Service Topology Determination via Demand Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Companies face challenges in efficiently scheduling and allocating resources to provide services to a large number of customers distributed across a geographic area, especially when resource relocation is difficult.

Innovation Solution

The development of automated systems and methods that determine a topology for the efficient allocation and distribution of services using demand aggregation and constrained delivery models, incorporating demand estimation models and cost optimization algorithms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If services are provided to a large number of customers distributed across a geographic area, then customer coverage is improved, but resource allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeographic coverage areaVSAvoidresource allocation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the geographic area into multiple regions or zones, each managed independently with its own resource allocation decisions. This divides the complex problem of serving all customers into smaller, manageable sub-problems for each region, reducing overall allocation complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters such as service thresholds, resource capacity levels, and allocation rules based on regional characteristics and demand patterns. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system optimizes resource allocation for each region, managing complexity through parameterized control rather than centralized micromanagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If resources are allocated to serve dispersed customers, then service accessibility is improved, but scheduling difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidscheduling difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-planning resource allocation and service schedules based on predicted demand patterns and customer locations. Resources are pre-positioned or pre-scheduled for specific time windows, enabling efficient service delivery to dispersed customers without requiring complex real-time scheduling decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling system incorporates dynamic adjustments, allowing resource allocation and service timing to adapt to changing conditions such as actual demand realization, resource availability, and external factors. This dynamic approach simplifies scheduling by allowing flexible responses rather than rigid pre-planning for all scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional scheduling methods are used for dispersed customers, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but cost efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidresource cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated algorithms that independently optimize resource allocation and scheduling decisions. The automated system performs complex optimization calculations and makes allocation decisions without requiring manual intervention, maintaining implementation simplicity while achieving cost efficiency through intelligent, data-driven resource management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If resource relocation is restricted, then resource stability is improved, but allocation flexibility worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource stabilityVSAvoidallocation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds another dimension to resource allocation by incorporating time as a variable. Instead of only spatial relocation, resources can be allocated across different time periods at the same location. This allows the system to maintain physical resource stability while achieving allocation flexibility through temporal adjustments, serving different customer groups at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12223521B1Determining a topology for distribution of services using demand aggregation

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

Described are systems and methods directed to determining a topology for the efficient allocation and distribution of a service to customers that are distributed over a geographic area. For example, the topology can facilitate the planning, scheduling, and allocation of resources for the efficient provisioning of services to customers at locations distributed over the geographic area. Certain input parameters and/or constraints associated with the provisioning of the service may be processed to define a cost function that may represent a total cost of providing the service while ensuring that none of the constraints are exceeded. The cost function may be optimized to determine a lowest relative cost for providing the services to the customers using the various mechanisms and/or types of resources, and a topology associated with the optimized cost function can be generated to specify how the service should be provided to satisfy the demand.