A Parametric Framework for Cooperative Parallel Local Search

In this paper we address the problem of parallelizing local search. We propose a general framework where different local search engines cooperate (through communication) in the quest for a solution. Several parameters allow the user to instantiate and customize the framework, like the degree of intensification and diversification. We implemented a prototype in the X10 programming language based on the adaptive search method. We decided to use X10 in order to benefit from its ease of use and the architectural independence from parallel resources which it offers. Initial experiments prove the approach to be successful, as it outperforms previous systems as the number of processes increases.