Patent ID: 6272483
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method of generating cost-optimized solutions to an optimization problem, comprising the steps of:receiving data representative of the optimization problem, the received data representative of a set of elements for assignment and a set of resources to which the elements can be assigned;representing the elements in a prioritized list;constructing an assignment of the elements in the prioritized list to the resources such that every resource is assigned a subset of elements in a highest-priority-first order, wherein the assignment forms a solution;analyzing the solution to determine an excess cost for each element in the solution;iterating the constructing and analyzing steps, and, with each iteration, elevating a priority of an element in the prioritized list by an amount determined responsive to the excess cost for that element to produce a plurality of solutions to the optimization problem; andoutputting data representative of the plurality of solutions to the optimization problem.