Question

How can I generate n random integers at i interval having a bias placed on a number if is not picked after a duration of t time?

Answer 1

This code won’t compile, but you get the gist of the algorithm I have in place. It might not be particularly efficient, but it gets the job done and you will have to tailor it to your needs. Namely the variables n, timer (create a timer), timerTicks and the method ChooseRandomNumber.

int maxNumber = n;
timer timer;
Dictionary<int, int> numbers
int timerTicks;

// Set up numbers with 0 base rating
SetUpDetails()
{
  timer.interval = i
  for (int i = 0; i < maxNumber; i++)
    numbers.Add(i, 0);
}

timer.Tick
{
  // List with numbers
  List<int> numbersToChooseFrom;
  foreach (KeyValuePair number in numbers)
  {
    // Must be added at least once
    numbersToChooseFrom.Add(number.Key)
    if (number.Value > timerTicks)
      for (int i = 0; i < (number.Value/timerTicks); i++
        // i.e. if number hasnt been chosen for 
        // timerTicks iterations give it more weight
        numbersToChooseFrom.Add(number.Key) 

    // Some numbers occur more than once and thus have greater chance
    int choice = ChooseRandomNumber(between 0 and numbersToChooseFrom.Length)
    int RandomNumber = numbersToChooseFrom.ElementAt(choice)
    return RandomNumber;
  }
}