CAREER: Constraint Databases: Space, Time and CombinatorialOptimization

数学约束提供了一种灵活而统一的方式来概念性地表示和操纵捕捉时空行为、复杂建模需求、部分和不完全信息等各种数据，并已在广泛的应用领域中得到应用。CCUBE项目致力于将成功的约束技术(涉及实数上的算术约束、区间约束传播和有限域上的组合优化)与数据库技术相结合，在约束数据库(CDB)的框架内特别针对两个广泛的应用领域：(1)需要在低维(高达5-6)维空间中操作复杂对象的时空应用、3D空间中对象的移动、不同坐标系之间的转换以及随时间变化的空间行为模式。这些应用包括CAD/CAM系统、地理信息系统和环境系统，以及时空数据融合和传感器管理。(2)需要在存在大量数据的情况下进行组合优化的应用，其中数据库一次设置处理、索引和存储大的中间结果的能力被用于搜索。这里的应用包括制造和仓库支持系统、金融系统，如电子贸易，以及涉及大量数据的传统数学规划问题。CCUBE项目中正在开发的技术有可能在构建目标领域的软件系统方面提供数量级的生产力增长。此外，它适合成为未来数据库管理系统的一个组成部分，以及优化生产力的工具。最后，CCUBE项目正在被用作一种重要的教育手段，被学生用于研究生课程的实际应用，并鼓励他们及早参与研究。

Mathematical constraints provide a flexible and uniform way to conceptually represent and manipulate diverse data capturing spatio-temporal behavior, complex modeling requirements, partial and incomplete information etc., and have been used in a wide variety of application realms. The CCUBE project deals with incorporation of successful constraint technology (involving arithmetic constraints over reals, interval constraint propagation, and combinatorial optimization over finite domains) with database technology, in the framework of Constraint Databases (CDBs) aimed especially at two broad application areas: (1) Spatial and temporal applications that require manipulation of complex objects in low (up to 5-6) dimensional space, movement of objects in 3D-space, transformations among various coordinate systems, and patterns of behavior in space over time. These applications include CAD/CAM systems, GIS and environmental systems, and spatio-temporal data fusion and sensor management. (2) Applications requiring combinatorial optimization in presence of large amounts of data, in which database set-at-a-time processing, indexing, and the ability to store large intermediate results are being exploited for search. Applications here include manufacturing and warehouse support systems, financial systems such as electronic trade, and traditional mathematical programming problems involving large amounts of data. The technology being developed in the CCUBE project has the potential to provide an order-of-magnitude productivity gain in building software systems in the target domains. Furthermore, it is suitable to become an integral component of future database management systems, as well as optimization productivity tools. Finally, the CCUBE project is being utilized as an important educational device, being used by students in graduate-level courses for real-life applications, and stimulating their early involvement in research.