Method and system for connecting analytic network process model (ANP) with feedback throughout the ANP model between sub-networks

1. A computer-implemented system for an analytic network process (ANP) control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure, comprising:

a memory configured to store an ANP control structure; and a processor cooperatively operable with the memory, the processor configured to:

store, in the memory, the ANP control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure;

store, in the ANP control structure, subnetworks according to ANP theory, one of the subnetworks being attached to a node-to-cluster connection in the ANP control structure instead of being attached to the node itself; and

perform a BOCR calculation on the ANP control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure, including a calculation on the node-to-cluster connection, to yield a result which is proper according to ANP theory when values used in the calculation are non-trivial.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an output unit configured to output, for simultaneous display to a user, more than two contiguous levels of the ANP control structure with feedback between said more than two contiguous levels.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an output unit configured to output, for a display to a user, a result of the calculations on the ANP control structure with feedback.

4. The system of claim 1 , the non-trivial values when the result is proper being when (i) non-zero ANP alternatives of invert and add, or positives minus negatives, are under costs or risks in the ANP control structure using a subtraction formula, or (ii) non-0.5 ANP alternatives are under costs or risks in the ANP control structure using a probabilistic formula.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising

an input unit configured to input, from an input device, pairwise comparisons, ANP ratings, or ANP client data, which are transformed into priority vectors and stored into the ANP control structure representing, the pairwise comparisons representing a user's judgment of priority between the ANP alternatives in the pair, the ANP ratings representing a user's rating of a choice, and the ANP client data representing real world values.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein the node-to-cluster connection includes an indication how influence feeds through the network, and the indication is used in the BOCR calculation.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein

a synthesizer and a prioritizer is specified for the node-to-cluster connection,

the prioritizer specifies a source of values used by the synthesizer,

the synthesizer is a pre-determined formula for use in the BOCR calculation on the node and the cluster which are connected by the node-to-cluster connection.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , the non-trivial values when the result is proper result from using a subtraction formula, or a probabilistic formula.

9. A computer-implemented method for an analytic network process (ANP) control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure, comprising:

storing, in an ANP control structure storage unit, an ANP control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure;

storing, in the ANP control structure, subnetworks according to ANP theory, one of the subnetworks being attached to a node-to-cluster connection in the ANP control structure instead of being attached to the node itself; and

performing, in a synthesizer of a computer processor, a BOCR calculation on the ANP control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure, including a calculation on the node-to-cluster connection, to yield a result which is proper according to ANP theory when values used in the calculation are non-trivial.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

outputting, from an output unit, for a display to a user, more than two contiguous levels of the ANP control structure with feedback between said more than two contiguous levels.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

outputting, from an output unit, for a display to a user, a result of the calculations on the ANP control structure with feedback.

12. The method of claim 9 , the non-trivial values when the result is proper being when (i) non-zero ANP alternatives of invert and add, or positives minus negatives, are under costs or risks in the ANP control structure using a subtraction formula, or (ii) non-0.5 ANP alternatives are under costs or risks in the ANP control structure using a probabilistic formula.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising inputting, from an input device, pairwise comparisons, ANP ratings, or ANP client data, which are transformed into priority vectors and stored into the ANP control structure representing, the pairwise comparisons representing a user's judgment of priority between the ANP alternatives in the pair, the ANP ratings representing a user's rating of a choice, and the ANP client data representing real world values.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the node-to-cluster connection includes an indication how influence feeds through the network, and the indication is used in the BOCR calculation.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein

a synthesizer and a prioritizer is specified for the node-to-cluster connection,

the prioritizer specifies a source of values used by the synthesizer,

the synthesizer is a pre-determined formula for use in the BOCR calculation on the node and the cluster which are connected by the node-to-cluster connection.

16. The method of claim 9 , the non-trivial values when the result is proper result from using a subtraction formula, or a probabilistic formula.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computer program for an analytic network process (ANP) control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure, wherein execution of said computer program by one or more processors causes said one or more processors to perform the steps of:

storing, in an ANP control structure storage unit, an ANP control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure;

storing, in the ANP control structure, subnetworks according to ANP theory, one of the subnetworks being attached to a node-to-cluster connection in the ANP control structure instead of being attached to the node itself; and

performing, in a synthesizer, a BOCR calculation on the ANP control structure with feedback throughout the ANP control structure, including a calculation on the node-to-cluster connection, to yield a result which is proper according to ANP theory when values used in the calculation are non-trivial.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions for:

outputting, from an output unit, for a display to a user, more than two contiguous levels of the ANP control structure with feedback between said more than two contiguous levels.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions for:

outputting, from an output unit, for a display to a user, a result of the calculations on the ANP control structure with feedback.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , the non-trivial values when the result is proper being when (i) non-zero ANP alternatives of invert and add, or positives minus negatives, are under costs or risks in the ANP control structure using a subtraction formula, or (ii) non-0.5 ANP alternatives are under costs or risks in the ANP control structure using a probabilistic formula.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions for inputting, from an input device, pairwise comparisons, ANP ratings, or ANP client data, which are transformed into priority vectors and stored into the ANP control structure representing, the pairwise comparisons representing a user's judgment of priority between the ANP alternatives in the pair, the ANP ratings representing a user's rating of a choice, and the ANP client data representing real world values.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the node-to-cluster connection includes an indication how influence feeds through the network, and the indication is used in the BOCR calculation.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein

a synthesizer and a prioritizer is specified for the node-to-cluster connection,

the prioritizer specifies a source of values used by the synthesizer,

the synthesizer is a pre-determined formula for use in the BOCR calculation on the node and the cluster which are connected by the node-to-cluster connection.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , the non-trivial values when the result is proper result from using a subtraction formula, or a probabilistic formula.