25 research outputs found
Online Primal-Dual For Non-linear Optimization with Applications to Speed Scaling
We reinterpret some online greedy algorithms for a class of nonlinear
"load-balancing" problems as solving a mathematical program online. For
example, we consider the problem of assigning jobs to (unrelated) machines to
minimize the sum of the alpha^{th}-powers of the loads plus assignment costs
(the online Generalized Assignment Problem); or choosing paths to connect
terminal pairs to minimize the alpha^{th}-powers of the edge loads (online
routing with speed-scalable routers). We give analyses of these online
algorithms using the dual of the primal program as a lower bound for the
optimal algorithm, much in the spirit of online primal-dual results for linear
problems.
We then observe that a wide class of uni-processor speed scaling problems
(with essentially arbitrary scheduling objectives) can be viewed as such load
balancing problems with linear assignment costs. This connection gives new
algorithms for problems that had resisted solutions using the dominant
potential function approaches used in the speed scaling literature, as well as
alternate, cleaner proofs for other known results
Profitable Scheduling on Multiple Speed-Scalable Processors
We present a new online algorithm for profit-oriented scheduling on multiple
speed-scalable processors. Moreover, we provide a tight analysis of the
algorithm's competitiveness. Our results generalize and improve upon work by
\textcite{Chan:2010}, which considers a single speed-scalable processor. Using
significantly different techniques, we can not only extend their model to
multiprocessors but also prove an enhanced and tight competitive ratio for our
algorithm.
In our scheduling problem, jobs arrive over time and are preemptable. They
have different workloads, values, and deadlines. The scheduler may decide not
to finish a job but instead to suffer a loss equaling the job's value. However,
to process a job's workload until its deadline the scheduler must invest a
certain amount of energy. The cost of a schedule is the sum of lost values and
invested energy. In order to finish a job the scheduler has to determine which
processors to use and set their speeds accordingly. A processor's energy
consumption is power \Power{s} integrated over time, where
\Power{s}=s^{\alpha} is the power consumption when running at speed .
Since we consider the online variant of the problem, the scheduler has no
knowledge about future jobs. This problem was introduced by
\textcite{Chan:2010} for the case of a single processor. They presented an
online algorithm which is -competitive. We provide an
online algorithm for the case of multiple processors with an improved
competitive ratio of .Comment: Extended abstract submitted to STACS 201
Non-Clairvoyant Precedence Constrained Scheduling
We consider the online problem of scheduling jobs on identical machines, where jobs have precedence constraints. We are interested in the demanding setting where the jobs sizes are not known up-front, but are revealed only upon completion (the non-clairvoyant setting). Such precedence-constrained scheduling problems routinely arise in map-reduce and large-scale optimization. For minimizing the total weighted completion time, we give a constant-competitive algorithm. And for total weighted flow-time, we give an O(1/epsilon^2)-competitive algorithm under (1+epsilon)-speed augmentation and a natural "no-surprises" assumption on release dates of jobs (which we show is necessary in this context).
Our algorithm proceeds by assigning virtual rates to all waiting jobs, including the ones which are dependent on other uncompleted jobs. We then use these virtual rates to decide on the actual rates of minimal jobs (i.e., jobs which do not have dependencies and hence are eligible to run). Interestingly, the virtual rates are obtained by allocating time in a fair manner, using a Eisenberg-Gale-type convex program (which we can solve optimally using a primal-dual scheme). The optimality condition of this convex program allows us to show dual-fitting proofs more easily, without having to guess and hand-craft the duals. This idea of using fair virtual rates may have broader applicability in scheduling problems
Online algorithms for covering and packing problems with convex objectives
We present online algorithms for covering and packing problems with (non-linear) convex objectives. The convex covering problem is defined as ...postprin
The Impact of Stealthy Attacks on Smart Grid Performance: Tradeoffs and Implications
The smart grid is envisioned to significantly enhance the efficiency of
energy consumption, by utilizing two-way communication channels between
consumers and operators. For example, operators can opportunistically leverage
the delay tolerance of energy demands in order to balance the energy load over
time, and hence, reduce the total operational cost. This opportunity, however,
comes with security threats, as the grid becomes more vulnerable to
cyber-attacks. In this paper, we study the impact of such malicious
cyber-attacks on the energy efficiency of the grid in a simplified setup. More
precisely, we consider a simple model where the energy demands of the smart
grid consumers are intercepted and altered by an active attacker before they
arrive at the operator, who is equipped with limited intrusion detection
capabilities. We formulate the resulting optimization problems faced by the
operator and the attacker and propose several scheduling and attack strategies
for both parties. Interestingly, our results show that, as opposed to
facilitating cost reduction in the smart grid, increasing the delay tolerance
of the energy demands potentially allows the attacker to force increased costs
on the system. This highlights the need for carefully constructed and robust
intrusion detection mechanisms at the operator.Comment: Technical report - this work was accepted to IEEE Transactions on
Control of Network Systems, 2016. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap
with arXiv:1209.176
Lagrangian Duality in Online Scheduling with Resource Augmentation and Speed Scaling
International audienceWe present an unified approach to study online scheduling problems in the resource augmentation/speed scaling models. Potential function method is extensively used for analyzing algorithms in these models; however, they yields little insight on how to construct potential functions and how to design algorithms for related problems. In the paper, we generalize and strengthen the dual-fitting technique proposed by Anand et al. [1]. The approach consists of considering a possibly non-convex relaxation and its Lagrangian dual; then constructing dual variables such that the Lagrangian dual has objective value within a desired factor of the primal optimum. The competitive ratio follows by the standard Lagrangian weak duality. This approach is simple yet powerful and it is seemingly a right tool to study problems with resource augmentation or speed scaling. We illustrate the approach through the following results