Foundations and Trends® in Theoretical Computer Science > Vol 3 > Issue 2–3

The Design of Competitive Online Algorithms via a Primal–Dual Approach

By Niv Buchbinder, Computer Science Department, Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Israel, nivb@cs.technion.ac.il | Joseph (Seffi) Naor, Computer Science Department, Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Israel, naor@cs.technion.ac.il

 
Suggested Citation
Niv Buchbinder and Joseph (Seffi) Naor (2009), "The Design of Competitive Online Algorithms via a Primal–Dual Approach", Foundations and Trends® in Theoretical Computer Science: Vol. 3: No. 2–3, pp 93-263. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/0400000024

Publication Date: 15 May 2009
© 2009 N. Buchbinder and J. (Seffi) Naor
 
Subjects
Design and analysis of algorithms,  Computational learning,  Algorithmic game theory
 

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In this article:
1 Introduction 
2 Necessary Background 
3 A First Glimpse: The Ski Rental Problem 
4 The Basic Approach 
5 The Online Set-Cover Problem 
6 The Metrical Task System Problem on a Weighted Star 
7 Generalized Caching 
8 Load Balancing on Unrelated Machines 
9 Routing 
10 Maximizing Ad-Auctions Revenue 
11 Graph Optimization Problems 
12 Dynamic TCP-Acknowledgement Problem 
13 The Bounded Allocation Problem: Beating (1 – 1/e) 
14 Extension to General Packing–Covering Constraints 
15 Conclusions and Further Research 
References 

Abstract

The primal–dual method is a powerful algorithmic technique that has proved to be extremely useful for a wide variety of problems in the area of approximation algorithms for NP-hard problems. The method has its origins in the realm of exact algorithms, e.g., for matching and network flow. In the area of approximation algorithms, the primal–dual method has emerged as an important unifying design methodology, starting from the seminal work of Goemans and Williamson [60].

We show in this survey how to extend the primal–dual method to the setting of online algorithms, and show its applicability to a wide variety of fundamental problems. Among the online problems that we consider here are the weighted caching problem, generalized caching, the set-cover problem, several graph optimization problems, routing, load balancing, and the problem of allocating ad-auctions. We also show that classic online problems such as the ski rental problem and the dynamic TCP-acknowledgement problem can be solved optimally using a simple primal–dual approach.

The primal–dual method has several advantages over existing methods. First, it provides a general recipe for the design and analysis of online algorithms. The linear programming formulation helps detecting the difficulties of the online problem, and the analysis of the competitive ratio is direct, without a potential function appearing "out of nowhere." Finally, since the analysis is done via duality, the competitiveness of the online algorithm is with respect to an optimal fractional solution, which can be advantageous in certain scenarios.

DOI:10.1561/0400000024
ISBN: 978-1-60198-216-2
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Table of contents:
1: Preface
2: Necessary Background
3: A First Glimpse: The Ski Rental Problem
4: The Basic Approach
5: The Online Set Cover Problem
6: The Metrical Task System Problem on a Weighted Star
7: Generalized Caching
8: Load Balancing on Unrelated Machines
9: Routing
10: Maximizing Ad-auctions revenue
11: Graph Optimization Problems
12: Dynamic TCP-Acknowledgement Problem
13: The Bounded Allocation Problem: Beating (1 - 1/e)
14: Extension to General Packing-Covering Constraints
15: Conclusions and Further Research
References

The Design of Competitive Online Algorithms via a Primal-Dual Approach

The Design of Competitive Online Algorithms via a Primal-Dual Approach extends the primal-dual method to the setting of online algorithms, and shows its applicability to a wide variety of fundamental problems. Among the online problems considered are the weighted caching problem, generalized caching, the set-cover problem, several graph optimization problems, routing, load balancing, and the problem of allocating ad-auctions. There is also an illustration of how classic online problems such as the ski rental problem and the dynamic TCP-acknowledgement problem can be solved optimally using a simple primal-dual approach. The Design of Competitive Online Algorithms via a Primal-Dual Approach is an invaluable reference for anyone working in the area of computational theory, and especially those interested in exploring online scenarios that can benefit from the primal-dual framework.

 
TCS-024