System and method for representing and solving numeric and symbolic problems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine system for solving an optimization or constraint satisfaction problem, comprising:
- a digital computer, said digital computer comprising;
one or more memory devices for storing weak and strong problem solving methods, decision variables having decision variable values, and heuristics;
first means for utilizing said weak and strong problem solving methods to manipulate the decision variable values to find at least a best balanced solution to the problem; and
second means for utilizing said heuristics to dynamically alternate between said weak and strong problem solving methods.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for representing and solving problems allows a user to enter objects and attributes, and to form a table of at least two dimensions having object-attribute pairs. An object hierarchy is then implemented using the entered objects. A score is maintained reflecting how closely the constraints of a particular problem are to being satisfied and the degree of progress in the direction of stated objectives of the problem.
119 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A machine system for solving an optimization or constraint satisfaction problem, comprising:
-
a digital computer, said digital computer comprising; one or more memory devices for storing weak and strong problem solving methods, decision variables having decision variable values, and heuristics; first means for utilizing said weak and strong problem solving methods to manipulate the decision variable values to find at least a best balanced solution to the problem; and second means for utilizing said heuristics to dynamically alternate between said weak and strong problem solving methods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A machine system for solving an optimization or constraint satisfaction problem, comprising:
-
a digital computer for receiving and manipulating information in the form of user-defined targets and/or objectives of the problem, said digital computer comprising; one or more memory devices for storing said user-defined targets and/or objectives, a pure objective function and constraint functions representative of said user-defined targets and/or objectives, said pure objective function and constraint functions containing decision variables capable of accepting a value; first means for performing a test on said pure objective function and constraint functions to determine local linearity; and second means using linear techniques for manipulating said values of said decision variables to attempt to achieve said targets and/or objectives when the results of said test indicate local linearity, and using non-linear techniques for manipulating said values when the results of said test indicate local non-linearity.
-
-
13. A machine system for solving an optimization or constraint satisfaction problem, comprising:
-
a digital computer for receiving and manipulating information in the form of user-defined targets and/or objectives of the problem, said digital computer comprising; one or more memory devices for storing said user-defined targets and/or objectives, a pure objective function and constraint functions representative of said user-defined targets and/or objectives, said pure objective function and said constraint functions containing functions of decision variables capable of accepting a value; first means for determining the proximity of constraint boundaries; and second means for using a combination of constrained and unconstrained optimization techniques for manipulating said values of said decision variables to attempt to achieve said targets and/or objectives, based on the proximity of constraint boundaries.
-
-
14. A method for operating a digital computer to solve an optimization or constraint satisfaction problem, the digital computer having an electronic memory device for storing said problem, comprising the steps of:
-
(1) storing, in the electronic memory device, weak and strong problem solving methods, decision variables having decision variable values, and heuristics; (2) utilizing said weak and strong problem solving methods to manipulate the decision variable values to find at least a best balanced solution to the problem; and (3) using said heuristics for dynamically interleaving alternating between said weak and strong problem solving methods. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method for operating a digital computer to solve an optimization or constraint satisfaction problem, wherein the problem comprises a set of constraint and/or objective functions, said digital computer having an electronic memory device for storing said problem, comprising the steps of:
-
(1) creating a pure objective function and constraint functions representative of user-defined targets and/or objectives of the problem in the electronic memory device, said pure objective function and said constraint functions containing functions of decision variables capable of accepting a value; (2) determining the proximity of constraint boundaries; and (3) using a combination of constrained and unconstrained optimization techniques for manipulating said values of said decision variables to attempt to achieve said targets and/or objectives, based on the proximity of constraint boundaries. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A device for representing and solving problems in the form of objects, attributes and constructs, comprising:
-
a computer-readable medium for use with a digital computer; a first module for parsing and translating said constructs into a machine evaluable form; a second module for automatically defining a tabular representation where said tabular representation contains cells corresponding to object-attribute pairs; a third module for automatically defining dependencies from said machine evaluable form; a fourth module for automatically attaching said constructs to object-attribute pairs and for attaching said dependencies; a fifth module for allowing said object-attribute pairs to inherit said constructs from other object-attribute pairs; a sixth module for automatically operating on related object-attribute pairs as a function of said defined constructs and dependencies; a seventh module for automatically utilizing weak and strong problem solving methods in conjunction with said dependencies and chosen values of said object-attribute pairs to find at least a best balanced solution to the problem; and an eighth module for using heuristics for dynamically alternating between said weak and strong methods; said computer-readable medium for storing computer program logic representative of said objects, attributes and constructs and of said modules.
-
Specification