Tractability results in the block algebra
In this paper we define the notion of a block algebra, which is based upon a spatial application of Allen's interval algebra. In the p-dimensional Euclidean space, where p greater than or equal to 1, we consider only blocks whose sides are parallel to the axes of some orthogonal basis. The block algebra consists of a set of relations (the block relations) together with the fundamental operations of composition, converse and intersection. The 13(p) basic relations of this algebra constitute the exhaustive list of the relations possibly holding between two blocks. We are interested in the problem of testing the consistency of a set of spatial constraints between blocks, i.e. a block network. The consistency question for block networks is NP-complete. We first extend the notions of convexity and preconvexity to the block algebra. Similarly to the interval algebra case, convexity leads to a tractable set whereas, contrary to the interval algebra case, preconvexity leads to an intractable set. Nevertheless we characterize a tractable subset of the preconvex relations: the strongly preconvex relations. Moreover we show that strong preconvexity and ORD-Horn representability are the same.
block algebra interval algebra spatial reasoning qualitative constraints consistency problem