There are several types of mutexes that can be added to the . To start with, we only concentrate on those that can evolve in a single possible world because same-world mutexes are more effective as well as relatively easy to understand. We extend the mutex propagation that was used in the multiple graphs so that the mutexes are on one planning graph. The savings of computing mutexes on the instead of multiple graphs is that we can reduce computation when a mutex exits in several worlds. In Appendix B we describe how to handle cross-world mutexes, despite their lack of effectiveness in the experiments we conducted. Cross-world mutexes extend the to compute the same set of mutexes found by CGP [30].
Same-world mutexes can be represented with a single label, , between two elements (actions, effect, or literals). The mutex holds between elements and in all worlds where . If the elements are not mutex in any world, we can assume the label of a mutex between them is false . We discuss how the labelled mutexes are discovered and propagated for actions, effect relations, and literals.
By using mutexes, we can refine what it means for a formula to be reachable from a set of worlds . We must ensure that for every state in , there exists a state of that is reachable. A state of is reachable from a state of when there are no two literals in that are mutex in world and .
In each of the action, effect, and literal layers there are multiple ways for the same pair of elements to become mutex (e.g. interference or competing needs). Thus, the mutex label for a pair is the disjunction of all labelled mutexes found for the pair by some means.
Action Mutexes: The same-world action mutexes at a level
are a set of labelled pairs of actions. Each pair is labelled with a
formula that indicates the set of possible worlds where the actions
are mutex. The possible reasons for mutex actions are interference
and competing needs.
In the above formula we find all worlds where a pair of execution preconditions are mutex and both actions are reachable.
Effect Mutexes: The effect mutexes are a set of labelled
pairs of effects. Each pair is labelled with a formula that
indicates the set of possible worlds where the effects are mutex.
The possible reasons for mutex effects are associated action
mutexes, interference, competing needs, or induced effects.
In the above formula we find all worlds where a pair of execution preconditions are mutex and both actions are reachable.
Induced mutexes, involving the inducing effect , come about when an induced effect is mutex with another effect (see Figure 8). The induced mutex is between (a) the effect that is mutex with the induced effect and (b) the inducing effect . The label of the mutex is the conjunction of the label of the mutex and the label of the induced effect . For additional discussion of the methodology behind induced mutexes we refer to [30].
Literal Mutexes: The literal mutexes are a set of labelled
pairs of literals. Each pair is labelled with a formula that
indicates the set of possible worlds where the literals are mutex.
The only reason for mutex literals is inconsistent support.
The meaning of the above formula is that the two literals are mutex in all worlds where all pairs of effects that support the literals in are mutex in .