On Submodular Search and Machine Scheduling

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Fokkink, Robbert J.; Lidbetter, Thomas; Vegh, Laszlo A.
• 署名单位: Delft University of Technology; Rutgers University System; Rutgers University Newark; Rutgers University New Brunswick; University of London; London School Economics & Political Science
• 刊物名称: MATHEMATICS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0364-765X
• DOI: 10.1287/moor.2018.0978
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 1431-1449
• 关键词: single-machine; completion-time; DECOMPOSITION; algorithm; complexity

摘要

Suppose that some objects are hidden in a finite set S of hiding places that must be examined one by one. The cost of searching subsets of S is given by a submodular function, and the probability that all objects are contained in a subset is given by a supermodular function. We seek an ordering of S that finds all the objects with minimal expected cost. This problem is NP-hard, and we give an efficient combinatorial 2-approximation algorithm, generalizing analogous results in scheduling theory. We also give a new scheduling application where a set of jobs must be ordered subject to precedence constraints to minimize the weighted sum of some concave function of the completion times of subsets of jobs. We go on to give better approximations for submodular functions with low total curvature, and we give a full solution when the problem is what we call series parallel decomposable. Next, we consider a zero-sum game between a cost-maximizing hider and a cost-minimizing searcher. We prove that the equilibrium mixed strategies for the hider are in the base polyhedron of the cost function, suitably scaled, and we solve the game in the series-parallel decomposable case, giving approximately optimal strategies in other cases.