Using Canonical Forms for Isomorphism Reduction in Graph-based Model Checking

Graph isomorphism checking can be used in graph-based model checking to achieve symmetry reduction. Instead of one-to-one comparing the graph representations of states, canonical forms of state graphs can be computed. These canonical forms can be used to store and compare states. However, computing a canonical form for a graph is computationally expensive. Whether computing a canonical representation for states and reducing the state space is more efficient than using canonical hashcodes for states and comparing states one-to-one is not a priori clear. In this paper these approaches to isomorphism reduction are described and a preliminary comparison is presented for checking isomorphism of pairs of graphs. An existing algorithm that does not compute a canonical form performs better that tools that do for graphs that are used in graph-based model checking. Computing canonical forms seems to scale better for larger graphs

Isomorphism Checking in GROOVE

In this paper we show how isomorphism checking can be used as an effective technique for symmetry reduction in graph-based state spaces, despite the inherent complexity of the isomorphism problem. In particular, we show how one can use element-based graph certificate mappings to help in recognising nonisomorphic graphs. These are mappings that assign to all elements (edges and nodes) of a given graph a number that is invariant under isomorphism, in the sense that any isomorphism between graphs is sure to preserve this number. The individual element certificates of a graph give rise to a certificate for the entire graph, which can be used as a hash key for the graph; hence, this yields a heuristic to decide whether a graph has an isomorphic representative in a previously computed set of graphs. We report some experiments that show the viability of this method. \u

An algorithmic approach for multi-color Ramsey graphs

The classical Ramsey number R(r1,r2,...,rm) is defined to be the smallest integer n such that no matter how the edges of Kn are colored with the m colors, 1, 2, 3, . . . ,m, there exists some color i such that there is a complete subgraph of size ri, all of whose edges are of color i. The problem of determining Ramsey numbers is known to be very difficult and is usually split into two problems, finding upper and lower bounds. Lower bounds can be obtained by the construction of a, so called, Ramsey graph. There are many different methods to construct Ramsey graphs that establish lower bounds. In this thesis mathematical and computational methods are exploited to construct Ramsey graphs. It was shown that the problem of checking that a graph coloring gives a Ramsey graph is NP-complete. Hence it is almost impossible to find a polynomial time algorithm to construct Ramsey graphs by searching and checking. Consequently, a method such as backtracking with good pruning techniques should be used. Algebraic methods were developed to enable such a backtrack search to be feasible when symmetry is assumed. With the algorithm developed in this thesis, two new lower bounds were established: R(3,3,5)≥45 and R(3,4,4)≥55. Other best known lower bounds were matched, such as R(3,3,4)≥30. The Ramsey graphs giving these lower bounds were analyzed and their full symmetry groups were determined. In particular it was shown that there are unique cyclic graphs up to isomorphism giving R(3,3,4)≥30 and R(3,4,4)≥55, and 13 non-isomorphic cyclic graphs giving R(3,3,5)≥45

On the Complexity of Polytope Isomorphism Problems

We show that the problem to decide whether two (convex) polytopes, given by their vertex-facet incidences, are combinatorially isomorphic is graph isomorphism complete, even for simple or simplicial polytopes. On the other hand, we give a polynomial time algorithm for the combinatorial polytope isomorphism problem in bounded dimensions. Furthermore, we derive that the problems to decide whether two polytopes, given either by vertex or by facet descriptions, are projectively or affinely isomorphic are graph isomorphism hard. The original version of the paper (June 2001, 11 pages) had the title ``On the Complexity of Isomorphism Problems Related to Polytopes''. The main difference between the current and the former version is a new polynomial time algorithm for polytope isomorphism in bounded dimension that does not rely on Luks polynomial time algorithm for checking two graphs of bounded valence for isomorphism. Furthermore, the treatment of geometric isomorphism problems was extended.Comment: 16 pages; to appear in: Graphs and Comb.; replaces our paper ``On the Complexity of Isomorphism Problems Related to Polytopes'' (June 2001