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T O P - L E V E L   C O N T R O L   F O R   V E N D O R - O R D E R   
      O P T I M I Z A T I O N   A N D   E L I C I T A T I O N
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The Radar/Space-Time module includes two components that help the user
to place vendor orders. The first component selects appropriate orders
based on the available data, and the second elicits additional data
about vendors and costs.


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Optimization
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The optimization component inputs the current schedule, along with the
list of current orders, and suggests changes to these orders. The user
then needs to make the suggested changes manually.


-= Input and output =-

Input: Current schedule, vendor description, old order list, 
  cost function, total cost
Output: Sorted list of order changes with utilities

The "cost function" represents the dependency between the total amount
of expenses and the penalty for spending this money. The "total cost"
is the amount of all expenses before changing any orders; it includes
not only order costs, but also all other conference-related costs.


-= Main steps =-

Call Resource Calc
  Input: Current schedule, vendor description
  Output: List of resource functions

Determine the cost of all current orders, denoted Order-Cost
Let Other-Cost be "Total-Cost - Order-Cost"

Call Resource Optimizer
  Input: List of resource functions, cost function, Other-Cost
  Output: Per-order list

Call Vendor Chooser
  Input: Current schedule, vendor description, pre-order list
  Output: New order list

Call Order Diff
  Input: Old order list, new order list
  Output: List of order changes

Call Utility Calc
  Input: Old order list, new order list, list of order changes,
    list of resource functions, Other-Cost
  Output: Sorted list of order changes with utilities


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Elicitation
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COMING SOON