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We study a network configuration problem in telecommunications where one wants to set up paths in a capacitated network to accommodate given point-to-point traffic demand. The problem is formulated as an integer linear programming model where 0-1 variables represent different paths. An associated integral polytope is studied and different classes of facets are described. These results are used in a cutting plane algorithm. Computational results for some realistic problems are reported.
In this paper, we study self-avoiding walks of a given length on a graph. We consider a formulation of this problem as a binary linear program. We analyze the polyhedral structure of the underlying polytope and describe valid inequalities. Proofs for their facial properties for certain special cases are given. In a variation of this problem one is interested in optimal configurations, where an energy function measures the benefit if certain path elements are placed on adjacent vertices of the graph. The most prominent application of this problem is the protein folding problem in biochemistry. On a set of selected instances, we demonstrate the computational merits of our approach.
The UMTS radio network planning problem poses the challenge of designing a cost-effective network that provides users with sufficient coverage and capacity. We describe an optimization model for this problem that is based on comprehensive planning data of the EU project MOMENTUM. We present heuristic mathematical methods for this realistic model, including computational results.
A model for the optimisation of the location and configuration of base stations in a UMTS network is described. The focus is primarily on modelling the configuration problem sufficiently accurate using mixed-integer variables and (essentially) linear constraints. These constraints reflect the limited downlink code capacity in each cell, the interference limitations for successful up- and downlink transmissions, the need for sufficiently strong (cell) pilot signals, and the potential gain for mobiles from being in soft(er) hand-over. It is also explained how to use the model as a basis for rating network configurations.
This paper is concerned with UMTS radio network design. Our task is to reconfigure antennas and the related cells as to improve network quality. In contrast to second generation GSM networks, \emph{interference} plays a paramount role when designing third generation radio networks. A known compact formulation for assessing the interference characteristics of a radio network as coupling relations between cells based on user snapshots is generalized to statistical average load. This enables us to overcome the notorious difficulties of snapshot-based network optimization approaches. We recall a mixed-integer programming model for the network design problem that is based on user snapshots and contrast it with a new network design model based on the average coupling formulation. Exemplarily focusing on the important problem of optimizing antenna tilts, we give computational results for a fast local search algorithm and the application of a MIP solver to both models. These results demonstrate that our new average-based approaches outperform state-of-the-art snapshot models for UMTS radio network optimization.
In this paper we describe and discuss a problem that arises in the (global) design of a main frame computer. The task is to assign certain functional units to a given number of so called multi chip modules or printed circuit boards taking into account many technical constraints and minimizing a complex objective function. We describe the real world problem. A thorough mathematical modelling of all aspects of this problem results in a rather complicated integer program that seems to be hopelessly difficult -- at least for the present state of integer programming technology. We introduce several relaxations of the general model, which are also $NP$-hard, but seem to be more easily accessible. The mathematical relations between the relaxations and the exact formulation of the problem are discussed as well.
We investigate the problem of partitioning the nodes of a graph under capacity restriction on the sum of the node weights in each subset of the partition. The objective is to minimize the sum of the costs of the edges between the subsets of the partition. This problem has a variety of applications, for instance in the design of electronic circuits and devices. We present alternative integer programming formulations for this problem and discuss the links between these formulations. Having chosen to work in the space of edges of the multicut, we investigate the convex hull of incidence vectors of feasible multicuts. In particular, several classes of inequalities are introduced, and their strength and robustness are analyzed as various problem parameters change.
In this paper we consider the problem of $k$-partitioning the nodes of a graph with capacity restrictions on the sum of the node weights in each subset of the partition, and the objective of minimizing the sum of the costs of the edges between the subsets of the partition. Based on a study of valid inequalities, we present a variety of separation heuristics for so-called cycle, cycle with ears, knapsack tree and path-block-cycle inequalities. The separation heuristics, plus primal heuristics, have been implemented in a branch-and-cut routine using a formulation including the edges with nonzero costs and node variables. Results are presented for three classes of problems: equipartitioning problems arising in finite element methods and partitioning problems associated with electronic circuit layout and compiler design.
In this paper we consider the multiple knapsack problem which is defined as follows: given a set $N$ of items with weights $f_i$, $i \in N$, a set $M$ of knapsacks with capacities $F_k$, $k \in M$, and a profit function $c_{ik}, i \in N, k \in M$; find an assignment of a subset of the set of items to the set of knapsacks that yields maximum profit (or minimum cost). With every instance of this problem we associate a polyhedron whose vertices are in one to one correspondence to the feasible solutions of the instance. This polytope is the subject of our investigations. In particular, we present several new classes of inequalities and work out necessary and sufficient conditions under which the corresponding inequality defines a facet. Some of these conditions involve only properties of certain knapsack constraints, and hence, apply to the generalized assignment polytope as well. The results presented here serve as the theoretical basis for solving practical problems. The algorithmic side of our study, i.e., separation algorithms, implementation details and computational experience with a branch and cut algorithm are discussed in the companion paper SC 93-07.
The recently imposed new gas market liberalization rules in Germany lead to a change of business of gas network operators.
While previously network operator and gas vendor where united, they were forced to split up into independent companies.
The network has to be open to any other gas trader at the same conditions, and free network capacities have to be identified and publicly offered in a non-discriminatory way.
We show that these new paradigms lead to new and challenging mathematical optimization problems.
In order to solve them and to provide meaningful results for practice, all aspects of the underlying problems, such as combinatorics, stochasticity, uncertainty, and nonlinearity, have to be addressed.
With such special-tailored solvers, free network capacities and topological network extensions can, for instance, be determined.
SAP's decision support systems for optimized supply network planning rely on mixed-integer programming as the core engine to compute optimal or near-optimal solutions. The modeling flexibility and the optimality guarantees provided by mixed-integer programming greatly aid the design of a robust and future-proof decision support system for a large and diverse customer base. In this paper we describe our coordinated efforts to ensure that the performance of the underlying solution algorithms matches the complexity of the large supply chain problems and tight time limits encountered in practice.
Presolving attempts to eliminate redundant information from the problem formulation and simultaneously tries to strengthen the formulation. It can be very effective and is often essential for solving instances. Especially for mixed integer programming problems, fast and effective presolving algorithms are very important. In this paper, we report on three new presolving techniques. The first method searches for singleton continuous columns and tries to fix the corresponding variables. Then we present a presolving technique which exploits a partial order of the variables to induce fixings. Finally, we show an approach based on connected components in graphs. Our computational results confirm the profitable use of the algorithms in practice.
We show that, given a wheel with nonnegative edge lengths and pairs of terminals located on the wheel's outer cycle such that the terminal pairs are in consecutive order, then a path packing, i.~e., a collection of edge disjoint paths connecting the given terminal pairs, of minimum length can be found in strongly polynomial time. Moreover, we exhibit for this case a system of linear inequalities that provides a complete and nonredundant description of the path packing polytope, which is the convex hull of all incidence vectors of path packings and their supersets.
Let $G=(V,E)$ be a graph and $T\subseteq V$ be a node set. We call an edge set $S$ a Steiner tree with respect to $T$ if $S$ connects all pairs of nodes in $T$. In this paper we address the following problem, which we call the weighted Steiner tree packing problem. Given a graph $G=(V,E)$ with edge weights $w_e$, edge capacities $c_e, e \in E,$ and node sets $T_1,\ldots,T_N$, find edge sets $S_1,\ldots,S_N$ such that each $S_k$ is a Steiner tree with respect to $T_k$, at most $c_e$ of these edge sets use edge $e$ for each $e\in E$, and such that the sum of the weights of the edge sets is minimal. Our motivation for studying this problem arises from the routing problem in VLSI-design, where given sets of points have to be connected by wires. We consider the Steiner tree packing Problem from a polyhedral point of view and define an appropriate polyhedron, called the Steiner tree packing polyhedron. The goal of this paper is to (partially) describe this polyhedron by means of inequalities. It turns out that, under mild assumptions, each inequality that defines a facet for the (single) Steiner tree polyhedron can be lifted to a facet-defining inequality for the Steiner tree packing polyhedron. The main emphasis of this paper lies on the presentation of so-called joint inequalities that are valid and facet-defining for this polyhedron. Inequalities of this kind involve at least two Steiner trees. The classes of inequalities we have found form the basis of a branch & cut algorithm. This algorithm is described in our companion paper SC 92-09.
In this paper we describe a cutting plane algorithm for the Steiner tree packing problem. We use our algorithm to solve some switchbox routing problems of VLSI-design and report on our computational experience. This includes a brief discussion of separation algorithms, a new LP-based primal heuristic and implementation details. The paper is based on the polyhedral theory for the Steiner tree packing polyhedron developed in our companion paper SC 92-8 and meant to turn this theory into an algorithmic tool for the solution of practical problems.
In this paper we describe several versions of the routing problem arising in VLSI design and indicate how the Steiner tree packing problem can be used to model these problems mathematically. We focus on switchbox routing problems and provide integer programming formulations for routing in the knock-knee and in the Manhattan model. We give a brief sketch of cutting plane algorithms that we developed and implemented for these two models. We report on computational experiments using standard test instances. Our codes are able to determine optimum solutions in most cases, and in particular, we can show that some of the instances have no feasible solution if Manhattan routing is used instead of knock-knee routing.
{\def\N{{\cal N}} \def\R{\hbox{\rm I\kern-2pt R}} \def\MN{{\rm I\kern-2pt N}} In this paper we study the following problem, which we call the weighted routing problem. Let be given a graph $G=(V,E)$ with non-negative edge weights $w_e\in\R_+$ and integer edge capacities $c_e\in\MN$ and let $\N=\{T_1,\ldots,T_N\}$, $N\ge 1$, be a list of node sets. The weighted routing problem consists in finding edge sets $S_1,\ldots,S_N$ such that, for each $k\in\{1,\ldots,N\}$, the subgraph $(V(S_k),S_k)$ contains an $[s,t]$-path for all $s,t\in T_k$, at most $c_e$ of these edge sets use edge $e$ for each $e\in E$, and such that the sum of the weights of the edge sets is minimal. Our motivation for studying this problem arises from the routing problem in VLSI-design, where given sets of points have to be connected by wires. We consider the weighted routing problem from a polyhedral point of view. We define an appropriate polyhedron and try to (partially) describe this polyhedron by means of inequalities. We briefly sketch our separation algorithms for some of the presented classes of inequalities. Based on these separation routines we have implemented a branch and cut algorithm. Our algorithm is applicable to an important subclass of routing problems arising in VLSI-design, namely to problems where the underlying graph is a grid graph and the list of node sets is located on the outer face of the grid. We report on our computational experience with this class of problem instances.}
In this paper we continue the investigations in [GMW92a] for the \def\sbppo{Steiner tree packing polyhedron} \sbppo. We present several new classes of valid inequalities and give sufficient (and necessary) conditions for these inequalities to be facet-defining. It is intended to incorporate these inequalities into an existing cutting plane algorithm that is applicable to practical problems arising in the design of electronic circuits.
In this paper we investigate separation problems for classes of inequalities valid for the polytope associated with the Steiner tree packing problem, a problem that arises, e.~g., in VLSI routing. The separation problem for Steiner partition inequalities is ${\cal N}\hskip-2pt{\cal P}$-hard in general. We show that it can be solved in polynomial time for those instances that come up in switchbox routing. Our algorithm uses dynamic programming techniques. These techniques are also applied to the much more complicated separation problem for alternating cycle inequalities. In this case we can compute in polynomial time, given some point $y$, a lower bound for the gap $\alpha-a^Ty$ over all alternating cycle inequalities $a^Tx\ge\alpha$. This gives rise to a very effective separation heuristic. A by-product of our algorithm is the solution of a combinatorial optimization problem that is interesting in its own right: Find a shortest path in a graph where the ``length'' of a path is its usual length minus the length of its longest edge.
We show that, given a wheel with nonnegative edge lengths and pairs of terminals located on the wheel's outer cycle such that no two terminal pairs cross, then a path packing, i.~e.,a collection of edge disjoint paths connecting the given terminal pairs, of minimum length can be found in strongly polynomial time. Moreover, we exhibit for this case a system of linear inequalities that provides a complete and nonredundant description of the path packing polytope, which is the convex hull of all incidence vectors of path packings and their supersets.