Method and apparatus for evolutionary design
First Claim
1. A method of selecting a preferred one or a preferred group of decision objects having a plurality of combinations of attributes from a larger population of possible decision objects, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) presenting, over an electronic network, to a plurality of selectors, one or more groups of decision objects having a plurality of combinations of attributes;
(b) obtaining information from a selector expressing a selector preference among the presented decision objects;
(c) using the information to evolve or to select a derived group of decision objects comprising one or more different combinations of attributes;
(d) iterating steps (a) through (c), using a derived group from step (c); and
(e) upon achieving a stopping criterion, selecting one or a group of preferred decision objects for further development, manufacture, use, or sale.
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Abstract
The invention involves generating and presenting, typically electronically, a number of design alternatives to persons who are participating in the design, selection, or market research exercise. The participants (referred to as “selectors”) transmit data indicative of their preferences among or between the presented design alternatives, and that data is used to derive a new generation of design alternatives or proposals. The new designs are generated through the use of a computer program exploiting a genetic or evolutionary computational technique. The process is repeated, typically for many iterations or cycles.
80 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of selecting a preferred one or a preferred group of decision objects having a plurality of combinations of attributes from a larger population of possible decision objects, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) presenting, over an electronic network, to a plurality of selectors, one or more groups of decision objects having a plurality of combinations of attributes;
(b) obtaining information from a selector expressing a selector preference among the presented decision objects;
(c) using the information to evolve or to select a derived group of decision objects comprising one or more different combinations of attributes;
(d) iterating steps (a) through (c), using a derived group from step (c); and
(e) upon achieving a stopping criterion, selecting one or a group of preferred decision objects for further development, manufacture, use, or sale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic network comprising a plurality of computers for design of one or a group of decision object comprising a plurality of attributes, the network being configured to:
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(a) present one or more groups of decision objects having a plurality of combinations of attributes to a plurality of selectors;
(b) obtain data from a selector indicative of a selector preference from among the presented decision objects;
(c) use the data to evolve or to select a derived group of decision objects, one or more of which comprise different combinations of attributes;
(d) iterate steps (a) through (c), using a derived group from step (c); and
(e) upon achieving a stopping criterion, output data informing a decision to select one or a group of preferred decision objects for manufacture, use, or sale. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification