Author: claimsbot

1. A method of altering a drive parameter of a vehicle including a drive system with a first drive and a second drive, the first and second drives each driving a different one of left side wheels or tracks and right side wheels or tracks of the vehicle in response to operator control device positions, the first drive and the second drive having a first drive output and a second drive output, respectively, the second drive output being independent from the first drive output, the vehicle further having an input device interfacable with an operator, the method comprising:
receiving a first input from the operator via the input device to enter a tracking adjustment mode;
varying an output limit for the first drive while in the tracking adjustment mode to trim the output of one of the first and second drives relative to the other of the first and second drives to adjust steering of the vehicle for a positive center operator control device position, the output limit being equal to or less than a maximum output; and
controlling the drive system using an operator control device to result in movement of the vehicle, the controlling including limiting the first drive based upon the varied output limit for the first drive.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second input from the operator via the input device, entering a drive control mode based on the second input, and setting an allowed initial output limit based upon the drive control mode.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in or upon exiting the drive control mode, storing the output limit.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the varying the output limit includes incrementally varying the output limit based on the first input.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the incrementally varying the output limit is by approximately 0.4 percent of the maximum output.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: varying a second output limit for the second drive, the second output limit being equal to or less than a second maximum output, and wherein the controlling the drive system further includes limiting the second drive based upon the varied second output limit.
7. A vehicle comprising:
an engine;
an operator control device manipulable by an operator into a plurality of positions;
first and second drives each controllably under the influence of the engine to produce a first drive output and a second drive output, respectively, the second drive output being independent from the first drive output, wherein the first and second drives each drive a different one of left side wheels or tracks and right side wheels or tracks of the vehicle in response to manipulation of the operator control device;
an input device interfacable with an operator; and
a controller coupled to the input device, the first drive, and the second drive, the controller including a processor and memory to receive a first input entered via the input device to:
enter a tracking adjustment mode;
vary an output limit for the first drive while in the tracking adjustment mode to trim the output of one of the first and second drives relative to the other of the first and second drives to adjust steering of the vehicle for a positive center operator control device position, the output limit being equal to or less than a maximum output; and
control the first drive and the second drive in response to manipulation of the operator control device to result in movement of the vehicle, the control including limiting the first drive based upon the varied output limit.
8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the vehicle includes a hydraulic system coupling the first drive to the engine and the second drive to the engine.
9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the input device includes a plurality of input devices.
10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first drive includes a hydraulic motor.
11. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the processor and memory varies the output limit by incrementally varying the output limit based on the first input.
12. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the processor and memory varies a second output limit for the second drive output based on the first input, the output limit being equal to or less than a second maximum output, and wherein the processor and memory controls the drive system by limiting the second drive output from traversing the second output limit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A system for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm; the system comprising:
a computer processor; and
a computer-readable storage device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the computer processor to perform functions that provide:
(a) an initiating unit;
(b) a tracking unit coupled with said initiating unit;
(c) a generating unit coupled with said tracking unit;
(d) a measuring unit coupled with said generating unit and with said tracking unit;
(e) a regulating unit coupled with said measuring unit and said generating unit; and
(f) an output locus coupled with said regulating unit;
said initiating unit providing a predetermined number of initial sequences to said tracking unit; said tracking unit including a register for storing said initial sequences and an accumulator for effecting a statistical treatment of said initial sequences; said register and said accumulator each coupled to an adjusting unit; said register, said accumulator and said adjusting unit cooperating to ensure said statistical treatment relates to no more than a predetermined number of best sequences based on said predetermined evaluating algorithm; said generating unit employing said statistical treatment to present a new sequence; said measuring unit evaluating said new sequence according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm; said measuring unit cooperating with said tracking unit to effect providing said new sequence to said tracking unit when said evaluating indicates said new sequence is appropriate for said storing and statistical treatment; said measuring unit providing said new sequence to said regulating unit with an indication of efficacy of said new sequence; said regulating unit employing said indication to store at least a best-sequence-yet-received; said regulating unit responding to at least one predetermined criterion to order said generating unit to present a new sequence or to present said best-sequence-yet-received at said output locus.
2. The system for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 1 wherein the functions performed by the computer processor further provide said generating unit including a generator element and an improver element coupled with said generator element; said generator element employing said statistical treatment to present an initial new sequence to said improver element; said improver element treating said initial new sequence to present said new sequence.
3. The system for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 1 wherein the functions performed by the process further provide said measuring unit including an evaluator element and a selector element coupled with said evaluator element; said evaluator element effecting said evaluating said new sequence; said selector element controlling said providing said new sequence to said tracking unit and effecting said providing said new sequence to said regulating unit.
4. The system for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 1 wherein the functions performed by the computer processor further provide said generating unit including a generator element and an improver element coupled with said generator element; said generator element employing said statistical treatment to present an initial new sequence to said improver element; said improver element treating said initial new sequence to present said new sequence.
5. The system for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 4 wherein the functions performed by the computer processor further provide said measuring unit including an evaluator element and a selector element coupled with said evaluator element; said evaluator element effecting said evaluating said new sequence; said selector element controlling said providing said new sequence to said tracking unit and effecting said providing said new sequence to said regulating unit.
6. The system for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 5 wherein said evaluating indicates said new sequence is appropriate for said storing and statistical treatment when said new sequence is different than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit and said new sequence is better than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm.
7. A method for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm; the method comprising:
(a) in no particular order:
(1) providing an initiating unit;
(2) providing a tracking unit configured for coupling with said initiating unit;
(3) providing a generating unit configured for coupling with said tracking unit;
(4) providing a measuring unit configured for coupling with said generating unit and with said tracking unit;
(5) providing a regulating unit configured for coupling with said measuring unit and said generating unit; and
(6) providing an output locus configured for coupling with said regulating unit;

(b) operating said initiating unit to provide a predetermined number of initial sequences to said tracking unit;
(c) operating said tracking unit to store and effect a statistical treatment of said initial sequences, wherein said tracking unit includes a register for storing said initial sequences and an accumulator for effecting said statistical treatment; said register and said accumulator each coupled to an adjusting unit; said register, said accumulator and said adjusting unit cooperating to ensure said statistical treatment relates to no more than a predetermined number of best sequences based on said predetermined evaluating algorithm;
(d) operating said generating unit to employ said statistical treatment to present a new sequence;
(e) operating said measuring unit to evaluate said new sequence according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm;
(f) in no particular order:
(1) operating said measuring unit to cooperate with said tracking unit to effect providing said new sequence to said tracking unit when said evaluating indicates said new sequence is appropriate for said storing and statistical treatment; and
(2) operating said measuring unit to provide said new sequence to said regulating unit with an indication of efficacy of said new sequence;

(g) operating said regulating unit to employ said indication to store at least a best sequence-yet-received; and
(h) operating said regulating unit to respond to at least one predetermined criterion to order said generating unit to present a new sequence or to present said best-sequence-yet-received at said output locus.
8. The method for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 7 wherein said generating unit includes a generator element and an improver element coupled with said generator element; said generator element employing said statistical treatment to present an initial new sequence to said improver element; said improver element treating said initial new sequence to present said new sequence.
9. The method for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 7 wherein said measuring unit includes an evaluator element and a selector element coupled with said evaluator element; said evaluator element effecting said evaluating said new sequence; said selector element controlling said providing said new sequence to said tracking unit and effecting said providing said new sequence to said regulating unit.
10. The method for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 7 wherein said generating unit includes a generator element and an improver element coupled with said generator element; said generator element employing said statistical treatment to present an initial new sequence to said improver element; said improver element treating said initial new sequence to present said new sequence.
11. The method for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 10 wherein said measuring unit includes an evaluator element and a selector element coupled with said evaluator element; said evaluator element effecting said evaluating said new sequence; said selector element controlling said providing said new sequence to said tracking unit and effecting said providing said new sequence to said regulating unit.
12. The method for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm as recited in claim 11 wherein said evaluating indicates said new sequence is appropriate for said storing and statistical treatment when said new sequence is different than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit and said new sequence is better than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm.
13. A system for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm; the system comprising:
a computer processor; and
a computer-readable storage device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the computer processor to perform functions that provide:
(a) an initiating unit;
(b) a tracking unit coupled with said initiating unit;
(c) a generating unit coupled with said tracking unit;
(d) a measuring unit coupled with said generating unit and with said tracking unit;
(e) a regulating unit coupled with said measuring unit and said generating unit; and
(f) an output locus coupled with said regulating unit;
said initiating unit providing a predetermined number of initial sequences to said tracking unit; said tracking unit storing and effecting a statistical treatment of said initial sequences; said generating unit employing said statistical treatment to present a new sequence; said measuring unit evaluating said new sequence according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm; said measuring unit cooperating with said tracking unit to effect providing said new sequence to said tracking unit when said evaluating indicates said new sequence is appropriate for said storing and statistical treatment; said measuring unit providing said new sequence to said regulating unit with an indication of efficacy of said new sequence; said regulating unit employing said indication to store at least a best-sequence-yet-received; said regulating unit responding to at least one predetermined criterion to order said generating unit to present a new sequence or to present said best-sequence-yet-received at said output locus, wherein said evaluating indicates said new sequence is appropriate for said storing and statistical treatment when said new sequence is different than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit and said new sequence is better than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm.
14. A method for effecting optimization of a sequential arrangement of items with respect to a predetermined evaluating algorithm; the method comprising:
(a) in no particular order:
(1) providing an initiating unit;
(2) providing a tracking unit configured for coupling with said initiating unit;
(3) providing a generating unit configured for coupling with said tracking unit;
(4) providing a measuring unit configured for coupling with said generating unit and with said tracking unit;
(5) providing a regulating unit configured for coupling with said measuring unit and said generating unit; and
(6) providing an output locus configured for coupling with said regulating unit;

(b) operating said initiating unit to provide a predetermined number of initial sequences to said tracking unit;
(c) operating said tracking unit to store and effect a statistical treatment of said initial sequences;
(d) operating said generating unit to employ said statistical treatment to present a new sequence;
(e) operating said measuring unit to evaluate said new sequence according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm;
(f) in no particular order:
(1) operating said measuring unit to cooperate with said tracking unit to effect providing said new sequence to said tracking unit when said evaluating indicates said new sequence is appropriate for said storing and statistical treatment when said new sequence is different than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit and said new sequence is better than sequences previously stored in said tracking unit according to said predetermined evaluating algorithm; and
(2) operating said measuring unit to provide said new sequence to said regulating unit with an indication of efficacy of said new sequence;

(g) operating said regulating unit to employ said indication to store at least a best sequence-yet-received; and
(h) operating said regulating unit to respond to at least one predetermined criterion to order said generating unit to present a new sequence or to present said best-sequence-yet-received at said output locus.

1. A fluid flow modeling method comprising:
generating, by operation of one or more computers, flow model data associated with a one-dimensional flow model for well system fluid in a fracture network in a subterranean region, the flow model representing flow paths that intersect at a flow path intersection in the fracture network, the flow model data including:
a band matrix representing fluid flow within the respective flow paths; and
an intersection table representing fluid flow between the flow paths at the flow path intersection; and

simulating fluid flow in the fracture network using the band matrix and the intersection table.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein simulating fluid flow includes solving for values of a fluid flow variable for multiple locations along one or more of the flow paths.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow variable includes at least one of fluid velocity or fluid pressure.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein solving for values of the fluid flow variable includes:
converting the band matrix to an upper triangular representation by a forward elimination algorithm; and
converting the upper triangular representation to a diagonal representation by a backward substitution algorithm.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the forward elimination algorithm includes a sequence of forward elimination operations, and at least one of the forward elimination operations is based on the intersection table.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the backward substitution algorithm includes a sequence of backward substitution operations, and at least one of the backward substitution operations is based on the intersection table.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the band matrix comprises a full matrix representation.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the band matrix comprises a vector representation.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vector representation includes a number of vectors, and the number of vectors corresponds to a bandwidth of the band matrix.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the intersection table includes:
indices corresponding to off-band matrix positions of a flow model matrix; and
values representing fluid flow between the flow paths according to discretized governing flow equations of the flow model.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the band matrix includes other values representing fluid flow within the flow paths according to the discretized governing flow equations of the flow model.
12. The method of claim 11, comprising generating the values included in the band matrix and the intersection table according to a finite difference discretization of the governing flow equations.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the band matrix has a bandwidth that is determined by the discretization of the governing flow equations.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow model represents multiple flow paths that each intersect a common flow path at respective flow path intersections, the intersection table includes multiple entries, and each entry corresponds to one of the flow path intersections.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow model represents a flow loop that intersects another flow path at multiple flow path intersections, the intersection table includes multiple entries, and each entry corresponds to one of the flow path intersections.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by data processing apparatus, perform operations comprising:
accessing a one-dimensional flow model representing multiple flow paths for well system fluid, the flow paths intersecting at a flow path intersection;
generating, based on the flow model:
a band matrix representing fluid flow within the respective flow paths; and
an intersection table representing fluid flow between the flow paths at the flow path intersection; and

operating the flow model based on the band matrix and the intersection table.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the flow model includes a plurality of nodes for each of the flow paths, and the nodes represent locations of fluid flow through a fracture in a subterranean region.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the flow model includes a plurality of nodes for each of the flow paths, and the nodes represent locations of fluid flow through a conduit installed in a wellbore.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the flow model includes a plurality of nodes representing respective flow locations along each of the flow paths, and the plurality of nodes include an intersection node representing the location of the flow path intersection.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the band matrix includes a plurality of matrix rows, and each matrix row includes values from a plurality of governing flow equations discretized for one of the plurality of nodes.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the intersection table includes one or more values from the plurality of governing flow equations discretized for the intersection node.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein operating the flow model includes solving for values of a fluid flow variable for each of the nodes.
23. A fluid flow modeling system comprising one or more computers that include:
flow model data associated with a flow model for well system fluid, the flow model representing flow paths that intersect at a flow path intersection, the flow model data including:
a band matrix representing fluid flow within the respective flow paths; and
an intersection table representing fluid flow between the flow paths at the flow path intersection; and

a solver module operable to compute, based on the band matrix and the intersection table, values of a fluid flow variable for a location on at least one of the flow paths.
24. The fluid flow modeling system of claim 23, wherein the band matrix comprises a vector representation of in-band elements of a flow model matrix, and the intersection table comprises a table representation of off-band elements of the flow model matrix.
25. The fluid flow modeling system of claim 24, wherein the intersection table includes:
indices to off-band positions in the flow model matrix; and
one or more values from a discretized governing flow equation representing fluid flow at the flow path intersection.
26. The fluid flow modeling system of claim 25, wherein the band matrix includes other values from the discretized governing flow equation.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of providing on-demand storage capacity on a remote storage server to a customer, comprising:
receiving a virtual array site code;
virtually connecting the remote storage server to a local storage server of the customer in response to receiving the virtual array site code, and
creating a virtual array site object on the local storage server corresponding to an array site object on the remote storage server.
2. The method of claim 1, further including preregistering a customer for the on-demand storage capacity.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein preregistering a customer includes allocating a portion of the remote storage server to the customer.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein preregistering a customer includes notifying the local storage server to set aside space for logical configuration objects needed during setup.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein preregistering a customer includes registering an attribute of a storage device specified by the customer.
6. The method of claim 1, further including receiving an activation request from the customer to activate the storage capacity.
7. The method of claim 6, further including, subsequent to receiving the activation request from the customer, executing a command on the remote storage server to provide the virtual array site code to the customer.
8. The method of claim 7, further including, previous to providing the virtual array site code to the customer, validating a payment from the customer.
9. The method of claim 7, further including, previous to providing the virtual array site code to the customer, validating a contract acceptance from the customer.
10. A system for providing on-demand storage capacity to a customer, comprising:
a remote storage server in communication with a local storage server of the customer, the remote storage server configured to, in response to the receipt of a virtual array site code:
virtually connect to the local storage server, and
create a virtual array site object on the local storage server corresponding to an array site object on the remote storage server.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote storage server is further configured to preregister a customer for the on-demand storage capacity.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote storage server is further configured to:
allocate a portion of the remote storage server to the customer,
notify the local storage server to set aside space for logical configuration objects needed during setup, and
register an attribute of a storage device specified by the customer.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote storage server is further configured to receive an activation request from the customer to activate the storage capacity.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote storage server is further configured to, subsequent to receiving the activation request from the customer, execute a command on the remote storage server to provide the virtual array site code to the customer.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote storage server is further configured to, previous to providing the virtual array site code to the customer, validate a payment from the customer.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote storage server is further configured to, previous to providing the virtual array site code to the customer, validate a contract acceptance from the customer.
17. A computer program product for providing on-demand storage capacity on a remote storage server to a customer, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
a first executable portion for receiving a virtual array site code;
a second executable portion for virtually connecting the remote storage server to a local storage server of the customer in response to receiving the virtual array site code; and
a third executable portion for creating a virtual array site object on the local storage server corresponding to an array site object on the remote storage server.
18. The computer program product of claim 17, further including:
a fourth executable portion for allocating a portion of the remote storage server to the customer,
a fifth executable portion for notifying the local storage server to set aside space for logical configuration objects needed during setup,
a sixth executable portion for registering an attribute of a storage device specified by the customer, and
a seventh executable portion for receiving an activation request from the customer to activate the storage capacity.
19. The computer program product of claim 18, further including an eighth executable portion for executing a command on the remote storage server to provide the virtual array site code to the customer.
20. The computer program product of claim 19, further including a ninth executable portion for, previous to providing the virtual array site code to the customer, validating a payment or contract acceptance from the customer.