Vector assignment problems: A general framework

We present a general framework for vector assignment problems. In such problems one aims at assigning n input vectors to m machines such that the value of a given target function is minimized. While previous approaches concentrated on simple target functions such as max-max, the general approach presented here enables us to design a polynomial time approximation scheme (PTAS) for a wide class of target functions. In particular, thanks to a novel technique of preprocessing the input vectors, we are able to deal with non-monotone target functions. Such target functions arise in vector assignment problems in the context of video transmission and broadcasting