Temperature Adjustment Program for Replica Exchange Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The replica exchange method for solving optimization problems is hindered by the need for a long time to adjust the minimum temperature, leading to potential entrapment in local solutions due to inappropriate setting of the minimum temperature value.

Innovation Solution

A temperature adjustment program that acquires average values of the evaluation function from multiple replica circuits and adjusts the minimum temperature based on a comparison between these values, thereby shortening the adjustment time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the minimum temperature is set too low to avoid entrapment in local solutions, then the solution search capability is improved, but the adjustment time of the minimum temperature becomes very long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolution search capabilityVSAvoidadjustment time of minimum temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by monitoring the acceptance rate of state transitions in the replica exchange method and using this information to dynamically adjust the minimum temperature. The temperature adjustment unit receives feedback about the current temperature's performance and modifies it accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that balances exploration and exploitation efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the minimum temperature dynamic rather than fixed. The temperature adjustment unit continuously adapts the minimum temperature based on the acceptance rate, allowing the system to transition between exploration (higher temperature) and exploitation (lower temperature) phases automatically, thereby reducing the need for manual adjustment while maintaining solution quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the minimum temperature is set too high to reduce adjustment time, then the adjustment speed is improved, but the system gets trapped in local solutions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment speedVSAvoidescape from local solutions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the acceptance rate to determine when to increase or decrease the minimum temperature. When the acceptance rate indicates good exploration, the temperature can be increased to speed up adjustment. When the acceptance rate suggests the system is stuck, the temperature is adjusted to escape local solutions, creating an adaptive balance between speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the minimum temperature parameter based on system performance. Rather than using a fixed or manually adjusted temperature, the system automatically modifies this parameter in response to observed behavior, allowing rapid adaptation while maintaining the ability to escape local minima when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If repeated procedures are used to determine appropriate minimum temperature, then the temperature setting accuracy is improved, but the total processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature setting accuracyVSAvoidtotal processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary temperature adjustment during the initial phases of processing using the replica exchange method. The temperature adjustment unit establishes an appropriate minimum temperature early in the process based on initial acceptance rate observations, eliminating the need for multiple repeated procedures and reducing total processing time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature adjustment operates continuously rather than through discrete repeated procedures. The temperature adjustment unit constantly monitors the acceptance rate and makes incremental adjustments, maintaining accurate temperature settings throughout the entire processing period without requiring multiple separate adjustment phases, thereby reducing total time while preserving precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4394665A1Temperature adjustment program, data processing apparatus, and data processing method
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 FUJITSU LTD
  • EP4394665A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4394665A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4394665A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A temperature adjustment program that causes a computer to execute a process, the process includes acquiring an average value of values of an evaluation function obtained in search processing of a solution to an optimization problem by a replica circuit to which a minimum temperature value is set among a plurality of replica circuits a plurality of times during the search processing by a replica exchange method by using the plurality of replica circuits corresponding to a plurality of replicas of the evaluation function based on an Ising model obtained by converting the optimization problem; changing the minimum temperature value based on a comparison result between a first average value among the average values acquired the plurality of times and a second average value acquired before the first average value; and setting the minimum temperature value after the change.