Skip to main content
Log in

Parallel primal-dual methods for the minimum cost flow problem

  • Published:
Computational Optimization and Applications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the parallel asynchronous implementation of the classical primaldual method for solving the linear minimum cost network flow problem. Multiple augmentations and price rises are simultaneously attempted starting from several nodes with possibly outdated price and flow information. The results are then merged asynchronously subject to rather weak compatibility conditions. We show that this algorithm is valid, terminating finitely to an optimal solution. We also present computational results using an Encore MULTIMAX that illustrate the speedup that can be obtained by parallel implementation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. K. Ahuja, T. L. Magnanti, and J. B. Orlin, “Network flows,” Handbooks in Operations Research and Management Science, vol. 1, Optimization, G. L. Nemhauser, A. H. G. Rinnooy-Kan, and M. J. Todd, (eds.), North-Holland: amsterdam, 1989, pp. 211–369.

    Google Scholar 

  2. E. Balas, D. Miller, J. Pekny, and P. Toth, “A parallel shortest part algorithm for the assign problem,” J. ACM, Vol. 34, pp. 985–1004, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  3. D. P. Bertsekas, “A unified framework for minimum cost network flow problems,” Math. Programming, pp. 125–145, 1985.

  4. D. P. Bertsekas, Linear Network Optimization: Algorithms and Codes, MIT Press: Cambridge, MA, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  5. D. P. Bertsekas, and D. A. Castañon, “Parallel asynchronous Hungarian methods for the assignment problem,” Alphatech Report, Feb. 1990, (to appear in ORSA J. of Comput).

  6. D. P. Bertsekas, and D. A. Castañon, “Parallel synchronous and asynchronous implementations of the auction algorithm,” Parallel Computing, vol. 17, pp. 707–732, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  7. D. P. Bertsekas, D. A. Castañon, J. Eckstein, and S. Zenios, “A survey of parallel algorithms for network optimization,” Lab. for Information and Decision Systems Report P-1606, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, November 1991; to appear in Handbooks in Operations Research and Management Science, vol. 4, North-Holland: Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  8. D. P. Bertsekas, and P. Tseng, “Relaxation methods for minimum cost ordinary and generalized network flow problems,” Oper. Res. J., vol. 36, pp. 93–114, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  9. D. P. Bertsekas, and J. N. Tsitsiklis, Parallel and Distributed Computation: Numerical Methods, Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  10. J. Boyle, R. Butler, T. Disz, B. Glickfield, E. Lusk, R. Overbeek, J. Patterson, and R. Stevens, Portable Programs for Parallel Processors, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston: New York, NY, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  11. R. G. Busaker, and P. J. Gowen, “A procedure for determining a family of minimal cost network flow patterns” O.R.O. Technical Report No. 15, Operational Research Office, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  12. L. R. Ford, Jr. and D. R. Fulkerson, “A primal-dual algorithm for the capacitated Hitchcock problem,” Naval Res. Log. Q. vol. 4, pp. 47–54, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. R. Ford, Jr. and D. R. Fulkerson, Flows in Networks, Princeton Univ. Press: Princeton, NJ, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  14. D. Klingman, A. Napier, and J. Stutz, “NETGEN — A program for generating large scale (un) capacitated assignment, transportation, and minimum cost flow network problems,” Mgmt. Sci., vol. 20, pp. 814–822, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  15. C. H. Papadimitriou, and K. Steiglitz, Combinatorial Optimization: Algorithms and Complexity, Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  16. R. T. Rockafellar, Network Flows and Monotropic Programming, Wiley-Interscience: NY, New York, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This work supported in part by the BM/C3 Technology branch of the United States Army Strategic Defense Command.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bertsekas, D.P., Castañon, D.A. Parallel primal-dual methods for the minimum cost flow problem. Comput Optim Applic 2, 317–336 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01299544

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01299544

Keywords

Navigation