Computation and communication schedule optimization for data-sharing tasks on uniprocessor

Almost every computation task requires input data in order to find a solution. This is not a problem for a centralized system because data is usually available locally. However, in a parallel and distributed system, e.g., computation grids, the data may be in remote sites and must be transferred to the local site before the computation can proceed. As a result, the interleaved sequence of data transfer and job execution has a significant impact on the overall computational efficiency. In this paper, we analyze the computational complexity of the shared-data job scheduling problem on uniprocessor, with and without consideration of the storage capacity constraint on the local site.We show that if there is an upper bound on the server capacity, the problem is NP-complete, even when each job depends on at most two data items. For the case where there is no upper bound on the server capacity, we show that there exists an efficient algorithm that can provide an optimal job schedule when each job depends on at most two data items. We also propose an efficient heuristic algorithm that can determine good schedules for cases where there is no limit on the amount of data a job may access. The reported experiment results demonstrate that this heuristic algorithm performs very well, and derives near optimal solutions.     

Minimizing Makespan and Preemption Costs on a System of Uniform Machines

It is well known that for preemptive scheduling on uniform machines there exist polynomial time exact algorithms, whereas for non-preemptive scheduling there are probably no such algorithms. However, it is not clear how many preemptions (in total, or per job) suffice in order to guarantee an optimal polynomial time algorithm. In this paper we investigate exactly this hardness gap, formalized as two variants of the classic preemptive scheduling problem. In generalized multiprocessor scheduling (GMS) we have a job-wise or total bound on the number of preemptions throughout a feasible schedule. We need to find a schedule that satisfies the preemption constraints, such that the maximum job completion time is minimized. In minimum preemptions scheduling (MPS) the only feasible schedules are preemptive schedules with the smallest possible makespan. The goal is to find a feasible schedule that minimizes the overall number of preemptions. Both problems are NP-hard, even for two machines and zero preemptions. For GMS, we develop polynomial time approximation schemes, distinguishing between the cases where the number of machines is fixed, or given as part of the input. Our scheme for a fixed number of machines has linear running time, and can be applied also for instances where jobs have release dates, and for instances with arbitrary preemption costs. For MPS, we derive matching lower and upper bounds on the number of preemptions required by any optimal schedule. Our results for MPS hold for any instance in which a job, J_j, can be processed simultaneously by ρ_j machines, for some ρ_j ≥ 1.     

Solving a stochastic single machine problem with initial idle time and quadratic objective

We study a static single machine scheduling problem in which processing times are stochastic, due-dates and penalties for not completing jobs on time are deterministic, and an initial fixed idle time is allowed to be inserted before the processing of the first job begins on the machine. The objective is to determine the optimal sequence and the optimal initial idle time that jointly minimize the expected value of the sum of a quadratic cost function of idle time and the weighted sum of a quadratic function of job lateness. The problem is NP-hard to solve; however, we develop an exact algorithm based on a precedence relation structure among adjacent jobs. Our extensive computational results show that the algorithm can solve large problem instances quickly. We also demonstrate that the proposed problem is general in the sense that its special cases reduce to new stochastic models while its limiting cases simplify to some deterministic models.     

A branch-and-bound algorithm for solving a two-machine flow shop problem with deteriorating jobs

In this paper we consider a two-machine flow shop scheduling problem with deteriorating jobs. By a deteriorating job we mean that the job's processing time is an increasing function of its starting time. We model job deterioration as a function that is proportional to a linear function of time. The objective is to find a sequence that minimizes the total completion time of the jobs. For the general case, we derive several dominance properties, some lower bounds, and an initial upper bound by using a heuristic algorithm, and apply them to speed up the elimination process of a branch-and-bound algorithm developed to solve the problem.     

Some algorithms of solving minimax multiprocessor scheduling problem

A problem of constructing schedules of minimal length without interrupts and switches is considered for a multiprocessor system, in which the job execution time depends on the processor assigned to the job. To solve this problem, the branch and bound method is developed. The method is based on efficient algorithms for calculating lower and upper bounds of minimal length of the schedule. For the particular case when processors are identical, their number is fixed and the directive deadline is given, a pseudo-polynomial algorithm is proposed for constructing the admissible schedule. The number of processors required for efficient parallelizing of the algorithm is found.     

Scheduling on parallel processors with varying processing times

In this paper, we construct the pseudopolynomial dynamic programming algorithm that optimally solves the parallel identical processor scheduling problem to minimize the maximum job completion times (makespan) under varying processing times. They can be described by an arbitrary monotonic function dependent on the number of previously processed jobs, which can model learning or aging effects. Beside the canonical dynamic programming algorithm, we provide its efficient parallel fast version, which solves moderate problem instances of the problem within reasonable time and memory usage. Additionally, on the basis of the constructed algorithm, a fully polynomial time approximation scheme for the considered problem is provided.     

Design and Performance Evaluation of Sequence Partition Algorithms

Tradeoffs between time complexities and solution optimalities are important when selecting algorithms for an NP-hard problem in different applications. Also, the distinction between theoretical upper bound and actual solution optimality for realistic instances of an NP-hard problem is a factor in selecting algorithms in practice. We consider the problem of partitioning a sequence of n distinct numbers into minimum number of monotone （increasing or decreasing） subsequences. This problem is NP-hard and the number of monotone subsequences can reach [√2n＋1/1-1/2]in the worst case. We introduce a new algorithm, the modified version of the Yehuda-Fogel algorithm, that computes a solution of no more than [√2n＋1/1-1/2]monotone subsequences in O（n^1.5） time. Then we perform a comparative experimental study on three algorithms, a known approximation algorithm of approximation ratio 1.71 and time complexity O（n^3）, a known greedy algorithm of time complexity O（n^1.5 log n）, and our new modified Yehuda-Fogel algorithm. Our results show that the solutions computed by the greedy algorithm and the modified Yehuda-Fogel algorithm are close to that computed by the approximation algorithm even though the theoretical worst-case error bounds of these two algorithms are not proved to be within a constant time of the optimal solution. Our study indicates that for practical use the greedy algorithm and the modified Yehuda-Fogel algorithm can be good choices if the running time is a major concern.     

Scheduling parallel jobs to minimize the makespan

We consider the NP-hard problem of scheduling parallel jobs with release dates on identical parallel machines to minimize the makespan. A parallel job requires simultaneously a prespecified, job-dependent number of machines when being processed. We prove that the makespan of any nonpreemptive list-schedule is within a factor of 2 of the optimal preemptive makespan. This gives the best-known approximation algorithms for both the preemptive and the nonpreemptive variant of the problem. We also show that no list-scheduling algorithm can achieve a better performance guarantee than 2 for the nonpreemptive problem, no matter which priority list is chosen. List-scheduling also works in the online setting where jobs arrive over time and the length of a job becomes known only when it completes; it therefore yields a deterministic online algorithm with competitive ratio 2 as well. In addition, we consider a different online model in which jobs arrive one by one and need to be scheduled before the next job becomes known. We show that no list-scheduling algorithm has a constant competitive ratio. Still, we present the first online algorithm for scheduling parallel jobs with a constant competitive ratio in this context. We also prove a new information-theoretic lower bound of 2.25 for the competitive ratio of any deterministic online algorithm for this model. Moreover, we show that 6/5 is a lower bound for the competitive ratio of any deterministic online algorithm of the preemptive version of the model jobs arriving over time.     

Parallel machine scheduling with multiple unloading servers

We study a parallel machine scheduling problem with multiple unloading servers. After a machine completes processing one job, an unloading server is needed to remove the job from the machine. Only after unloading, the machine is available for processing the next job. The model is motivated by the milk run operations of a logistics company that faces limited unloading docks at the warehouse. Our interest is to minimize the total completion time of the jobs. We show that the shortest-processing-time-first (SPT) algorithm has a worst-case bound of 2. We also develop other improved heuristic algorithms as well as a branch-and-bound algorithm to solve the problem. Computational experiments show that our algorithms are efficient and effective.     

Scheduling fully parallel jobs

We consider the following scheduling problem. We have m identical machines, where each machine can accomplish one unit of work at each time unit. We have a set of n fully parallel jobs, where each job j has \(s_j\) units of workload, and each unit workload can be executed on any machine at any time unit. A job is considered complete when its entire workload has been executed. The objective is to find a schedule that minimizes the total weighted completion time \(\sum w_j C_j\), where \(w_j\) is the weight of job j and \(C_j\) is the completion time of job j. We provide theoretical results for this problem. First, we give a PTAS of this problem with fixed m. We then consider the special case where \(w_j = s_j\) for each job j, and we show that it is polynomial solvable with fixed m. Finally, we study the approximation ratio of a greedy algorithm, the Largest-Ratio-First algorithm. For the special case, we show that the approximation ratio depends on the instance size, i.e. n and m, while for the general case where jobs have arbitrary weights, we prove that the upper bound of the approximation ratio is \(1 + \frac{m-1}{m+2}\).     

Approximation algorithm for the weighted flow-time minimization on a single machine with a fixed non-availability interval

In this article, we consider the non-resumable case of the single machine scheduling problem with a fixed non-availability interval. We aim to minimize the weighted sum of completion times. No polynomial 2-approximation algorithm for this problem has been previously known. We propose a 2-approximation algorithm with O(n²) time complexity where n is the number of jobs. We show that this bound is tight. The obtained result outperforms all the previous polynomial approximation algorithms for this problem.     

Scheduling of a single crane in batch annealing process

This paper studies a single crane scheduling problem motivated by batch annealing process in the iron and steel industry. Each coil stack placed on fixed base needs to go through two-stage processing: heating and cooling. During each stage, limited special machines (furnace and cooler) must be operated by crane, respectively. Our problem is to assign the shared machines and schedule a single crane for minimizing the last coil stack completion time (makespan). A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is formulated by considering both machine and crane positions. We show that the problem is NP-hard in the strong sense. Some optimal properties on the problem are derived. A two-phase algorithm is constructed for the problem. In the first phase, a fully polynomial time approximation scheme (FPTAS) is developed for the assignment subproblem. In the second phase, a heuristics is proposed for the scheduling subproblem. From an absolute performance point of view, we analyze the quality of the two-phase algorithm. We also consider special cases where some properties or algorithms are developed. In order to further verify the performance of the two-phase algorithm, we develop a lower bound on the optimal objective function. Computational experiments on the randomly generated problem instances show that the algorithm is close to the lower bound within a reasonable computation time.     

Energy efficient multicast routing in ad hoc wireless networks

In this paper, we discuss the energy efficient multicast problem in ad hoc wireless networks. Each node in the network is assumed to have a fixed level of transmission power. The problem of our concern is: given an ad hoc wireless network and a multicast request, how to find a multicast tree such that the total energy cost of the multicast tree is minimized. We first prove this problem is NP-hard and it is unlikely to have an approximation algorithm with a constant performance ratio of the number of nodes in the network. We then propose an algorithm based on the directed Steiner tree method that has a theoretically guaranteed approximation performance ratio. We also propose two efficient heuristics, node-join-tree (NJT) and tree-join-tree (TJT) algorithms. The NJT algorithm can be easily implemented in a distributed fashion. Extensive simulations have been conducted to compare with other methods and the results have shown significant improvement on energy efficiency of the proposed algorithms.     

基于正则化路径的支持向量机近似模型选择

模型选择问题是支持向量机的基本问题.基于核矩阵近似计算和正则化路径,提出一个新的支持向量机模型选择方法.首先,发展初步的近似模型选择理论,包括给出核矩阵近似算法KMA-α,证明KMA-α的近似误差界定理,进而得到支持向量机的模型近似误差界.然后,提出近似模型选择算法AMSRP.该算法应用KMA-α计算的核矩阵的低秩近似来提高支持向量机求解的效率,同时应用正则化路径算法来提高惩罚因子C参数调节的效率.最后,通过标准数据集上的对比实验,验证了AMSRP的可行性和计算效率.实验结果显示,AMSRP可在保证测试集准确率的前提下,显著地提高支持向量机模型选择的效率.理论分析与实验结果表明,AMSRP是一合理、高效的模型选择算法.     

具有树和路约束的平行机排序问题

考虑具有树和路约束的平行机排序问题,其工件集对应于无向图(有向图)的边(弧)集。目标是选取工件集的一个子集使其满足树或路的约束,将其放在平行机上处理,使得机器的最大完工时间(makespan)尽可能地小。通过分析此类问题的组合性质,得到如下结论：在K-树约束下,利用最小支撑K-树的性质可得一个有效多项式时间近似方案;在两固定点间路的约束下,通过构造辅助实例以控制边的权重,分析辅助实例的输出值与目标实例最优值之间的关系,利用最短路的性质可以得到一个2-近似算法;在单源点最短路径树的约束下,根据最短路径树的性质可以得到一个有效多项式时间近似方案;在两固定点间最短路的约束下,在所有的两点间最短路构成的子图基础上,通过构造新的辅助图以控制弧的权重,再利用最短路的性质可以得到一个1.618-近似算法。     

Real-Time Scheduling with a Budget

Suppose that we are given a set of jobs, where each job has a processing time, a non-negative weight, and a set of possible time intervals in which it can be processed. In addition, each job has a processing cost. Our goal is to schedule a feasible subset of the jobs on a single machine, such that the total weight is maximized, and the cost of the schedule is within a given budget. We refer to this problem as budgeted real-time scheduling (BRS). Indeed, the special case where the budget is unbounded is the well-known real-time scheduling problem. The second problem that we consider is budgeted real-time scheduling with overlaps (BRSO), in which several jobs may be processed simultaneously, and the goal is to maximize the time in which the machine is utilized. Our two variants of this real-time scheduling problem have important applications, in vehicle scheduling, linear combinatorial auctions, and Quality-of-Service management for Internet connections. These problems are the focus of this paper. Both BRS and BRSO are strongly NP-hard, even with unbounded budget. Our main results are (2 + ε)-approximation algorithms for these problems. This ratio coincides with the best known approximation factor for the (unbudgeted) real-time scheduling problem, and is slightly weaker than the best known approximation factor of e/(e - 1) for the (unbudgeted) real-time scheduling with overlaps, presented in this paper. We show that better ratios (or simpler approximation algorithms) can be derived for some special cases, including instances with unit-costs and the budgeted job interval selection problem (JISP). Budgeted JISP is shown to be APX-hard even when overlaps are allowed and with unbounded budget. Finally, our results can be extended to instances with multiple machines.     

基于模拟退火算法的旅行商问题的实现

旅行商问题TSP是一类典型的NP完全问题．围绕着这个问题有各种不同的求解方法,已有的算法例如动态规划法、分支限界法、回溯法等,这些精确式方法都是指数级的,根本无法解决目前的实际问题．贪心法是近似方法．无法达到比较满意的近似比。常用的遗传算法也是求解这类问题的常用方法之一。由于该问题的解是一种特殊的序列．所以遗传算法在求解该问题时的性能也并不理想。模拟退火算法具有描述简单、使用灵活、运用广泛、运行效率高和较少受到初始条件约束等优点．是解决旅行商问题的一种很好的算法。     

Parallel-machine scheduling of simple linear deteriorating jobs

We consider parallel-machine scheduling problems in which the processing time of a job is a simple linear increasing function of its starting time. The objectives are to minimize the makespan, total machine load, and total completion time. We show that all the problems are strongly NP-hard with an arbitrary number of machines and NP-hard in the ordinary sense with a fixed number of machines. For the former two problems, we prove that there exists no polynomial time approximation algorithm with a constant worst-case bound when the number of machines is arbitrary unless P=NP. When the number of machines is fixed, we propose two similar fully polynomial-time approximation schemes for the former two problems.     

Minimization of a closed-loop response to a fixed input for SISOsystems

It is shown that the problem of minimizing a regulated response of a single-input/single-output system due to a fixed bounded input can be converted, via polynomial techniques, to a linear infinite-dimensional Chebyshev data fitting problem. Approximating feasible solutions within any specified degree of accuracy can be obtained by converting the original problem into a sequence of increasingly large, finite-dimensional Chebyshev approximation problems, for which solution stable and efficient numerical methods exist. A direct formula for calculating tight upper-bounds to the approximation error is provided. The link between the present algebraic approach and the Dahleh and Pearson functional analytic one (1988) is also discussed     

Neural network and genetic algorithm-based hybrid approach to expanded job-shop scheduling

The expanded job-shop scheduling problem (EJSSP) is a practical production scheduling problem with processing constraints that are more restrictive and a scheduling objective that is more general than those of the standard job-shop scheduling problem (JSSP). A hybrid approach involving neural networks and genetic algorithm (GA) is presented to solve the problem in this paper. The GA is used for optimization of sequence and a neural network (NN) is used for optimization of operation start times with a fixed sequence.

After detailed analysis of an expanded job shop, new types of neurons are defined to construct a constraint neural network (CNN). The neurons can represent processing restrictions and resolve constraint conflicts. CNN with a gradient search algorithm, gradient CNN in short, is applied to the optimization of operation start times with a fixed processing sequence. It is shown that CNN is a general framework representing scheduling problems and gradient CNN can work in parallel for optimization of operation start times of the expanded job shop.

Combining gradient CNN with a GA for sequence optimization, a hybrid approach is put forward. The approach has been tested by a large number of simulation cases and practical applications. It has been shown that the hybrid approach is powerful for complex EJSSP.