Method and apparatus for interactive evolutionary algorithms with respondent directed breeding

1. A method for optimizing generation of a product alternative to be presented via a presentation device, the method comprising:

identifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first attribute of a product alternative as associated with one of a first performance level indicative of an affirmative user response to the first attribute or a second performance level indicative of a negative user response to the first attribute, the identifying based on one or more user inputs received in response to presentation of the product alternative;

in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the first performance level, identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first product alternative based on the first attribute;

in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level, identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second product alternative, the second product alternative to include a second attribute different than the first attribute;

modifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, one of the first product alternative or the second product alternative to generate an optimized product alternative for presentation via the presentation device; and

applying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a set of rules to modify a third product alternative to (a) include the first attribute in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the first performance level and (b) prevent inclusion of the first attribute in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including, in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level, preventing modification of the optimized product alternative by applying the set of rules to prevent the optimized product alternative from including the first attribute.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the first attribute as associated with the first performance level or the second performance level is based on a comparison of at least one of a first user input or a second user input to attribute survey data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including:

in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level, determining whether the optimized product alternative includes the first attribute; and

if the optimized product alternative includes the first attribute, modifying the optimized product alternative to remove the first attribute.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modifying of the first product alternative includes replacing an attribute of the second product alternative with the first attribute.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modifying of the second product alternative includes adding a third attribute to the second product alternative, the third attribute different from the first attribute.

7. The method of claim 1 , further including, in response to identifying he first attribute as associated with the first performance level, generating a fourth product alternative including the first attribute.

8. The method of claim 1 , further including, in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level, reducing an occurrence of the first attribute in the optimized product alternative by identifying the second product alternative based on a performance level for a third attribute, the third attribute different than the first attribute and the second attribute.

9. A method to generate a product alternative to be presented via a presentation device, the method comprising:

accessing, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first user input indicative of one of a first product alternative or a second product alternative as a preferred product alternative;

accessing, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second user input indicative of a preferred attribute of the other of the first product alternative or the second product alternative;

identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a third product alternative based on the preferred product alternative;

modifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, the third product alternative based on the preferred attribute to generate a fourth product alternative;

performing, by executing an instruction with the processor, a comparison of an attribute of the fourth product alternative to an unpermitted attribute, the unpermitted attribute to be defined by a third user input;

verifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, that the fourth product alternative is a permitted product alternative based on the comparison; and

outputting, by executing an instruction with the processor, the fourth product alternative for presentation via a presentation device.

10. The method of claim 9 , further including, in response to the second user input, generating a fifth product alternative to include the preferred attribute.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the performing of the comparison is based on a set of rules to prevent production of the fourth product alternative including the unpermitted attribute and another attribute of the fourth product alternative.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the preferred attribute of the one of the first product alternative or the second product alternative is a first preferred attribute and further including accessing a third user input indicative of a second preferred attribute of one of the first product alternative or the second product alternative, wherein the modifying of the third product alternative is based on at least one of the first preferred attribute or the second preferred attribute.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including:

identifying a characteristic of the first preferred attribute and a characteristic of the second preferred attribute;

weighing the characteristic of the first preferred attribute and the characteristic of the second preferred attribute relative to a predefined attribute priority rule; and

selecting one of the first preferred attribute or the second preferred attribute based on the weighing, wherein the modifying of the third product alternative is based on selected one of the first preferred attribute or the second preferred attribute.

14. A tangible computer readable storage device or storage disk comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

identify a first attribute of a product alternative as associated with one of a first performance level indicative of an affirmative user response to the first attribute or a second performance level indicative of a negative user response to the first attribute, the identifying based on one or more user inputs received in response to presentation of the product alternative;

in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the first performance level, identify a first product alternative based on the first attribute;

in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level, identify a second product alternative, the second product alternative to include a second attribute different than the first attribute;

modify one of the first product alternative or the second product alternative to generate an optimized product alternative for presentation via a presentation device; and

apply a set of rules to modify a third product alternative to (a) include the first attribute in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the first performance level and (b) prevent inclusion of the first attribute in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level.

15. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to, in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level, prevent modification of the optimized product alternative by applying a set of rules to prevent the optimized product alternative from including the first attribute.

16. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to identify the first attribute as associated with the first performance level or the second performance level based on a comparison of at least one of a first user input or a second user input to attribute survey data.

17. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to, in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the second performance level, determine whether the optimized product alternative includes the first attribute; and

if the optimized product alternative includes the first attribute, modify the optimized product alternative to remove the first attribute.

18. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to modify the first product alternative by replacing an attribute of the second product alternative with the first attribute.

19. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to modify the second product alternative by adding a third attribute to the second product alternative, the third attribute different from the first attribute and the second attribute.

20. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine, in response to identifying the first attribute as associated with the first performance level, generate a fourth product alternative including the first attribute.