Collaboratively solving an optimization problem using first and second optimization software each having at least partial information concerning the optimization problem

A system for collaboratively solving an optimization problem, comprising:

• first optimization software operable to:
• determine a solution to a first sub-problem of the optimization problem based on at least partial information concerning the optimization problem known to the first optimization software;
• and
• communicate the solution to the first sub-problem and information concerning one or more penalties for deviating from the solution to the first sub-problem;
• and
• second optimization software operable to:
• determine a solution to a second sub-problem of the optimization problem based on at least partial information concerning the optimization problem known to the second optimization software, the communicated solution to the first sub-problem, and the communicated information concerning one or more penalties for deviating from the solution to the first sub-problem.

Software for collaboratively solving an optimization problem, the software comprising at least first optimization software and second optimization software each having at least partial information concerning the optimization problem, the software embodied in computer-readable media and when executed operable to:

• determine a solution to a first sub-problem of the optimization problem using the first optimization software based on at least partial information concerning the optimization problem known to the first optimization software;
• communicate from the first optimization software to the second optimization software the solution to the first sub-problem and information concerning one or more penalties for deviating from the solution to the first sub-problem;
• and
• determine a solution to a second sub-problem of the optimization problem using the second optimization software based on at least partial information concerning the optimization problem known to the second optimization software, the communicated solution to the first sub-problem, and the communicated information concerning one or more penalties for deviating from the solution to the first sub-problem.