Online and Incremental Fractional Vertex Cover on Trees

2026-08-25

AI Summary

本文研究了树结构上的在线和增量分数顶点覆盖问题，提出了一种在边到达模型中竞争比为1.83的算法及一种在增量模型中竞争比为1.5的算法。

Abstract

In this paper we study the fractional vertex cover problem on trees in two related models: online and incremental. In the online model, the vertices of the tree are known a priori and the edges arrive one at a time. The goal is to maintain a fractional vertex cover of the tree, i.e., an assignment of fractional weights from [0,1] to the vertices such that the weights of endpoints of every edge sum up to at least one. After each edge arrival, we need to modify the fractional vertex cover to cover the new edge as well. However, we can only increase the values assigned to vertices. The problem was studied before (in the vertex arrival model) by Wang and Wong, who motivated it as a generalization of the ski-rental problem, but also (more importantly) by its close connection to the dual online matching problem. They presented a 1.901-competitive algorithm for general graphs in the vertex arrival model. We present an $\frac{11}{6} \approx 1.83$-competitive algorithm for trees in the more general edge arrival model. In addition, we study the fractional vertex cover problem in an incremental model, where we again seek a fractional vertex cover after every update, but all the updates to the tree are known to the algorithm a priori. In this model, we give a 1.5-competitive algorithm and provide a matching lower bound.

Problem

• fractional vertex cover
• online model
• incremental model
• trees

Innovation

• fractional vertex cover
• online model
• incremental model
• competitive algorithm