Related papers: The Power of Two Choices with Simple Tabulation
In this work, we address the problem of determining reliable policies in reinforcement learning (RL), with a focus on optimization under uncertainty and the need for performance guarantees. While classical RL algorithms aim at maximizing…
We study the computational power of randomized computations on infinite objects, such as real numbers. In particular, we introduce the concept of a Las Vegas computable multi-valued function, which is a function that can be computed on a…
Historically, much of machine learning research has focused on the performance of the algorithm alone, but recently more attention has been focused on optimizing joint human-algorithm performance. Here, we analyze a specific type of…
We consider the following dynamic load-balancing process: given an underlying graph $G$ with $n$ nodes, in each step $t\geq 0$, one unit of load is created, and placed at a randomly chosen graph node. In the same step, the chosen node picks…
Two-Bar Charts Packing Problem is to pack $n$ two-bar charts (2-BCs) in a minimal number of unit-capacity bins. This problem generalizes the strongly NP-hard Bin Packing Problem. We prove that the problem remains strongly NP-hard even if…
We explore a novel theoretical model for studying the performance of distributed storage management systems where the data-centers have limited capacities (as compared to storage space requested by the users). Prior schemes such as…
We study stochastic optimization problems with objective function given by the expectation of the maximum of two linear functions defined on the component random variables of a multivariate Gaussian distribution. We consider random…
When facing many options, we narrow down our focus to very few of them. Although behaviors like this can be a sign of heuristics, they can actually be optimal under limited cognitive resources. Here we study the problem of how to optimally…
Given a set $S$ of $n$ keys, a perfect hash function for $S$ maps the keys in $S$ to the first $m \geq n$ integers without collisions. It may return an arbitrary result for any key not in $S$ and is called minimal if $m = n$. The most…
We study stochastic combinatorial optimization problems where the objective is to minimize the expected maximum load (a.k.a.\ the makespan). In this framework, we have a set of $n$ tasks and $m$ resources, where each task $j$ uses some…
Hash-based sampling and estimation are common themes in computing. Using hashing for sampling gives us the coordination needed to compare samples from different sets. Hashing is also used when we want to count distinct elements. The quality…
A fundamental problem in distributed computing is the distribution of requests to a set of uniform servers without a centralized controller. Classically, such problems are modeled as static balls into bins processes, where $m$ balls (tasks)…
Consider a situation with $n$ agents or players where some of the players form a coalition with a certain collective objective. Simple games are used to model systems that can decide whether coalitions are successful (winning) or not…
Despite being one of the oldest data structures in computer science, hash tables continue to be the focus of a great deal of both theoretical and empirical research. A central reason for this is that many of the fundamental properties that…
This paper develops upper and lower bounds for the probability of Boolean functions by treating multiple occurrences of variables as independent and assigning them new individual probabilities. We call this approach dissociation and give an…
We give the first polynomial-time approximation scheme (PTAS) for the stochastic load balancing problem when the job sizes follow Poisson distributions. This improves upon the 2-approximation algorithm due to Goel and Indyk (FOCS'99).…
We revisit the problem of building static hash tables on the GPU and design and build three bucketed hash tables that use different probing schemes. Our implementations are lock-free and offer efficient memory access patterns; thus, only…
Random hashing can provide guarantees regarding the performance of data structures such as hash tables---even in an adversarial setting. Many existing families of hash functions are universal: given two data objects, the probability that…
The following game is played on a weighted graph: Alice selects a matching $M$ and Bob selects a number $k$. Alice's payoff is the ratio of the weight of the $k$ heaviest edges of $M$ to the maximum weight of a matching of size at most $k$.…
Recently, Renault (2016) studied the dual bin packing problem in the per-request advice model of online algorithms. He showed that given $O(1/\epsilon)$ advice bits for each input item allows approximating the dual bin packing problem…