Domination and Coverage Problems under Vulnerability Constraints
This work addresses theoretical gaps in domination problems with vulnerable elements, providing approximation algorithms for practitioners in network security and resource allocation.
The paper introduces and studies domination and coverage problems with vulnerability constraints, proposing approximation algorithms for three variants: k-Max DRVV (O(k/n)-approximation for bounded-degree graphs), DSV (2√(|V|·(H(Δ_N)-1/2))-approximation), and VCVE (2-approximation, best possible).
In various domination and coverage problems, certain vertices or edges should not be dominated/covered and are designated as vulnerable. Motivated by this, we define the $k$-Vertex Maximum Domination Ratio with Vulnerable Vertices $(k\textit{-}Max \ \mathit{DRVV})$ problem, which extends the budgeted dominating set problem to include vulnerability constraints. We propose an approximation algorithm based on an unbudgeted variant of $k\textit{-}Max \ \mathit{DRVV}$, termed the Maximum Domination Ratio with Vulnerable Vertices $(\mathit{DRVV})$ problem. For bounded-degree graphs of order $n$, our algorithm provides an $O(k/n)$-approximation for the $k\textit{-}Max \ \mathit{DRVV}$ problem. We introduce the Dominating Set with Vulnerable Vertices $(\mathit{DSV})$ problem, reduce it to the Red-Blue Set Cover problem, and derive a $2\sqrt{|V|\cdot(H(Δ_{N})-\frac{1}{2}})$-approximation algorithm, where $|V|$ is the order of the graph, $Δ_N$ is the maximum degree among non-vulnerable vertices and $H$ is the harmonic function. Finally, we examine the Vertex Cover with Vulnerable Edges $(\mathit{VCVE})$ problem, which can be naturally expressed as a special case of the Red-Blue Set Cover problem. We present a polynomial-time $2$-approximation algorithm for the $VCVE$ problem, achieving the best possible ratio.