Parallel algorithm for the matrix chain product problem

This paper considers the problem of finding an optimal order of the multiplication chain of matrices. All parallel algorithms known use the dynamic programming approach and run in a polylogarithmic time using, in the best case, n6/log6n processors. Our algorithm uses a different approach and reduces the problem to computing some recurrence on a tree. We show that this recurrence can be optimally solved which enables us to improve the parallel bound by a few factors. Our algorithm runs in O (log3n) time using n2/log3n processors on a CREW PRAM and O(log2n log log n) time using n2/(log2n log log n)processors on a CRCW PRAM. This algorithm solves also the problem of finding an optimal triangulation in a convex polygon. We show that for a monotone polygon this result can be even improved to get an O(log2n) time and n processor algorithm on a CREW PRAM

Estimating the weight of metric minimum spanning trees in sublinear time

In this paper we present a sublinear-time $(1+\varepsilon)$-approximation randomized algorithm to estimate the weight of the minimum spanning tree of an $n$-point metric space. The running time of the algorithm is $\widetilde{\mathcal{O}}(n/\varepsilon^{\mathcal{O}(1)})$. Since the full description of an $n$-point metric space is of size $\Theta(n^2)$, the complexity of our algorithm is sublinear with respect to the input size. Our algorithm is almost optimal as it is not possible to approximate in $o(n)$ time the weight of the minimum spanning tree to within any factor. We also show that no deterministic algorithm can achieve a $B$-approximation in $o(n^2/B^3)$ time. Furthermore, it has been previously shown that no $o(n^2)$ algorithm exists that returns a spanning tree whose weight is within a constant times the optimum

Exploiting spontaneous transmissions for broadcasting and leader election in radio networks

We study two fundamental communication primitives: broadcasting and leader election in the classical model of multi-hop radio networks with unknown topology and without collision detection mechanisms. It has been known for almost 20 years that in undirected networks with n nodes and diameter D, randomized broadcasting requires Ω(D log n/D + log2 n) rounds, assuming that uninformed nodes are not allowed to communicate (until they are informed). Only very recently, Haeupler and Wajc (PODC'2016) showed that this bound can be improved for the model with spontaneous transmissions, providing an O(D log n log log n/log D + logO(1) n)-time broadcasting algorithm. In this article, we give a new and faster algorithm that completes broadcasting in O(D log n/log D + logO(1) n) time, succeeding with high probability. This yields the first optimal O(D)-time broadcasting algorithm whenever n is polynomial in D. Furthermore, our approach can be applied to design a new leader election algorithm that matches the performance of our broadcasting algorithm. Previously, all fast randomized leader election algorithms have used broadcasting as a subroutine and their complexity has been asymptotically strictly larger than the complexity of broadcasting. In particular, the fastest previously known randomized leader election algorithm of Ghaffari and Haeupler (SODA'2013) requires O(D log n/D min {log log n, log n/D} + logO(1) n)-time, succeeding with high probability. Our new algorithm again requires O(D log n/log D + logO(1) n) time, also succeeding with high probability

Deterministic Communication in Radio Networks

In this paper we improve the deterministic complexity of two fundamental communication primitives in the classical model of ad-hoc radio networks with unknown topology: broadcasting and wake-up. We consider an unknown radio network, in which all nodes have no prior knowledge about network topology, and know only the size of the network $n$, the maximum in-degree of any node $\Delta$, and the eccentricity of the network $D$. For such networks, we first give an algorithm for wake-up, based on the existence of small universal synchronizers. This algorithm runs in $O(\frac{\min\{n, D \Delta\} \log n \log \Delta}{\log\log \Delta})$ time, the fastest known in both directed and undirected networks, improving over the previous best $O(n \log^2n)$-time result across all ranges of parameters, but particularly when maximum in-degree is small. Next, we introduce a new combinatorial framework of block synchronizers and prove the existence of such objects of low size. Using this framework, we design a new deterministic algorithm for the fundamental problem of broadcasting, running in $O(n \log D \log\log\frac{D \Delta}{n})$ time. This is the fastest known algorithm for the problem in directed networks, improving upon the $O(n \log n \log \log n)$-time algorithm of De Marco (2010) and the $O(n \log^2 D)$-time algorithm due to Czumaj and Rytter (2003). It is also the first to come within a log-logarithmic factor of the $\Omega(n \log D)$ lower bound due to Clementi et al.\ (2003). Our results also have direct implications on the fastest \emph{deterministic leader election} and \emph{clock synchronization} algorithms in both directed and undirected radio networks, tasks which are commonly used as building blocks for more complex procedures

Faster Deterministic Communication in Radio Networks

In this paper we improve the deterministic complexity of two fundamental communication primitives in the classical model of ad-hoc radio networks with unknown topology: broadcasting and wake-up. We consider an unknown radio network, in which all nodes have no prior knowledge about network topology, and know only the size of the network n, the maximum in-degree of any node Delta, and the eccentricity of the network D. For such networks, we first give an algorithm for wake-up, in both directed and undirected networks, based on the existence of small universal synchronizers. This algorithm runs in O((min{n,D*Delta}*log(n)*log(Delta))/(log(log(Delta)))) time, improving over the previous best O(n*log^2(n))-time result across all ranges of parameters, but particularly when maximum in-degree is small. Next, we introduce a new combinatorial framework of block synchronizers and prove the existence of such objects of low size. Using this framework, we design a new deterministic algorithm for the fundamental problem of broadcasting, running in O(n*log(D)*log(log((D*Delta)/n))) time. This is the fastest known algorithm for this problems, improving upon the O(n*log(n)*log*log(n))-time algorithm of De Marco (2010) and the O(n*log^2(D))-time algorithm due to Czumaj and Rytter (2003), the previous fastest results for directed networks, and is the first to come within a log-logarithmic factor of the Omega(n*log(D)) lower bound due to Clementi et al. (2003). Our results have also direct implications on the fastest deterministic leader election and clock synchronization algorithms in both directed and undirected radio networks, tasks which are commonly used as building blocks for more complex procedures

Brief Announcement: Randomized Blind Radio Networks

Radio networks are a long-studied model for distributed system of devices which communicate wirelessly. When these devices are mobile or have limited capabilities, the system is best modeled by the ad-hoc variant, in which the devices do not know the structure of the network. Much work has been devoted to designing algorithms for the ad-hoc model, particularly for fundamental communications tasks such as broadcasting. Most of these algorithms, however, assume that devices have some network knowledge (usually bounds on the number of nodes in the network n, and the diameter D), which may not be realistic in systems with weak devices or gradual deployment. Little is known about what can be done without this information. This is the issue we address in this work, by presenting the first randomized broadcasting algorithms for blind networks in which nodes have no prior knowledge whatsoever. We demonstrate that lack of parameter knowledge can be overcome at only a small increase in running time. Specifically, we show that in networks without collision detection, broadcast can be achieved in O(D log n/D log^2 log n/D + log^2 n) time, almost reaching the Omega(D log n/D + log^2 n) lower bound. We also give an even faster algorithm for directed networks with collision detection

Exploiting spontaneous transmissions for broadcasting and leader election in radio networks

We study two fundamental communication primitives: broadcasting and leader election in the classical model of multi-hop radio networks with unknown topology and without collision detection mechanisms. It has been known for almost 20 years that in undirected networks with n nodes and diameter D, randomized broadcasting requires Omega(D log n/D + log^2 n) rounds in expectation, assuming that uninformed nodes are not allowed to communicate (until they are informed). Only very recently, Haeupler and Wajc (PODC'2016) showed that this bound can be slightly improved for the model with spontaneous transmissions, providing an O(D log n loglog n / log D + log^O(1) n)-time broadcasting algorithm. In this paper, we give a new and faster algorithm that completes broadcasting in O(D log n/log D + log^O(1) n) time, with high probability. This yields the first optimal O(D)-time broadcasting algorithm whenever D is polynomial in n. Furthermore, our approach can be applied to design a new leader election algorithm that matches the performance of our broadcasting algorithm. Previously, all fast randomized leader election algorithms have been using broadcasting as their subroutine and their complexity have been asymptotically strictly bigger than the complexity of broadcasting. In particular, the fastest previously known randomized leader election algorithm of Ghaffari and Haeupler (SODA'2013) requires O(D log n/D min{loglog n, log n/D} + log^O(1) n)-time with high probability. Our new algorithm requires O(D log n / log D + log^O(1) n) time with high probability, and it achieves the optimal O(D) time whenever D is polynomial in n

Faster deterministic communication in radio networks

In this paper we improve the deterministic complexity of two fundamental communication primitives in the classical model of ad-hoc radio networks with unknown topology: broadcasting and wake-up. We consider an unknown radio network, in which all nodes have no prior knowledge about network topology, and know only the size of the network n, the maximum in-degree of any node Δ, and the eccentricity of the network D. For such networks, we first give an algorithm for wake-up, in both directed and undirected networks, based on the existence of small universal synchronizers. This algorithm runs in O(min{n,DΔ}lognlogΔloglogΔ) time, improving over the previous best O(nlog2n)-time result across all ranges of parameters, but particularly when maximum in-degree is small. Next, we introduce a new combinatorial framework of block synchronizers and prove the existence of such objects of low size. Using this framework, we design a new deterministic algorithm for the fundamental problem of broadcasting, running in O(nlogDloglogDΔn) time. This is the fastest known algorithm for this problems, improving upon the O(nlognloglogn)-time algorithm of De Marco (2010) and the O(nlog2D)-time algorithm due to Czumaj and Rytter (2003), the previous fastest results for directed networks, and is the first to come within a log-logarithmic factor of the Ω(nlogD) lower bound due to Clementi et al. (2003). Our results have also direct implications on the fastest deterministic leader election and clock synchronization algorithms in both directed and undirected radio networks, tasks which are commonly used as building blocks for more complex procedures