Drawing series parallel digraphs symmetrically

In this paper we present algorithms for drawing series parallel digraphs with as much symmetry as possible. The first step is to compute a certain kind of automorphism, called an “upward planar automorphism” for an input series parallel digraph. The next step uses these automorphisms to construct a symmetric drawing of the graph. We present several variations of the second step, with visibility drawings, “bus-orthogonal” drawings, and polyline drawings. All algorithms run in linear time.     

Two trees which are self-intersecting when drawn simultaneously

A current topic in graph drawing is the question how to draw two edge sets on the same vertex set, the so-called simultaneous drawing of graphs. The goal is to simultaneously find a nice drawing for both of the sets. It has been found out that only restricted classes of planar graphs can be drawn simultaneously using straight lines and without crossings within the same edge set. In this paper, we negatively answer one of the most often posted open questions namely whether any two trees with the same vertex set can be drawn simultaneously crossing-free in a straight-line way.     

Schnyder Woods and Orthogonal Surfaces

In this paper we study connections between planar graphs, Schnyder woods, and orthogonal surfaces. Schnyder woods and the face counting approach have important applications in graph drawing and the dimension theory of orders. Orthogonal surfaces explain connections between these seemingly unrelated notions. We use these connections for an intuitive proof of the Brightwell-Trotter Theorem which says, that the face lattice of a 3-polytope minus one face has order dimension three. Our proof yields a linear time algorithm for the construction of the three linear orders that realize the face lattice. Coplanar orthogonal surfaces are in correspondence with a large class of convex straight line drawings of 3-connected planar graphs. We show that Schnyder’s face counting approach with weighted faces can be used to construct all coplanar orthogonal surfaces and hence the corresponding drawings. Appropriate weights are computable in linear time.     

Algorithmic aspects of clique-transversal and clique-independent sets

A minimum clique-transversal set MCT(G) of a graph G=(V,E) is a set SV of minimum cardinality that meets all maximal cliques in G. A maximum clique-independent set MCI(G) of G is a set of maximum number of pairwise vertex-disjoint maximal cliques. We prove that the problem of finding an MCT(G) and an MCI(G) is NP-hard for cocomparability, planar, line and total graphs. As an interesting corollary we obtain that the problem of finding a minimum number of elements of a poset to meet all maximal antichains of the poset remains NP-hard even if the poset has height two, thereby generalizing a result of Duffas et al. (J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 58 (1991) 158–164). We present a polynomial algorithm for the above problems on Helly circular-arc graphs which is the first such algorithm for a class of graphs that is not clique-perfect. We also present polynomial algorithms for the weighted version of the clique-transversal problem on strongly chordal graphs, chordal graphs of bounded clique size, and cographs. The algorithms presented run in linear time for strongly chordal graphs and cographs. These mark the first attempts at the weighted version of the problem.     

An Improved Bound on the One-Sided Minimum Crossing Number in Two-Layered Drawings

Given a bipartite graph G = (V,W,E), a two-layered drawing consists of placing nodes in the first node set V on a straight line L₁ and placing nodes in the second node set W on a parallel line L₂. The one-sided crossing minimization problem asks one to find an ordering of nodes in V to be placed on L₁ so that the number of arc crossings is minimized. In this paper we use a 1.4664-approximation algorithm for this problem. This improves the previously best bound 3 due to P. Eades and N. C. Wormald [Edge crossing in drawing bipartite graphs, Algorithmica 11 (1994), 379-403].     

Linear expected-time algorithms for connectivity problems

This paper describes fast average-time algorithms for four graph connectivity problems. Algorithms that run in O(n) average time on n-vertex graphs are developed for finding connected components, strong components, and blocks. An O(m)-time algorithm to find a minimum spanning forest in an m-graph is also presented. The analysis of these algorithms uses the random graph model of Erdös and Renyi. All the algorithms are optimum to within a constant factor.     

A Framework for Drawing Planar Graphs with Curves and Polylines

We describe a unified framework of aesthetic criteria and complexity measures for drawing planar graphs with polylines and curves. This framework includes several visual properties of such drawings, including aspect ratio, vertex resolution, edge length, edge separation, and edge curvature, as well as complexity measures such as vertex and edge representational complexity and the area of the drawing. In addition to this general framework, we present algorithms that operate within this framework. Specifically, we describe an algorithm for drawing any n-vertex planar graph in an O(n) × O(n) grid using polylines that have at most two bends per edge and asymptotically-optimal worst-case angular resolution. More significantly, we show how to adapt this algorithm to draw any n-vertex planar graph using cubic Bézier curves, with all vertices and control points placed within an O(n) × O(n) integer grid so that the curved edges achieve a curvilinear analogue of good angular resolution. All of our algorithms run in O(n) time.     

Linkless symmetric drawings of series parallel digraphs

In this paper, we present a linear time algorithm for constructing linkless drawings of series parallel digraphs with maximum number of symmetries. Linkless drawing in three dimensions is a natural extension to planar drawing in two dimensions. Symmetry is one of the most important aesthetic criteria in graph drawing. More specifically, we present two algorithms: a symmetry finding algorithm which finds maximum number of three dimensional symmetries, and a drawing algorithm which constructs linkless symmetric drawings of series parallel digraphs in three dimensions.     

Morphing Planar Graph Drawings with Bent Edges

We give an algorithm to morph between two planar drawings of a graph, preserving planarity, but allowing edges to bend. The morph uses a polynomial number of elementary steps, where each elementary step is a linear morph that moves each vertex in a straight line at uniform speed. Although there are planarity-preserving morphs that do not require edge bends, it is an open problem to find polynomial-size morphs. We achieve polynomial size at the expense of edge bends.     

Fast Enumeration Algorithms for Non-crossing Geometric Graphs

A non-crossing geometric graph is a graph embedded on a set of points in the plane with non-crossing straight line segments. In this paper we present a general framework for enumerating non-crossing geometric graphs on a given point set. Applying our idea to specific enumeration problems, we obtain faster algorithms for enumerating plane straight-line graphs, non-crossing spanning connected graphs, non-crossing spanning trees, and non-crossing minimally rigid graphs. Our idea also produces efficient enumeration algorithms for other graph classes, for which no algorithm has been reported so far, such as non-crossing matchings, non-crossing red-and-blue matchings, non-crossing k-vertex or k-edge connected graphs, or non-crossing directed spanning trees. The proposed idea is relatively simple and potentially applies to various other problems of non-crossing geometric graphs.     

Grid Drawings of 4-Connected Plane Graphs

A grid drawing of a plane graph G is a drawing of G on the plane so that all vertices of G are put on plane grid points and all edges are drawn as straight line segments between their endpoints without any edge-intersection. In this paper we give a very simple algorithm to find a grid drawing of any given 4-connected plane graph G with four or more vertices on the outer face. The algorithm takes time O(n) and yields a drawing in a rectangular grid of width \lceil n/2 \rceil - 1 and height \lfloor n/2\rfloor if G has n vertices. The algorithm is best possible in the sense that there are an infinite number of 4-connected plane graphs, any grid drawings of which need rectangular grids of width \lceil n/2 \rceil - 1 and height \lfloor n/2\rfloor . Received October 13, 1999, and in revised form July 18, 2000. Online publication February 26, 2001.     

Dynamically maintaining split graphs

We present an algorithm that supports operations for modifying a split graph by adding edges or vertices and deleting edges, such that after each modification the graph is repaired to become a split graph in a minimal way. In particular, if the graph is not split after the modification, the algorithm computes a minimal, or if desired even a minimum, split completion or deletion of the modified graph. The motivation for such operations is similar to the motivation for fully dynamic algorithms for particular graph classes. In our case we allow all modifications to the graph and repair, rather than allowing only the modifications that keep the graph split. Fully dynamic algorithms of the latter kind are known for split graphs [L. Ibarra, Fully dynamic algorithms for chordal graphs and split graphs, Technical Report DCS-262-IR, University of Victoria, Canada, 2000].Our results can be used to design linear time algorithms for some recognition and completion problems, where the input is supplied in an on-line fashion.     

A las vegas rnc algorithm for maximum matching

Recently two randomized algorithms were discovered that find a maximum matching in an arbitrary graph in polylog time, when run on a parallel random access machine. Both are Monte Carlo algorithms — they have the drawback that with non-zero probability the output is a non-maximum matching. We use the min-max formula for the size of a maximum matching to convert any Monte Carlo maximum matching algorithm into a Las Vegas (error-free) one. The resulting algorithm returns (with high probability) a maximum matching and a certificate proving that the matching is indeed maximum. Research supported by DARPA grant N00039-84-C-0098 and by a US Army Research Office fellowship.     

Convex drawings of graphs with non-convex boundary constraints

In this paper, we study a new problem of convex drawing of planar graphs with non-convex boundary constraints, and call a drawing in which every inner-facial cycle is drawn as a convex polygon an inner-convex drawing. It is proved that every triconnected plane graph with the boundary fixed with a star-shaped polygon whose kernel has a positive area admits an inner-convex drawing. We also prove that every four-connected plane graph whose boundary is fixed with a crown-shaped polygon admits an inner-convex drawing. We present linear time algorithms to construct inner-convex drawings for both cases.     

On finding augmenting graphs

Method of augmenting graphs is a general approach to solve the maximum independent set problem. As the problem is generally NP-hard, no polynomial time algorithms are available to implement the method. However, when restricted to particular classes of graphs, the approach may lead to efficient solutions. A famous example of this type is the maximum matching algorithm: it finds a maximum matching in a graph G, which is equivalent to finding a maximum independent set in the line graph of G. In the particular case of line graphs, the method reduces to finding augmenting (alternating) chains. Recent investigations of more general classes of graphs revealed many more types of augmenting graphs. In the present paper we study the problem of finding augmenting graphs different from chains. To simplify this problem, we introduce the notion of a redundant set. This allows us to reduce the problem to finding some basic augmenting graphs. As a result, we obtain a polynomial time solution to the maximum independent set problem in a class of graphs which extends several previously studied classes including the line graphs.     

Efficient Algorithms for Variants of Weighted Matching and Assignment Problems

Obtaining a matching in a graph satisfying a certain objective is an important class of graph problems. Matching algorithms have received attention for several decades. However, while there are efficient algorithms to obtain a maximum weight matching, not much is known about the maximum weight maximum cardinality, and maximum cardinality maximum weight matching problems for general graphs. Our contribution in this work is to show that for bounded weight input graphs one can obtain an algorithm for both maximum weight maximum cardinality (for real weights), and maximum cardinality maximum weight matching (for integer weights) by modifying the input and running the existing maximum weight matching algorithm. Also, given the current state of the art in maximum weight matching algorithms, we show that, for bounded weight input graphs, both maximum weight maximum cardinality, and maximum cardinality maximum weight matching have algorithms of similar complexities to that of maximum weight matching. Subsequently, we also obtain approximation algorithms for maximum weight maximum cardinality, and maximum cardinality maximum weight matching.      

A characterization of partial directed line graphs

Can a directed graph be completed to a directed line graph? If possible, how many arcs must be added? In this paper we address the above questions characterizing partial directed line (PDL) graphs, i.e., partial subgraph of directed line graphs. We show that for such class of graphs a forbidden configuration criterion and a Krausz's like theorem are equivalent characterizations. Furthermore, the latter leads to a recognition algorithm that requires O(m) worst case time, where m is the number of arcs in the graph. Given a partial line digraph, our characterization allows us to find a minimum completion to a directed line graph within the same time bound.The class of PDL graphs properly contains the class of directed line graphs, characterized in [J. Blazewicz, A. Hertz, D. Kobler, D. de Werra, On some properties of DNA graphs, Discrete Appl. Math. 98(1-2) (1999) 1-19], hence our results generalize those already known for directed line graphs. In the undirected case, we show that finding a minimum line graph edge completion is NP-hard, while the problem of deciding whether or not an undirected graph is a partial graph of a simple line graph is trivial.     

A linear time algorithm for Shortest Cyclic Cover of Strings

Merging words according to their overlap yields a superstring. This basic operation allows to infer long strings from a collection of short pieces, as in genome assembly. To capture a maximum of overlaps, the goal is to infer the shortest superstring of a set of input words. The Shortest Cyclic Cover of Strings (SCCS) problem asks, instead of a single linear superstring, for a set of cyclic strings that contain the words as substrings and whose sum of lengths is minimal. SCCS is used as a crucial step in polynomial time approximation algorithms for the notably hard Shortest Superstring problem, but it is solved in cubic time. The cyclic strings are then cut and merged to build a linear superstring. SCCS can also be solved by a greedy algorithm. Here, we propose a linear time algorithm for solving SCCS based on a Eulerian graph that captures all greedy solutions in linear space. Because the graph is Eulerian, this algorithm can also find a greedy solution of SCCS with the least number of cyclic strings. This has implications for solving certain instances of the Shortest linear or cyclic Superstring problems.     

An algorithm for constructing star-shaped drawings of plane graphs

A straight-line planar drawing of a plane graph is called a convex drawing if every facial cycle is drawn as a convex polygon. Convex drawings of graphs is a well-established aesthetic in graph drawing, however not all planar graphs admit a convex drawing. Tutte [W.T. Tutte, Convex representations of graphs, Proc. of London Math. Soc. 10 (3) (1960) 304–320] showed that every triconnected plane graph admits a convex drawing for any given boundary drawn as a convex polygon. Thomassen [C. Thomassen, Plane representations of graphs, in: Progress in Graph Theory, Academic Press, 1984, pp. 43–69] gave a necessary and sufficient condition for a biconnected plane graph with a prescribed convex boundary to have a convex drawing.In this paper, we initiate a new notion of star-shaped drawing of a plane graph as a straight-line planar drawing such that each inner facial cycle is drawn as a star-shaped polygon, and the outer facial cycle is drawn as a convex polygon. A star-shaped drawing is a natural extension of a convex drawing, and a new aesthetic criteria for drawing planar graphs in a convex way as much as possible. We give a sufficient condition for a given set A of corners of a plane graph to admit a star-shaped drawing whose concave corners are given by the corners in A, and present a linear time algorithm for constructing such a star-shaped drawing.     

Rectangular-radial drawings of cubic plane graphs

Rectangular drawings and rectangular duals can be naturally extended to other surfaces. In this paper, we extend rectangular drawings and rectangular duals to drawings on a cylinder. The extended drawings are called rectangular-radial drawings and rectangular-radial duals. Rectangular-radial drawings correspond to periodic rectangular tilings of a 1-dimensional strip. We establish a necessary and sufficient condition for plane graphs with maximum degree 3 to have rectangular-radial drawings and a necessary and sufficient condition for triangulated plane graphs to have rectangular-radial duals. Furthermore, we present three linear time algorithms under three different conditions for finding a rectangular-radial drawing for a given cubic plane graph, if one exists.