SPQR-tree-like embedding representation for level planarity

An SPQR-tree is a data structure that efficiently represents all planar embeddings of a connected planar graph. It is a key tool in a number of constrained planarity testing algorithms, which seek a planar embedding of a graph subject to some given set of constraints. We develop an SPQR-tree-like data structure that represents all level-planar embeddings of a biconnected level graph with a single source, called the LP-tree, and give an algorithm to compute it in linear time. Moreover, we show that LP-trees can be used to adapt three constrained planarity algorithms to the level-planar case by using LP-trees as a drop-in replacement for SPQR-trees

An SPQR-Tree-Like Embedding Representation for Level Planarity

An SPQR-tree is a data structure that efficiently represents all planar embeddings of a biconnected planar graph. It is a key tool in a number of constrained planarity testing algorithms, which seek a planar embedding of a graph subject to some given set of constraints. We develop an SPQR-tree-like data structure that represents all level-planar embeddings of a biconnected level graph with a single source, called the LP-tree, and give a simple algorithm to compute it in linear time. Moreover, we show that LP-trees can be used to adapt three constrained planarity algorithms to the level-planar case by using them as a drop-in replacement for SPQR-trees

An SPQR-tree-like embedding representation for level planarity

An SPQR-tree is a data structure that efficiently represents all planar embeddings of a biconnected planar graph. It is a key tool in a number of constrained planarity testing algorithms, which seek a planar embedding of a graph subject to some given set of constraints. We develop an SPQR-tree-like data structure that represents all level-planar embeddings of a biconnected level graph with a single source, called the LP-tree, and give a simple algorithm to compute it in linear time. Moreover, we show that LP-trees can be used to adapt three constrained planarity algorithms to the level-planar case by using them as a drop-in replacement for SPQR-trees

Learning optimization models in the presence of unknown relations

In a sequential auction with multiple bidding agents, it is highly challenging to determine the ordering of the items to sell in order to maximize the revenue due to the fact that the autonomy and private information of the agents heavily influence the outcome of the auction. The main contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, we demonstrate how to apply machine learning techniques to solve the optimal ordering problem in sequential auctions. We learn regression models from historical auctions, which are subsequently used to predict the expected value of orderings for new auctions. Given the learned models, we propose two types of optimization methods: a black-box best-first search approach, and a novel white-box approach that maps learned models to integer linear programs (ILP) which can then be solved by any ILP-solver. Although the studied auction design problem is hard, our proposed optimization methods obtain good orderings with high revenues. Our second main contribution is the insight that the internal structure of regression models can be efficiently evaluated inside an ILP solver for optimization purposes. To this end, we provide efficient encodings of regression trees and linear regression models as ILP constraints. This new way of using learned models for optimization is promising. As the experimental results show, it significantly outperforms the black-box best-first search in nearly all settings.Comment: 37 pages. Working pape

Matroidal Degree-Bounded Minimum Spanning Trees

We consider the minimum spanning tree (MST) problem under the restriction that for every vertex v, the edges of the tree that are adjacent to v satisfy a given family of constraints. A famous example thereof is the classical degree-constrained MST problem, where for every vertex v, a simple upper bound on the degree is imposed. Iterative rounding/relaxation algorithms became the tool of choice for degree-bounded network design problems. A cornerstone for this development was the work of Singh and Lau, who showed for the degree-bounded MST problem how to find a spanning tree violating each degree bound by at most one unit and with cost at most the cost of an optimal solution that respects the degree bounds. However, current iterative rounding approaches face several limits when dealing with more general degree constraints. In particular, when several constraints are imposed on the edges adjacent to a vertex v, as for example when a partition of the edges adjacent to v is given and only a fixed number of elements can be chosen out of each set of the partition, current approaches might violate each of the constraints by a constant, instead of violating all constraints together by at most a constant number of edges. Furthermore, it is also not clear how previous iterative rounding approaches can be used for degree constraints where some edges are in a super-constant number of constraints. We extend iterative rounding/relaxation approaches both on a conceptual level as well as aspects involving their analysis to address these limitations. This leads to an efficient algorithm for the degree-constrained MST problem where for every vertex v, the edges adjacent to v have to be independent in a given matroid. The algorithm returns a spanning tree T of cost at most OPT, such that for every vertex v, it suffices to remove at most 8 edges from T to satisfy the matroidal degree constraint at v

Improved Algorithm for Degree Bounded Survivable Network Design Problem

We consider the Degree-Bounded Survivable Network Design Problem: the objective is to find a minimum cost subgraph satisfying the given connectivity requirements as well as the degree bounds on the vertices. If we denote the upper bound on the degree of a vertex v by b(v), then we present an algorithm that finds a solution whose cost is at most twice the cost of the optimal solution while the degree of a degree constrained vertex v is at most 2b(v) + 2. This improves upon the results of Lau and Singh and that of Lau, Naor, Salavatipour and Singh

On Generalizations of Network Design Problems with Degree Bounds

Iterative rounding and relaxation have arguably become the method of choice in dealing with unconstrained and constrained network design problems. In this paper we extend the scope of the iterative relaxation method in two directions: (1) by handling more complex degree constraints in the minimum spanning tree problem (namely, laminar crossing spanning tree), and (2) by incorporating `degree bounds' in other combinatorial optimization problems such as matroid intersection and lattice polyhedra. We give new or improved approximation algorithms, hardness results, and integrality gaps for these problems.Comment: v2, 24 pages, 4 figure