REJECTED
Please predict whether this patent is acceptable.PATENT ABSTRACT: The present disclosure concerns a computer-implemented method for selecting an alternative, from a discrete set of alternatives, that is preferable with respect to one or more objectives, comprising: determining a Lagrangian function of the alternatives and one or more parameters; selecting an initial alternative from the set; determining values for the parameters; and selecting, via one or more iterations, an alternative from the set that reduces the Lagrangian subject to the determined parameter values. Further procedures can include determining at least two alternatives, wherein selecting a first alternative results in preference for a second alternative; dividing the set, including the first and second alternatives, into two disjoint subsets; maintaining branches for each subset while eliminating unfeasible branches; and selecting the alternative corresponding to a branch that reaches an optimal value or remains after eliminating all other branches. Other embodiments include devices and computer-readable media configurable to perform such procedures.