Advanced DSS for scheduling: Software engineering aspects and the role of Eigenmodels

This paper describes an advanced decision support system for scheduling that is based on both, extensive knowledge about scheduling algorithms, and a new software engineering paradigm developed by the FAW. This paradigm uses an elaborate compromise between object-orientation, constraint processing, and functional capabilities, and supports distributed computing. The system has the capability to generate a model of itself. This Eigenmodel is a directed graph G representing data structures (nodes of G) and algorithms (edges of G). The methods developed for scheduling problems can, on a ‘higher’ level of abstraction, also be applied to the Eigenmodel itself. This can then be used for performance analysis and learning aspects which will eventually provide the user with valuable information about the functioning and performance of the system, thus contributing to the envisioned new generation of decision support systems.