Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Generating Heuristics to Control Configuration Processes

  • Published:
Applied Intelligence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Configuration is the process of composing a system from a set of components such that the system fulfills a set of desired demands. The configuration process relies on a particular component model, which is a useful abstraction of the domain and the technical system to be composed.

In this paper we deal with configuration problems where the components involved are characterized by simplified functional dependencies, so-called resource-based descriptions. On the one hand, the resource-based component model provides for powerful and user-friendly mechanisms to formulate configuration tasks. On the other hand, the solution of resource-based configuration problems is NP-complete, which means that no efficient algorithms exist to solve a generic instance of that problem.

In practice, given a concrete resource-based component model, the search for an optimum configuration can be realized efficiently by means of heuristics that have been developed by domain experts. The paper in hand picks up that observation. It presents a method to automatically generate heuristics that guide the search when solving complex resource-based configuration problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D.C. Brown and B. Chandrasekaran, Design Problem Solving, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 1989.

  2. R. Cunis, A. Günter, I. Syska, H. Peters, and H. Bode, “Plakon—An approach to domain-independent construction,” Technical Report 21, BMFT cooperation project, Department of Computer Science, University of Hamburg, March 1989.

  3. J.S. Gero, “Design prototypes: A knowledge representation scheme for design,” AI Magazine, vol. 11, pp. 26–36, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  4. H. Kleine Büning, D. Curatolo, and B. Stein, “Knowledge-based support within configuration and design tasks,” in Proc. ESDA '94, London, 1994, pp. 435–441.

  5. M. Lou Maher, “Process models for design synthesis,” AI Magazine, pp. 49–58, 1990.

  6. C. Tong, “Towards an engineering science of knowledge-based design,” Artificial Intelligence in Engineering, vol. 2,no. 3, pp. 133–166, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  7. B. Stein, “Functional models in configuration systems,” Dissertation, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Paderborn, 1995.

  8. B. Stein and D. Curatolo, “Model formulation and configuration of technical systems,” in 10. Workshop “Planen und Konfigurieren,” Bonn, edited by J. Sauer, A. Günter, and J. Hertzberg, vol. 3 of Proceedings in Artificial Intelligence, ISBN 3–92037–97–1, 1996.

  9. H. Kleine Büning, D. Curatolo, and B. Stein, “Configuration based on simplified functional models,” Technical Report tr-ri–94–155, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Paderborn, 1994.

  10. M. Heinrich and E.W. Jüngst, “A resource-based paradigm for the configuring of technical systems for modular components,” in Proc. CAIA '91, 1991, pp. 257–264.

  11. T. Laußermair and K. Starkmann, “Konfigurierung basierend auf einem bilanzverfahren,” in 6. Workshop “Planen und Konfigurieren,” München, FORWISS, FR-1992–001, 1992.

  12. J. Weiner, “Aspekte der konfigurierung technischer anlagen,” Dissertation, Department of Computer Science, Gerhard-Mercator University of Duisburg, 1991.

  13. B. Stein and J. Weiner, “Model-based configuration,” in OEGAI '91, Workshop for Model-Based Reasoning, 1991.

  14. S. Marcus and J. McDermott, “Salt: A knowledge acquisition language for propose-and-revise systems,” Artificial Intelligence, vol. 39, pp. 1–37, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  15. M. Sueper, “Effiziente lösungsstrategien für ressourcenorientierte konfigurierungsprobleme,” Diploma thesis, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Paderborn, 1994.

  16. A.V. Aho, J.E. Hopcroft, and J.D. Ullman, Data Structures and Algorithms, Addison-Wesley, Massachusetts, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  17. O. Najmann and B. Stein, “A theoretical framework of configuration,” in Proc. IEAAIE '92, Paderborn, 1992.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science—Knowledge-Based Systems Group, University of Paderibson, 33065, Padereribson, Germany

    Benno Stein

Authors
  1. Benno Stein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stein, B. Generating Heuristics to Control Configuration Processes. Applied Intelligence 10, 247–255 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008384005122

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008384005122

Search

Navigation