1068367
An Efficient Output-Size Sensitive Parallel Algorithm for Hidden-Surface Removal for Terrains
Abstract. We describe an efficient parallel algorithm for hidden-surface removal for terrain maps. The algorithm runs in O(log 4 n) steps on the CREW PRAM model with a work bound of O((n+k) \polylog ( n)) where n and k are the input and output sizes, respectively. In order to achieve the work bound we use a number of techniques, among which our use of persistent data structures is somewhat novel in the context of parallel algorithms.
33937091
Optimal, Output-Sensitive Algorithms for Constructing Upper Envelope of Line Segments in Parallel
In this paper we focus on the problem of designing very fast parallel algorithms for constructing the upper envelope of straight-line segments that achieve the O(n log H) work-bound for input size n and output size H. Our algorithms are designed for the arbitrary CRCW PRAM model. We first describe an O(log n ċ (log H + log log n)) time deterministic algorithm for the problem, that achieves O(n log H) work boundfor H = Ω(log n). We present a fast randomized algorithm that runs in expectedtime O(log H ċ log log n) with high probability and does O(n log H) work. For log H = Ω(log log n), we can achieve the running time of O(log H) while simultaneously keeping the work optimal. We also present a fast randomized algorithm that runs in O(log n/ log k) time with nk processors, k > logΩ(1) n. The algorithms do not assume any input distribution and the running times holdwith high probability.
10300805
Randomized Parallel Algorithms
10126037
PDM sorting algorithms that take a small number of passes
We live in an era of data explosion that necessitates the discovery of novel out-of-core techniques. The I/O bottleneck has to be dealt with in developing out-of-core methods. The parallel disk model (PDM) has been proposed to alleviate the I/O bottleneck. Sorting is an important problem that has ubiquitous applications. Several asymptotically optimal PDM sorting algorithms are known and now the focus has shifted to developing algorithms for problem sizes of practical interest. In this paper we present several novel algorithms for sorting on the PDM that take only a small number of passes through the data. We also present a generalization of the zero-one principle for sorting. A shuffling lemma is presented as well. These lemmas should be of independent interest for average case analysis of sorting algorithms as well as for the analysis of randomized sorting algorithms.
929830
Parallel searching in generalized Monge arrays with applications
This paper investigates the parallel time and processor complexities of several searching problems involving Monge and Monge-composite arrays. We present array-searching algorithms for concurrent-readconcurrent-write (CRCW) PRAMS, concurrent-readexclusive-write (CREW) PRAMS, hypercubes, cubeconnected-cycles, and shuffle-exchange networks. All these algorithms run in optimal time, and their processor-time products are all within an O(lg n) factor of the worst-case sequential bounds. Several applications of these algorithms are also given. Two applications improve previous results substantially, and the others provide novel parallel algorithms for problems not previously considered.
1681173
Optimal proxy cache allocation for efficient streaming media distribution
We address the problem of efficiently streaming a set of heterogeneous videos from a remote server through a proxy to multiple asynchronous clients so that they can experience playback with low startup delays. We determine the optimal proxy prefix cache allocation to the videos that minimizes the aggregate network bandwidth cost. We integrate proxy caching with traditional server-based reactive transmission schemes such as hatching, patching and stream merging to develop a set of proxy-assisted delivery schemes. We quantitatively explore the impact of the choice of transmission scheme, cache allocation policy, proxy cache size, and availability of unicast versus multicast capability, on the resulting transmission cost. Our evaluations show that even a relatively small prefix cache (10%-20% of the video repository) is sufficient to realize substantial savings in transmission cost. We find that carefully designed proxy-assisted reactive transmission schemes can produce significant cost savings even in a predominantly unicast environment such as the Internet.
158365
Long-distance 802.11b links: performance measurements and experience
The use of 802.11 long-distance links is a cost-effective means of providing wireless connectivity to rural areas. Although deployments in this setting are increasing, a systematic study of the performance of 802.11 in these settings is lacking. The contributions of this paper are two-fold: (a)we present a detailed performance study of a set of long-distance 802.11b links at various layers of the network stack, and (b)we document the various non-obvious experiences during our study.Our study includes eight long-distance links, ranging from 1km to 37km in length. Unlike prior studies of outdoor 802.11 links, we find that the error rate as a function of the received signal strength behaves close to theory. Time correlation of any packet errors is negligible across a range of time-scales. We have observed at least one of the link to be robust to rain and fog. But any interference on the long-distance links can be detrimental to performance. Apart from this however, such long-distance links can be planned to work well with predictable performance. During our measurements, we have observed a few hardware/driver quirks as well as system bottlenecks apart from the wireless link itself. We believe that our measurements and the documentation of our experience will help future network planning as well as protocol design for these networks.
16079000
Searching for optimal coalition structures
Coalition formation has been a very active area of research in multiagent systems. Most of this research has concentrated on decentralized procedures that allow self-interested agents to negotiate the formation of coalitions and division of coalition payoffs. A different line of research has addressed the problem of finding the optimal division of agents into coalitions such that the sum total of the the payoffs to all the coalitions is maximized (Larson and Sandholm, 1999). This is the optimal coalition structure identification problem. Deterministic search algorithms have been proposed and evaluated under the assumption that the performance of a coalition is independent of other coalitions. We use an order-based genetic algorithm (OBGA) as a stochastic search process to identify the optimal coalition structure. We compare the performance of the OBGA with a representative deterministic algorithm presented in the literature. Though the OBGA has no performance guarantees, it is found to dominate the deterministic algorithm in a significant number of problem settings. An additional advantage of the OBGA is its scalability to larger problem sizes and to problems where performance of a coalition depends on other coalitions in the environment.
9417710
Using real-valued genetic algorithms to evolve rule sets for classification
In this paper, we use a genetic algorithm to evolve a set of classification rules with real-valued attributes. We show how real-valued attribute ranges could be encoded with real-valued genes and present a new uniform method for representing don't cares in the rules. We view supervised classification as an optimization problem, and evolve rule sets that maximize the number of correct classifications of input instances. We use a variant of the Pitt approach to genetic-based machine learning system with a novel conflict resolution mechanism between competing rules within the same rule set. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach on a benchmark wine classifier system.<<ETX>>
6555481
An Efficient Protocol for Negotiation over Multiple Indivisible Resources
We study the problem of autonomous agents negotiating the allocation of multiple indivisible resources. It is difficult to reach optimal outcomes in bilateral or multi-lateral negotiations over multiple resources when the agents' preferences for the resources are not common knowledge. Self-interested agents often end up negotiating inefficient agreements in such situations. We present a protocol for negotiation over multiple indivisible resources which can be used by rational agents to reach efficient outcomes. Our proposed protocol enables the negotiating agents to identify efficient solutions using systematic distributed search that visits only a subspace of the whole solution space.