Constructing strongly convex hulls using exact or rounded arithmetic

One useful generalization of the convex hull of a setS ofn points is the -strongly convex -hull. It is defined to be a convex polygon with vertices taken fromS such that no point inS lies farther than outside and such that even if the vertices of are perturbed by as much as , remains convex. It was an open question as to whether an -strongly convexO()-hull existed for all positive . We give here anO(n logn) algorithm for constructing it (which thus proves its existence). This algorithm uses exact rational arithmetic. We also show how to construct an -strongly convexO( + )-hull inO(n logn) time using rounded arithmetic with rounding unit . This is the first rounded-arithmetic convex-hull algorithm which guarantees a convex output and which has error independent ofn.     

Computing largest empty circles with location constraints

LetQ = {q₁, q₂,..., q_n} be a set ofn points on the plane. The largest empty circle (LEG) problem consists in finding the largest circleC with center in the convex hull ofQ such that no pointq _i εQ lies in the interior ofC. Shamos recently outlined anO(n logn) algorithm for solving this problem.⁽⁹⁾ In this paper it is shown that this algorithm does not always work correctly. A different approach is proposed here and shown to also result in anO(n logn) algorithm. The new approach has the advantage that it can also solve more general problems. In particular, it is shown that if the center ofC is constrained to lie in an arbitrary convexn-gon, an0(n logn) algorithm can still be obtained. Finally, an0(n logn +k logn) algorithm is given for solving this problem when the center ofC is constrained to lie in an arbitrary simplen-gonP. wherek denotes the number of intersections occurring between edges ofP and edges of the Voronoi diagram ofQ andk ?O(n ²).     

A new algorithm for the largest empty rectangle problem

A rectangleA and a setS ofn points inA are given. We present a new simple algorithm for the so-called largest empty rectangle problem, i.e., the problem of finding a maximum area rectangle contained inA and not containing any point ofS in its interior. The computational complexity of the presented algorithm isO(n logn + s), where s is the number of possible restricted rectangles considered. Moreover, the expected performance isO(n · logn).     

Computing shortest transversals

We present anO(nlog² n) time andO(n) space algorithm for computing the shortest line segment that intersects a set ofn given line segments or lines in the plane. If the line segments do not intersect the algorithm may be trimmed to run inO(nlogn) time. Furthermore, in combination with linear programming the algorithm will also find the shortest line segment that intersects a set ofn isothetic rectangles in the plane inO(nlogk) time, wherek is the combinatorial complexity of the space of transversals andk≤4n. These results find application in: (1) line-fitting between a set ofn data ranges where it is desired to obtain the shortestline-of-fit, (2) finding the shortest line segment from which a convexn-vertex polygon is weakly externally visible, and (3) determing the shortestline-of-sight between two edges of a simplen-vertex polygon, for whichO(n) time algorithms are also given. All the algorithms are based on the solution to a new fundamental geometric optimization problem that is of independent interest and should find application in different contexts as well.     

An optimal visibility graph algorithm for triangulated simple polygons

LetP be a triangulated simple polygon withn sides. The visibility graph ofP has an edge between every pair of polygon vertices that can be connected by an open segment in the interior ofP. We describe an algorithm that finds the visibility graph ofP inO(m) time, wherem is the number of edges in the visibility graph. Becausem can be as small asO(n), the algorithm improves on the more general visibility algorithms of Asanoet al. [AAGHI] and Welzl [W], which take Θ(n ²) time, and on Suri'sO(m logn) visibility graph algorithm for simple polygons [S].     

Minimum area circumscribing Polygons

We show that the smallestk-gon circumscribing a convexn-gon can be computed inO(n ² logn logk) time.     

Parallel algorithms for separation of two sets of points and recognition of digital convex polygons

Given two finite sets of points in a plane, the polygon separation problem is to construct a separating convexk-gon with smallestk. In this paper, we present a parallel algorithm for the polygon separation problem. The algorithm runs inO(logn) time on a CREW PRAM withn processors, wheren is the number of points in the two given sets. The algorithm is cost-optimal, since (n logn) is a lower-bound for the time needed by any sequential algorithm. We apply this algorithm to the problem of finding a convex polygon, with the minimal number of edges, for which a given convex region is its digital image. The algorithm in this paper constructs one such polygon with possibly two more edges than the minimal one.The research is sponsored by NSERC Operating Grant OGPIN 007.     

Optimal parallel algorithms for rectilinear link-distance problems

We provide optimal parallel solutions to several link-distance problems set in trapezoided rectilinear polygons. All our main parallel algorithms are deterministic and designed to run on the exclusive read exclusive write parallel random access machine (EREW PRAM). LetP be a trapezoided rectilinear simple polygon withn vertices. InO(logn) time usingO(n/logn) processors we can optimally compute:

1. Minimum réctilinear link paths, or shortest paths in theL ₁ metric from any point inP to all vertices ofP.
2. Minimum rectilinear link paths from any segment insideP to all vertices ofP.
3. The rectilinear window (histogram) partition ofP.
4. Both covering radii and vertex intervals for any diagonal ofP.
5. A data structure to support rectilinear link-distance queries between any two points inP (queries can be answered optimally inO(logn) time by uniprocessor).

Our solution to 5 is based on a new linear-time sequential algorithm for this problem which is also provided here. This improves on the previously best-known sequential algorithm for this problem which usedO(n logn) time and space.5 We develop techniques for solving link-distance problems in parallel which are expected to find applications in the design of other parallel computational geometry algorithms. We employ these parallel techniques, for example, to compute (on a CREW PRAM) optimally the link diameter, the link center, and the central diagonal of a rectilinear polygon.     

A bucketing algorithm for the orthogonal segment intersection search problem and its practical efficiency

The orthogonal segment intersection search problem is stated as follows: given a setS ofn orthogonal segments in the plane, report all the segments ofS that intersect a given orthogonal query segment. For this problem, we propose a simple and practical algorithm based on bucketing techniques. It constructs, inO(n) time preprocessing, a search structure of sizeO(n) so that all the segments ofS intersecting a query segment can be reported inO(k) time in the average case, wherek is the number of the reported segments. The proposed algorithm as well as existing algorithms is implemented in FORTRAN, and their practical efficiencies are investigated through computational experiments. It is shown that ourO(k) search time,O(n) space, andO(n) preprocessing time algorithm is in practice the most efficient among the algorithms tested.     

On approximation behavior of the greedy triangulation for convex polygons

We prove that the greedy triangulation heuristic for minimum weight triangulation of convex polygons yields solutions within a constant factor from the optimum. For interesting classes of convex polygons, we derive small upper bounds on the constant approximation factor. Our results contrast with Kirkpatrick's Ω(n) bound on the approximation factor of the Delaunay triangulation heuristic for minimum weight triangulation of convexn-vertex polygons. On the other hand, we present a straightforward implementation of the greedy triangulation heuristic for ann-vertex convex point set or a convex polygon takingO(n ²) time andO(n) space. To derive the latter result, we show that given a convex polygonP, one can find for all verticesv ofP a shortest diagonal ofP incident tov in linear time. Finally, we observe that the greedy triangulation for convex polygons having so-called semicircular property can be constructed in timeO(n logn).     

A new algorithm for the largest empty rectangle problem

A rectangleA and a setS ofn points inA are given. We present a new simple algorithm for the so-called largest empty rectangle problem, i.e., the problem of finding a maximum area rectangle contained inA and not containing any point ofS in its interior. The computational complexity of the presented algorithm isO(n logn + s), where s is the number of possible restricted rectangles considered. Moreover, the expected performance isO(n · logn).     

Computing euclidean maximum spanning trees

An algorithm is presented for finding a maximum-weight spanning tree of a set ofn points in the Euclidean plane, where the weight of an edge (p _i ,p _j ) equals the Euclidean distance between the pointsp _i andp _j . The algorithm runs inO(n logh) time and requiresO(n) space;h denotes the number of points on the convex hull of the given set. If the points are vertices of a convex polygon (given in order along the boundary), then our algorithm requires only a linear amount of time and space. These bounds are the best possible in the algebraic computation-tree model. We also establish various properties of maximum spanning trees that can be exploited to solve other geometric problems.     

A Parallel Priority Queue with Constant Time Operations

We present a parallel priority queue that supports the following operations in constant time:parallel insertionof a sequence of elements ordered according to key,parallel decrease keyfor a sequence of elements ordered according to key,deletion of the minimum key element, anddeletion of an arbitrary element. Our data structure is the first to support multi-insertion and multi-decrease key in constant time. The priority queue can be implemented on the EREW PRAM and can perform any sequence ofnoperations inO(n) time andO(mlogn) work,mbeing the total number of keyes inserted and/or updated. A main application is a parallel implementation of Dijkstra's algorithm for the single-source shortest path problem, which runs inO(n) time andO(mlogn) work on a CREW PRAM on graphs withnvertices andmedges. This is a logarithmic factor improvement in the running time compared with previous approaches.     

Some problems in distributed computational geometry

In a planar geometric network vertices are located in the plane, and edges are straight line segments connecting pairs of vertices, such that no two of them intersect. In this paper we study distributed computing in asynchronous, failure-free planar geometric networks, where each vertex is associated to a processor, and each edge to a bidirectional message communication link. Processors are aware of their locations in the plane.We consider fundamental computational geometry problems from the distributed computing point of view, such as finding the convex hull of a geometric network and identification of the external face. We also study the classic distributed computing problem of leader election, to understand the impact that geometric information has on the message complexity of solving it.We obtain an O(nlog²n) message complexity algorithm to find the convex hull, and an O(nlogn) message complexity algorithm to identify the external face of a geometric network of n processors. We present a matching lower bound for the external face problem. We prove that the message complexity of leader election in a geometric ring is Ω(nlogn), hence geometric information does not help in reducing the message complexity of this problem.     

Parallel methods for visibility and shortest-path problems in simple polygons

In this paper we give efficient parallel algorithms for solving a number of visibility and shortest-path problems for simple polygons. Our algorithms all run inO(logn) time and are based on the use of a new data structure for implicitly representing all shortest paths in a simple polygonP, which we call thestratified decomposition tree. We use this approach to derive efficient parallel methods for computing the visibility ofP from an edge, constructing the visibility graph of the vertices ofP (using an output-sensitive number of processors), constructing the shortest-path tree from a vertex ofP, and determining all-farthest neighbors for the vertices inP. The computational model we use is the CREW PRAM.     

Parallel integer sorting and simulation amongst CRCW models

In this paper a general technique for reducing processors in simulation without any increase in time is described. This results in an O(√logn) time algorithm for simulating one step of PRIORITY on TOLERANT with processor-time product of O(n log logn); the same as that for simulating PRIORITY on ARBITRARY. This is used to obtain anO(logn/log logn + √logn (log logm ? log logn)) time algorithm for sortingn integers from the set {0,...,m ? 1},m ≧n, with a processor-time product ofO(n log logm log logn) on a TOLERANT CRCW PRAM. New upper and lower bounds for ordered chaining problem on an allocated COMMON CRCW model are also obtained. The algorithm for ordered chaining takesO(logn/log logn) time on an allocated PRAM of sizen. It is shown that this result is best possible (upto a constant multiplicative factor) by obtaining a lower bound of Ω(r logn/(logr + log logn)) for finding the first (leftmost one) live processor on an allocated-COMMON PRAM of sizen ofr-slow virtual processors (one processor simulatesr processors of allocated PRAM). As a result, for ordered chaining problem, “processor-time product” has to be at least Ω(n logn/log logn) for any poly-logarithmic time algorithm. Algorithm for ordered-chaining problem results in anO(logN/log logN) time algorithm for (stable) sorting ofn integers from the set {0,...,m ? 1} withn-processors on a COMMON CRCW PRAM; hereN = max(n, m). In particular if,m =n ^O(1), then sorting takes Θ(logn/log logn) time on both TOLERANT and COMMON CRCW PRAMs. Processor-time product for TOLERANT isO(n(log logn)²). Algorithm for COMMON usesn processors.     

Cartesian graph factorization at logarithmic cost per edge

LetG be a connected graph withn vertices andm edges. We develop an algorithm that finds the (unique) prime factors ofG with respect to the Cartesian product inO(m logn) time andO(m) space. This shows that factoringG is at most as costly as sorting its edges. The algorithm gains its efficiency and practicality from using only basic properties of product graphs and simple data structures.     

Parallel construction of a suffix tree with applications

Many string manipulations can be performed efficiently on suffix trees. In this paper a CRCW parallel RAM algorithm is presented that constructs the suffix tree associated with a string ofn symbols inO(logn) time withn processors. The algorithm requires Θ(n ²) space. However, the space needed can be reduced toO(n ^1+?) for any 0< ? ≤1, with a corresponding slow-down proportional to 1/?. Efficient parallel procedures are also given for some string problems that can be solved with suffix trees.     

A Nonoblivious Bus Access Scheme Yields an Optimal Partial Sorting Algorithm

This paper focuses on a linear array ofnnodes withmultiple shared busesas a practically feasible model for parallel processing. Letkbe the number of shared buses. A nonoblivious scheme for mutually exclusive access tokshared buses is proposed. The effectiveness of the scheme is demonstrated by proposing an algorithm for solving a partial sort problem, which can be efficiently executed on the array according to the scheme. Thepartial sort problemwith parametermis the problem of sorting a subsetS′ of a given setS, whereS′ is the set of elements less than or equal to themth smallest element inS. Ifm= 1, then it is solved by an algorithm for finding the smallest element inS, and ifm=n, then it is solved by adapting normal sorting algorithm. The time complexity (9m/k) log₂log₂n+ 3.467[formula]+O(m/k+ (n/k)^1/4) of the proposed algorithm matches a lower bound Ω ([formula]+m/k) with respect tonandk, ifmis small enough to satisfym=O([formula]/log logn).     

Fast integer merging on the EREW PRAM

We investigate the complexity of merging sequences of small integers on the EREW PRAM. Our most surprising result is that two sorted sequences ofn bits each can be merged inO(log logn) time. More generally, we describe an algorithm to merge two sorted sequences ofn integers drawn from the set {0, ...,m?1} inO(log logn+log min{n, m}) time with an optimal time-processor product. No sublogarithmic-time merging algorithm for this model of computation was previously known. On the other hand, we show a lower bound of Ω(log min{n, m}) on the time needed to merge two sorted sequences of lengthn each with elements drawn from the set {0, ...,m?1}, implying that our merging algorithm is as fast as possible form=(logn)^Ω(1). If we impose an additional stability condition requiring the elements of each input sequence to appear in the same order in the output sequence, the time complexity of the problem becomes Θ(logn), even form=2. Stable merging is thus harder than nonstable merging.