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Cost-optimizing allocation system and method

  • US 6,272,483 B1
  • Filed: 10/29/1998
  • Issued: 08/07/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of generating cost-optimized solutions to an optimization problem, comprising the steps of:

  • receiving data representative of the optimization problem, the received data representative of a set of elements for assignment and a set of resources to which the elements can be assigned;

    representing the elements in a prioritized list;

    constructing an assignment of the elements in the prioritized list to the resources such that every resource is assigned a subset of elements in a highest-priority-first order, wherein the assignment forms a solution;

    analyzing the solution to determine an excess cost for each element in the solution;

    iterating the constructing and analyzing steps, and, with each iteration, elevating a priority of an element in the prioritized list by an amount determined responsive to the excess cost for that element to produce a plurality of solutions to the optimization problem; and

    outputting data representative of the plurality of solutions to the optimization problem.

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