Patent ID: 6336110
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: G06N

Abstract:
A system for solving a constraint-satisfaction problem including a plurality of parts for each of which a plurality of alternatives to implement each part are provided to form a set of alternatives for each part and form a string of the alternative sets for said plurality of parts, when a constraint exists on a combination of alternatives to be selected respectively from each alternative set for different parts in said plurality of parts, said system comprising:dividing means for dividing each alternative set for each part of said constraint-satisfaction problem into a plurality of subsets such that a maximum number of elements included in each subset is limited to two; and analyzing means for analyzing a combination of alternatives, which are selected respectively from each subset of a combination of subsets that are selected respectively from each plurality of subsets for different parts of said constraint-satisfaction problem, to check whether the combination of alternatives satisfies said constraint, whereby allowing a solution of said constraint-satisfaction problem to be calculated from the analyzed combination.