Automated Extraction of Problem Structure

Most problems studied in artificial intelligence possess some form of structure, but a precise way to define such structure is so far lacking. We investigate how the notion of problem structure can be made precise, and propose a formal definition of problem structure. The definition is applicable to problems in which the quality of candidate solutions is evaluated by means of a series of tests. This specifies a wide range of problems: tests can be examples in classification, test sequences for a sorting network, or opponents for board games. Based on our definition of problem structure, we provide an automatic procedure for problem structure extraction, and results of proof-of-concept experiments. The definition of problem structure assigns a precise meaning to the notion of the underlying objectives of a problem, a concept which has been used to explain how one can evaluate individuals in a coevolutionary setting. The ability to analyze and represent problem structure may yiel...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: GECCO
• Authors: Anthony Bucci, Jordan B. Pollack, Edwin D. de Jong
• Keywords: GECCO 2004, Precise Way, Problem Structure, Problem Structure Extraction