Analog computation using numerical representations with uncertainty
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- accepting a specification of a plurality of variables, each variable having a set of at least N possible values, wherein the plurality of variables satisfy a set of one or more constraints, and each variable is specified as a decomposition into a plurality of constituents with each constituent having a set of M possible constituent values that can be determined based on the variable values;
forming a specification for configuring a computing device that implements a network representation of the constraints based on the specification of the plurality of variables, wherein the network representation includes a first set of nodes corresponding to the pluralities of constituents, a second set of nodes corresponding to the set of constraints, and interconnections between the first and the second sets of nodes for passing continuous-valued data; and
wherein the computing device configured according to said specification is operable to;
accept a first set of quantities each characterizing a degree of association of one constituent of one of the plurality of variables with one of the M possible constituent values; and
determine a second set of quantities each characterizing a degree of association of one constituent of one of the plurality of variables with one of the M possible constituent values by passing the first set of quantities and intermediate data along the interconnections in the network representation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some general aspects relate to systems and methods of analog computation using numerical representation with uncertainty. For example, a specification of a group of variables is accepted, with each variable having a set of at least N possible values. The group of variables satisfies a set of one or more constraints, and each variable is specified as a decomposition into a group of constituents, with each constituent having a set of M (e.g., M<N) possible constituent values that can be determined based on the variable values. The method also includes forming a specification for configuring a computing device that implements a network representation of the constraints based on the specification of the group of variables. The network representation includes a first set of nodes corresponding to the groups of constituents, a second set of nodes corresponding to the set of constraints, and interconnections between the first and the second sets of nodes for passing continuous-valued data.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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accepting a specification of a plurality of variables, each variable having a set of at least N possible values, wherein the plurality of variables satisfy a set of one or more constraints, and each variable is specified as a decomposition into a plurality of constituents with each constituent having a set of M possible constituent values that can be determined based on the variable values; forming a specification for configuring a computing device that implements a network representation of the constraints based on the specification of the plurality of variables, wherein the network representation includes a first set of nodes corresponding to the pluralities of constituents, a second set of nodes corresponding to the set of constraints, and interconnections between the first and the second sets of nodes for passing continuous-valued data; and wherein the computing device configured according to said specification is operable to; accept a first set of quantities each characterizing a degree of association of one constituent of one of the plurality of variables with one of the M possible constituent values; and determine a second set of quantities each characterizing a degree of association of one constituent of one of the plurality of variables with one of the M possible constituent values by passing the first set of quantities and intermediate data along the interconnections in the network representation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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accepting a first set of quantities, each associated with one of M possible constituent values of a constituent of one of a plurality of input variables, each variable having a set of at least N possible values; providing signals representing the first set of quantities to computing circuitry implementing a network representation of a set of constraints on the input variables, the network representation including a first set of nodes each corresponding to one of a plurality of constituents of a respective input variable, a second set of nodes corresponding to the set of constraints, and interconnections between the first and the second sets of nodes for passing continuous-valued data; accepting, from the computing circuitry, signals representing a second set of quantities, each associated with one of M possible constituent values of a constituent of one input variable. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computing device comprising:
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computing circuitry for applying a network representation of a set of constraints on a plurality of input variables, each input variable having a set of at least N possible values, wherein the network representation includes a first set of nodes each corresponding to one of a plurality of constituents of a respective input variable, a second set of nodes corresponding to the set of constraints, and interconnections between the first and the second sets of nodes for passing data; an input processor for forming signals representing a first set of quantities, each quantity being associated with one of M possible constituent values of a constituent of one input variable, and for providing the formed signals to the computing circuitry; and an output processor for accepting signals generated by the computing circuitry representing a second set of quantities, each quantity being associated with one of the M possible constituent values of a constituent of one input variable. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification