Patent Document ID: 9946972
Application ID: 14286004
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method, in a data processing system, for optimization of systems with a plurality of strategies S each having a different level of criticality, the method comprising: receiving, by a mixed-criticality solution and optimization mechanism executed by a processor in the data processing system, the plurality of strategies S, wherein the plurality of strategies S are in a fixed order of criticality; for each strategy s in the plurality of strategies S, obtaining, by the mixed-criticality solution and optimization mechanism, a multivariate objective function and a multivariate constraint in a multivariate decision variable; maximizing, by feasible strategy identification logic, within the mixed-criticality solution and optimization mechanism, executed by the processor, a number of strategies of the plurality of strategies S that are feasible, i.e. work together, in combination, wherein maximizing the number of strategies of the plurality of strategies S that are feasible in combination solves: 
 P (ξ):max s min x f (s) ([ x (1). .. x (s) ],ξ,U (s) ) such that x (1) ϵX (ξ, U (1) ),[ x (1) x (2) ]ϵX (ξ, U (2) ); [ x (1). .. x (s) ]ϵX (ξ, U (s) ); 1≤ s≤S where P(ξ) denotes a problem solved, ξ is a multivariate random variable, x=[x (1). .. x (s) ] is a mixed-criticality solution feasible for a number of strategies s, f (s) is an objective function of the least-critical strategy supported, X is a feasible region for a number of strategies s, U (s) is a set of uncertainty parameters, and S is a plurality of strategies; generating, by vector identification logic, within the mixed-criticality solution and optimization mechanism, executed by the processor, a solution that is feasible, i.e. achievable, for the number of strategies that are feasible in combination, such that an objective of a least-critical strategy that is feasible in combination with other strategies in the number of strategies is optimized; generating, by the feasible strategy identification logic, a contingency plan that meets a common objective using the solution that is feasible for the number of strategies that are feasible in combination, wherein the number of strategies are a number of power distribution strategies in a power system application; and executing, by the mixed-criticality solution and optimization mechanism, the contingency plan such that electricity is disconnected to one or more devices or facilities of customers who have agreed to interruptible power supply, before shedding load of customers who have not agreed to interruptible power supply thereby minimizing the number of involuntary and voluntary load shedding interventions to customers.