Representing and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of Polynomials

In this paper we investigate the use of a system of multivariate polynomials to represent the restrictions imposed by a collection of constraints. The advantage of using polynomials to represent constraints is that it allows many different forms of constraints to be treated in a uniform way. Systems...

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Main Authors: Jefferson, C, Jeavons, P, Green, M, van Dongen, M
Formato: Report
Publicado: Oxford University Computing Laboratory 2007
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author Jefferson, C
Jeavons, P
Green, M
van Dongen, M
author_facet Jefferson, C
Jeavons, P
Green, M
van Dongen, M
author_sort Jefferson, C
collection OXFORD
description In this paper we investigate the use of a system of multivariate polynomials to represent the restrictions imposed by a collection of constraints. The advantage of using polynomials to represent constraints is that it allows many different forms of constraints to be treated in a uniform way. Systems of polynomials have been widely studied, and a number of general techniques have been developed, including algorithms that generate an equivalent system with certain desirable properties, called a Gröbner Basis. General algorithms to compute a Gröbner Basis have doubly exponential complexity, but we observe that for the systems we use to describe constraint problems over finite domains a Gröbner Basis can be computed more efficiently than this. We also describe a family of algorithms, related to the calculation of Gröbner Bases, that can be used on any system of polynomials to compute an equivalent system in polynomial time. We show that these modified algorithms can simulate the effect of the local-consistency algorithms used in constraint programming. Finally, we describe how these algorithms can be used in a similar way to local consistency techniques to solve certain broad classes of constraint problems in polynomial time.
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spelling oxford-uuid:fcc2b14a-daf2-486d-a81b-c3a71f2d4e632022-03-27T13:23:22ZRepresenting and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of PolynomialsReporthttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_93fcuuid:fcc2b14a-daf2-486d-a81b-c3a71f2d4e63Department of Computer ScienceOxford University Computing Laboratory2007Jefferson, CJeavons, PGreen, Mvan Dongen, MIn this paper we investigate the use of a system of multivariate polynomials to represent the restrictions imposed by a collection of constraints. The advantage of using polynomials to represent constraints is that it allows many different forms of constraints to be treated in a uniform way. Systems of polynomials have been widely studied, and a number of general techniques have been developed, including algorithms that generate an equivalent system with certain desirable properties, called a Gröbner Basis. General algorithms to compute a Gröbner Basis have doubly exponential complexity, but we observe that for the systems we use to describe constraint problems over finite domains a Gröbner Basis can be computed more efficiently than this. We also describe a family of algorithms, related to the calculation of Gröbner Bases, that can be used on any system of polynomials to compute an equivalent system in polynomial time. We show that these modified algorithms can simulate the effect of the local-consistency algorithms used in constraint programming. Finally, we describe how these algorithms can be used in a similar way to local consistency techniques to solve certain broad classes of constraint problems in polynomial time.
spellingShingle Jefferson, C
Jeavons, P
Green, M
van Dongen, M
Representing and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of Polynomials
title Representing and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of Polynomials
title_full Representing and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of Polynomials
title_fullStr Representing and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of Polynomials
title_full_unstemmed Representing and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of Polynomials
title_short Representing and Solving Finite−Domain Constraint Problems Using Systems of Polynomials
title_sort representing and solving finite domain constraint problems using systems of polynomials
work_keys_str_mv AT jeffersonc representingandsolvingfinitedomainconstraintproblemsusingsystemsofpolynomials
AT jeavonsp representingandsolvingfinitedomainconstraintproblemsusingsystemsofpolynomials
AT greenm representingandsolvingfinitedomainconstraintproblemsusingsystemsofpolynomials
AT vandongenm representingandsolvingfinitedomainconstraintproblemsusingsystemsofpolynomials