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An Interval Lattice-Based Constraint Solving Framework for Lattices

[Page last updated on 2000/10/25.]

A. Fernandez
E.T.S. de Ingenieria Informatica
Departamento de Lenguajes y Ciencias de la Computacion
Despacho 3.2.50
Universidad de Malaga
Teatinos s/n
29071-Malaga
Spain

Patricia M. Hill
School of Computing
The University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
England

Abstract:

We present a simple generic framework to solve constraints on any domain (finite or infinite) which has a lattice structure. The approach is based on the use of a single constraint similar to the indexicals used by CLP over finite domains and on a particular definition of an interval lattice built from the computation domain. We provide the theoretical foundations for this framework, a schematic procedure for the operational semantics, and numerous examples illustrating how it can be used both over classical and new domains. We also show how lattice combinators can be used to generate new domains and hence new constraint solvers for these domains from existing domains.

Keywords:

Lattice, constraint solving, constraint propagation, indexicals.

Available: Gzipped Postscript. BibTeX entry.