Encoding Probabilistic Graphical Models into Stochastic Boolean Satisfiability

Encoding Probabilistic Graphical Models into Stochastic Boolean Satisfiability

Cheng-Han Hsieh, Jie-Hong R. Jiang

Proceedings of the Thirty-First International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence
Main Track. Pages 1834-1842. https://doi.org/10.24963/ijcai.2022/255

Statistical inference is a powerful technique in various applications. Although many statistical inference tools are available, answering inference queries involving complex quantification structures remains challenging. Recently, solvers for Stochastic Boolean Satisfiability (SSAT), a powerful formalism allowing concise encodings of PSPACE decision problems under uncertainty, are under active development and applied in more and more applications. In this work, we exploit SSAT solvers for the inference of Probabilistic Graphical Models (PGMs), an essential representation for probabilistic reasoning. Specifically, we develop encoding methods to systematically convert PGM inference problems into SSAT formulas for effective solving. Experimental results demonstrate that, by using our encoding, SSAT-based solving can complement existing PGM tools, especially in answering complex queries.
Keywords:
Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiabilty
Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Applications
Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Constraint Satisfaction
Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Modeling
Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Solvers and Tools