Managing method of a run of moving objects

Claim 1

A managing method of a run of movable objects, comprising the steps of: moving movable objects between communicating stations that are at locations along a plurality of running routes in response to movement demands which require that the movable objects be moved to the communicating stations; and avoiding deadlocks from arising as between the movable objects along the routes during the step of moving, the step of avoiding including: a first step of simulation for attempting to satisfy each of the movement demands by simulating possible sequences of movement of the movable objects along the running routes based on consideration of an amount of time required for the movable objects to stay at the communicating stations and time required to move between the communicating stations, judging whether a condition has been fulfilled by comparing a number of times of shunting with a predetermined number, the shunting being a diversion of at least one of the movable objects to another location from a location on the running route of another of the movable objects as simulated in response to one of the movement demands, selecting said movable objects and said running routes along which said selected movable objects are to run in an effort to satisfy each of said movement demands, and allocating movements to the selected movable objects along the selected running routes only if the condition is judged as being fulfilled, and a second step of retrieval of a moving sequence of the movable objects for fulfilling each of said movement demands when said condition is judged as being not fulfilled by the first step, the second step being based on each of said movement demands and on an arrangement of the movable objects after completion of the allocated movements of said movable objects, the second step including choosing the movable objects and the running routes along which the chosen movable objects are to run to fulfill said movement demands, the second step also including allocating movements to the chosen movable objects along the chosen running routes in accordance with the retrieval of the moving sequence.