Skip to main content

Minimal Perturbation Problem in Course Timetabling

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 3616))

Abstract

Many real-life problems are dynamic, with changes in the problem definition occurring after a solution to the initial formulation has been reached. A minimal perturbation problem incorporates these changes, along with the initial solution, as a new problem whose solution must be as close as possible to the initial solution. A new iterative forward search algorithm is proposed to solve minimal perturbation problems. Significant improvements to the solution quality are achieved by including new conflict-based statistics in this algorithm. The proposed methods were applied to find a new solution to an existing large scale class timetabling problem at Purdue University, incorporating the initial solution and additional input changes.

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

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Barták, R., Müller, T., Rudová, H.: A New Approach to Modeling and Solving Minimal Perturbation Problems. In: Apt, K.R., Fages, F., Rossi, F., Szeredi, P., Váncza, J. (eds.) CSCLP 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 3010, pp. 233–249. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. Barták, R., Rudová, H.: Limited Assignments: A New Cutoff Strategy for Incomplete Depth-First Search. In: Applied Computing, pp. 388–392. ACM, New York (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cambazard, H., Demazeau, F., Jussien, N., David, P.: Interactively Solving School Timetabling Problems Using Extensions of Constraint Programming. In: Burke, E.K., Trick, M.A. (eds.) PATAT 2004. LNCS, vol. 3616, pp. 107–124. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Dechter, R.: Constraint Processing. Morgan Kaufmann, San Mateo (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dechter, R., Frost, D.: Backjump-Based Backtracking for Constraint Satisfaction Problems. Artif. Intell. 136, 147–188 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Elkhyari, A., Guéret, C., Jussien, N.: Solving Dynamic Timetabling Problems as Dynamic Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problems Using New Constraint Programming Tools. In: Burke, E.K., De Causmaecker, P. (eds.) PATAT 2002. LNCS, vol. 2740, pp. 39–59. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. Guéret, C., Jussien, N., Boizumault, P., Prins, C.: Building University Timetables Using Constraint Logic Programming. In: Burke, E.K., Ross, P. (eds.) PATAT 1995. LNCS, vol. 1153, pp. 130–145. Springer, Heidelberg (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Jussien, N., Lhomme, O.: Local Search with Constraint Propagation and Conflict-Based Heuristics. Artif. Intell. 139, 21–45 (2002)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Kocjan, W.: Dynamic Scheduling: State of the Art Report. Technical Report T2002:28. SICS (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Michalewicz, Z., Fogel, D.B.: How to Solve It: Modern Heuristics. Springer, Berlin (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Miguel, I.: Dynamic Flexible Constraint Satisfaction and its Application to AI Planning. Springer, Berlin (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Müller, T., Barták, R.: Interactive Timetabling: Concepts, Techniques, and Practical Results. In: Burke, E.K., De Causmaecker, P. (eds.) PATAT 2002. LNCS, vol. 2740, pp. 58–72. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Piechowiak, S., Ma, J., Mandiau, R.: EDT-2004: An Open Interactive Timetabling Tool. In: Burke, E.K., Trick, M.A. (eds.) PATAT 2004. LNCS, vol. 3616, pp. 34–50. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Ran, Y., Roos, N., van den Herik, J.: Approaches to Find a Near-Minimal Change Solution for Dynamic CSPs. In: Fourth International Workshop on Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimisation Problems, pp. 373–387 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rudová, H., Murray, K.: University Course Timetabling with Soft Constraints. In: Burke, E.K., De Causmaecker, P. (eds.) PATAT 2002. LNCS, vol. 2740, pp. 310–328. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. El Sakkout, H., Wallace, M.: Probe Backtrack Search for Minimal Perturbation in Dynamic Scheduling. Constraints 4, 359–388 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Verfaillie, G., Jussien, N.: Dynamic Constraint Solving. A tutorial including commented bibliography presented at CP 2003 (2003), See http://www.emn.fr/x-info/jussien/CP03tutorial/

  18. Verfaillie, G., Jussien, N.: Constraint Solving in Uncertain and Dynamic Environments: A Survey. Constraints 10, 253–281 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Müller, T., Rudová, H., Barták, R. (2005). Minimal Perturbation Problem in Course Timetabling. In: Burke, E., Trick, M. (eds) Practice and Theory of Automated Timetabling V. PATAT 2004. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3616. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11593577_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11593577_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-30705-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-32421-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics