Feasible distributed CSP models for scheduling problems

Abstract

Nowadays, many real problems can be formalized as Distributed CSPs. A distributed constraint satisfaction problem (DisCSP) is a CSP in which variables and constraints are distributed among multiple automated agents. Many researchers assume for simplicity that each agent has exactly one variable. For real planning and scheduling problems, these distributed techniques require a large amount of messages passed among agents, so these problems are very difficult to solve. In this paper, we present a general distributed model for solving real-life scheduling problems and propose some guidelines for distributing large-scale problems. Furthermore, we present two case studies in which two scheduling problems are distributed by using our model.

Holonic coordination obtained by joining the contract net protocol with constraint satisfaction

“…Our research is completing this list, by showing how CSP can be involved in a negotiation process with two phases in order to obtain the best, as well as reliable decisions about formation of holarchies. Application of CSP for real manufacturing problems still reveals certain open problems [16]; between them, the issue of expressing manufacturing scenarios according to CSP formalism is to be mentioned, this being addressed by our paper.…”

“…DisCSP was used for resource allocation problems, even in HMSs [16,18]. Besides the method of this paper, there is also the possibility to integrate optimality search within DisCSP by using the approach of distributed constraint optimization problems (DCOPs) [19].…”

A Petri net model for constraint satisfaction application in holonic systems

“…Given all these ideas, it further results that DisCSP can be involved in HMSs. An example about this is shown in [4], where a CSP approach is used for solving scheduling problems. Nevertheless, the use of DisAB for real problems implies several open problems [4].…”

“…Resource allocation problems, being between the major issues for manufacturing control systems, can be considered for solving through DisAB [4,8]. A control architecture that uses a distributed approach in manufacturing refers to Holonic Manufacturing Systems (HMSs) [9,10].…”

“…Besides this, nowadays schemes based on artificial intelligence methods are increasingly often taken into account. Among them, the techniques regarding constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) [3,4] are recommended, as providing solutions for resource allocation tasks, and they can be carried out in a distributed fashion, within multiagent systems (MASs).…”