467 research outputs found
Refined Core Relaxation for Core-Guided MaxSAT Solving
Maximum satisfiability (MaxSAT) is a viable approach to solving NP-hard optimization problems. In the realm of core-guided MaxSAT solving - one of the most effective MaxSAT solving paradigms today - algorithmic variants employing so-called soft cardinality constraints have proven very effective. In this work, we propose to combine weight-aware core extraction (WCE) - a recently proposed approach that enables relaxing multiple cores instead of a single one during iterations of core-guided search - with a novel form of structure sharing in the cardinality-based core relaxation steps performed in core-guided MaxSAT solvers. In particular, the proposed form of structure sharing is enabled by WCE, which has so-far not been widely integrated to MaxSAT solvers, and allows for introducing fewer variables and clauses during the MaxSAT solving process. Our results show that the proposed techniques allow for avoiding potential overheads in the context of soft cardinality constraint based core-guided MaxSAT solving both in theory and in practice. In particular, the combination of WCE and structure sharing improves the runtime performance of a state-of-the-art core-guided MaxSAT solver implementing the central OLL algorithm
On Tackling the Limits of Resolution in SAT Solving
The practical success of Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) solvers stems from the
CDCL (Conflict-Driven Clause Learning) approach to SAT solving. However, from a
propositional proof complexity perspective, CDCL is no more powerful than the
resolution proof system, for which many hard examples exist. This paper
proposes a new problem transformation, which enables reducing the decision
problem for formulas in conjunctive normal form (CNF) to the problem of solving
maximum satisfiability over Horn formulas. Given the new transformation, the
paper proves a polynomial bound on the number of MaxSAT resolution steps for
pigeonhole formulas. This result is in clear contrast with earlier results on
the length of proofs of MaxSAT resolution for pigeonhole formulas. The paper
also establishes the same polynomial bound in the case of modern core-guided
MaxSAT solvers. Experimental results, obtained on CNF formulas known to be hard
for CDCL SAT solvers, show that these can be efficiently solved with modern
MaxSAT solvers
Exploiting Resolution-based Representations for MaxSAT Solving
Most recent MaxSAT algorithms rely on a succession of calls to a SAT solver
in order to find an optimal solution. In particular, several algorithms take
advantage of the ability of SAT solvers to identify unsatisfiable subformulas.
Usually, these MaxSAT algorithms perform better when small unsatisfiable
subformulas are found early. However, this is not the case in many problem
instances, since the whole formula is given to the SAT solver in each call. In
this paper, we propose to partition the MaxSAT formula using a resolution-based
graph representation. Partitions are then iteratively joined by using a
proximity measure extracted from the graph representation of the formula. The
algorithm ends when only one partition remains and the optimal solution is
found. Experimental results show that this new approach further enhances a
state of the art MaxSAT solver to optimally solve a larger set of industrial
problem instances
Solving Linux Upgradeability Problems Using Boolean Optimization
Managing the software complexity of package-based systems can be regarded as
one of the main challenges in software architectures. Upgrades are required on
a short time basis and systems are expected to be reliable and consistent after
that. For each package in the system, a set of dependencies and a set of
conflicts have to be taken into account. Although this problem is
computationally hard to solve, efficient tools are required. In the best
scenario, the solutions provided should also be optimal in order to better
fulfill users requirements and expectations. This paper describes two different
tools, both based on Boolean satisfiability (SAT), for solving Linux
upgradeability problems. The problem instances used in the evaluation of these
tools were mainly obtained from real environments, and are subject to two
different lexicographic optimization criteria. The developed tools can provide
optimal solutions for many of the instances, but a few challenges remain.
Moreover, it is our understanding that this problem has many similarities with
other configuration problems, and therefore the same techniques can be used in
other domains.Comment: In Proceedings LoCoCo 2010, arXiv:1007.083
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