Nogoods in qualitative constraint-based reasoning

Abstract

The prevalent method of increasing reasoning efficiency in the domain of qualitative constraint-based spatial and temporal reasoning is to use domain splitting based on so-called tractable subclasses. In this paper we analyze the application of nogood learning with restarts in combination with domain splitting. Previous results on nogood recording in the constraint satisfaction field feature learnt nogoods as a global constraint that allows for enforcing generalized arc consistency. We present an extension of such a technique capable of handling domain splitting, evaluate its benefits for qualitative constraint-based reasoning, and compare it with alternative approaches. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.