said facility, and wherein said system further comprises: fourth means, electronically connected to said CPU, for graphically entering and outputting information to and from said CPU; and wherein said third means further comprises: a fifth electronically stored file containing a plurality of graphical descriptions corresponding to graphical prototype models of the various computer-controlled components available for use in said facility; a sixth electronically stored file linked to said means for processing said statements, said sixth file containing data defining a simulated time dependent status of all said components to be used in said facility; a seventh electronically stored file for receiving each graphical description of the components entered from said catalog means through said fourth means; and means, electronically linked to said second, fifth, sixth and seventh files, for (a) identifying from said graphical descriptions entered through said fourth means the graphical prototype model and user-oriented language description of each component to be used in said facility, and for (b) processing the data from said sixth file so as to generate at said fourth means a simulated working model in the form of an animated graphical display of said user-specified AM/MH facility.

Claim 8

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.

Claim 9

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.

Claim 10

A computer system as defined in claim 7 wherein said catalog means comprises a plurality of graphical descriptions corresponding to said various types of computer-controlled components available for use in said facility, and wherein said system further comprises: fourth means, electronically connected to said CPU, for graphically entering and outputting information to and from said CPU; and wherein said third means further comprises: a fifth electronically stored file containing a plurality of graphical descriptions corresponding to graphical prototype models of the various computer-controlled components listed in said catalog means; a sixth electronically stored file linked to said means for processing said statements, said sixth file containing data defining the simulated time dependent status of all said components listed in said catalog means; a seventh electronically stored file for receiving each graphical description of the components entered from said catalog means through said fourth means; and means, electronically linked to said second, fifth, sixth and seventh files, for (a) identifying from said graphical descriptions entered through said fourth means the graphical prototype model and user-oriented language description of each component to be used ins aid facility, and for (b) processing the data from said sixth file so as to generate at said fourth means a simulated working model in the form of an animated graphical display of said user-specified AM/MH facility.

Claim 11

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.

Claim 12

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.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said computer system further includes fourth means electronically connected to said CPU for graphically entering and outputting information to and from said CPU, and wherein: said step (a) comprises listing in said catalog a plurality of graphical descriptions corresponding to said various types of computer-controlled components in addition to said user-oriented language descriptions; said step (b) comprises inputting to said CPU at said fourth means a plurality of user-specified graphical descriptions which describe the computer-controlled components to be simulated by said system; and said step (c) comprises processing each one of said user-specified graphical descriptions input to said CPU so as to generate at said fourth means an animated graphical display of said simulated working model of the AM/MH facility.

Claim 14

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).

Claim 15

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).

Claim 16

A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said computer system further includes a secondary CPU and fourth means electronically connected to said CPU for graphically entering and outputting information to and from said CPU, said method further comprising the steps of: (i) listing in said catalog a plurality of graphical descriptions which depict said types of computer-controlled components available for selection by said system user; (j) electronically storing in said third means a file containing a plurality of descriptions corresponding to graphical prototype models of each said computer-controlled component listed in said catalog; (k) inputting to said CPU at said fourth means a plurality of user-specified graphical descriptions which describe the computer-controlled components selected by said system user for simulating said facility; (l) said CPU electronically storing in said third means a file containing each user-specified description input in step (k); (m) said CPU indentifying from the files stored in steps (j) and (l) the graphical prototype model and user-oriented language description of each component to be used in simulating said facility; (n) said CPU preparing a simulated time dependent status file from said statements processed in step (f); (o) said CPU processing the data from said simulated time dependent status file so as to generate an animated graphical representation of said simulated working model of said facility; and (p) said secondary CPU outputting at said fourth means said animated graphical representation of said simulated working model.

Claim 17

A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said files containing said generalized prototype models stored in step (b) comprise means for modeling one or more components which are selected to perform random task assignments in said AM/MH facility.

Claim 18

A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said files containing said generalized prototype models stored in step (b) comprise means for modeling one or more components which are selected to perform a series of task assignments that are assigned in advance to said components.