Reducing communication costs in robust peer-to-peer networks

Several recent research results describe how to design Distributed Hash Tables (DHTs) that are robust to adversarial attack via Byzantine faults. Unfortunately, all of these results require a significant blowup in communication costs over standard DHTs. For example, to perform a lookup operation, all such robust DHTs of which we are aware require sending O(log³n) messages while standard DHTs require sending only O(logn), where n is the number of nodes in the network. In this paper, we describe protocols to reduce the communication costs of all such robust DHTs. In particular, we give a protocol to reduce the number of messages sent to perform a lookup operation from O(log³n) to O(log²n) in expectation. Moreover, we also give a protocol for sending a large (i.e. containing Ω(log⁴n) bits) message securely through a robust DHT that requires, in expectation, only a constant blowup in the total number of bits sent compared with performing the same operation in a standard DHT. This is an improvement over the O(log²n) bit blowup that is required to perform such an operation in all current robust DHTs. Both of our protocols are robust against an adaptive adversary.     

Tighter Lower Bounds for Nearest Neighbor Search and Related Problems in the Cell Probe Model

We prove new lower bounds for nearest neighbor search in the Hamming cube. Our lower bounds are for randomized, two-sided error, algorithms in Yao's cell probe model. Our bounds are in the form of a tradeoff among the number of cells, the size of a cell, and the search time. For example, suppose we are searching among n points in the d dimensional cube, we use poly(n,d) cells, each containing poly(d, log n) bits. We get a lower bound of Ω(d/log n) on the search time, a significant improvement over the recent bound of Ω(log d) of Borodin et al. This should be contrasted with the upper bound of O(log log d) for approximate search (and O(1) for a decision version of the problem; our lower bounds hold in that case). By previous results, the bounds for the cube imply similar bounds for nearest neighbor search in high dimensional Euclidean space, and for other geometric problems.     

Bounds for the Element Distinctness Problem on one-tape Turing machines

We disprove a conjecture of López-Ortiz by showing that the Element Distinctness Problem for n numbers of size O(logn) can be solved in O(n²(logn)^3/2(loglogn)^1/2) steps by a nondeterministic one-tape Turing machine. Further we give a simplified algorithm for solving the problem for shorter numbers in time O(n²logn) on a deterministic one-tape Turing machine and a new proof of the matching lower bound.     

A note on point location in arrangements of hyperplanes

We give an algorithm for point location in an arrangement of n hyperplanes in E^d with running time poly(d,logn) and space O(n^d). The space improves on the O(n^d+ε) bound of Meiser's algorithm [Inform. and Control 106 (1993) 286] that has a similar running time.     

Monotone Boolean dualization is in co-NP[logn]

In 1996, Fredman and Khachiyan [J. Algorithms 21 (1996) 618-628] presented a remarkable algorithm for the problem of checking the duality of a pair of monotone Boolean expressions in disjunctive normal form. Their algorithm runs in n^o(logn) time, thus giving evidence that the problem lies in an intermediate class between P and co-NP. In this paper we show that a modified version of their algorithm requires deterministic polynomial time plus O(log²n) nondeterministic guesses, thus placing the problem in the class co-NP[log²n]. Our nondeterministic version has also the advantage of having a simpler analysis than the deterministic one.     

Unbounded-error quantum query complexity

This work studies the quantum query complexity of Boolean functions in an unbounded-error scenario where it is only required that the query algorithm succeeds with a probability strictly greater than 1/2. We show that, just as in the communication complexity model, the unbounded-error quantum query complexity is exactly half of its classical counterpart for any (partial or total) Boolean function. Moreover, connecting the query and communication complexity results, we show that the “black-box” approach to convert quantum query algorithms into communication protocols by Buhrman-Cleve—Wigderson [STOC’98] is optimal even in the unbounded-error setting.We also study a related setting, called the weakly unbounded-error setting, where the cost of a query algorithm is given by q+log(1/2(p−1/2)), where q is the number of queries made and p>1/2 is the success probability of the algorithm. In contrast to the case of communication complexity, we show a tight multiplicative Θ(logn) separation between quantum and classical query complexity in this setting for a partial Boolean function. The asymptotic equivalence between them is also shown for some well-studied total Boolean functions.     

Transforming pseudo-triangulations

We study the problem of transforming pseudo-triangulations in the plane. We show that a pseudo-triangulation with n vertices can be transformed into another one using O(nlogn) flips only. This improves the previous bound O(n²) of Brönnimann et al. [Fall Workshop on Comput. Geometry, 2001]. We present an algorithm for computing a transformation between two pseudo-triangulations in O((f+n)logn) time where f is the number of flips.     

Known-plaintext cryptanalysis of the Domingo-Ferrer algebraic privacy homomorphism scheme

We propose cryptanalysis of the First Domingo-Ferrer's algebraic privacy homomorphism where n=pq. We show that the scheme can be broken by (d+1) known plaintexts in O(d³log²n) time. Even when the modulus n is kept secret, it can be broken by 2(d+1) known plaintexts in O(d⁴logdn+d³log²n+?(m)) time with overwhelming probability.     

Efficient and exact quantum compression

We present a divide and conquer based algorithm for optimal quantum compression/decompression, using O(n(log⁴n)log log n) elementary quantum operations. Our result provides the first quasi-linear time algorithm for asymptotically optimal (in size and fidelity) quantum compression and decompression. We also outline the quantum gate array model to bring about this compression in a quantum computer. Our method uses various classical algorithmic tools to significantly improve the bound from the previous best known bound of O(n³) for this operation.     

Capturing crossings: Convex hulls of segment and plane intersections

We give a simple O(nlogn) algorithm to compute the convex hull of the (possibly Θ(n²)) intersection points in an arrangement of n line segments in the plane. We also show an arrangement of dn hyperplanes in d-dimensions whose arrangement has Θ(nd−1) intersection points on the convex hull.     

A note on maximum independent sets in rectangle intersection graphs

Finding the maximum independent set in the intersection graph of n axis-parallel rectangles is NP-hard. We re-examine two known approximation results for this problem. For the case of rectangles of unit height, Agarwal, van Kreveld and Suri [Comput. Geom. Theory Appl. 11 (1998) 209-218] gave a (1+1/k)-factor algorithm with an O(nlogn+n^2k−1) time bound for any integer constant k?1; we describe a similar algorithm running in only O(nlogn+nΔ^k−1) time, where Δ?n denotes the maximum number of rectangles a point can be in. For the general case, Berman, DasGupta, Muthukrishnan and Ramaswami [J. Algorithms 41 (2001) 443-470] gave a ⌈log_kn⌉-factor algorithm with an O(n^k+1) time bound for any integer constant k?2; we describe similar algorithms running in O(nlogn+nΔ^k−2) and n^O(k/logk) time.     

Fast approximate PCPs for multidimensional bin-packing problems

We consider approximate PCPs for multidimensional bin-packing problems. In particular, we show how a verifier can be quickly convinced that a set of multidimensional blocks can be packed into a small number of bins. The running time of the verifier is bounded by O(log^d n) where n is the number of blocks and d is the dimension.     

Asymptotic speed-ups in constructive solid geometry

We convert constructive solid geometry input to explicit representations of polygons, polyhedra, or more generallyd-dimensional polyhedra, in time and space 0(n^d), improving a previous0(n^d logn) time bound. We then show that any Boolean formula can be preprocessed in time0(n log n/log logn) and linear space so that the value of the formula can be maintained, as variables are changed one by one, in time O(log n/log logn) per change; this speeds up certain output-sensitive algorithms for constructive solid geometry.     

Communication complexity towards lower bounds on circuit depth

Karchmer, Raz, and Wigderson (1995) discuss the circuit depth complexity of n-bit Boolean functions constructed by composing up to d = log n/log log n levels of k = log n-bit Boolean functions. Any such function is in AC¹ . They conjecture that circuit depth is additive under composition, which would imply that any (bounded fan-in) circuit for this problem requires depth. This would separate AC¹ from NC¹. They recommend using the communication game characterization of circuit depth. In order to develop techniques for using communication complexity to prove circuit depth lower bounds, they suggest an intermediate communication complexity problem which they call the Universal Composition Relation. We give an almost optimal lower bound of dk—O(d ²(k log k)^1/2) for this problem. In addition, we present a proof, directly in terms of communication complexity, that there is a function on k bits requiring circuit depth. Although this fact can be easily established using a counting argument, we hope that the ideas in our proof will be incorporated more easily into subsequent arguments which use communication complexity to prove circuit depth bounds. Received: July 30, 1999.     

Multi-mesh of trees with its parallel algorithms

In recent years the multi-mesh network [Proceedings of the Ninth International Parallel Processing Symposium, Santa Barbara, CA, April 25–28, 1995, 17; IEEE Trans. on Comput. 68 (5) (1999) 536] has created a lot of interests among the researchers for its efficient topological properties. Several parallel algorithms for various trivial and nontrivial problems have been mapped on this network. However, because of its O(n) diameter, a large class of algorithms that involves frequent data broadcast in a row or in a column or between the diametrically opposite processors, requires O(n) time on an n×n multi-mesh. In search of faster algorithms, we introduce, in this paper, a new network topology, called multi-mesh of trees. This network is built around the multi-mesh network and the mesh of trees. As a result it can perform as efficiently as a multi-mesh network and also as efficiently as a mesh of trees. Several topological properties, including number of links, diameter, bisection width and decomposition are discussed. We present the parallel algorithms for finding sum of n⁴ elements and the n²-point Lagrange interpolation both in O(logn)¹ time. The solution of n²-degree polynomial equation, n²-point DFT computation and sorting of n² elements are all shown to run in O(logn) time too. The communication algorithms one-to-all, row broadcast and column broadcast are also described in O(logn) time. This can be compared with O(n) time algorithms on multi-mesh network for all these problems.     

Labeling points with given rectangles

In this paper, we consider the following problem: Given n pairs of a point and an axis-parallel rectangle in the plane, place each rectangle at each point in order that the point lies on the corner of the rectangle and the rectangles do not intersect. If the size of the rectangles may be enlarged or reduced at the same factor, maximize the factor. This paper generalizes the results of Formann and Wagner [Proc. 7th Annual ACM Symp. on Comput. Geometry (SoCG'91), 1991, pp. 281-288]. They considered the uniform squares case and showed that there is no polynomial time algorithm less than 2-approximation. We present a 2-approximation algorithm of the non-uniform rectangle case which runs in O(n²logn) time and takes O(n²) space. We also show that the decision problem can be solved in O(nlogn) time and space in the RAM model by transforming the problem to a simpler geometric problem.     

Range mode and range median queries in constant time and sub-quadratic space

Given a list of n items and a function defined over sub-lists, we study the space required for computing the function for arbitrary sub-lists in constant time.For the function mode we improve the previously known space bound O(n²/logn) to O(n²loglogn/log²n) words.For median the space bound is improved to O(n²loglog²n/log²n) words from O(n²⋅log(k)n/logn), where k is an arbitrary constant and log(k) is the iterated logarithm.     

Improved algorithm for all pairs shortest paths

We present an improved algorithm for all pairs shortest paths. For a graph of n vertices our algorithm runs in O(n³(loglogn/logn)^5/7) time. This improves the best previous result which runs in O(n³(loglogn/logn)^1/2) time.     

Parallel algorithms for arrangements

We give the first efficient parallel algorithms for solving the arrangement problem. We give a deterministic algorithm for the CREW PRAM which runs in nearly optimal bounds ofO (logn log^* n) time andn ²/logn processors. We generalize this to obtain anO (logn log^* n)-time algorithm usingn ^d /logn processors for solving the problem ind dimensions. We also give a randomized algorithm for the EREW PRAM that constructs an arrangement ofn lines on-line, in which each insertion is done in optimalO (logn) time usingn/logn processors. Our algorithms develop new parallel data structures and new methods for traversing an arrangement.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, under Grants CCR-8657562 and CCR-8858799, NSF/DARPA under Grant CCR-8907960, and Digital Equipment Corporation. A preliminary version of this paper appeared at the Second Annual ACM Symposium on Parallel Algorithms and Architectures [3].