Abstract
In this paper we consider a general interval scheduling problem. We show that, unless P=NP, this maximization problem cannot be approximated in polynomial time within arbitrarily good precision. On the other hand, we present a simple greedy algorithm that delivers a solution with a value of at least 1/2 times the value of an optimal solution. Finally, we investigate the quality of an LP-relaxation of a formulation for the problem, by establishing an upper bound on the ratio between the value of the LP-relaxation and the value of an optimal solution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Arora, S., Lund, C, Motwani, R., Sudan, M., Szegedy, M.: Proof verification and hardness of approximation problems. Proceedings of the 33rd IEEE Symposium on the Foundations of Computer Science (1992) 14–23
Carlisle, M.C., Lloyd, E.L.: On the k-coloring of intervals. Discrete Applied Mathematics 59 (1995) 225–235
Carter, M.W., Tovey, C.A.: When is the classroom assignment problem hard? Operations Research 40 (1992) S28–S39
Crescenzi, P., Kann, V.: A compendium of NP optimization problems, http://www.nada.kth.se/nada/~viggo/problemlist/compendium.html
Faigle, U., Nawijn, W.M.: Note on scheduling intervals on-line. Discrete Applied Mathematics 58 (1995) 13–17
Fischetti, M., Martello, S., Toth, P.: Approximation algorithms for fixed job schedule problems. Operations Research 40 (1992) S96–S108
Garey, M.R., Johnson, D.S., Stockmeyer, L.: Some simplified NP-complete graph problems. Theoretical Computer Science 1 (1976) 237–267
Hoogeveen, J.A., Schuurman, P., Woeginger, G.J.: Non-approximability results for scheduling problems with minsum criteria. Eindhoven University of Technology, COSOR Memorandum 97-24, to appear in the Proceedings of the 6th IPCO Conference, Houston.
Keil, J.M.: On the complexity of scheduling tasks with discrete starting times. Operations Research Letters 12 (1992) 293–295
Kolen, A.W.J., personal communication.
Kroon, L.G., Salomon, M., van Wassenhove, L.N.: Exact and approximation algorithms for the tactical fixed interval scheduling problem. Operations Research 45 (1997) 624–638
Nakajima, K., Hakimi, S.L.: Complexity results for scheduling tasks with discrete starting times. Journal of Algorithms 3 (1982) 344–361
Papadimitriou, C.H., Yannakakis, M.: Optimization, approximation and complexity classes. Journal of Computer and System Sciences 43 (1991) 425–440
Plummer, M.D.: Matching and vertex packing: how “hard” are they? Annals of Discrete Mathematics 55 (1993) 275–312
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Spieksma, F.C.R. (1998). Approximating an interval scheduling problem. In: Jansen, K., Rolim, J. (eds) Approximation Algorithms for Combinatiorial Optimization. APPROX 1998. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1444. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0053973
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0053973
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-64736-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-69067-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive