TRAPS - a time dependent resource allocation language

TRAPS is a general language for specifying resource allocation in scheduling problems and is a generalization of the resource allocation problem specification (RAPS) language. TRAPS enables the specification of a scheduling problem by adding built in time operators, on top of existing terms for resources, activities, allocation rules and constraints, to provide a convenient knowledge acquisition tool. The language syntax allows specification of rules and constraints, and supports the specification of various control and backtracking strategies. The generalized inference engine that runs compiled TRAPS programs is enhanced to provide all needed operations for typical calculations on the schedule and acts as an expert system shell.