Possibilistic Networks: Computational Analysis of MAP and MPE Inference

Abstract

Possibilistic graphical models are powerful modeling and reasoning tools for uncertain information based on possibility theory. In this paper, we provide an analysis of computational complexity of MAP and MPE queries for possibilistic networks. MAP queries stand for maximum a posteriori explanation while MPE ones stand for most plausible explanation. We show that the decision problems of answering MAP and MPE queries in both min-based and product-based possibilistic networks is NP-complete. Definitely, such results represent an advantage of possibilistic graphical models over probabilistic ones since MAP queries are NPPP -complete in Bayesian networks. Our proofs for querying min-based possibilistic networks make use of reductions from the 3SAT problem to querying possibilistic networks decision problem. Moreover, the provided reductions may be useful for the implementation of MAP and MPE inference engines based on the satisfiability problem solvers. As for product-based networks, the provided proofs are incremental and make use of reductions from SAT and its weighted variant WMAXSAT.