A cutoff time strategy based on the coupon collector's problem

摘要

Throughout the course of an optimization run, the probability of yielding further improvement becomes smaller as the search proceeds, and eventually the search stagnates. Under such a state, letting the algorithm continue to run is a waste of time as there is little hope that subsequent improvement can be made. The ability to detect the stagnation point is therefore of prime importance. If such a point can be detected reliably, then it is possible to make better use of the computing resources, perhaps restarting the algorithm at the stagnation point, either with the same or with a different parameter configuration.