Task queuing methodology for reducing traffic jam and to control transmission priority in an automatic material handling system

摘要

A new Task Queue Methodology (TQM) is provided for reducing traffic jams and for controlling transportation priority in an Automatic Material Handling System (AMHS). A Stocker Resource Q, under control of TQM, maintains records of stockers that are under control of the AMHS and the availability thereof. For available stockers, a Task-Q under control of a Queue Manager (TQM) is accessed, extracting therefrom records that match available stocker resources. For the available stocker resources, the tasks that are scheduled against these resources are sorted by priority and by longest wait time, resulting in one selected task. For the in this manner selected task, a Move command is issued by the TQM to the Automatic Material Handling System.