Generalized symmetric ADMM for separable convex optimization

The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) has been proved to be effective for solving separable convex optimization subject to linear constraints. In this paper, we propose a generalized symmetric ADMM (GS-ADMM), which updates the Lagrange multiplier twice with suitable stepsizes, to solve the multi-block separable convex programming. This GS-ADMM partitions the data into two group variables so that one group consists of p block variables while the other has q block variables, where \(p \ge 1\) and \(q \ge 1\) are two integers. The two grouped variables are updated in a Gauss–Seidel scheme, while the variables within each group are updated in a Jacobi scheme, which would make it very attractive for a big data setting. By adding proper proximal terms to the subproblems, we specify the domain of the stepsizes to guarantee that GS-ADMM is globally convergent with a worst-case \({\mathcal {O}}(1/t)\) ergodic convergence rate. It turns out that our convergence domain of the stepsizes is significantly larger than other convergence domains in the literature. Hence, the GS-ADMM is more flexible and attractive on choosing and using larger stepsizes of the dual variable. Besides, two special cases of GS-ADMM, which allows using zero penalty terms, are also discussed and analyzed. Compared with several state-of-the-art methods, preliminary numerical experiments on solving a sparse matrix minimization problem in the statistical learning show that our proposed method is effective and promising.     

Combining Lagrangian decomposition and excessive gap smoothing technique for solving large-scale separable convex optimization problems

A new algorithm for solving large-scale convex optimization problems with a separable objective function is proposed. The basic idea is to combine three techniques: Lagrangian dual decomposition, excessive gap and smoothing. The main advantage of this algorithm is that it automatically and simultaneously updates the smoothness parameters which significantly improves its performance. The convergence of the algorithm is proved under weak conditions imposed on the original problem. The rate of convergence is $O(\frac {1}{k})$ , where k is the iteration counter. In the second part of the paper, the proposed algorithm is coupled with a dual scheme to construct a switching variant in a dual decomposition framework. We discuss implementation issues and make a theoretical comparison. Numerical examples confirm the theoretical results.     

Level bundle-like algorithms for convex optimization

We propose two restricted memory level bundle-like algorithms for minimizing a convex function over a convex set. If the memory is restricted to one linearization of the objective function, then both algorithms are variations of the projected subgradient method. The first algorithm, proposed in Hilbert space, is a conceptual one. It is shown to be strongly convergent to the solution that lies closest to the initial iterate. Furthermore, the entire sequence of iterates generated by the algorithm is contained in a ball with diameter equal to the distance between the initial point and the solution set. The second algorithm is an implementable version. It mimics as much as possible the conceptual one in order to resemble convergence properties. The implementable algorithm is validated by numerical results on several two-stage stochastic linear programs.     

Separating plane algorithms for convex optimization

The equivalent formulation of a convex optimization problem is the computation of a value of a conjugate function at the origin. The latter can be achieved by approximation of the epigraph of the conjugate function around the origin and gradual refinement of the approximation. This yields a generic algorithm of convex optimization which transforms into some well-known techniques when certain strategies of approximation are employed. It also suggests new algorithmic approaches with promising computational experience and provides a uniform treatment of constrained and unconstrained optimization.     

Inverse optimization for linearly constrained convex separable programming problems

In this paper, we study inverse optimization for linearly constrained convex separable programming problems that have wide applications in industrial and managerial areas. For a given feasible point of a convex separable program, the inverse optimization is to determine whether the feasible point can be made optimal by adjusting the parameter values in the problem, and when the answer is positive, find the parameter values that have the smallest adjustments. A sufficient and necessary condition is given for a feasible point to be able to become optimal by adjusting parameter values. Inverse optimization formulations are presented with ℓ₁ and ℓ₂ norms. These inverse optimization problems are either linear programming when ℓ₁ norm is used in the formulation, or convex quadratic separable programming when ℓ₂ norm is used.     

A parameterized proximal point algorithm for separable convex optimization

In this paper, we develop a parameterized proximal point algorithm (P-PPA) for solving a class of separable convex programming problems subject to linear and convex constraints. The proposed algorithm is provable to be globally convergent with a worst-case O(1 / t) convergence rate, where t denotes the iteration number. By properly choosing the algorithm parameters, numerical experiments on solving a sparse optimization problem arising from statistical learning show that our P-PPA could perform significantly better than other state-of-the-art methods, such as the alternating direction method of multipliers and the relaxed proximal point algorithm.     

Fast proximal algorithms for nonsmooth convex optimization

In the lines of our previous approach to devise proximal algorithms for nonsmooth convex optimization by applying Nesterov fast gradient concept to the Moreau–Yosida regularization of a convex function, we develop three new proximal algorithms for nonsmooth convex optimization. In these algorithms, the errors in computing approximate solutions for the Moreau–Yosida regularization are not fixed beforehand, while preserving the complexity estimates already established. We report some preliminary computational results to give a first estimate of their performance.     

可分离凸优化问题的非精确平行分裂算法

针对一类可分离凸优化问题提出了一种非精确平行分裂算法.该算法充分利用了所求解问题的可分离结构,并对子问题进行非精确求解.在适当的条件下,证明了所提出的非精确平行分裂算法的全局收敛性,初步的数值实验说明了算法有效性.     

Asynchronous gradient algorithms for a class of convex separable network flow problems

We consider the single commodity strictly convex network flow problem. The dual of this problem is unconstrained, differentiable, and well suited for solution via distributed or parallel iterative methods. We present and prove convergence of gradient and asynchronous gradient algorithms for solving the dual problem. Computational results are given and analysed.     

Proximal alternating direction-based contraction methods for separable linearly constrained convex optimization

Alternating direction method (ADM) has been well studied in the context of linearly constrained convex programming problems. Recently, because of its significant efficiency and easy implementation in novel applications, ADM is extended to the case where the number of separable parts is a finite number. The algorithmic framework of the extended method consists of two phases. At each iteration, it first produces a trial point by using the usual alternating direction scheme, and then the next iterate is updated by using a distance-descent direction offered by the trial point. The generated sequence approaches the solution set monotonically in the Fejér sense, and the method is called alternating direction-based contraction (ADBC) method. In this paper, in order to simplify the subproblems in the first phase, we add a proximal term to the objective function of the minimization subproblems. The resulted algorithm is called proximal alternating direction-based contraction (PADBC) methods. In addition, we present different linearized versions of the PADBC methods which substantially broaden the applicable scope of the ADBC method. All the presented algorithms are guided by a general framework of the contraction methods for monotone variational inequalities, and thus, the convergence follows directly.     

修正乘子交替方向法求解三个可分离算子的凸优化

指出直接推广的经典乘子交替方向法对三个算子的问题不能保证收敛的原因, 并且给出将其改造成收敛算法的相应策略. 同时, 在一个统一框架下, 证明了修正的乘子交替方向法的收敛性和遍历意义下具有O(1/t)~收敛速率.     

Global convergence of the partitioned BFGS algorithm for convex partially separable optimization

Global convergence is proved for a partitioned BFGS algorithm, when applied on a partially separable problem with a convex decomposition. This case convers a known practical optimization method for large dimensional unconstrained problems. Inexact solution of the linear system defining the search direction and variants of the steplength rule are also shown to be acceptable without affecting the global convergence properties.     

Vector and matrix apportionment problems and separable convex integer optimization

The problems of (bi-)proportional rounding of a nonnegative vector or matrix, resp., are written as particular separable convex integer minimization problems. Allowing any convex (separable) objective function we use the notions of vector and matrix apportionment problems. As a broader class of problems we consider separable convex integer minimization under linear equality restrictions Ax = b with any totally unimodular coefficient matrix A. By the total unimodularity Fenchel duality applies, despite the integer restrictions of the variables. The biproportional algorithm of Balinski and Demange (Math Program 45:193–210, 1989) is generalized and derives from the dual optimization problem. Also, a primal augmentation algorithm is stated. Finally, for the smaller class of matrix apportionment problems we discuss the alternating scaling algorithm, which is a discrete variant of the well-known Iterative Proportional Fitting procedure.     

Constraint decomposition algorithms in global optimization

Many global optimization problems can be formulated in the form min{c(x, y): x X, y Y, (x, y) Z, y G} where X, Y are polytopes in ^p , ⁿ , respectively, Z is a closed convex set in ^p+n, while G is the complement of an open convex set in ⁿ . The function c: ^p+n is assumed to be linear. Using the fact that the nonconvex constraints depend only upon they-variables, we modify and combine basic global optimization techniques such that some new decomposition methods result which involve global optimization procedures only in ⁿ . Computational experiments show that the resulting algorithms work well for problems with smalln.     

Primal and dual approximation algorithms for convex vector optimization problems

Two approximation algorithms for solving convex vector optimization problems (CVOPs) are provided. Both algorithms solve the CVOP and its geometric dual problem simultaneously. The first algorithm is an extension of Benson’s outer approximation algorithm, and the second one is a dual variant of it. Both algorithms provide an inner as well as an outer approximation of the (upper and lower) images. Only one scalar convex program has to be solved in each iteration. We allow objective and constraint functions that are not necessarily differentiable, allow solid pointed polyhedral ordering cones, and relate the approximations to an appropriate \(\epsilon \) -solution concept. Numerical examples are provided.     

Non-monotone trust-region algorithms for nonlinear optimization subject to convex constraints

This paper presents two new trust-region methods for solving nonlinear optimization problems over convex feasible domains. These methods are distinguished by the fact that they do not enforce strict monotonicity of the objective function values at successive iterates. The algorithms are proved to be convergent to critical points of the problem from any starting point. Extensive numerical experiments show that this approach is competitive with the LANCELOT package.     

Optimal subgradient algorithms for large-scale convex optimization in simple domains

This paper describes two optimal subgradient algorithms for solving structured large-scale convex constrained optimization. More specifically, the first algorithm is optimal for smooth problems with Lipschitz continuous gradients and for Lipschitz continuous nonsmooth problems, and the second algorithm is optimal for Lipschitz continuous nonsmooth problems. In addition, we consider two classes of problems: (i) a convex objective with a simple closed convex domain, where the orthogonal projection onto this feasible domain is efficiently available; and (ii) a convex objective with a simple convex functional constraint. If we equip our algorithms with an appropriate prox-function, then the associated subproblem can be solved either in a closed form or by a simple iterative scheme, which is especially important for large-scale problems. We report numerical results for some applications to show the efficiency of the proposed schemes.     

Path-following proximal approach for solving Ill-posed convex semi-infinite programming problems

For a class of ill-posed, convex semi-infinite programming problems, a regularized path-following strategy is developed. This approach consists in a coordinated application of adaptive discretization and prox-regularization procedures combined with a penalty method. At each iteration, only an approximate minimum of a strongly convex differentiable function has to be calculated, and this can be done by any fast-convergent algorithm. The use of prox-regularization ensures the convergence of the iterates to some solution of the original problem. Due to regularization, an efficient deleting rule is applicable, which excludes an essential part of the constraints in the discretized problems.This research was supported by the German Research Society (DFG).The authors are grateful to the anonymous referees for their valuable comments.