Faster Algorithms for All-Pairs Bounded Min-Cuts

The All-Pairs Min-Cut problem (aka All-Pairs Max-Flow) asks to compute a minimum s-t cut (or just its value) for all pairs of vertices s,t. We study this problem in directed graphs with unit edge/vertex capacities (corresponding to edge/vertex connectivity). Our focus is on the k-bounded case, where the algorithm has to find all pairs with min-cut value less than k, and report only those. The most basic case k=1 is the Transitive Closure (TC) problem, which can be solved in graphs with n vertices and m edges in time O(mn) combinatorially, and in time O(n^{omega}) where omega<2.38 is the matrix-multiplication exponent. These time bounds are conjectured to be optimal. We present new algorithms and conditional lower bounds that advance the frontier for larger k, as follows: - A randomized algorithm for vertex capacities that runs in time {O}((nk)^{omega}). This is only a factor k^omega away from the TC bound, and nearly matches it for all k=n^{o(1)}. - Two deterministic algorithms for edge capacities (which is more general) that work in DAGs and further reports a minimum cut for each pair. The first algorithm is combinatorial (does not involve matrix multiplication) and runs in time {O}(2^{{O}(k^2)}* mn). The second algorithm can be faster on dense DAGs and runs in time {O}((k log n)^{4^{k+o(k)}}* n^{omega}). Previously, Georgiadis et al. [ICALP 2017], could match the TC bound (up to n^{o(1)} factors) only when k=2, and now our two algorithms match it for all k=o(sqrt{log n}) and k=o(log log n). - The first super-cubic lower bound of n^{omega-1-o(1)} k^2 time under the 4-Clique conjecture, which holds even in the simplest case of DAGs with unit vertex capacities. It improves on the previous (SETH-based) lower bounds even in the unbounded setting k=n. For combinatorial algorithms, our reduction implies an n^{2-o(1)} k^2 conditional lower bound. Thus, we identify new settings where the complexity of the problem is (conditionally) higher than that of TC. Our three sets of results are obtained via different techniques. The first one adapts the network coding method of Cheung, Lau, and Leung [SICOMP 2013] to vertex-capacitated digraphs. The second set exploits new insights on the structure of latest cuts together with suitable algebraic tools. The lower bounds arise from a novel reduction of a different structure than the SETH-based constructions

Fine-Grained Complexity of Analyzing Compressed Data: Quantifying Improvements over Decompress-And-Solve

Can we analyze data without decompressing it? As our data keeps growing, understanding the time complexity of problems on compressed inputs, rather than in convenient uncompressed forms, becomes more and more relevant. Suppose we are given a compression of size $n$ of data that originally has size $N$, and we want to solve a problem with time complexity $T(\cdot)$. The naive strategy of "decompress-and-solve" gives time $T(N)$, whereas "the gold standard" is time $T(n)$: to analyze the compression as efficiently as if the original data was small. We restrict our attention to data in the form of a string (text, files, genomes, etc.) and study the most ubiquitous tasks. While the challenge might seem to depend heavily on the specific compression scheme, most methods of practical relevance (Lempel-Ziv-family, dictionary methods, and others) can be unified under the elegant notion of Grammar Compressions. A vast literature, across many disciplines, established this as an influential notion for Algorithm design. We introduce a framework for proving (conditional) lower bounds in this field, allowing us to assess whether decompress-and-solve can be improved, and by how much. Our main results are: - The $O(nN\sqrt{\log{N/n}})$ bound for LCS and the $O(\min\{N \log N, nM\})$ bound for Pattern Matching with Wildcards are optimal up to $N^{o(1)}$ factors, under the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis. (Here, $M$ denotes the uncompressed length of the compressed pattern.) - Decompress-and-solve is essentially optimal for Context-Free Grammar Parsing and RNA Folding, under the $k$-Clique conjecture. - We give an algorithm showing that decompress-and-solve is not optimal for Disjointness

Fine-Grained Complexity of Analyzing Compressed Data: Quantifying Improvements over Decompress-And-Solve

Can we analyze data without decompressing it? As our data keeps growing, understanding the time complexity of problems on compressed inputs, rather than in convenient uncompressed forms, becomes more and more relevant. Suppose we are given a compression of size $n$ of data that originally has size $N$, and we want to solve a problem with time complexity $T(\cdot)$. The naive strategy of "decompress-and-solve" gives time $T(N)$, whereas "the gold standard" is time $T(n)$: to analyze the compression as efficiently as if the original data was small. We restrict our attention to data in the form of a string (text, files, genomes, etc.) and study the most ubiquitous tasks. While the challenge might seem to depend heavily on the specific compression scheme, most methods of practical relevance (Lempel-Ziv-family, dictionary methods, and others) can be unified under the elegant notion of Grammar Compressions. A vast literature, across many disciplines, established this as an influential notion for Algorithm design. We introduce a framework for proving (conditional) lower bounds in this field, allowing us to assess whether decompress-and-solve can be improved, and by how much. Our main results are: - The $O(nN\sqrt{\log{N/n}})$ bound for LCS and the $O(\min\{N \log N, nM\})$ bound for Pattern Matching with Wildcards are optimal up to $N^{o(1)}$ factors, under the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis. (Here, $M$ denotes the uncompressed length of the compressed pattern.) - Decompress-and-solve is essentially optimal for Context-Free Grammar Parsing and RNA Folding, under the $k$-Clique conjecture. - We give an algorithm showing that decompress-and-solve is not optimal for Disjointness.Comment: Presented at FOCS'17. Full version. 63 page

Tight(er) bounds for similarity measures, smoothed approximation and broadcasting

In this thesis, we prove upper and lower bounds on the complexity of sequence similarity measures, the approximability of geometric problems on realistic inputs, and the performance of randomized broadcasting protocols. The first part approaches the question why a number of fundamental polynomial-time problems - specifically, Dynamic Time Warping, Longest Common Subsequence (LCS), and the Levenshtein distance - resists decades-long attempts to obtain polynomial improvements over their simple dynamic programming solutions. We prove that any (strongly) subquadratic algorithm for these and related sequence similarity measures would refute the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis (SETH). Focusing particularly on LCS, we determine a tight running time bound (up to lower order factors and conditional on SETH) when the running time is expressed in terms of all input parameters that have been previously exploited in the extensive literature. In the second part, we investigate the approximation performance of the popular 2-Opt heuristic for the Traveling Salesperson Problem using the smoothed analysis paradigm. For the Fréchet distance, we design an improved approximation algorithm for the natural input class of c-packed curves, matching a conditional lower bound. Finally, in the third part we prove tighter performance bounds for processes that disseminate a piece of information, either as quickly as possible (rumor spreading) or as anonymously as possible (cryptogenography).Die vorliegende Dissertation beweist obere und untere Schranken an die Komplexität von Sequenzähnlichkeitsmaßen, an die Approximierbarkeit geometrischer Probleme auf realistischen Eingaben und an die Effektivität randomisierter Kommunikationsprotokolle. Der erste Teil befasst sich mit der Frage, warum für eine Vielzahl fundamentaler Probleme im Polynomialzeitbereich - insbesondere für das Dynamic-Time-Warping, die längste gemeinsame Teilfolge (LCS) und die Levenshtein-Distanz - seit Jahrzehnten keine Algorithmen gefunden werden konnten, die polynomiell schneller sind als ihre einfachen Lösungen mittels dynamischer Programmierung. Wir zeigen, dass ein (im strengen Sinne) subquadratischer Algorithmus für diese und verwandte Ähnlichkeitsmaße die starke Exponentialzeithypothese (SETH) widerlegen würde. Für LCS zeigen wir eine scharfe Schranke an die optimale Laufzeit (unter der SETH und bis auf Faktoren niedrigerer Ordnung) in Abhängigkeit aller bisher untersuchten Eingabeparameter. Im zweiten Teil untersuchen wir die Approximationsgüte der klassischen 2-Opt-Heuristik für das Problem des Handlungsreisenden anhand des Smoothed-Analysis-Paradigmas. Weiterhin entwickeln wir einen verbesserten Approximationsalgorithmus für die Fréchet-Distanz auf einer Klasse natürlicher Eingaben. Der letzte Teil beweist neue Schranken für die Effektivität von Prozessen, die Informationen entweder so schnell wie möglich (Rumor-Spreading) oder so anonym wie möglich (Kryptogenografie) verbreiten