Abstract machine or algorithm for line solving a Nonogram
... or if you just want to have fun you can simply grab a lot of useful tips from other (powerful) Nonogram solvers; you can start from here:

http://webpbn.com/pbnsolve.html which will teleport :-) you to:

http://webpbn.com/survey/ and ...

http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/~ss/nonogram/ ...

http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/~ss/nonogram/list-solvers

You can find detail descriptions of single-line / multi-line solving techniques and descriptions of more complex strategies.

When switching to 3D Nonograms single-line and multi-line strategies are still valid (apply 2D multi-line strategies on each section of your 3D puzzle); but if the 3D puzzle is difficult (or random), an iterated loop with those strategies ends up with many unknown pixels and to proceed you must apply specific 3D strategies. 

If your question is more TCS oriented  then there are plenty of references in some public downloadable articles: http://www.google.it/search?as_q=nonogram+np&amp;as_filetype=pdf