Distributed Distance-rr Dominating Set on Sparse High-Girth Graphs

The dominating set problem and its generalization, the distance-$r$ dominating set problem, are among the well-studied problems in the sequential settings. In distributed models of computation, unlike for domination, not much is known about distance-r domination. This is actually the case for other important closely-related covering problem, namely, the distance-$r$ independent set problem. By result of Kuhn et al. we know the distributed domination problem is hard on high girth graphs; we study the problem on a slightly restricted subclass of these graphs: graphs of bounded expansion with high girth, i.e. their girth should be at least $4r + 3$. We show that in such graphs, for every constant $r$, a simple greedy CONGEST algorithm provides a constant-factor approximation of the minimum distance-$r$ dominating set problem, in a constant number of rounds. More precisely, our constants are dependent to $r$, not to the size of the graph. This is the first algorithm that shows there are non-trivial constant factor approximations in constant number of rounds for any distance $r$-covering problem in distributed settings. To show the dependency on r is inevitable, we provide an unconditional lower bound showing the same problem is hard already on rings. We also show that our analysis of the algorithm is relatively tight, that is any significant improvement to the approximation factor requires new algorithmic ideas

The Parameterized Complexity of Domination-type Problems and Application to Linear Codes

We study the parameterized complexity of domination-type problems. (sigma,rho)-domination is a general and unifying framework introduced by Telle: a set D of vertices of a graph G is (sigma,rho)-dominating if for any v in D, |N(v)\cap D| in sigma and for any $v\notin D, |N(v)\cap D| in rho. We mainly show that for any sigma and rho the problem of (sigma,rho)-domination is W[2] when parameterized by the size of the dominating set. This general statement is optimal in the sense that several particular instances of (sigma,rho)-domination are W[2]-complete (e.g. Dominating Set). We also prove that (sigma,rho)-domination is W[2] for the dual parameterization, i.e. when parameterized by the size of the dominated set. We extend this result to a class of domination-type problems which do not fall into the (sigma,rho)-domination framework, including Connected Dominating Set. We also consider problems of coding theory which are related to domination-type problems with parity constraints. In particular, we prove that the problem of the minimal distance of a linear code over Fq is W[2] for both standard and dual parameterizations, and W[1]-hard for the dual parameterization. To prove W[2]-membership of the domination-type problems we extend the Turing-way to parameterized complexity by introducing a new kind of non deterministic Turing machine with the ability to perform `blind' transitions, i.e. transitions which do not depend on the content of the tapes. We prove that the corresponding problem Short Blind Multi-Tape Non-Deterministic Turing Machine is W[2]-complete. We believe that this new machine can be used to prove W[2]-membership of other problems, not necessarily related to dominationComment: 19 pages, 2 figure

Independent [1,2]-number versus independent domination number

A [1, 2]-set S in a graph G is a vertex subset such that every vertex not in S has at least one and at most two neighbors in it. If the additional requirement that the set be independent is added, the existence of such sets is not guaranteed in every graph. In this paper we provide local conditions, depending on the degree of vertices, for the existence of independent [1, 2]-sets in caterpillars. We also study the relationship between independent [1, 2]-sets and independent dominating sets in this graph class, that allows us to obtain an upper bound for the associated parameter, the independent [1, 2]-number, in terms of the independent domination number.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version