001package org.cpsolver.ifs.extension;
002
003import java.util.ArrayList;
004import java.util.Collection;
005import java.util.HashSet;
006import java.util.HashMap;
007import java.util.Iterator;
008import java.util.LinkedList;
009import java.util.List;
010import java.util.Map;
011import java.util.Queue;
012import java.util.Set;
013
014import org.cpsolver.ifs.assignment.Assignment;
015import org.cpsolver.ifs.assignment.context.AssignmentContext;
016import org.cpsolver.ifs.assignment.context.ExtensionWithContext;
017import org.cpsolver.ifs.model.Constraint;
018import org.cpsolver.ifs.model.Value;
019import org.cpsolver.ifs.model.Variable;
020import org.cpsolver.ifs.solver.Solver;
021import org.cpsolver.ifs.util.DataProperties;
022import org.cpsolver.ifs.util.Progress;
023
024
025/**
026 * MAC propagation. <br>
027 * <br>
028 * During the arc consistency maintenance, when a value is deleted from a
029 * variable's domain, the reason (forming an explanation) can be computed and
030 * attached to the deleted value. Once a variable (say Vx with the assigned
031 * value vx) is unassigned during the search, all deleted values which contain a
032 * pair Vx = vx in their explanations need to be recomputed. Such value can be
033 * either still inconsistent with the current (partial) solution (a different
034 * explanation is attached to it in this case) or it can be returned back to its
035 * variable's domain. Arc consistency is maintained after each iteration step,
036 * i.e., the selected assignment is propagated into the not yet assigned
037 * variables. When a value vx is assigned to a variable Vx, an explanation Vx !=
038 * vx' &#8592; Vx = vx is attached to all values vx' of the variable Vx,
039 * different from vx. <br>
040 * <br>
041 * In the case of forward checking (only constraints going from assigned
042 * variables to unassigned variables are revised), computing explanations is
043 * rather easy. A value vx is deleted from the domain of the variable Vx only if
044 * there is a constraint which prohibits the assignment Vx=vx because of the
045 * existing assignments (e.g., Vy = vy, Vz = vz). An explanation for the
046 * deletion of this value vx is then Vx != vx &#8592; (Vy = vy &amp; ... Vz = vz),
047 * where Vy = vy &amp; ... Vz = vz are assignments contained in the prohibiting
048 * constraint. In case of arc consistency, a value vx is deleted from the domain
049 * of the variable Vx if there is a constraint which does not permit the
050 * assignment Vx = vx with other possible assignments of the other variables in
051 * the constraint. This means that there is no support value (or combination of
052 * values) for the value vx of the variable Vx in the constraint. An explanation
053 * is then a union of explanations of all possible support values for the
054 * assignment Vx = vx of this constraint which were deleted. The reason is that
055 * if one of these support values is returned to its variable's domain, this
056 * value vx may be returned as well (i.e., the reason for its deletion has
057 * vanished, a new reason needs to be computed). <br>
058 * <br>
059 * As for the implementation, we only need to enforce arc consistency of the
060 * initial solution and to extend unassign and assign methods. Procedure
061 * {@link MacPropagation#afterAssigned(Assignment, long, Value)} enforces arc consistency of
062 * the solution with the selected assignment variable = value and the procedure
063 * {@link MacPropagation#afterUnassigned(Assignment, long, Value)} "undoes" the assignment
064 * variable = value. It means that explanations of all values which were deleted
065 * and which contain assignment variable = value in their explanations need to
066 * be recomputed. This can be done via returning all these values into their
067 * variables' domains followed by arc consistency maintenance over their
068 * variables. <br>
069 * <br>
070 * Parameters:
071 * <table border='1' summary='Related Solver Parameters'>
072 * <tr>
073 * <th>Parameter</th>
074 * <th>Type</th>
075 * <th>Comment</th>
076 * </tr>
077 * <tr>
078 * <td>MacPropagation.JustForwardCheck</td>
079 * <td>{@link Boolean}</td>
080 * <td>If true, only forward checking instead of full arc consistency is
081 * maintained during the search.</td>
082 * </tr>
083 * </table>
084 * 
085 * @version IFS 1.3 (Iterative Forward Search)<br>
086 *          Copyright (C) 2006 - 2014 Tomáš Müller<br>
087 *          <a href="mailto:muller@unitime.org">muller@unitime.org</a><br>
088 *          <a href="http://muller.unitime.org">http://muller.unitime.org</a><br>
089 * <br>
090 *          This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
091 *          it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
092 *          published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the
093 *          License, or (at your option) any later version. <br>
094 * <br>
095 *          This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
096 *          WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
097 *          MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
098 *          Lesser General Public License for more details. <br>
099 * <br>
100 *          You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
101 *          License along with this library; if not see
102 *          <a href='http://www.gnu.org/licenses/'>http://www.gnu.org/licenses/</a>.
103 * @param <V> Variable
104 * @param <T> Value
105 */
106public class MacPropagation<V extends Variable<V, T>, T extends Value<V, T>> extends ExtensionWithContext<V, T, MacPropagation<V, T>.NoGood> {
107    private static org.apache.log4j.Logger sLogger = org.apache.log4j.Logger.getLogger(MacPropagation.class);
108    private boolean iJustForwardCheck = false;
109    private Progress iProgress;
110
111    /** List of constraints on which arc-consistency is to be maintained */
112    protected List<Constraint<V, T>> iConstraints = null;
113    /** Current iteration */
114    protected long iIteration = 0;
115
116    /** Constructor 
117     * @param solver current solver 
118     * @param properties solver configuration
119     **/
120    public MacPropagation(Solver<V, T> solver, DataProperties properties) {
121        super(solver, properties);
122        iJustForwardCheck = properties.getPropertyBoolean("MacPropagation.JustForwardCheck", false);
123    }
124
125    /** Adds a constraint on which arc-consistency is to be maintained 
126     * @param constraint a hard constraint
127     **/
128    public void addConstraint(Constraint<V, T> constraint) {
129        if (iConstraints == null)
130            iConstraints = new ArrayList<Constraint<V, T>>();
131        iConstraints.add(constraint);
132    }
133
134    /**
135     * Returns true, if arc-consistency is to be maintained on the given
136     * constraint
137     * @param constraint a constraint
138     * @return true if in the set
139     */
140    public boolean contains(Constraint<V, T> constraint) {
141        if (iConstraints == null)
142            return true;
143        return iConstraints.contains(constraint);
144    }
145
146    /**
147     * Before a value is unassigned: until the value is inconsistent with the
148     * current solution, an assignment from its explanation is picked and
149     * unassigned.
150     */
151    @Override
152    public void beforeAssigned(Assignment<V, T> assignment, long iteration, T value) {
153        iIteration = iteration;
154        if (value == null)
155            return;
156        if (!isGood(assignment, value)) {
157            while (!isGood(assignment, value) && !noGood(assignment, value).isEmpty()) {
158                T noGoodValue = noGood(assignment, value).iterator().next();
159                assignment.unassign(iteration, noGoodValue.variable());
160            }
161        }
162        if (!isGood(assignment, value)) {
163            sLogger.warn("Going to assign a bad value " + value + " with empty no-good.");
164        }
165    }
166
167    /**
168     * After a value is assigned: explanations of other values of the value's
169     * variable are reset (to contain only the assigned value), propagation over
170     * the assigned variable takes place.
171     */
172    @Override
173    public void afterAssigned(Assignment<V, T> assignment, long iteration, T value) {
174        iIteration = iteration;
175        if (!isGood(assignment, value)) {
176            sLogger.warn(value.variable().getName() + " = " + value.getName() + " -- not good value assigned (noGood:" + noGood(assignment, value) + ")");
177            setGood(assignment, value);
178        }
179
180        HashSet<T> noGood = new HashSet<T>(1);
181        noGood.add(value);
182        for (Iterator<T> i = value.variable().values(assignment).iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
183            T anotherValue = i.next();
184            if (anotherValue.equals(value))
185                continue;
186            setNoGood(assignment, anotherValue, noGood);
187        }
188        getContext(assignment).propagate(assignment, value.variable());
189    }
190
191    /**
192     * After a value is unassigned: explanations of all values of unassigned
193     * variable are recomputed ({@link Value#conflicts(Assignment)}), propagation undo
194     * over the unassigned variable takes place.
195     */
196    @Override
197    public void afterUnassigned(Assignment<V, T> assignment, long iteration, T value) {
198        iIteration = iteration;
199        if (!isGood(assignment, value))
200            sLogger.error(value.variable().getName() + " = " + value.getName()
201                    + " -- not good value unassigned (noGood:" + noGood(assignment, value) + ")");
202        for (Iterator<T> i = value.variable().values(assignment).iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
203            T anotherValue = i.next();
204            if (!isGood(assignment, anotherValue)) {
205                Set<T> noGood = anotherValue.conflicts(assignment);
206                if (noGood == null)
207                    setGood(assignment, anotherValue);
208                else
209                    setNoGood(assignment, anotherValue, noGood);
210            }
211        }
212        getContext(assignment).undoPropagate(assignment, value.variable());
213    }
214
215    /** good values of a variable (values not removed from variables domain) 
216     * @param assignment current assignment
217     * @param variable given variable
218     * @return set of good values 
219     **/
220    public Set<T> goodValues(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V variable) {
221        return getContext(assignment).goodValues(variable);
222    }
223
224    /** notification that a nogood value becomes good or vice versa */
225    private void goodnessChanged(Assignment<V, T> assignment, T value) {
226        if (isGood(assignment, value)) {
227            goodValues(assignment, value.variable()).add(value);
228        } else {
229            goodValues(assignment, value.variable()).remove(value);
230        }
231    }
232
233    /** removes support of a variable */
234    private void removeSupport(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V variable, T value) {
235        getContext(assignment).supportValues(variable).remove(value);
236    }
237
238    /** adds support of a variable */
239    private void addSupport(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V variable, T value) {
240        getContext(assignment).supportValues(variable).add(value);
241    }
242
243    /** variables explanation 
244     * @param assignment current assignment 
245     * @param value given value
246     * @return no-good for the value
247     **/
248    public Set<T> noGood(Assignment<V, T> assignment, T value) {
249        return getContext(assignment).getNoGood(value);
250    }
251
252    /** is variable good
253     * @param assignment current assignment
254     * @param value given value
255     * @return true if there is no no-good set for the value
256     **/
257    public boolean isGood(Assignment<V, T> assignment, T value) {
258        return getContext(assignment).getNoGood(value) == null;
259    }
260
261    /** sets value to be good 
262     * @param assignment current assignment
263     * @param value given value
264     **/
265    protected void setGood(Assignment<V, T> assignment, T value) {
266        Set<T> noGood = getContext(assignment).getNoGood(value);
267        if (noGood != null)
268            for (T v : noGood)
269                removeSupport(assignment, v.variable(), value);
270        getContext(assignment).setNoGood(value, null);
271        goodnessChanged(assignment, value);
272    }
273
274    /** sets value's explanation 
275     * @param assignment current assignment
276     * @param value given value
277     * @param reason no-good set for the value
278     **/
279    public void setNoGood(Assignment<V, T> assignment, T value, Set<T> reason) {
280        Set<T> noGood = noGood(assignment, value);
281        if (noGood != null)
282            for (T v : noGood)
283                removeSupport(assignment, v.variable(), value);
284        getContext(assignment).setNoGood(value, reason);
285        for (T aValue : reason)
286            addSupport(assignment, aValue.variable(), value);
287        goodnessChanged(assignment, value);
288    }
289
290    private Set<T> reason(Assignment<V, T> assignment, Constraint<V, T> constraint, V aVariable, T aValue) {
291        Set<T> ret = new HashSet<T>();
292
293        for (Iterator<T> i = aVariable.values(assignment).iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
294            T value = i.next();
295            if (constraint.isConsistent(aValue, value)) {
296                if (noGood(assignment, value) == null)
297                    sLogger.error("Something went wrong: value " + value + " cannot participate in a reason.");
298                else
299                    ret.addAll(noGood(assignment, value));
300            }
301        }
302        return ret;
303    }
304    
305    @Override
306    public NoGood createAssignmentContext(Assignment<V, T> assignment) {
307        return new NoGood(assignment);
308    }
309    
310    /** Propagation over the given variable. 
311     * @param assignment current assignment
312     * @param variable given variable
313     **/
314    protected void propagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V variable) {
315        getContext(assignment).propagate(assignment, variable);
316    }
317    
318    /**
319     * Propagation undo over the given variable. All values having given
320     * variable in their explanations needs to be recomputed. This is done in
321     * two phases: 1) values that contain this variable in explanation are
322     * returned back to domains (marked as good) 2) propagation over variables
323     * which contains a value that was marked as good takes place
324     * @param assignment current assignment
325     * @param variable given variable
326     */
327    public void undoPropagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V variable) {
328        getContext(assignment).undoPropagate(assignment, variable);
329    }
330
331    /**
332     * Assignment context
333     */
334    public class NoGood implements AssignmentContext {
335        private Map<V, Set<T>[]> iNoGood = new HashMap<V, Set<T>[]>();
336        private Map<V, Map<T, Set<T>>> iNoGoodVal = new HashMap<V, Map<T, Set<T>>>();
337        
338        /**
339         * Initialization. Enforce arc-consistency over the current (initial)
340         * solution. AC3 algorithm is used.
341         */
342        public NoGood(Assignment<V, T> assignment) {
343            iProgress = Progress.getInstance(getModel());
344            iProgress.save();
345            iProgress.setPhase("Initializing propagation:", 3 * getModel().variables().size());
346            for (Iterator<V> i = getModel().variables().iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
347                V aVariable = i.next();
348                supportValues(aVariable).clear();
349                goodValues(aVariable).clear();
350            }
351            for (Iterator<V> i = getModel().variables().iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
352                V aVariable = i.next();
353                for (Iterator<T> j = aVariable.values(assignment).iterator(); j.hasNext();) {
354                    T aValue = j.next();
355                    Set<T> noGood = aValue.conflicts(assignment);
356                    setNoGood(aValue, noGood);
357                    if (noGood == null) {
358                        goodValues(aVariable).add(aValue);
359                    } else {
360                    }
361                }
362                iProgress.incProgress();
363            }
364            Queue<V> queue = new LinkedList<V>();
365            for (Iterator<V> i = getModel().variables().iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
366                V aVariable = i.next();
367                for (Constraint<V, T> constraint : aVariable.hardConstraints()) {
368                    propagate(assignment, constraint, aVariable, queue);
369                }
370                iProgress.incProgress();
371            }
372            if (!iJustForwardCheck)
373                propagate(assignment, queue);
374            for (Iterator<V> i = getModel().variables().iterator(); i.hasNext();) {
375                V aVariable = i.next();
376                List<T> values2delete = new ArrayList<T>();
377                for (Iterator<T> j = aVariable.values(assignment).iterator(); j.hasNext();) {
378                    T aValue = j.next();
379                    if (getNoGood(aValue) != null && getNoGood(aValue).isEmpty()) {
380                        values2delete.add(aValue);
381                    }
382                }
383                for (T val : values2delete)
384                    aVariable.removeValue(0, val);
385                if (aVariable.values(assignment).isEmpty()) {
386                    sLogger.error(aVariable.getName() + " has empty domain!");
387                }
388                iProgress.incProgress();
389            }
390            iProgress.restore();
391        }
392        
393        public Set<T>[] getNoGood(V variable) {
394            return iNoGood.get(variable);
395        }
396        
397        public void setNoGood(V variable, Set<T>[] noGood) {
398            if (noGood == null)
399                iNoGood.remove(variable);
400            else
401                iNoGood.put(variable, noGood);
402        }
403        
404        public Set<T> getNoGood(T value) {
405            Map<T, Set<T>> ng = iNoGoodVal.get(value.variable());
406            if (ng == null) return null;
407            return ng.get(value);
408        }
409        
410        public void setNoGood(T value, Set<T> noGood) {
411            Map<T, Set<T>> ng = iNoGoodVal.get(value.variable());
412            if (ng == null) {
413                ng = new HashMap<T, Set<T>>();
414                iNoGoodVal.put(value.variable(), ng);
415            }
416            if (noGood == null)
417                ng.remove(value);
418            else
419                ng.put(value, noGood);
420        }
421        
422        /** support values of a variable */
423        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
424        private Set<T> supportValues(V variable) {
425            Set<T>[] ret = getNoGood(variable);
426            if (ret == null) {
427                ret = new Set[] { new HashSet<T>(1000), new HashSet<T>() };
428                setNoGood(variable, ret);
429            }
430            return ret[0];
431        }
432        
433        /** good values of a variable (values not removed from variables domain) 
434         * @param variable given variable
435         * @return set of good values 
436         **/
437        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
438        private Set<T> goodValues(V variable) {
439            Set<T>[] ret = getNoGood(variable);
440            if (ret == null) {
441                ret = new Set[] { new HashSet<T>(1000), new HashSet<T>() };
442                setNoGood(variable, ret);
443            }
444            return ret[1];
445        }
446        
447        /** propagation over a constraint */
448        private void propagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, Constraint<V, T> constraint, V aVariable, Queue<V> queue) {
449            if (goodValues(aVariable).isEmpty())
450                return;
451            List<T> conflicts = conflictValues(assignment, constraint, aVariable);
452
453            if (conflicts != null && !conflicts.isEmpty()) {
454                for (T conflictValue : conflicts) {
455                    if (!queue.contains(conflictValue.variable()))
456                        queue.add(conflictValue.variable());
457                    Set<T> reason = reason(assignment, constraint, aVariable, conflictValue);
458                    // sLogger.debug("  "+conflictValue+" become nogood (c:"+constraint.getName()+", r:"+reason+")");
459                    setNoGood(conflictValue, reason);
460                    if (reason.isEmpty())
461                        (conflictValue.variable()).removeValue(iIteration, conflictValue);
462                }
463            }
464        }
465        
466        protected boolean propagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V aVariable, V anotherVariable, List<T> adepts) {
467            if (goodValues(aVariable).isEmpty())
468                return false;
469            boolean ret = false;
470            List<T> conflicts = null;
471            for (Constraint<V, T> constraint : anotherVariable.constraintVariables().get(aVariable)) {
472                for (T aValue : goodValues(aVariable)) {
473                    if (conflicts == null)
474                        conflicts = conflictValues(constraint, aValue, adepts);
475                    else
476                        conflicts = conflictValues(constraint, aValue, conflicts);
477                    if (conflicts == null || conflicts.isEmpty())
478                        break;
479                }
480                if (conflicts != null && !conflicts.isEmpty())
481                    for (T conflictValue : conflicts) {
482                        Set<T> reason = reason(assignment, constraint, aVariable, conflictValue);
483                        // sLogger.debug("  "+conflictValue+" become nogood (c:"+constraint.getName()+", r:"+reason+")");
484                        setNoGood(conflictValue, reason);
485                        adepts.remove(conflictValue);
486                        if (reason.isEmpty())
487                            (conflictValue.variable()).removeValue(iIteration, conflictValue);
488                        ret = true;
489                    }
490            }
491            return ret;
492        }
493
494        protected boolean propagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V aVariable, V anotherVariable) {
495            if (goodValues(anotherVariable).isEmpty())
496                return false;
497            return propagate(assignment, aVariable, anotherVariable, new ArrayList<T>(goodValues(anotherVariable)));
498        }
499
500        /** Propagation over the given variable. 
501         * @param assignment current assignment
502         * @param variable given variable
503         **/
504        protected void propagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V variable) {
505            Queue<V> queue = new LinkedList<V>();
506            if (assignment.getValue(variable) != null) {
507                for (Constraint<V, T> constraint : variable.hardConstraints()) {
508                    if (contains(constraint))
509                        propagate(assignment, constraint, assignment.getValue(variable), queue);
510                }
511            } else {
512                for (Constraint<V, T> constraint : variable.hardConstraints()) {
513                    if (contains(constraint))
514                        propagate(assignment, constraint, variable, queue);
515                }
516            }
517            if (!iJustForwardCheck && !queue.isEmpty())
518                propagate(assignment, queue);
519        }
520
521        /** Propagation over the queue of variables.
522         * @param assignment current assignment
523         * @param queue variable queue
524         **/
525        protected void propagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, Queue<V> queue) {
526            while (!queue.isEmpty()) {
527                V aVariable = queue.poll();
528                for (Constraint<V, T> constraint : aVariable.hardConstraints()) {
529                    if (contains(constraint))
530                        propagate(assignment, constraint, aVariable, queue);
531                }
532            }
533        }
534        
535        /** propagation over a constraint */
536        private void propagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, Constraint<V, T> constraint, T anAssignedValue, Queue<V> queue) {
537            Set<T> reason = new HashSet<T>(1);
538            reason.add(anAssignedValue);
539            Collection<T> conflicts = conflictValues(assignment, constraint, anAssignedValue);
540            if (conflicts != null && !conflicts.isEmpty())
541                for (T conflictValue : conflicts) {
542                    // sLogger.debug("  "+conflictValue+" become nogood (c:"+constraint.getName()+", r:"+reason+")");
543                    setNoGood(conflictValue, reason);
544                    if (!queue.contains(conflictValue.variable()))
545                        queue.add(conflictValue.variable());
546                }
547        }
548        
549        /**
550         * Propagation undo over the given variable. All values having given
551         * variable in thair explanations needs to be recomputed. This is done in
552         * two phases: 1) values that contain this variable in explanation are
553         * returned back to domains (marked as good) 2) propagation over variables
554         * which contains a value that was marked as good takes place
555         * @param assignment current assignment
556         * @param variable given variable
557         */
558        public void undoPropagate(Assignment<V, T> assignment, V variable) {
559            Map<V, List<T>> undoVars = new HashMap<V, List<T>>();
560            NoGood context = getContext(assignment);
561            while (!context.supportValues(variable).isEmpty()) {
562                T value = context.supportValues(variable).iterator().next();
563                Set<T> noGood = value.conflicts(assignment);
564                if (noGood == null) {
565                    setGood(assignment, value);
566                    List<T> values = undoVars.get(value.variable());
567                    if (values == null) {
568                        values = new ArrayList<T>();
569                        undoVars.put(value.variable(), values);
570                    }
571                    values.add(value);
572                } else {
573                    setNoGood(value, noGood);
574                    if (noGood.isEmpty())
575                        (value.variable()).removeValue(iIteration, value);
576                }
577            }
578
579            Queue<V> queue = new LinkedList<V>();
580            for (V aVariable : undoVars.keySet()) {
581                List<T> values = undoVars.get(aVariable);
582                boolean add = false;
583                for (V x : aVariable.constraintVariables().keySet()) {
584                    if (propagate(assignment, x, aVariable, values))
585                        add = true;
586                }
587                if (add)
588                    queue.add(aVariable);
589            }
590            for (V x : variable.constraintVariables().keySet()) {
591                if (propagate(assignment, x, variable) && !queue.contains(variable))
592                    queue.add(variable);
593            }
594            if (!iJustForwardCheck)
595                propagate(assignment, queue);
596        }
597        
598        private List<T> conflictValues(Assignment<V, T> assignment, Constraint<V, T> constraint, T aValue) {
599            List<T> ret = new ArrayList<T>();
600
601            for (V variable : constraint.variables()) {
602                if (variable.equals(aValue.variable()))
603                    continue;
604                if (assignment.getValue(variable) != null)
605                    continue;
606
607                for (T value : goodValues(variable))
608                    if (!constraint.isConsistent(aValue, value))
609                        ret.add(value);
610            }
611            return ret;
612        }
613
614        private List<T> conflictValues(Constraint<V, T> constraint, T aValue, List<T> values) {
615            List<T> ret = new ArrayList<T>(values.size());
616            for (T value : values)
617                if (!constraint.isConsistent(aValue, value))
618                    ret.add(value);
619            return ret;
620        }
621
622        private List<T> conflictValues(Assignment<V, T> assignment, Constraint<V, T> constraint, V aVariable) {
623            List<T> conflicts = null;
624            for (T aValue : goodValues(aVariable)) {
625                if (conflicts == null)
626                    conflicts = conflictValues(assignment, constraint, aValue);
627                else
628                    conflicts = conflictValues(constraint, aValue, conflicts);
629                if (conflicts == null || conflicts.isEmpty())
630                    return null;
631            }
632            return conflicts;
633        }        
634    }
635
636}