nenok.va
Interface Valuation

All Superinterfaces:
Labeled, Serializable
All Known Subinterfaces:
Idempotency, Predictability, Scalability, Separativity
All Known Implementing Classes:
Identity, OSRValuation, SRValuation

public interface Valuation
extends Labeled

This interface specifies a general valuation by its principal operations of labeling, marginalization & combination. Ensure that all axioms of a valuation algebra are respected when implementing this interface. Additionally, this interface provides a weight function in order to compute communication costs. Valuation objects are serializable such that they can be transmitted between network hosts.

Version:
$LastChangedRevision: 559 $
$LastChangedDate: 2008-03-26 14:25:18 +0100 (Mi, 26 Mrz 2008) $
Author:
Marc Pouly

Method Summary
 Valuation combine(Valuation val)
          Combination of valuations.
 Valuation marginalize(Domain dom)
          Marginalization of a valuation onto a given domain.
 int weight()
          Weight function:
 
Methods inherited from interface nenok.adapt.Labeled
label
 

Method Detail

weight

int weight()
Weight function:

Returns:
The valuation's weight.

combine

Valuation combine(Valuation val)
Combination of valuations.

Parameters:
val - The second valuation involved in the combination.
Returns:
The combination of this and val.

marginalize

Valuation marginalize(Domain dom)
                      throws VAException
Marginalization of a valuation onto a given domain.

Parameters:
dom - The domain onto this valuation is marginalized.
Returns:
The marginalization of this to dom.
Throws:
VAException - Exception occuring when a marginalization is performed onto an illegal domain. Throwing this exception is the recommended way to implement partial marginalization.