1. James B. Orlin Presented by Tal Kaminker
A polynomial time primal network simplex algorithm for minimum cost flows
James B. Orlin
Presented by Tal Kaminker

2. Reminder – minimum cost flow
𝑛 nodes, each with supply (𝑏 𝑖 ≥0) or demand (𝑏 𝑖 ≤0). 𝒄 𝒊𝒋 - cost of moving one unit across arc (𝑖,𝑗) 𝒖 𝒊𝒋 - the capacity of the arc (𝑖,𝑗) We need to minimize 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝑥 𝑖𝑗 𝒙 𝒊𝒋 - the flow on the arc (𝑖,𝑗) 𝒓 𝒊𝒋 - the residual capacity of the arc (𝑖,𝑗)

3. overview Decomposition of a flow into 𝑇,𝐿,𝑈
The regular network simplex algorithm
The premultiplier algorithm
Cost-scaling version of the premultiplier algorithm
Proof that the cost scaling version is polynomial time algorithm

4. Decomposition of a flow into 𝑇,𝐿,𝑈
Decompose each feasible flow into 𝑇,𝐿,𝑈 .
𝑇 – all the arcs (𝑖,𝑗) with 0< 𝑥 𝑖𝑗 < 𝑢 𝑖𝑗
𝐿 – all arcs (𝑖,𝑗) with 𝑥 𝑖𝑗 =0
𝑈 – all arcs (𝑖,𝑗) with 𝑥 𝑖𝑗 = 𝑢 𝑖𝑗
If 𝑇 is a spanning tree, it is possible to derive from the decomposition 𝑇,𝐿,𝑈 the flow.
𝑇,𝐿,𝑈 is called basis structure.

5. Non-degeneracy assumption
We will assume the every basic feasible is non-degenerate; that is, 𝑇 from the 𝑇,𝐿,𝑈 −𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 is a spanning tree.
Add a virtual node 1 with arcs to all other nodes with huge cost and u 1i =∞ and u i1 =∞
Set 𝑏 1 =𝜀 and decrease other 𝑏 𝑖 by 𝜀 𝑛−1

6. notations 𝐺 𝑥 - the residual network of flow 𝑥
𝐺 ∗ (𝑥) – the subgraph of 𝐺(𝑥) in which all arcs of 𝑇 and their reversals have been deleted
Basic cycle corresponding to an arc (𝑘,𝑙) – the cycle that created by the tree and the non tree arc 𝑘,𝑙

7. The regular network simplex algorithm
algorithm network simplex:
find an initial feasible basis structure (T,L,U)
let 𝑥 be the basic feasible flow (derived from (T,L,U) )
while 𝑥 is not optimum do
find an arc 𝑘,𝑙 ∈ 𝐺 ∗ (𝑥) for which the corresponding basic cycle 𝑊 has a negative cost
send 𝛿=min⁡( 𝑟 𝑖𝑗 : 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝑊) units of flow around 𝑊
Find the arc (𝑝,𝑞) that needs to be removed from 𝑇 and update 𝑥 and (𝑇,𝐿,𝑈)

8. Potential - reminder Potential - a vector 𝜋 of size 𝑛.
𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 = 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 − 𝜋 𝑖 + 𝜋 𝑗 - the potential of the arc 𝑖,𝑗
For cycle 𝑊, 𝑐 𝜋 𝑊 = 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝑊 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 =𝑐(𝑊)
Thus, looking for a negative cycle with respect to 𝜋 is the same as looking for a negative cycle

9. rooted in-tree
For any tree 𝑇 and a root node 𝑣, we denote 𝑇(𝑣) a subgraph of 𝐺(𝑥) which is a directed spanning in-tree 𝑇 and in which all arcs are directed towards 𝑣.
Costs and capacities of arcs in 𝑇(𝑣) are defined as in 𝐺(𝑥).

11. premultipliers
Definition: A vector 𝜋 of node potentials is a set of premultipliers with respect to the rooted in-tree 𝑇(𝑣) if 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≤0 for every arc 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝑇 𝑣 .

12. premultipliers
Lemma: Suppose that 𝑇 is a tree, and 𝜋 is a set of premultipliers with respect to 𝑇 𝑣 . Then 𝜋 is also a set of premultipliers with respect to 𝑇(𝑖) if and only if each arc of 𝑇 on the path from node 𝑣 to node 𝑖 has a reduced cost of 0.

14. premultipliers
Definition: Let 𝑇 denote a tree and let 𝜋 denote a vector of premultipliers with respect to 𝑇 𝑣 for some node 𝑣. We say that node 𝑖 is eligible if 𝜋 is a vector of premultipliers with respect to 𝑇(𝑖).
Definition: arc 𝑖,𝑗 ∈ 𝐺 ∗ (𝑥) is eligible if node 𝑖 is eligible and 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 <0

15. premultipliers
Lemma: Let 𝑇 be a tree, and suppose that 𝜋 is a set of premultipliers with respect to the rooted in-tree 𝑇(𝑣). Then the basic cycle induced by each eligible arc has a negative cost

16. premultipliers network simplex algorithm
Choose an initial basic feasible structure 𝑇,𝐿,𝑈 and a vector 𝜋 of premultipliers with respect to 𝑇(𝑣).
While (𝑇,𝐿,𝑈) is not optimal:
If there is an eligible arc then:
Select an eligible arc (𝑘,𝑙)
simplex-pivot(𝑘,𝑙)
else: modify-premultipliers

17. modify-premultipliers
procedure modify-premultipliers:
let 𝑆 denote the set of eligible nodes
𝑄≔ 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝑇 𝑣 :𝑖 ∉𝑆, 𝑗∈𝑆
Δ≔ min (− 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 : 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝑄) {observe that Δ>0 whenever 𝑆≠𝑁}
for each node 𝑗∈𝑆, increase 𝜋 𝑗 by Δ

18. simplex-pivot(𝑘,𝑙) procedure simplex-pivot(𝑘,𝑙):
let 𝑊 denote the basic cycle containing (𝑘,𝑙) (𝑊 is (𝑘,𝑙) plus the path from 𝑙 to 𝑘 in 𝑇(𝑘))
let 𝛿=min⁡( 𝑟 𝑖𝑗 : 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝑊)
send 𝛿 units of flow around 𝑊.
let (𝑝,𝑞) denote the arc of 𝑊 that is pivoted out
reset the root of the tree to be 𝑝

19. Lemma: The premultiplier algorithm maintains a legal vector of premultipliers at every step.
Proof:
simplex-pivot maintains a legal tree

20. Proof cont.
modify-premultipliers maintains a legal vector of premultipliers.
consider arc (𝑖,𝑗) and 𝜋 𝑜𝑙𝑑 be the old premultipliers and 𝜋 𝑛𝑒𝑤 be the new premultipliers.
recall that 𝑆={𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠}
if 𝑖∉𝑆 and 𝑗∉𝑆 then 𝜋 𝑖 𝑜𝑙𝑑 = 𝜋 𝑖 𝑛𝑒𝑤 and 𝜋 𝑗 𝑜𝑙𝑑 = 𝜋 𝑗 𝑛𝑒𝑤 thus: 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑜𝑙𝑑
if 𝑖∈𝑆 and 𝑗∈𝑆 then 𝜋 𝑖 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝜋 𝑖 𝑜𝑙𝑑 +Δ and 𝜋 𝑗 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝜋 𝑗 𝑜𝑙𝑑 +Δ thus: 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑜𝑙𝑑 −Δ+Δ= 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑜𝑙𝑑

21. Proof cont. if 𝑖∉𝑆 and 𝑗∈𝑆 then:
recall that 𝑆={𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠}
if 𝑖∉𝑆 and 𝑗∈𝑆 then:
recall that the set of this arcs is called 𝑄
𝜋 𝑗 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝜋 𝑗 𝑜𝑙𝑑 +Δ
𝜋 𝑖 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝜋 𝑖 𝑜𝑙𝑑
thus: 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑛𝑒𝑤 = 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑜𝑙𝑑 +Δ
Δ was chosen such that 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑛𝑒𝑤 ≤0 for all this arcs and 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 𝑛𝑒𝑤 =0 for at least one arc.
arcs such that 𝑖∈𝑆 and 𝑗∉𝑆 do not exists

22. premultipliers network simplex algorithm
Lemma:
Each call of modify-premultipliers strictly increases the number of eligible nodes.
Theorem:
The premultiplier algorithm is a special case of the network simplex algorithm. As such, it solves the minimum cost flow problem in a finite number iterations.

23. cost-scaling version of premultipliers alg.
We will show an cost-scaling version of the algorithm with total running time of 𝑂 𝑛 𝑚 2 log 𝑛𝐶 where 𝐶= 𝑐 𝑖𝑗
the paper shows version with running time 𝑂 min 𝑛 2 𝑚 log 𝑛𝐶 , 𝑛 2 𝑚 2 log 𝑛
later improvements showed:
𝑂 min 𝑛𝑚 log 𝑛𝐶 log 𝑛 , 𝑛 𝑚 2 log 2 𝑛

24. cost-scaling algorithm
Definition: a vector of premultipliers 𝜋 with respect to flow 𝑥 is a vector of 𝜀-premultipliers if 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≥−𝜀 for all arcs 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝐺(𝑥)
cost-scaling algorithm
Start with a basic feasible flow 𝑥.
Choose some 𝜀-premultipliers 𝜋 with some big 𝜀.
Run 𝜀-scaling phases, each reducing 𝜀 by factor of 2. Run until 𝜀 is small enough such that 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≥−𝜀 actually means that 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≥0 .
If all costs are integral then run 𝜀-scaling phases until 𝜀< 1 𝑛

25. algorithm scaling premultiplier:
choose initial basic feasible solution 𝑥 and a vector 𝜋 of premultipliers with respect for 𝑇 𝑣
𝜀≔ max 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 : 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≤0, 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝐺(𝑥)
while 𝑥 is not optimal:
improve-approximation(𝑥,𝜀,𝜋)
{𝜀 is decreased by at least a factor if 2 at each stage}

26. Definition:
The set 𝑁 ∗ denotes a subset of nodes whose multipliers have yet to change during the 𝜀-scaling phase.
For example, if 𝜋 0 denotes the multipliers at the beginning of the current scaling phase, and if 𝜋 denotes the current multipliers, then: 𝑁 ∗ = 𝑖: 𝜋 𝑖 = 𝜋 𝑖 0
An arc (𝑘,𝑙) in 𝐺 ∗ (𝑥) is called admissible for the 𝜀-scaling phase if node 𝑘 is an eligible and 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≤− 𝜀 4

27. procedure improve-approximation(𝑥,𝜀,𝜋): 𝑁 ∗ =𝑁 while 𝑁 ∗ ≠∅:
if there is an admissible arc:
select and admissible arc (𝑘,𝑙); {recall that 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≤− 𝜀 4 }
simplex-pivot(𝑘,𝑙)
else:
modify-𝜀-premultipliers

28. procedure modify-𝜀-premultipliers:
𝑆≔ 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠
𝑁 ∗ ≔ 𝑁 ∗ −𝑆
if 𝑁 ∗ =∅ then terminate improve-approximation(𝑥,𝜀,𝜋)
Δ= min − 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 : 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝑇 𝑣 , 𝑖∉𝑆, 𝑗∈𝑆
increase 𝜋 𝑖 by min Δ, 𝜀 4 for each 𝑖∈𝑆 {observe that Δ>0}

29. correctness
Theorem: The algorithm stops after finite amount of iterations and at the end yields the optimal flow Proof: Almost the same as the regular premultiplier algorithm

30. Differences between the two algorithms
the procedure that updates 𝜋 is not allowed to change 𝜋 𝑖 too much ( 𝜋 𝑖 𝑛𝑒𝑤 ≤ 𝜋 𝑖 𝑜𝑙𝑑 + 𝜀 4 )
we only use arcs which are negative enough: 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≤− 𝜀 4
we maintain 𝑁 ∗ which tells us when we updated enough and we need to change the 𝜀

31. outline
Each arc will be pivoted in at most 8𝑛 times during a scaling phase, and the total number of pivots per scaling phase is 𝑂 𝑛𝑚
At each scaling phase, there are 𝑂(𝑛𝑚) updates of the vector 𝜋 done by the subroutine modify-𝜀-premultipliers
After each phase 𝜀 is reduced by at least factor 2, thus the number of scaling phases is 𝑂 log 𝑛𝐶

32. Lemma:
Suppose that 𝜋 a vector of 𝜀-premultipliers obtained during the 𝜀 –scaling phase, and let 𝑖∉ 𝑁 ∗ . Let 𝜋′ be the vector 𝜀-premultipliers immediately prior to the most recent execution of modify-𝜀-premultipliers at which time 𝑖 was eligible. Then 0< 𝜋 𝑖 − 𝜋 𝑖 ′ ≤ 𝜀 4
(𝜋′ is immediately prior the last time the potential of 𝑖 was updated)
Proof:
since modify-𝜀-premultipliers increases 𝜋 𝑖 ′ by min Δ, 𝜀 4 thus: 𝜋 𝑖 − 𝜋 𝑖 ′ ≤ 𝜀 4

33. Theorem:
Suppose that 𝑥 is a basic feasible flow and that 𝜋 is a vector of 𝜀-premultipliers obtained during the 𝜀-phase.
For all 𝑖,𝑗 ∈𝐺(𝑥), if 𝑖∉ 𝑁 ∗ , then 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≥− 𝜀 2 .
In particular, if 𝑁 ∗ =∅, then 𝜋 is a vector of 𝜀 2 -premultipliers.
Proof:
Let 𝜋′ be the vector 𝜀-premultipliers immediately prior to the most recent execution of modify-𝜀-premultipliers at which time 𝑖 was eligible, at this time:
the arc (𝑖,𝑗) was not admissible thus it had 3 options:
it was a tree arc
it had 𝑐 𝑖𝑗 𝜋 ≥− 𝜀 4
it had no residual capacity

34. Theorem:
During the 𝜀-scaling phase, 𝜋 𝑖 is increased by at most 2𝑛𝜀
Proof:
First a lemma without proof:
Lemma: let 𝑥 and 𝑥′ be two distinct flows. Then for any pair of nodes 𝑖 and 𝑗, there is a path 𝑃 in 𝐺(𝑥) from node 𝑖 to 𝑗 such that the reversal of 𝑃 is a path from node 𝑗 to 𝑖 in 𝐺 𝑥 ′

35. Let 𝑥 denote the basic flow and 𝜋 the premultipliers at the beginning of 𝜀-scaling phase. Let 𝑥′ denote the basic flow and 𝜋′ the premultipliers at the some point of the 𝜀-scaling phase. Select node 𝑗∈ 𝑁 ∗ (thus: 𝜋 𝑗 = 𝜋 𝑗 ′ ). Let P be a path from 𝑗 to 𝑖 in 𝐺(𝑥) such that the reversal of 𝑃 is in 𝐺( 𝑥 ′ ) so: 𝑐 𝜋 𝑃 =𝑐 𝑃 − 𝜋 𝑗 + 𝜋 𝑖 ≥− 𝑛−1 𝜀 𝑐 𝜋 ′ 𝑃 𝑟 =𝑐 𝑃 𝑟 − 𝜋 𝑖 ′ + 𝜋 𝑗 ′ ≥− 𝑛−1 𝜀 adding the two: 𝜋 𝑖 ′ ≤ 𝜋 𝑖 +2 𝑛−1 𝜀

36. Theorem:
The algorithm performs at most 8𝑛𝑚 pivots per scaling phase.
Proof:
let 𝜋 be the premultipliers when (𝑖,𝑗) or (𝑗,𝑖) was pivoted in.
let 𝜋′ be the premultipliers at the next iteration when (𝑖,𝑗) or (𝑗,𝑖) was pivoted in.
we will prove that:
𝜋 𝑖 ′ − 𝜋 𝑖 + 𝜋 𝑗 ′ − 𝜋 𝑗 ≥ 𝜀 2

37. note that if 𝜋 𝑖 ′ − 𝜋 𝑖 + 𝜋 𝑗 ′ − 𝜋 𝑗 ≥ 𝜀 2 is true then in order for an arc to be re-pivoted it must increase 𝜋 𝑖 ′ − 𝜋 𝑖 + 𝜋 𝑗 ′ − 𝜋 𝑗 by at least 𝜀 2 since: 𝜋 𝑖 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 − 𝜋 𝑖 + 𝜋 𝑗 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 − 𝜋 𝑗 ≤2n𝜀+2𝑛𝜀=4𝑛𝜀 we conclude that there were at most 8𝑛𝑚 pivots proof on the board

38. Theorem:
The subroutine modify-𝜀-premultipliers is executed 𝑂(𝑛𝑚) timer per scaling phase
Proof:
If no pivots take place, after at most 4 times the subroutine is executed, some arc’s reduced cost becomes 0.
An arc can have it reduced cost zeroed again only if the arc is pivoted out and in again. This can happen only 𝑂(𝑛) times per arc. thus total of 𝑂(𝑛𝑚) times.

39. Thank you
Questions?