Abstract: A method for developing and using real time applications for a dynamic system having a sensing subsystem, actuation subsystem, a control subsystem, and an application subsystem utilizes stochastic compute time algorithms. After optimization functions, desired state and constraints are received and detector data has been provided from a sensor subsystem, a statistical optimization error description is generated. From this statistical optimization error description a strategy is developed, including the optimization errors, within the control subsystem. An execution module within the control subsystem then sends an execution strategy to various actuators within the actuation subsystem.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow for automated planning and scheduling the work flow for reconfigurable production systems having a plurality of modules, with each module having alternative capabilities. The system includes a system controller, a planning function for planning the concurrent production of regular and diagnostic work units, and a scheduling function for scheduling the concurrent production of regular and diagnostic work units.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow automated planning and scheduling of the work flow for reconfigurable production systems having a plurality of modules, with each module having alternative capabilities. The system includes a system controller, at least one planning function, and at least one scheduling function.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow for planning and scheduling the work flow for reconfigurable production systems having a plurality of modules, which may have alternative capabilities. The system includes a system controller, at least one planning function for planning the production of work units without utilizing off-line modules, and at least one scheduling function for scheduling the production of work units without utilizing off-line modules.

Abstract: In a problem partitioning method for problem solving in a computer system, a definition of a system to be controlled, a hierarchical control structure definition, problem definitions for a plurality of control nodes in the hierarchical control structure, and a structure evaluation function are used in partitioning the system problem. The partitioning method defines an instantiation of the hierarchical control structure by decomposing the system into a plurality of hierarchical control structure instances, with each control structure instance having a plurality of control levels. The performance of each of the hierarchical control structure instances is evaluated with the structure evaluation function and an optimal hierarchical control structure instance is selected.

Abstract: A modular object handling system has a multi-level control architecture, which includes a system controller that coordinates the functions and/or operations of individual module controllers, that in turn control corresponding actuators, to provide a desired system function. The system controller performs the overall trajectory planning by taking the constraints of each of the module actuators into account. The system controller may compensate for deviations of objects from their planned trajectories by contemporaneously redetermining trajectories and trajectory envelopes to encode the various combinations of the system constraints and task requirements. The trajectory envelopes can denote regions around other trajectories to indicate control criteria of interest, such as control and collision boundaries.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods that modify an allocation solution for a plurality of implementation units based on a determination of whether the solution can be improved by changing the operation of the implementation units.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods that approximately solve an actuation allocation problem by breaking the solution into modules, which may or may not be overlapping. The solution to the actuation allocation problem is expressed in terms of solutions for each of the modules. The solutions for the modules serve as constraints for a solution of the optimization problem on each module. The optimization problem for each module is decomposed into further modules until the modules consist of a small enough number of individual implementation units so that the solution for the module can be solved using conventional optimization techniques.

Abstract: A method for problem solving in a computer system includes an applications module for sending a problem statement to a complexity module, which configures a solving module with configuration parameters and also determines expected problem solver behavior. The solving module selects a set of parameter configuration vectors, determines a set of search space points, performs a partial search based on the parameter configuration vectors, and determines actual problem solver behavior. The solving module then determines whether a problem solution has been found, whether to perform a solver iteration step or request a complexity module to perform an adaptation step.

Abstract: A method for problem solving in a computer system includes an applications module for sending a problem statement to a complexity module. The complexity module configures a solving module with configuration parameters and also determines expected solver behavior. A solving module determines actual solver behavior, determines whether a problem solution has been found, and determines whether to perform a solver iteration step or to request a complexity module to perform an adaptation step.

Abstract: A modular object handling system has a multi-level control architecture, which includes a system controller that coordinates the functions and/or operations of individual module controllers, that in turn control corresponding actuators, to provide a desired system function. The system controller performs the overall trajectory planning by taking the constraints of each of the module actuators into account. The system controller may compensate for deviations of objects from their planned trajectories by contemporaneously redetermining trajectories and trajectory envelopes to encode the various combinations of the system constraints and task requirements. The trajectory envelopes can denote regions around other trajectories to indicate control criteria of interest, such as control and collision boundaries.

Abstract: A modular object handling system has a multi-level control architecture, which includes a system controller that coordinates the functions and/or operations of individual module controllers, that in turn control corresponding actuators, to provide a desired system function. The system controller performs the overall trajectory planning by taking the constraints of each of the module actuators into account. The system controller may compensate for deviations of objects from their planned trajectories by contemporaneously redetermining trajectories and trajectory envelopes to encode the various combinations of the system constraints and task requirements. The trajectory envelopes can denote regions around other trajectories to indicate control criteria of interest, such as control and collision boundaries.

Abstract: A modular object handling system has a multi-level control architecture, which includes a system controller that coordinates the functions and/or operations of individual module controllers, that in turn control corresponding actuators, to provide a desired system function. The system controller performs the overall trajectory planning by taking the constraints of each of the module actuators into account. The system controller may compensate for deviations of objects from their planned trajectories by contemporaneously redetermining trajectories and trajectory envelopes to encode the various combinations of the system constraints and task requirements. The trajectory envelopes can denote regions around other trajectories to indicate control criteria of interest, such as control and collision boundaries.

Abstract: A scheduling system determines the order of specific operations in a printing apparatus which is capable of outputting simplex or duplex prints. If the actuation of a module associated with the apparatus, such as stapling or switching paper supplies, requires a delay in the operation of the apparatus, this delay is entered as at least one deliberately blank pitch in the schedule. The scheduling system creates a special finite state machine which can take into account delays of arbitrary length caused by the actuation of one or more modules.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically analyzing timing constraints of capabilities, and establishing parameters for automatic generation of finite-state machines which schedule from print engine capabilities. The system generates a finite-state machine which encodes, for each capability, a means by which any given schedule may be extended to one that includes a correct or optimal schedule for that particular capability. The system generates finite-state machines for both forward and backwards scheduling. It is adapted for both greedy and optimal search strategies. The system facilitates selectively leaving classes of constraints for run-time checking in order to reduce a size of a finite-state machine. Finite machines so generated are suitably used with schedulers to alternately control operation of a print engine.

Abstract: In a system for scheduling a sequence of operations in an apparatus for outputting, for example, simplex and duplex digitally-printed documents, a schedule is derived for obtaining a desired output order of documents, and this schedule is proposed to the apparatus in real time. As individual operations are accepted for execution by the apparatus, the accepted operation is recorded in an execution table. If a proposed operation is rejected by the apparatus, the execution table can be used to revise the schedule quickly to take into account the rejected operation while still obtaining the desired output order.

Abstract: A system is provided for generically scheduling operations necessary to produce desired documents on a print engine. Such print engine scheduling employs identifying, sequencing, and initiating print engine operations that will produce a desired document. The system employs a specified description of print engines that enable a scheduler to look up what operations are necessary to produce portions of a document, to find allowable times for those operations, and to send control commands to various print engine components to perform the operations. The system is independent of any particular print engine configuration Thus, it is reusable for a wide range of configurations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for compositional modeling of print engines. The system automatically derives a complete list of all of the capabilities of a described print engine. The method includes providing compositional models of components forming the print engine. The models describe local capabilities of each component including part transformation abilities as well as timing constraints. Using the component models, configurations are created by connecting the components. Once the component models are connected, the capabilities of the configurations are directly derived. A capability is a part that can be produced by the configuration, together with the itinerary required to produce the part, the inputs from which the output is assembled, and the timing constraints to be observed when executing the itinerary. Capabilities are the fundamental connection between the description of a job to be printed by a print engine and the print engine scheduling and control software.

Abstract: In a scheduling system which optimizes a sequence of operations for carrying out, for example, digital printing of simplex and duplex documents, a "schedule tree" is created and updated in real time. The schedule tree is a running list of all possible schedules or sequences of operations within a future time frame, given a desired output of documents. Various techniques are used to manage the size of the tree and select schedules from the schedule tree to be proposed to the printing apparatus over time.

Abstract: An electronic image processing apparatus has a controller and a plurality of resources in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources includes an associated processor storing data related to operational constraints of the associated resource and a bus interconnects the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the resources. The controller is adapted to operate independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of resources by receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated resource and interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the resources.