Solving a combinatorial problem using a quality metric value of a characteristic solution thereof

A method of executing a combinatorial solver to solve a given combinatorial problem, the method comprising:

• configuring a processor with a value of a quality metric of a characteristic solution to the given combinatorial problem, including:
• providing a function that has been established for a family of combinatorial problems including the given combinatorial problem, for each combinatorial problem in the family, the function relating a secondary measure of the combinatorial problem to the quality metric of the characteristic solution to the combinatorial problem;
• and
• applying the function to a value of the secondary measure for the given combinatorial problem to obtain the value of the quality metric of the characteristic solution to the given combinatorial problem;
• and
• executing the combinatorial solver with the processor and using the value of the quality metric of the characteristic solution to at least:
• solve the given combinatorial problem to obtain a solution to the given combinatorial problem;
• evaluate the solution based on comparison of a value of the quality metric of the solution, and the value of the quality metric of the characteristic solution;
• and in at least one instance based on the evaluation;
• and
• communicate the solution to guide performance of a task.

A computer-readable storage medium for executing a combinatorial solver to solve a given combinatorial problem, the computer-readable storage medium being non-transitory and having computer-readable program code portions stored therein that in response to execution by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

• configure the processor with a value of a quality metric of a characteristic solution to the given combinatorial problem, including the apparatus being caused to:
• provide a function that has been established for a family of combinatorial problems including the given combinatorial problem, for each combinatorial problem in the family, the function relating a secondary measure of the combinatorial problem to the quality metric of the characteristic solution to the combinatorial problem;
• and
• apply the function to a value of the secondary measure for the given combinatorial problem to obtain the value of the quality metric of the characteristic solution to the given combinatorial problem;
• and
• execute the combinatorial solver with the processor and using the value of the quality metric of the characteristic solution to at least:
• solve the given combinatorial problem to obtain a solution to the given combinatorial problem;
• evaluate the solution based on comparison of a value of the quality metric of the solution, and the value of the quality metric of the characteristic solution;
• and in at least one instance based on the evaluation,
• communicate the solution to guide performance of a task.