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Please predict whether this patent is acceptable.PATENT ABSTRACT: An approach is provided for solving optimization problems. The present invention also relates to a method comprising obtaining a first set of binary variables and a second set of binary variables; providing information regarding interactions between binary variables of the first set and binary variables of the second set; and providing an inverse temperature value. A change of a local energy of a binary variable of the first set if the binary variable were flipped is calculated on the basis of the inverse temperature value and the interactions between the binary variable of the first set and binary variables of the second set; and a probability is calculated on the basis of the change of the local energy. The probability is compared to a random value to determine whether to accept the flipping of the binary variable of the first set; and if the comparison indicates that the flipping can be accepted, the value of the binary variable of the first set is flipped. There is also disclosed an apparatus for implementing the method.