[gecode-users] newbie questions on a possible Gecode use case

[Rich Morin]

I'm working with a modeling approach (Inductive Process Modeling) that
composes sets of "model structures" from specifications of "entities"
and "processes".  Some process combinations don't make sense, so we use
sets of simple constraints in generating candidate model structures, eg:

  ALWAYS-TOGETHER
  These processes must always be used together.

  ATMOST-ONE
  At most one of these processes may be used.

  EXACTLY-ONE
  Exactly one of these processes must be used.

  FORBIDDEN
  This process must not be used.

  NECESSARY
  All of these processes must be used.

Because the number of combinations could be very large, we generate
pseudo-random subsets (of a specified size).  These are evaluated
(eg, fitting parameters to match observed data) and the best results
are presented to the user for inspection.


Currently, these combinations are being produced by means of complex
Lisp code that performs boolean satisfiability logic.  I'm wondering
whether this task (along with possible follow-on extensions involving
feedback from the evaluation task) might be a good use case for Gecode.
(If this let me replace the code with a small set of constraints, I'd
be a really happy camper. :-)

I'm a complete newbie at Gecode, so I'm hoping for caveats, comments,
suggestions, etc.  In addition, if any Gecoders out there are available
for small consulting projects, I'd like to hear from them (off-list!).

-r
 
 -- 
http://www.cfcl.com/rdm           Rich Morin           rdm at cfcl.com
http://www.cfcl.com/rdm/resume    San Bruno, CA, USA   +1 650-873-7841

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