77,645 research outputs found
The generalized work function algorithm is competitive for the generalized 2-server problem
The generalized 2-server problem is an online optimization problem where a
sequence of requests has to be served at minimal cost. Requests arrive one by
one and need to be served instantly by at least one of two servers. We consider
the general model where the cost function of the two servers may be different.
Formally, each server moves in its own metric space and a request consists of
one point in each metric space. It is served by moving one of the two servers
to its request point. Requests have to be served without knowledge of the
future requests. The objective is to minimize the total traveled distance. The
special case where both servers move on the real line is known as the
CNN-problem. We show that the generalized work function algorithm is constant
competitive for the generalized 2-server problem
The Generalized Work Function Algorithm Is Competitive for the Generalized 2-Server Problem
The generalized 2-server problem is an online optimization problem where a sequence of requests has to be served at minimal cost. Requests arrive one by one and need to be served instantly by at least one of two servers. We consider the general model where the cost function of the two servers may be different. Formally, each server moves in its own metric space and a request consists of one point in each metric space. It is served by moving one of the two servers to its request point. Requests have to be served without knowledge of future requests. The objective is to minimize the total traveled distance. The special case where both servers move on the real line is known as the CNN problem. We show that the generalized work function algorithm, , is constant competitive for the generalized 2-server problem. Further, we give an outline for a possible extension to servers and discuss the applicability of our techniques and of the work function algorithm in general. We conclude with a discussion on several open problems in online optimization
Generalized Perron--Frobenius Theorem for Nonsquare Matrices
The celebrated Perron--Frobenius (PF) theorem is stated for irreducible
nonnegative square matrices, and provides a simple characterization of their
eigenvectors and eigenvalues. The importance of this theorem stems from the
fact that eigenvalue problems on such matrices arise in many fields of science
and engineering, including dynamical systems theory, economics, statistics and
optimization. However, many real-life scenarios give rise to nonsquare
matrices. A natural question is whether the PF Theorem (along with its
applications) can be generalized to a nonsquare setting. Our paper provides a
generalization of the PF Theorem to nonsquare matrices. The extension can be
interpreted as representing client-server systems with additional degrees of
freedom, where each client may choose between multiple servers that can
cooperate in serving it (while potentially interfering with other clients).
This formulation is motivated by applications to power control in wireless
networks, economics and others, all of which extend known examples for the use
of the original PF Theorem.
We show that the option of cooperation between servers does not improve the
situation, in the sense that in the optimal solution no cooperation is needed,
and only one server needs to serve each client. Hence, the additional power of
having several potential servers per client translates into \emph{choosing} the
best single server and not into \emph{sharing} the load between the servers in
some way, as one might have expected.
The two main contributions of the paper are (i) a generalized PF Theorem that
characterizes the optimal solution for a non-convex nonsquare problem, and (ii)
an algorithm for finding the optimal solution in polynomial time
SERVER SELECTION ON BASE OF Z-NUMBERS
The paper is devoted to the problem of multi criteria decision making under linguistic uncertainty. Information of different approaches for modeling linguistic uncertainty have been analyzed. The concept of z-numbers proposed by L. Zadeh have been presented. Z-number is presented as cortege of two fuzzy number A and B, where A is analyzed factor, B is reliability of A assessment. The method of conversion z-numbers into generalized fuzzy numbers have been applied. As test have been used server selection problem. As decision making model have been used weighted average method. All calculations and results are presented.The paper is devoted to the problem of multi criteria decision making under linguistic uncertainty. Information of different approaches for modeling linguistic uncertainty have been analyzed. The concept of z-numbers proposed by L. Zadeh have been presented. Z-number is presented as cortege of two fuzzy number A and B, where A is analyzed factor, B is reliability of A assessment. The method of conversion z-numbers into generalized fuzzy numbers have been applied. As test have been used server selection problem. As decision making model have been used weighted average method. All calculations and results are presented
Polylogarithmic guarantees for generalized reordering buffer management
In the Generalized Reordering Buffer Management Problem (GRBM) a sequence of items located in a metric space arrives online, and has to be processed by a set of k servers moving within the space. In a single step the first b still unprocessed items from the sequence are accessible, and a scheduling strategy has to select an item and a server. Then the chosen item is processed by moving the chosen server to its location. The goal is to process all items while minimizing the total distance travelled by the servers. This problem was introduced in [Chan, Megow, Sitters, van Stee TCS 12] and has been subsequently studied in an online setting by [Azar, Englert, Gamzu, Kidron STACS 14]. The problem is a natural generalization of two very well-studied problems: the k-server problem for b=1 and the Reordering Buffer Management Problem (RBM) for k=1. In this paper we consider the GRBM problem on a uniform metric in the online version. We show how to obtain a competitive ratio of O(log k(log k+loglog b)) for this problem. Our result is a drastic improvement in the dependency on b compared to the previous best bound of O(√b log k), and is asymptotically optimal for constant k, because Ω(log k + loglog b) is a lower bound for GRBM on uniform metrics
Hierarchical Coded Caching
Caching of popular content during off-peak hours is a strategy to reduce
network loads during peak hours. Recent work has shown significant benefits of
designing such caching strategies not only to deliver part of the content
locally, but also to provide coded multicasting opportunities even among users
with different demands. Exploiting both of these gains was shown to be
approximately optimal for caching systems with a single layer of caches.
Motivated by practical scenarios, we consider in this work a hierarchical
content delivery network with two layers of caches. We propose a new caching
scheme that combines two basic approaches. The first approach provides coded
multicasting opportunities within each layer; the second approach provides
coded multicasting opportunities across multiple layers. By striking the right
balance between these two approaches, we show that the proposed scheme achieves
the optimal communication rates to within a constant multiplicative and
additive gap. We further show that there is no tension between the rates in
each of the two layers up to the aforementioned gap. Thus, both layers can
simultaneously operate at approximately the minimum rate.Comment: 31 page
Weighted k-Server Bounds via Combinatorial Dichotomies
The weighted -server problem is a natural generalization of the -server
problem where each server has a different weight. We consider the problem on
uniform metrics, which corresponds to a natural generalization of paging. Our
main result is a doubly exponential lower bound on the competitive ratio of any
deterministic online algorithm, that essentially matches the known upper bounds
for the problem and closes a large and long-standing gap.
The lower bound is based on relating the weighted -server problem to a
certain combinatorial problem and proving a Ramsey-theoretic lower bound for
it. This combinatorial connection also reveals several structural properties of
low cost feasible solutions to serve a sequence of requests. We use this to
show that the generalized Work Function Algorithm achieves an almost optimum
competitive ratio, and to obtain new refined upper bounds on the competitive
ratio for the case of different weight classes.Comment: accepted to FOCS'1
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