TY - JOUR

T1 - A comparison of two approaches for solving unconstrained influence diagrams

A1 - Ahlmann-Ohlsen,Kristian S.

A1 - Jensen,Finn V.

A1 - Nielsen,Thomas Dyhre

A1 - Pedersen,Ole

A1 - Vomlelová,Marta

AU - Ahlmann-Ohlsen,Kristian S.

AU - Jensen,Finn V.

AU - Nielsen,Thomas Dyhre

AU - Pedersen,Ole

AU - Vomlelová,Marta

PB - Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Influence diagrams and decision trees represent the two most common frameworks for specifying and solving decision problems. As modeling languages, both of these frameworks require that the decision analyst specifies all possible sequences of observations and decisions (in influence diagrams, this requirement corresponds to the constraint that the decisions should be temporarily linearly ordered). Recently, the unconstrained influence diagram was proposed to address this drawback. In this framework, we may have a partial ordering of the decisions, and a solution to the decision problem therefore consists not only of a decision policy for the various decisions, but also of a conditional specification of what to do next. Relative to the complexity of solving an influence diagram, finding a solution to an unconstrained influence diagram may be computationally very demanding w.r.t. both time and space. Hence, there is a need for efficient algorithms that can deal with (and take advantage of) the idiosyncrasies of the language. In this paper we propose two such solution algorithms. One resembles the variable elimination technique from influence diagrams, whereas the other is based on conditioning and supports any-space inference. Finally, we present an empirical comparison of the proposed methods.

AB - Influence diagrams and decision trees represent the two most common frameworks for specifying and solving decision problems. As modeling languages, both of these frameworks require that the decision analyst specifies all possible sequences of observations and decisions (in influence diagrams, this requirement corresponds to the constraint that the decisions should be temporarily linearly ordered). Recently, the unconstrained influence diagram was proposed to address this drawback. In this framework, we may have a partial ordering of the decisions, and a solution to the decision problem therefore consists not only of a decision policy for the various decisions, but also of a conditional specification of what to do next. Relative to the complexity of solving an influence diagram, finding a solution to an unconstrained influence diagram may be computationally very demanding w.r.t. both time and space. Hence, there is a need for efficient algorithms that can deal with (and take advantage of) the idiosyncrasies of the language. In this paper we propose two such solution algorithms. One resembles the variable elimination technique from influence diagrams, whereas the other is based on conditioning and supports any-space inference. Finally, we present an empirical comparison of the proposed methods.

U2 - doi:10.1016/j.ijar.2008.08.001

DO - doi:10.1016/j.ijar.2008.08.001

JO - International Journal of Approximate Reasoning

JF - International Journal of Approximate Reasoning

SN - 0888-613X

IS - 1

VL - 50

SP - 153

EP - 173

ER -