Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Resource reservation
Also known as: Booking
German: Ressourcenreservierung
In automation, production and computing, resource reservation is the advance booking of a resource for a future task or time window, so that it is guaranteed to be available when needed and is not allocated to other requesters in the meantime.
- System integration
In one sentence
Resource reservation books a resource in advance for a future task or time window so it is guaranteed to be available when needed.
Example
When an order is dispatched, the MES reserves the required tooling and the test station for the planned time slot so no other order can take them.
How it applies
- Engineering: Reservations reduce waiting, but unused reservations block resources. Give reservations an expiry and release them when an order is canceled or delayed.
- Networks: Time-sensitive networking and fieldbus systems reserve bandwidth or time slots for deterministic communication, applying the same idea to network resources.
- Operation: Show reservations in planning and HMI views, so operators understand why a free-looking resource is not available.
- Documentation: Explain reservation behavior and manual cancellation in the MES or operating documentation, and state which role may cancel reservations.
Resource reservation vs. resource lock
A reservation books a resource for the future; others can still use it until the reserved time. A Resource lock gives exclusive use now. A reservation typically turns into a lock when the reserved task starts.