316216
The Distribution Problem with Carrier Service: A Dual Based Penalty Approach
The distribution problem with carrier service is an important optimization problem that often arises in vehicle routing. The problem arises in the distribution of commodities from a central facility to a set of geographically distributed locations. Each location has a certain demand, the distribution vehicle has a load capacity, and the entire operation should be completed within a certain time. An outside carrier is available for direct service of locations from the central facility. The problem is to determine a feasible tour for the company vehicle and the locations to be served by the outside carrier such that the total cost of the operations is minimized. We model this problem and develop a solution technique using valid inequalities. A key feature of the solution approach is that it can easily be extended to solve similar problems with any type and number of side constraints as encountered in the current model. The algorithm has been extensively tested and computational results for problems having u...
120648016
Theory of convex cones in multicriteria decision making
We develop the theory of convex polyhedral cones in the objective-function space of a multicriteria decision problem. The convex cones are obtained from the decision-maker's pairwise judgments of decision alternatives and are applicable to any quasiconcave utility function. Therefore, the cones can be used in any progressively articulated solution procedure that employs pairwise comparisons. The cones represent convex sets of solutions that are inferior to known solutions to a multicriteria problem. Therefore, these convex sets can be eliminated from consideration while solving the problem. We develop the underlying theory and a framework for representing knowledge about the decision-maker's preference structure using convex cones. This framework can be adopted in the interactive solution of any multicriteria problem after taking into account the characteristics of the problem and the solution procedure. Our computational experience with different multicriteria problems shows that this approach is both viable and efficient in solving practical problems of moderate size.
6732453
Enterprise computing environments and cost assessment
13648716
EARS: An online bibliographic search and retrieval system based on ordered explosion
Abstract Ergonomics Abstracts Retrieval System (EARS) is an online bibliographic information search and retrieval system using the hierarchical subject classification of the Ergonomics Abstracts . EARS is designed using an inverted file organization and is implemented on CDC-Cyber. The data base of abstracts is organized using a fixed-length record format, where each logical record corresponds to a variable number of fixed-length physical records. Accordingly, an index for the identification of physical records from the logical records is used. The data base is inverted on a three-level hierarchical classification scheme and postings files are used for data base inversion. The data base is accessed after selectively traversing a 4-layer structure of indexes and postings files. EARS provides facilities to perform combinations of searches, limited searches, and certain editing functions. The system is currently used extensively by the Western New York Human Factors research community. The logical and physical designs of EARS, its interactive operational features, and its current expansions are described in this paper.
62235624
An efficient approach to stochastic jobshop scheduling: algorithms and empirical investigations
Abstract Jobshop scheduling is one of the important classes of problems planning. The jobshop represents a common manufacturing environment, in which a set of machines is used to process a stream of jobs arriving randomly. The stochastic arrival pattern of the jobs, their processing sequences, and processing times render the scheduling of jobs a complex and difficult task. Furthermore, the scheduling task involves multiple conflicting objectives such as the minimization of the flow time, lateness and the number of late jobs among others. In this research,we develop a framework for the efficient scheduling of jobs considering these multiple objectives. The motivation for this research arises from the good performance of the interactive man-machine scheduling systems in achieving significant levels of attainment in the set of objectives, simultaneously. We develop scheduling strategies to the man-machine approach in this research. The algorithms developed in this research have been extensively tested and evaluated against the traditional scheduling methods using simulation studies. The results show that the proposed approach is efficient and viable for solving practical scheduling problems in the presence of multiple objectives.
32066139
Topographically discounted Internet infrastructure resources: a panel study and econometric analysis
The Internet infrastructure is increasingly utilized for the provision and delivery of a variety of services. The rapid growth and substantial demand fluctuations of the supported services are placing strain on the service providers to effectively manage their infrastructure resources. Capacity Provision Network (CPN) is a market-driven mechanism that enables the service providers to efficiently allocate, share and trade service capabilities. Central to the operation of CPN is the notion of discounted capacities which capture the underlying topology of the Internet. It serves as a practical instrument for service providers to evaluate the utility of capacity services available at remote sites vis-à-vis the capacities available locally and from the content providers. We conducted an Internet based longitudinal field experiment to empirically assess and validate the critical properties of discount factors. Our analysis reveals that discount factors exhibit markedly lower volatility than network delays, and are more stable over seasonal and temporal trend patterns. The results related to size effects suggest that sharing and trade agreements with larger content can be particularly effective. Our finding on the existence of the concavity property points to the ability of intermediation services to enhance the overall gains from resource sharing arrangements.
42876448
Optimal Speedups for Parallel Pattern Matching in Trees
Tree pattern matching is a fundamental operation that is used in a number of programming tasks such as code optimization in compilers, symbolic computation, automatic theorem proving and term rewriting. An important special case of this operation is linear tree pattern matching in which an instance of any variable in the pattern occurs at most once. If n and m are the number of nodes in the subject and pattern tree respectively and if no restriction is placed on the structure of the trees, then the fastest known sequential algorithm for linear tree pattern matching requires O(nm) time in the worst case.
31851172
Automata-Driven Efficient Subterm Unification
Syntactic unification has widespread use in computing. There are several operations used in deductive computing such as critical pair generation, paramodulation and narrowing that require unifying a term s with every subterm of another term p. This subterm unification problem can be solved naively by repeatedly unifying s with each subterm of p in isolation. The drawback of doing unification in isolation is that commonality among subterms of p is ignored. We present an algorithm for efficient subterm unification by exploiting this commonality. The central idea used in our algorithm is to reduce the common part computation in unification into a string-matching problem and solve it efficiently using a string-matching automaton. The automaton succinctly captures the commonality between subterms of p. The string-matching approach, in conjunction with two new techniques called bidirectional-reduce and marking enables efficient unification of s with every subterm of p.
14332724
Simultaneous Optimization of Design Tolerance and Total Cost for a Piston and Cylinder Assembly
Rapid changes in the market place have led designers and manufacturers to continuously develop new products to satisfy the demands of more exigent customers. Therefore, to be competitive, designers and manufacturers have to perform those steps accurately to ensure final Product quality and manufacturing cost. So Product quality and manufacturing cost have a significant impact on Tolerance. A more scientific approach is often desirable for better performance to overcome this Tolerance problem. In this paper, Design and machining tolerances have been allocated based on optimum total machining cost. New global nonlinear optimization techniques called Pattern Search algorithm and Genetic algorithm have been implemented to find the optimal tolerance allocation and total cost. Finally with respect to total cost both the methods have been compared.
206085776
Parallel Tree Pattern Matching
Tree pattern matching is a fundamental operation that is used in a number of programming tasks such as code optimization in compilers, symbolic computation, automatic theorem proving and term rewriting. An important special case of this operation is linear tree pattern matching in which an instance of any variable in the pattern occurs at most once. In this paper we describe a new parallel algorithm for linear tree pattern matching using a parallel random access machine model.
1271060
Implementation of Tabled Evaluation with Delaying in Prolog
Unlike SLD resolution as implemented in Prolog, tabled evaluation with delaying guarantees termination for function free logic programs, avoids repeated computation of identical subqueries, and handles recursion through negation. It is often used in query processing and nonmonotonic reasoning where termination is required. The paper presents a new technique for incorporating tabled evaluation into existing Prolog systems. It requires neither time consuming modifications of a Prolog engine nor metainterpretation that can enormously slow down program execution. Instead, using a program transformation approach, the technique allows effective use of the advanced Prolog technology. The transformed program uses tabling primitives implemented externally in C that provide direct control over the search strategies. This brings efficiency as well as portability across Prolog systems. Experiences with a prototype implementation indicate that the approach results in a flexible and pragmatic method for query processing and nonmonotonic reasoning on top of Prolog. Performance measurements show that the method is efficient for practical applications.