Generalized parametric optimization architecture and framework

• US 8,260,643 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Benayon, Jay William, Lau, Kui Yan, Leung, Humie
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANTIAGO, LUIS F
• Application Number:
  US11/847,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.11
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management

Abstract

A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for providing an optimization solution comprising an open, generalized and reusable parametric optimization framework and architecture which enables rapid deployment of optimization solutions to any tool or program that builds on an integrated development environment platform. In the optimization framework, a core optimization plugin is provided which comprises an internal optimization model and a set of optimization tools. The optimization framework also comprises pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors external to the core optimization plugin. The core optimization plugin receives configuration information from a user. The information enables the core optimization plugin to interact with a user data model in a plurality of different user data models. The information also enables the core optimization plugin to interact with providers selected from the plurality of providers and descriptors based on a format of the user data model.

Claims

1. A data processing system for providing a non-proprietary parametric optimization solution, the data processing system comprising:

a processor included in the data processing system executing code that provides an integrated development environment platform that is a first type;

the processor executing code that provides an optimization framework and architecture of the first type built on top of the integrated development environment platform, including;

a core optimization plugin that is the first type comprising an internal optimization model and a set of optimization tools; and

a plurality of pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors external to the core optimization plugin, wherein the plurality of pluggable and customization component providers and descriptors are a second type,

wherein the core optimization plugin receives configuration information from a user,

wherein the internal optimization model comprises a core model, a context model, and a runtime model;

wherein the core model includes an optimization object, an objective object, and an optimization setting object;

wherein the optimization object includes a plurality of objects that are included in an operation configuration object;

wherein the objective object includes an objective of an optimization;

wherein the optimization setting object includes an optimization profile setting of the optimization;

wherein the optimization framework has received a particular user data model that is the second type from the user, wherein the particular data model is a domain model used by an application being used by the user,

wherein the configuration information enables the core optimization plugin that is the first type to interact with the particular user data model that is the second type, and

wherein the configuration information enables the core optimization plugin to interact with providers selected from the plurality of pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors based on a format of the particular user data model;

wherein the pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors comprise at least one of an optimization engine provider, a simulation engine provider, a user interface widget factory provider, and input/output variable descriptors, wherein the optimization engine provider, the simulation engine provider, the user interface widget factory provider, and the input/output variable descriptors are the second type; and

wherein the configuration information enables the core optimization plugin to interact with a particular optimization engine provider and a particular simulation engine provider in the plurality of pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors, wherein the configuration information specifies the particular optimization engine provider and particular simulation engine provider registered by the user, and wherein the configuration information specifies the particular optimization engine provider and particular simulation engine provider to be initialized by the core optimization plugin.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the optimization framework receives a registration from a user via an XML document of an optimization engine that will be used that is the second type, wherein the core optimization plugin loads the internal optimization model and the set of optimization tools, creates and initializes the internal optimization model with fundamental data, initializes the set of optimization tools, loads the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors, validates the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors to ensure that the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors conform to the optimization framework and architecture, and initializes the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the configuration information enables the core optimization plugin to interact with input/output variable descriptors, wherein the input specifies access descriptors, retrieve descriptors, and update descriptors for each defined variable.

4. The data processing system of claim 3, wherein the core optimization plugin interacts with the input/output variable descriptors to manipulate the particular user data model.

5. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the set of optimization tools comprises at least one of an optimization graph, optimization editor, and optimization facilities.

6. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the set of optimization tools enables the user to edit optimization profile settings and visualize optimization results independently of the pluggable and customizable component providers in use, and wherein the set of optimization tools enables the user to edit optimization profile settings and visualize optimization results using context data objects, wherein a first set of context data objects are used if the first type and the second type are the same, and wherein a second set of context data objects are used if the first type and the second type are different.

7. The data processing system of claim 6, wherein the optimization profile settings include simulation input control variables, output control variables, and optimization constraints.

8. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the particular user data model is built using one of Java objects, JavaBeans, and an eclipse modeling framework (EMF).

9. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the context model further comprises:

a base context variable object that includes a variable that depends on whether a current user data model in use is the first type or the second type;

a first base context object that is used if the current user data model in use is the first type; and

a second base context object that is used if the current user data model in use is the second type.

10. A computer implemented method for providing a non-proprietary parametric optimization solution, the computer implemented method comprising:

providing, using a processor, an integrated development environment platform that is a first type;

providing, using the processor, an optimization framework and architecture that is the first type built on top of the integrated development environment platform which comprises a core optimization plugin comprising an internal optimization model and a set of optimization tools, and a plurality of pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors external to the core optimization plugin, wherein the plurality of pluggable and customization component providers and descriptors are a second type,

wherein the core optimization plugin receives configuration information from a user,

wherein the internal optimization model comprises a core model, a context model, and a runtime model;

wherein the core model includes an optimization object, an objective object, and an optimization setting object;

wherein the optimization object includes a plurality of objects that are included in an operation configuration object;

wherein the objective object includes an objective of an optimization;

wherein the optimization setting object includes an optimization profile setting of the optimization;

wherein the optimization framework has received a particular user data model of the second type from the user, wherein the particular data model is a domain model used by an application being used by the user,

wherein the core optimization plugin that is the first type interacts with the particular user data model that is the second type using the configuration information, and

wherein the core optimization plugin interacts with providers selected from the plurality of pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors based on a format of the particular user data model using the configuration information;

wherein the pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors comprise at least one of an optimization engine provider, a simulation engine provider, a user interface widget factory provider, and input/output variable descriptors; and

wherein the configuration information enables the core optimization plugin to interact with a particular optimization engine provider and a particular simulation engine provider in the plurality of pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors, wherein the configuration information specifies the particular optimization engine provider and particular simulation engine provider registered by the user, and wherein the configuration information specifies the particular optimization engine provider and particular simulation engine provider to be initialized by the core optimization plugin.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the optimization framework receives a registration from a user via an XML document of an optimization engine that will be used that is the second type, wherein the core optimization plugin loads the internal optimization model and the set of optimization tools, creates and initializes the internal optimization model with fundamental data, initializes the set of optimization tools, loads the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors, validates the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors to ensure that the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors conform to the optimization framework and architecture, and initializes the pluggable and configurable component providers and descriptors.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the set of optimization tools enables the user to edit optimization profile settings and visualize optimization results independently of the pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors in use, and wherein the set of optimization tools enables the user to edit optimization profile settings and visualize optimization results using context data objects, wherein a first set of context data objects are used if the first type and the second type are the same, and wherein a first set of context data objects are used if the first type and the second type are different.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the particular user data model is built using one of Java objects, JavaBeans, and an eclipse modeling framework (EMF).

14. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the context model further comprises;

a base context variable object that includes a variable that depends on whether a current user data model in use is the first type or the second type;

a first base context object that is used if the current user data model in use is the first type; and

a second base context object that is used if the current user data model in use is the second type.