INTEROPT: A software system for interactive function minimization.

Abstract

The process of locating the minimum of a nonlinear function is highly experimental in nature since the determination of an acceptable solution may require many trials involving technique and parameter changes. If this problem is handled in a batch computing environment, the user is obliged to accept significant delays between minimization experiments. This difficulty can be overcome through the use of an interactive approach. The work described in this thesis is concerned with the development of a software package, called INTEROPT, which applies interactive/graphics techniques to the solution of nonlinear minimization problems. INTEROPT is designed for use on the IBM 360/65 computer operated by the Computing Center of the University of Ottawa. A Tektronix 4013 (or equivalent) graphics display unit is utilized as an on-line input-output device. The thesis describes the operation and structure of INTEROPT and gives examples of typical terminal sessions.