Method and system for global optimization of device allocation

Claim 2

An automated, computer implemented method for allocating devices in order to satisfy requests for said devices, said method comprising the steps of: creating a package of device requests, said package of device requests being stored in an electronic memory means of said computer; determining for each of said device requests in said package one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying the device request; determining a sequence of priority values associated with each eligible device of each device request, wherein priority values within said sequence of priority values are assigned to different positions; assigning to each of said device requests an eligible device selected from said one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying said device request such that a different eligible device is assigned to each device request; adding priority values at each common position for each selected device thereby obtaining a sequence of summed priority values, wherein said sequence of summed priority values satisfies a specific optimizing function; and allocating, to each device request, said eligible device, said eligible device being used by said computer after said allocating.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises minimizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises maximizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the step of creating a package of one or more device requests, each of said one or more device requests being specified by one or more data definition statements contained within a job step.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the step of creating a package of one or more device requests generated within a preselected period of time.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the step of creating a package of a preselected number of device requests.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more eligible devices is represented by a data definition statement.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7, wherein said data definition statement includes a token name, said token name being mapped to a set of eligible devices.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more eligible devices includes one or more features, and wherein said step of determining said sequence of priority values for each eligible device further comprises the steps of: assigning a priority value to each feature of an eligible device; and ordering priority values for said eligible device to determine said sequence of priority values.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9, wherein said priority value is dependent upon a specific device feature of said eligible device and the associated device request of said eligible device.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for minimizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

Claim 15

The system of claim 11, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for maximizing the sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

Claim 16

The system of claim 11, wherein said means for creating comprises means for creating a package of one or more device requests, each of said one or more device requests being specified by one or more data definition statements contained within a job step.

Claim 17

The system of claim 11, wherein said means for creating comprises means for creating a package of one or more device requests generated within a preselected period of time.

Claim 18

The system of claim 11, wherein said means for creating comprises means for creating a package of a preselected number of device requests.

Claim 19

The system of claim 11, wherein said one or more eligible devices is represented by a data definition statement.

Claim 20

The system of claim 17, wherein said data definition statement includes a token name, said token name being mapped to a set of eligible devices.

Claim 21

The system of claim 11, wherein each of said one or more eligible devices includes one or more features, and wherein said means for determining said sequence of priority values for each eligible device further comprises: means for assigning a priority value to each feature of an eligible device; and means for ordering priority values for said eligible device to determine said sequence of priority values.

Claim 22

The system of claim 19, wherein said priority value is dependent upon a specific device feature of said eligible device and the associated device request of said eligible device.

Claim 23

An automated, computer implemented method for allocating devices in order to satisfy requests for said devices, said method comprising the steps of: creating a package of device requests, said package of device requests being stored in an electronic memory means; determining for each of said device requests in said package one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying the device request; determining an ordered sequence of priority values associated with each eligible device of each device request, wherein priority values within said ordered sequence of priority values are assigned to different positions; assigning to each of said device requests an eligible device selected from said one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying said device request such that a different eligible device is assigned to each device request; adding priority values at each common position for each selected device thereby obtaining an ordered sequence of summed priority values, wherein said ordered sequence of summed priority values satisfies a specific lexicographic optimizing function; and allocating, to each device request, said eligible device, said eligible device being used by said computer after said allocating.

Claim 24

An automated, computer implemented method for allocating devices in order to satisfy requests for said devices, said method comprising the steps of: creating a package of device requests, said package of device requests being stored in an electronic memory means; determining for each of said device requests in said package one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying the device request; determining an ordered sequence of priority values associated with each eligible device of each device request, wherein priority values within said ordered sequence of priority values are assigned to different positions; assigning to each of said device requests an eligible device selected from said one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying said device request such that a different eligible device is assigned to each device request; adding priority values at each common position for each selected device thereby obtaining an ordered sequence of summed priority values, wherein said ordered sequence of summed priority values satisfies a specific lexicographic optimizing function; and allocating, to each device request, said eligible device, said eligible device being used by said computer after said allocating.

Claim 25

The method of claim 21, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises minimizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises maximizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

Claim 29

The system of claim 24, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for minimizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.

Claim 30

The system of claim 24, wherein said specific optimizing function comprises means for maximizing the ordered sequence of summed priority values associated with the selected devices.