Patent Application
20240330840
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automating container peel pile organization.
Container terminals are areas where shipping containers are stored for a period of time while either waiting to be picked up, generally via a trucking company or other transport means (e.g., railroad), or exported (e.g., on a cargo ship or other vessel). Container terminals have stacking areas demarcated into blocks or storage areas or piles. Commonly these stacking areas are designated in some manner such as area A, area B, area C or area 1, area 2, area 3.
A container block may be comprised of rows, bays and tiers as shown in
To know the location of a particular stack in a block, an operator generally needs to know the two co-ordinates (i.e., the bay and the row). To know the location of a single container, an operator generally needs to know the stack and also which tier the container is in (i.e., the operator need to all three co-ordinates in that block which are the bay, the row and the tier).
When a vessel arrives at a terminal, a manifest or baplie is electronically transmitted beforehand, which contains details of each container (e.g., the cargo, container length and height, whether it is refrigerated (sometimes referred to as a Reefer), if it's premium container (i.e., hot cargo), or if it is Chemically sensitive goods designated as DG (Dangerous Goods). Also for each container the destined beneficial cargo owner (BCO) (e.g., Walmart, Target) and the designated drayage companies (i.e., trucking companies) who are permitted to pick up the container.
When Containers are stacked randomly, the needed container can get buried below multiple other containers. An example of this can be seen in
A Peel Pile is a Block of containers where every container, which needs to be transferred to a truck, to be taken in-land or to take it to load on to a vessel, is at Peel Layer. In a truly efficient container terminal, every container must be a peel container.
Currently, the organization and sorting of these containers at container terminals is a massive undertaking and inefficiencies in the sorting, stacking and tracking of these containers in such inefficient manners causes unnecessary delays and additional cost and expense, to the BCOs, drayage companies, shipping companies, and container terminals alike. Therefore, there is a need in the art for systems and methods for automating container peel pile organization.
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for automating container peel pile organization. The system may include one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions for automating container peel pile organization. The machine-readable instructions may be configured to receive, via one or more processors, a container identification profile associated with a container. The container identification profile comprises a container type identifier. The machine-readable instructions may be configured to identify, via the one or more processors, a location for placement of the container, based at least in part on the container type identifier. The machine-readable instructions may be configured to send, via the one or more processors, the location for placement of the container to a transporter. The machine-readable instructions may be configured to insert, via the one or more processors, a pickup invitation into a container pickup storage list. The machine-readable instructions may be configured to send, via the one or more processors, one or more pickup invitations from the container pickup storage list, based at least in part on locations of the one or more pickup invitations in the container pickup storage list.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for automating container peel pile organization. The method may include receiving, via one or more processors, a container identification profile associated with a container. The container identification profile comprises a container type identifier. The method may include identifying, via the one or more processors, a location for placement of the container, based at least in part on the container type identifier. The method may include sending, via the one or more processors, the location for placement of the container to a transporter. The method may include inserting, via the one or more processors, a pickup invitation into a container pickup storage list. The method may include sending, via the one or more processors, one or more pickup invitations from the container pickup storage list, based at least in part on locations of the one or more pickup invitations in the container pickup storage list.
One purpose of certain embodiments of this invention is to eliminate the Unnecessary dig moves and facilitate a container terminal to become truly efficient. An example of an efficient peel pile, created by exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be seen in
The one or more computing platforms 102 may be configured by machine-readable instructions 106. Machine-readable instructions 106 may include modules. The modules may be implemented as one or more of functional logic, hardware logic, electronic circuitry, software modules, and the like. The modules may include one or more of container profile receiving module 108, location identifying module 110, location sending module 112, pickup invitation inserting module 114, invitations sending module 116, number checking module 118, number identifying module 120, pickup invitations sending module 122, cargo owner identifying module 124, containers identifying module 126, location identifying module 128, updating module 130, container profile receiving module 132, location identifying module 134, location sending module 136, portion inserting module 138, export notifications sending module 140, cargo owner identifying module 142, containers identifying module 144, location identifying module 146, updating module 148, number checking module 150, being module 152, status checking module 154, pickup notification sending module 156, acceptance receiving module 158, appointment profile generating module 160, appointment confirmation sending module 162, drop receiving module 164, number checking module 166, identifying module 168, appointment profile generating module 170, appointment confirmation sending module 172, appointment identifier receiving module 174, identity confirming module 176, providing module 178, list receiving module 180, vessel profile receiving module 182, stack plan generating module 184, load map generating module 186, locations allocating module 188, and/or other modules. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that any number of the aforementioned modules may be combined of further parsed into separate modules, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any number of modules.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, container profile receiving module 108 may be configured to receive a container identification profile associated with a container. In certain embodiments, the container identification profile assists the system in identifying critical information about a container. The container identification profile may be comprised of one or more of a container type identifier, a Beneficial Cargo Owner (BCO) identifier, a destination identifier, an origination identifier, a drayage company identifier, or any combination thereof. Location identifying module 110 may be configured to identify a location for placement of the container, based at least in part on the container type identifier. For instance, if the container type identifier notes that the container is of a specific type (e.g., premium, dangerous goods, refrigerated), the location identifying module may identify an appropriate location based on that specific type of container (e.g., refrigerated containers being sent to a specific area). In further embodiments, the location identifying module 110 can use the container type identifier to locate and select an appropriate area for containers with other special properties, such as locating areas in the container terminal for a dangerous goods container that meets certain criteria needed for storage of such containers (e.g., not within 2 container radius of another DG container). In certain embodiments, the location identifying module can be configured with criteria provided by the operator of the system in order to comply with local regulations or laws controlling the container terminal.
In certain embodiments, location sending module 112 may be configured to send the location for placement of a container to a transporter. A transporter, for the purposes of this application, could be any type of vehicle, device, machine or other equipment capable of moving or otherwise transporting a shipping container. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of transporters that could be utilized in such a manner, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any type of transporter. Locations for placing a container in a container terminal are sometimes called stacks, or “peel piles” when optimized, which are areas where one or more containers may be stacked on top of one another to conserve space.
It is an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention to optimize peel piles in order to increase efficiency and delivery timing of the containers. An example of an efficient peel pile, created by exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be seen in
Pickup invitation inserting module 114 may be configured to insert a pickup invitation into a container pickup storage list. The pickup invitation may be inserted into the container pickup storage list at a location that may be based at least in part on the container identification profile. For instance, when the container identification profile indicates a container is a “premium” container, the pickup invitation may be inserted into the pickup storage list in a place associated with other premium containers, with the idea that premium containers would be scheduled to be picked up earlier than some other types of containers.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, invitations sending module 116 may be configured to send one or more pickup invitations from the container pickup storage list, based at least in part on locations of the one or more pickup invitations in the container pickup storage list. For instance, as noted above, the premium containers may be scheduled for invitation before standard containers, which may also be behind refrigerated or other types of containers. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous ways to organize the pickup storage list, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such manner of organization.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, number checking module 118 may be configured to checking a total number of uncompleted sent pickup invitations. Number identifying module 120 may be configured to identify the total number of uncompleted, but sent, pickup invitations being below a max threshold of total uncompleted sent pickup invitations. Pickup invitations sending module 122 may be configured to send additional pickup invitations from the container pickup storage list until the max threshold of total uncompleted sent pickup invitations is reached. As pickups are completed, and the number of uncompleted sent pickup invitations goes down, the system can be configured to repeat the sending process, up to the threshold. In certain embodiments, there is no max threshold, and the system can continually send pickup invitations without restriction.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, cargo owner identifying module 124 may be configured to identify a beneficial cargo owner, based at least in part on the container identification profile. Containers identifying module 126 may be configured to identify one or more containers associated with the beneficial cargo owner. Location identifying module 128 may be configured to identify a location of the one or more containers associated with the beneficial cargo owner. Updating module 130 may be configured to update the location for placement of the container based at least in part on the location of the one or more containers associated with the beneficial cargo owner.
Container profile receiving module 132 may be configured to receive a second container identification profile associated with a second container. Location identifying module 134 may be configured to identify a second location for placement of the second container, based at least in part on the second container type identifier.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, location sending module 136 may be configured to send the second location for placement of the second container to a second transporter. Portion inserting module 138 may be configured to insert at least a portion of the second container identification profile into a container export list. Export notifications sending module 140 may be configured to send one or more export notifications from the container export list.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, cargo owner identifying module 142 may be configured to identify a beneficial cargo owner, based at least in part on the second container identification profile. Containers identifying module 144 may be configured to identify one or more containers associated with the BCO.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, location identifying module 146 may be configured to identify a location of the one or more containers associated with the beneficial cargo owner. Updating module 148 may be configured to update the second location for placement of the second container based at least in part on the location of the one or more containers associated with the beneficial cargo owner.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, number checking module 150 may be configured to checking a total number of transports at a terminal where the location for placement of the container is located. Being module 152 may be configured to invitations be below a max threshold of total transports permissible at the terminal. Status checking module 154 may be configured to check status of container handling equipment at the terminal where the location for placement of the container is located. Pickup notification sending module 156 may be configured to send a pickup notification to a second transporter, based at least in part on the status of the container handling equipment being returned as operational and the total number of transports at the terminal where the location for placement of the container is located is below the max threshold of total transports permissible at the terminal.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, acceptance receiving module 158 may be configured to receive an acceptance of a first pickup invitation selected from one or more pickup invitations. Appointment profile generating module 160 may be configured to generate an appointment profile, based at least in part on the transport profile. Appointment confirmation sending module 162 may be configured to send an appointment confirmation to a recipient. In some cases, the transport profile further comprises one or more of an identification of a type of vehicle, a type of chassis, and a driver identifier.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, drop receiving module 164 may be configured to receiving a drop off request. Terminals may have a maximum capacity of transporters on site at any given time. This may be managed by local rules or regulation, or simply set by the terminal operator in order to reduce traffic, delays, safety risks or any other concerns. As such, in certain embodiments, number checking module 166 may be configured to checking a total number of incomplete appointments at a terminal. Identifying module 168 may be configured to identify whether the total number of incomplete appointments is below a max threshold of total appointments permissible at the terminal.
Once there is room for an additional appointment, the system may be configured to generate a new appointment. In certain embodiments of the present invention, Appointment profile generating module 170 may be configured to generate an appointment detail profile, based at least in part on the drop off profile. The information contained in these appointment detail profile may comprise information about the location for drop off, container type, transporter identification (e.g., driver's ID, biometric information to identify driver, license plate information). One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous data points that could be used in the appointment detail profile and drop off profile, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such information. Appointment confirmation sending module 172 may be configured to send an appointment confirmation to a second transporter.
Appointment identifier receiving module 174 may be configured to receive an appointment identifier. Identity confirming module 176 may be configured to confirm an identity of a second transporter based at least in part on the appointment identifier. Providing module 178 may be configured to provide to the second transporter an appointment information profile.
List receiving module 180 may be configured to receive a list of a plurality of containers for export on a vessel. Vessel profile receiving module 182 may be configured to receive a vessel profile associated with the vessel. Stack plan generating module 184 may be configured to generate a stack plan, based at least in part on container profiles associated with the plurality of containers and the vessel profile. Load map generating module 186 may be configured to generate a load map from the stack plan. Locations allocating module 188 may be configured to allocate locations in the load map for each of the plurality of containers.
In some cases, the one or more computing platforms 102, may be communicatively coupled to the remote platform(s) 104. In some cases, the communicative coupling may include communicative coupling through a networked environment 190. The networked environment 190 may be a radio access network, such as LTE or 5G, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or wireless LAN (WLAN), for example. It will be appreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementations in which one or more computing platforms 102 and remote platform(s) 104 may be operatively linked via some other communication coupling. The one or more one or more computing platforms 102 may be configured to communicate with the networked environment 190 via wireless or wired connections. In addition, in an embodiment, the one or more computing platforms 102 may be configured to communicate directly with each other via wireless or wired connections. Examples of one or more computing platforms 102 may include, but is not limited to, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, laptop computers, desktop computers, Internet of Things (IoT) device, or other mobile or stationary devices. In an embodiment, system 100 may also include one or more hosts or servers, such as the one or more remote platforms 104 connected to the networked environment 190 through wireless or wired connections. According to one embodiment, remote platforms 104 may be implemented in or function as base stations (which may also be referred to as Node Bs or evolved Node Bs (eNBs)). In other embodiments, remote platforms 104 may include web servers, mail servers, application servers, etc. According to certain embodiments, remote platforms 104 may be standalone servers, networked servers, or an array of servers.
The one or more computing platforms 102 may include one or more processors 192 for processing information and executing instructions or operations. One or more processors 192 may be any type of general or specific purpose processor. In some cases, multiple processors 192 may be utilized according to other embodiments. In fact, the one or more processors 192 may include one or more of general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as examples. In some cases, the one or more processors 192 may be remote from the one or more computing platforms 102, such as disposed within a remote platform like the one or more remote platforms 192 of
The one or more processors 192 may perform functions associated with the operation of system 100 which may include, for example, precoding of antenna gain/phase parameters, encoding and decoding of individual bits forming a communication message, formatting of information, and overall control of the one or more computing platforms 102, including processes related to management of communication resources.
The one or more computing platforms 102 may further include or be coupled to a memory 194 (internal or external), which may be coupled to one or more processors 192, for storing information and instructions that may be executed by one or more processors 192. Memory 194 may be one or more memories and of any type suitable to the local application environment, and may be implemented using any suitable volatile or nonvolatile data storage technology such as a semiconductor-based memory device, a magnetic memory device and system, an optical memory device and system, fixed memory, and removable memory. For example, memory 194 can consist of any combination of random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), static storage such as a magnetic or optical disk, hard disk drive (HDD), or any other type of non-transitory machine or computer readable media. The instructions stored in memory 194 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by one or more processors 192, enable the one or more computing platforms 102 to perform tasks as described herein.
In some embodiments, one or more computing platforms 102 may also include or be coupled to one or more antennas 196 for transmitting and receiving signals and/or data to and from one or more computing platforms 102. The one or more antennas 196 may be configured to communicate via, for example, a plurality of radio interfaces that may be coupled to the one or more antennas 196. The radio interfaces may correspond to a plurality of radio access technologies including one or more of LTE, 5G, WLAN, Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), radio frequency identifier (RFID), ultrawideband (UWB), and the like. The radio interface may include components, such as filters, converters (for example, digital-to-analog converters and the like), mappers, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module, and the like, to generate symbols for a transmission via one or more downlinks and to receive symbols (for example, via an uplink).
In various embodiments, the systems and methods depicted herein may utilize various machine learning (ML) and/or artificial intelligence (AI) systems, including, but not limited to, machine learning models trained on various amounts of test and training data, neural networks (e.g., Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Convolution Neural Networks (CNN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN)), deep learning models and deep-learning-based generative models (e.g., generative adversarial networks (GANs)). One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous types of ML and AI systems that could be used for the purposes detailed herein, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such ML or AI system.
The method 200 may include identifying, via the one or more processors, a location for placement of the container, based at least in part on the container type identifier at block 204. In certain embodiments of the present invention, identification of a location for placement can be weighted on several factors. For instance, if there is a stack which has not reached maximum tiers and has containers going to the same trucking company and/or BCO, and the containers are of the same length, then the system can prioritize placing other containers at the same location in order to optimize pickup by the trucking company. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous data points on which the system could use to optimize and select locations for containers, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such data points. Further, embodiments of the present invention may utilize various ML or AI systems, where training and test data are used in such ML or AI system to identify the optimal location. Other embodiments may utilize other forms of ML or AI as detailed elsewhere herein.
The method 200 may include sending, via the one or more processors, the location for placement of the container to a transporter at block 206. This information can be used by the transporter to pickup the container and place it at the appropriate location. The information may be comprised of data such as current location of a container, destination location of a container, size of the container, or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous data points that could be used, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such data points.
The method 200 may include inserting, via the one or more processors, a pickup invitation into a container pickup storage list at block 208, the pickup invitation being inserted into the container pickup storage list at a location that being based at least in part on the container identification profile. For instance, container identification profiles identifying a container as a premium or refrigerated container may be placed ahead of non-premium or non-refrigerated containers.
The method 200 may include sending, via the one or more processors, one or more pickup invitations from the container pickup storage list, based at least in part on locations of the one or more pickup invitations in the container pickup storage list at block 210. For instance, invitations may be sent to those who are picking up premium containers before those who are picking up non-premium containers.
Further, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the selection of a particular container from the container pickup storage list may be based, at least in part, on data related to where the containers are stored and/or stacked. In certain embodiments, pickup invitations may be selected based, at least in part, on stacking order of containers, in order to have containers picked up in an order without requiring digging, thereby ensuring that stacks are peel piles. In certain embodiments, the system may utilize machine learning and/or artificial intelligence systems and methods to optimize the selection of containers and distribution of invitations in such a manner as to result in every stack being a peel pile. For instance, a machine learning model trained on data related various data points, such as time between sending an invitation to pickup of container of various transporters, transporter availability (e.g., are certain transporters already invited to pickup other containers), location of container in terminal, or any other relevant data point, or any combination thereof, could be used to provide predictive analytics on the estimated arrival of a transporter and make determinations on invitations based on a known stacking order of containers in the terminal. In this manner, the predictive analytics provided could be used to help ensure every stack ends up being a peel pile.
In
In
The system and methods described herein are not solely for the management of inbound containers, but also for managing containers to be exported as well. As shown in
The method 200 continued at 230 may further include identifying a second location for placement of the second container, based at least in part on the second container type identifier at block 234. In certain embodiments, much like inbound containers, export containers are identified, in part, by the designation of their contents and whether or not they are marked as premium or have another designation. The method 200 continued at 230 may further include sending the second location for placement of the second container to a second transporter at block 236. The method 200 continued at 230 may further include inserting at least a portion of the second container identification profile into a container export list at block 238. In certain embodiments, the second container identification profile associated with a container to be exported may comprise information such as vessel identifier, voyage identifier, shipping Line designation, destination port, container profile information, such as “premium”, dangerous cargo, out of dimension cargo, BCO, drayage company, and other relevant information. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous data points that could be utilized in such second container identification profiles, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such data points. The method 200 continued at 230 may also further include sending one or more export notifications from the container export list at block 240.
In
In
The method 200 continued at 252 may further include checking a status of a container handling equipment, such as stacking cranes and mobile handlers, at the terminal where the location for placement of the container is located at block 258. This ensures that the equipment used to handle the containers are operational. If such equipment is not operational, then it would likely be inappropriate to send additional invitations to transports.
The method 200 continued at 252 may also further include sending a pickup notification to a second transporter, based at least in part on the status of the container handling equipment being returned as operational and the total number of transports at the terminal where the location for placement of the container is located is below the max threshold of total transports permissible at the terminal at block 260. Assuming the handling equipment is operational and the terminal is not at a maximum for total transports, additional pickups can be scheduled.
In
In
In
The method 200 continues at 282 may further include confirming an identity of a second transporter based at least in part on the appointment identifier at block 286. For instance, the system may be configured to confirm identification of the transporter via their government issued ID, other identification (e.g., ID card specific to the terminal), biometric information (e.g., thumbprint, facial recognition, iris scan), or any other appropriate means for confirming identity, or any combination thereof. Further, the system may also be configured to capture and/or validate other information about the transport vehicle, such as the license plate, and make and model of the vehicle.
Once the transporter's identity is confirmed, the method 200 continued at 282 may also further include providing to the second transporter an appointment information profile at block 288. The appointment information profile may comprise information such as the location for the container to be deposited at and how to get to such location. In certain embodiments of the present invention, location can be broadcast to a device of the transporter via various means, such as via proprietary applications, GPS systems, SMS text messages, web browsers, native mobile apps, or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous means and methods for providing such information to the device of a transporter, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such means and methods.
When a vessel arrives at a terminal, discharge plans and loading plans are generated. In general, each bay, hatch and hold in the vessel has containers stacked below deck covered by the hatch covers and then containers are also stacked above deck. In most common situations, containers above deck have to be discharged first to reach containers below deck. While operating below deck, crane operators can discharge and load containers simultaneously. Typically, to load containers above deck, all loading below deck has to be completed and the hatch needs to be closed and secured with hatch covers and then containers can be Loaded above deck.
According to embodiments of the present invention, one purpose of export containers stacking system and methods detailed herein is to achieve dig free transfer of containers from the stacks to the vessel for loading. An exemplary embodiment of this is shown in
The method 200 continued at 290 may further include generating a stack plan, based at least in part on container profiles associated with the plurality of containers and the vessel profile at block 296. The method 200 continued at 290 may further include generating a load map from the stack plan at block 298. The method 200 continued at 290 may also further include allocating locations in the load map for each of the plurality of containers at block 300.
In certain embodiments, the system may use the ‘Load Map’ and allot individual containers to fill the Load Map. The system may be configured to order the allotment in such a way, that when loading happens, the order of containers that need to be loaded, will always be on peel layer and dig free, when they need to be transferred out from the yard stacks to be loaded on to the vessel.
In one embodiment of the present invention, allotment is done by the system on a stack by stack basis. The number of containers needed in the stack, destination port of container, cargo type of container, container length, all will be matched as per the ‘Load Map’. While allotting containers to a stack, the sum gross weight of the stack should not cross the max stack weight threshold for the vessel. In preferred embodiments, heavier containers given locations by the system such that they are allotted towards the bottom of the Stack followed by lighter containers towards the top of stack so that center of gravity is towards the bottom of the vessel.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, discharge container stacks with containers discharged during a work shift will be blocked from any further stacking even if the stacks have not reached maximum tiers. Topmost containers in those stacks may be added to a pickups invitations queue, resulting in appointment process for import (i.e., pickup).
According to an embodiment of the present invention, If it is end of last shift of the day, then the system may be configured to cancel all un-accepted invites which are past the acceptance threshold hours set by the terminal (for example 72 hours). The system may be configured to notify transporters or BCOs of such cancellations via electronic means, such as SMS/Push message alerts, email or other means.
In certain embodiments, all un-fulfilled appointments, which are past the appointments wait threshold hours set by the Terminal (for example 48 hours) may be cancelled by the system. Again, notifications may be made by the system via any appropriate electronic means (e.g., SMS/Push message alerts with the cancelled appointment IDs sent to the corresponding drivers and dispatchers).
In some cases, the method 200 may be performed by one or more hardware processors, such as the processors 192 of
Throughout this disclosure and elsewhere, block diagrams and flowchart illustrations depict methods, apparatuses (i.e., systems), and computer program products. Each element of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, as well as each respective combination of elements in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, illustrates a function of the methods, apparatuses, and computer program products. Any and all such functions (“depicted functions”) can be implemented by computer program instructions; by special-purpose, hardware-based computer systems; by combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions; by combinations of general purpose hardware and computer instructions; and so on-any and all of which may be generally referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.”
While the foregoing drawings and description may set forth functional aspects of the disclosed systems, no particular arrangement of software for implementing these functional aspects should be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.
Each element in flowchart illustrations may depict a step, or group of steps, of a computer-implemented method. Further, each step may contain one or more sub-steps. For the purpose of illustration, these steps (as well as any and all other steps identified and described above) are presented in order. It will be understood that an embodiment can contain an alternate order of the steps adapted to a particular application of a technique disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. The depiction and description of steps in any particular order is not intended to exclude embodiments having the steps in a different order, unless required by a particular application, explicitly stated, or otherwise clear from the context.
Embodiments of the system as described herein are not limited to applications involving conventional computer programs or programmable apparatuses that run them. It is contemplated, for example, that embodiments of the invention as claimed herein could include an optical computer, quantum computer, analog computer, or the like.
The elements depicted in flowchart illustrations and block diagrams throughout the figures imply logical boundaries between the elements. However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented as parts of a monolithic software structure, as standalone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these. All such implementations are within the scope of the present disclosure.
The functions and operations presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may also be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will be apparent to those of skill in the art, along with equivalent variations. In addition, embodiments of the invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It is appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the present teachings as described herein, and any references to specific languages are provided for disclosure of enablement and best mode of embodiments of the invention.
Embodiments of the invention are well suited to a wide variety of computer network systems over numerous topologies. Within this field, the configuration and management of large networks include storage devices and computers that are communicatively coupled to dissimilar computers and storage devices over a network, such as the Internet.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.
