Method and product of manufacture for the recommendation of optimizers in a graphical user interface for mathematical solvers

• US 7,664,720 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Kumar, Rakesh, Scott, Tara, Berman, Marjorie, Kidd, Amy, Freeman, Mary Ann Branch, Marazzi, Marcelo
• Primary Examiner(s): STARKS, WILBERT L
• Application Number:
  US11/652,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 706/13, 706/45, 706/47, 707/9, 705/1
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/10 Complex mathematical operations function generation by table look-up G06F1/03; evaluation of elementary functions by calculation G06F7/544
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/11 for solving equations , e.g. nonlinear equations, general mathematical optimization problems optimization specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for a plurality of optimization solvers is provided. The method includes providing the GUI for the plurality of optimization solvers, the GUI including a control to select a solver from the plurality of solvers; receiving a selection of a first solver from the plurality of optimization solvers; and displaying in the GUI contents tailored to the first solver, the GUI contents including an objective function, wherein the objective function is in an expression in an array-based language.

Claims

1. A computing device-implemented method of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for a plurality of optimization solvers, said method comprising:

providing the GUI for a plurality of optimization solvers, the GUI including a control to select a solver from the plurality of optimization solvers to solve an optimization problem, a section for a user to provide information to identify what solver should be used by the user and a recommendation GUI element for a user to request a recommendation of which of the optimization solvers to use to solve the problem;

receiving information via the section of the GUI to identify what solver should be used by the user to solve the optimization problem; and

in response to a user interaction with the recommendation GUI element, displaying in the GUI on a display device a recommendation of which of the optimization solvers to use in view of the received information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a first solver from the plurality of optimization solvers; and

displaying in the GUI on the display device contents tailored to the first solver, the GUI contents including an objective function for the optimization problem wherein the objective function is an expression in an array-based language.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the contents tailored to the first solver is simultaneously visible as the control to select a solver.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the contents tailored to the first solver and the control to select a solver are displayed in one window.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the contents tailored to the first solver includes problem specification fields or options related to the first solver.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining a selection of a first value of a first one of the options; and

automatically selecting or disqualifying a second value of a second one of the options.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining a selection of a first value of a first one of the options; and

automatically selecting or disqualifying a second one of the options.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining a selection of a first value of a first one of the options;

running the first solver; and

replacing the first value with a second value while the first solver is running.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the replacement of the first value with the second value occurred in the GUI.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a plot associated with the first solver, wherein the replacement of the first value with the second value occurred in the plot.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining an invalid value for one of the problem specification fields or one of the options related to the first solver; and

requesting user input for a valid value for the one of the problem specification fields or the one of the options related to the first solver.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second solver from the plurality of optimization solvers; and

updating the GUI to display contents relevant to the second solver instead of the contents relevant to the first solver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the contents relevant to the second solver is not relevant to the first solver or wherein the first solver has a solver option with a first default value and the second solver has the same solver option with a second default value.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a preference determining if the second default value, no value, or a current value is shown for the solver option when switching to the second solver.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the contents relevant to the first solver but not to the second solver are shaded or not displayed.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing in the GUI a help pane or window that provides references related to the first solver when the first solver is selected and the help pane or window provides references related to the second solver instead of the references related to the first solver when the second solver is selected.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing in the GUI a help window that provides references related to the first solver when the first solver is selected and the help window provides references related to the second solver instead of the references related to the first solver when the second solver is selected, wherein the help window can be docked to a container window or undocked from the container window.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second graphical user interface for configuring the GUI for the plurality of optimization solvers.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first solver is implemented in an array-based computing environment.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more licenses are provided with the plurality of optimization solvers to be used with the GUI.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a solver selector that assists a user to make a selection from the plurality of optimization solvers.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing a widget to allow the solver selector to identify for the user a type of an objective function, a type of constraint, a type of variables, or a number of variables.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the GUI includes a first pane to display a problem setup and view results and a second pane to display solver options.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the GUI includes a window to display a problem setup and view results and a window to display solver options.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the windows can be docked in a container window or undocked from the container window.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exporting a problem setup including an objective of a problem to be solved by the first solver to a LATEX, PDF, postscript, HTML, XML, JavaScript, SVG, or symbolic math format.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exporting a problem setup including a constraint of a problem to be solved by the first solver to a LATEX, PDF, postscript, HTML, XML, JavaScript, SVG, or symbolic math format.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a text field or other GUI widget that allows a user to enter a function using an equation editor for providing a problem setup including the problem to be solved by the first solver.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user interface widget to expand or collapse a category of options related to the first solver.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user interface widget in the GUI to run or stop the first solver.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing a pause and resume button in the GUI to pause or resume the running of the first solver.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

importing data or a problem into the GUI.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the GUI is at least partially implemented in a JAVA programming language, a JavaScript programming language, an array-based programming language, an HTML language, or an XML language.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

running the first solver; and

displaying a plot when the first solver is running to provide a measure of progress of the first solver.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

running the first solver; and

outputting data when the first solver is running.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving a user-defined or user-selected function that determines what data to output when the first solver is running.

37. A medium storing executable instructions for causing a computing device to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for a plurality of optimization solvers, the instructions include instruction for:

providing a GUI for the plurality of optimization solvers, the GUI including a control to select a solver from the plurality of optimization solvers to solve an optimization problem, a section for a user to provide information to identify what solver should be used by the user and a recommendation GUI element for a user to request a recommendation of which of the optimization solvers to use to solve the optimization problem;

receiving information via the section of the GUI to identify what solver should be used by the user to solve the optimization problem; and

displaying in the GUI on a display device a recommendation of which of the optimization solvers to use in view of the received information.

38. The medium of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a first solver from the plurality of optimization solvers; and

displaying in the GUI on the display device contents tailored to the first solver, the GUI contents including an objective function for the optimization problem, wherein the objective function is an expression in an array-based language.

39. The medium of claim 38, further comprising instruction for:

obtaining a configuration preference regarding a layout of the contents tailored to the first solver in the GUI according to a user'"'"'s preference.

40. The medium of claim 39, wherein the layout includes an order or a grouping of the contents.

41. The medium of claim 38, further comprising instruction for:

receiving a selection of a second solver from the plurality of optimization solvers; and

updating the GUI to display contents relevant to the second solver instead of contents relevant to the first solver.

42. The medium of claim 41, wherein at least one of the contents relevant to the second solver is not relevant to the first solver.

43. The medium of claim 41, wherein the first solver has a solver option with a first default value and the second solver has the same solver option with a second default value.

44. The medium of claim 41, further comprising instruction for:

providing in the GUI a help pane that provides references related to the first solver when the first solver is selected and the help pane provides references related to the second solver instead of the references related to the first solver when the second solver is selected.

45. The medium of claim 44, wherein the help pane can be closed or opened by a user selection.

46. The medium of claim 37, further comprising instruction for:

providing a second graphical user interface for configuring the GUI for the plurality of optimization solvers.

47. The medium of claim 37, further comprising instruction for:

providing a solver selector that assists a user to make a selection from the plurality of optimization solvers.

48. The medium of claim 37, wherein the GUI includes a first pane to display a problem setup and view results and a second pane to display solver options.

49. The medium of claim 37, further comprising instruction for:

exporting a problem setup including an objective of a problem to be solved by a first solver to a LATEX, PDF, postscript, HTML, XML, JavaScript, SVG, or symbolic math format.

50. The medium of claim 37, further comprising instruction for:

exporting a problem setup including a constraint of a problem to be solved by a first solver to a LATEX, PDF, postscript, HTML, XML, JavaScript, SVG, or symbolic math format.

51. The medium of claim 37, further comprising instruction for:

providing a text field that allows a user to enter a function using an equation editor for providing a problem setup including a problem to be solved by the first solver.

52. The medium of claim 37, further comprising instruction for:

running the first solver; and

displaying a plot when the first solver is running to provide a measure of progress of the first solver.

53. The medium of claim 52, wherein the plot is associated with a user defined function.

54. A computing device-implemented method of assisting a user to select a solver from a plurality of optimization solvers, said method comprising:

obtaining information regarding a type of an objective function, a type of constraint, a type of variables, or a number of variables; and

recommending a solver from the plurality of optimization solvers for the user to select; and

based on the information, displaying at least one user interface element on a display device, said at least one user interface element being for the user to identify the type of the objective function, the type of constraint, the type of variables, or the number of variables.

55. A medium storing executable instructions for causing a computing device to assist a user to select a solver from a plurality of optimization solvers, the instructions include instructions for:

obtaining information regarding a type of an objective function, a type of constraint, a type of variables, or a number of variables;

recommending a solver from the plurality of optimization solvers for the user to select; and

based on the information, displaying at least one user interface element on a display device, said at least one user interface element being for the user to identify the type of the objective function, the type of constraint, the type of variables, or the number of variables.