arXiv subjects

Sriram Bhyravarapu

Publications and source records attributed to Sriram Bhyravarapu.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Algorithms for the Maximum Edge Open Packing Problem

Packing problems form a central theme in graph theory, owing to their relevance in modeling conflict-free resource allocation, network design, and communication constraints. Motivated by applications in wireless networks where each device can participate in at most one communication at a time and simultaneous links must avoid interference we consider a generalization of induced matching known as \emph{edge open packing}. Two edges of a graph are said to conflict if a third edge connects one endpoint of each; an \emph{edge open packing set} is a set of edges containing no such conflicting pair. The largest cardinality of such a set is the \emph{edge open packing number} of a graph. In this work, we study the computational complexity of the Maximum Edge Open Packing Problem. We give a polynomial-time algorithm for the problem in \emph{distance-hereditary graphs}, exploiting their canonical decomposition via twin-set interactions. We further show that the problem remains polynomial-time solvable on \emph{biconvex bipartite graphs}, thereby identifying a tractable subclass within bipartite graphs, in contrast to the known NP-hardness of the problem on Eulerian bipartite graphs. Finally, we initiate the parameterized complexity study of the problem and present a fixed-parameter tractable algorithm for \emph{chordal graphs}, parameterized by the clique number $ω$, running in $O(2^ω\cdot\mathrm{poly}(n))$ time.

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arXiv2025

Extremal Results on Conflict-free Coloring

A conflict-free open neighborhood coloring of a graph is an assignment of colors to the vertices such that for every vertex there is a color that appears exactly once in its open neighborhood. For a graph $G$, the smallest number of colors required for such a coloring is called the conflict-free open neighborhood (CFON) chromatic number and is denoted by $χ_{ON}(G)$. By considering closed neighborhood instead of open neighborhood, we obtain the analogous notions of conflict-free closed neighborhood (CFCN) coloring, and CFCN chromatic number (denoted by $χ_{CN}(G)$). The notion of conflict-free coloring was introduced in 2002, and has since received considerable attention. In this paper, we study some extremal questions related to CFON and CFCN coloring.

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arXiv2025

On the Parameterized Complexity of Odd Coloring

A proper vertex coloring of a connected graph $G$ is called an odd coloring if, for every vertex $v$ in $G$, there exists a color that appears odd number of times in the open neighborhood of $v$. The minimum number of colors required to obtain an odd coloring of $G$ is called the \emph{odd chromatic number} of $G$, denoted by $χ_{o}(G)$. Determining $χ_o(G)$ known to be ${\sf NP}$-hard. Given a graph $G$ and an integer $k$, the \odc{} problem is to decide whether $χ_o(G)$ is at most $k$. In this paper, we study the parameterized complexity of the problem, particularly with respect to structural graph parameters. We obtain the following results: \begin{itemize} \item We prove that the problem admits a polynomial kernel when parameterized by the distance to clique. \item We show that the problem cannot have a polynomial kernel when parameterized by the vertex cover number unless ${\sf NP} \subseteq {\sf Co {\text -} NP/poly}$. \item We show that the problem is fixed-parameter tractable when parameterized by distance to cluster, distance to co-cluster, or neighborhood diversity. \item We show that the problem is ${\sf W[1]}$-hard parameterized by clique-width. \end{itemize} Finally, we study the complexity of the problem on restricted graph classes. We show that it can be solved in polynomial time on cographs and split graphs but remains NP-complete on certain subclasses of bipartite graphs.

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arXiv2024

Conflict-Free Coloring: Graphs of Bounded Clique Width and Intersection Graphs

A conflict-free coloring of a graph $G$ is a (partial) coloring of its vertices such that every vertex $u$ has a neighbor whose assigned color is unique in the neighborhood of $u$. There are two variants of this coloring, one defined using the open neighborhood and one using the closed neighborhood. For both variants, we study the problem of deciding whether the conflict-free coloring of a given graph $G$ is at most a given number $k$. In this work, we investigate the relation of clique-width and minimum number of colors needed (for both variants) and show that these parameters do not bound one another. Moreover, we consider specific graph classes, particularly graphs of bounded clique-width and types of intersection graphs, such as distance hereditary graphs, interval graphs and unit square and disk graphs. We also consider Kneser graphs and split graphs. We give (often tight) upper and lower bounds and determine the complexity of the decision problem on these graph classes, which improve some of the results from the literature. Particularly, we settle the number of colors needed for an interval graph to be conflict-free colored under the open neighborhood model, which was posed as an open problem.

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arXiv2023

On Locally Identifying Coloring of Cartesian Product and Tensor Product of Graphs

For a positive integer $k$, a proper $k$-coloring of a graph $G$ is a mapping $f: V(G) \rightarrow \{1,2, \ldots, k\}$ such that $f(u) \neq f(v)$ for each edge $uv$ of $G$. The smallest integer $k$ for which there is a proper $k$-coloring of $G$ is called the chromatic number of $G$, denoted by $χ(G)$. A locally identifying coloring (for short, lid-coloring) of a graph $G$ is a proper $k$-coloring of $G$ such that every pair of adjacent vertices with distinct closed neighborhoods has distinct set of colors in their closed neighborhoods. The smallest integer $k$ such that $G$ has a lid-coloring with $k$ colors is called locally identifying chromatic number (for short, lid-chromatic number) of $G$, denoted by $χ_{lid}(G)$. This paper studies the lid-coloring of the Cartesian product and tensor product of two graphs. We prove that if $G$ and $H$ are two connected graphs having at least two vertices then (a) $χ_{lid}(G \square H) \leq χ(G) χ(H)-1$ and (b) $χ_{lid}(G \times H) \leq χ(G) χ(H)$. Here $G \square H$ and $G \times H$ denote the Cartesian and tensor products of $G$ and $H$ respectively. We determine the lid-chromatic number of $C_m \square P_n$, $C_m \square C_n$, $P_m \times P_n$, $C_m \times P_n$ and $C_m \times C_n$, where $C_m$ and $P_n$ denote a cycle and a path on $m$ and $n$ vertices respectively.

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arXiv2023

Parameterized algorithms for Eccentricity Shortest Path Problem

Given an undirected graph $G=(V,E)$ and an integer $\ell$, the Eccentricity Shortest Path (ESP) asks to find a shortest path $P$ such that for every vertex $v\in V(G)$, there is a vertex $w\in P$ such that $d_G(v,w)\leq \ell$, where $d_G(v,w)$ represents the distance between $v$ and $w$ in $G$. Dragan and Leitert [Theor. Comput. Sci. 2017] showed that the optimization version of this problem, which asks to find the minimum $\ell$ for the ESP problem, is NP-hard even on planar bipartite graphs with maximum degree 3. They also showed that ESP is W[2]-hard when parameterized by $\ell$. On the positive side, Ku\v cera and Suchý [IWOCA 2021] showed that the problem exhibits fixed parameter tractable (FPT) behavior when parameterized by modular width, cluster vertex deletion set, maximum leaf number, or the combined parameters disjoint paths deletion set and $\ell$. It was asked as an open question in the above paper, if ESP is FPT parameterized by disjoint paths deletion set or feedback vertex set. We answer these questions partially and obtain the following results: - ESP is FPT when parameterized by disjoint paths deletion set, split vertex deletion set or the combined parameters feedback vertex set and eccentricity of the graph. - We design a $(1+ε)$-factor FPT approximation algorithm when parameterized by the feedback vertex set number. - ESP is W[2]-hard when parameterized by the chordal vertex deletion set.

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arXiv2022

On Structural Parameterizations of Star Coloring

A Star Coloring of a graph G is a proper vertex coloring such that every path on four vertices uses at least three distinct colors. The minimum number of colors required for such a star coloring of G is called star chromatic number, denoted by χ_s(G). Given a graph G and a positive integer k, the STAR COLORING PROBLEM asks whether $G$ has a star coloring using at most k colors. This problem is NP-complete even on restricted graph classes such as bipartite graphs. In this paper, we initiate a study of STAR COLORING from the parameterized complexity perspective. We show that STAR COLORING is fixed-parameter tractable when parameterized by (a) neighborhood diversity, (b) twin-cover, and (c) the combined parameters clique-width and the number of colors.

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arXiv2021

Conflict-free coloring on open neighborhoods of claw-free graphs

The `Conflict-Free Open (Closed) Neighborhood coloring', abbreviated CFON (CFCN) coloring, of a graph $G$ using $r$ colors is a coloring of the vertices of $G$ such that every vertex sees some color exactly once in its open (closed) neighborhood. The minimum $r$ such that $G$ has a CFON (CFCN) coloring using $r$ colors is called the `CFON chromatic number' (`CFCN chromatic number') of $G$. This is denoted by $χ_{CF}^{ON}(G)$ ($χ_{CF}^{CN}(G)$). D\k ebski and Przybyło in [J. Graph Theory, 2021] showed that if $G$ is a line graph with maximum degree $Δ$, then $χ_{CF}^{CN}(G) = O(\ln Δ)$. As an open question, they asked if the result could be extended to claw-free ($K_{1,3}$-free) graphs, which are a superclass of line graphs. For $k\geq 3$, we show that if $G$ is $K_{1,k}$-free, then $χ_{CF}^{ON}(G) = O(k^2\ln Δ)$. Since it is known that the CFCN chromatic number of a graph is at most twice its CFON chromatic number, this answers the question posed by Dębski and Przybyło.

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arXiv2020

A Tight Bound for Conflict-free Coloring in terms of Distance to Cluster

Given an undirected graph $G = (V,E)$, a conflict-free coloring with respect to open neighborhoods (CFON coloring) is a vertex coloring such that every vertex has a uniquely colored vertex in its open neighborhood. The minimum number of colors required for such a coloring is the CFON chromatic number of $G$, denoted by $χ_{ON}(G)$. In previous work [WG 2020], we showed the upper bound $χ_{ON}(G) \leq dc(G) + 3$, where $dc(G)$ denotes the distance to cluster parameter of $G$. In this paper, we obtain the improved upper bound of $χ_{ON}(G) \leq dc(G) + 1$. We also exhibit a family of graphs for which $χ_{ON}(G) > dc(G)$, thereby demonstrating that our upper bound is tight.

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arXiv2020

Conflict-Free Coloring of Star-Free Graphs on Open Neighborhoods

Given a graph, the conflict-free coloring problem on open neighborhoods (CFON) asks to color the vertices of the graph so that all the vertices have a uniquely colored vertex in its open neighborhood. The smallest number of colors required for such a coloring is called the conflict-free chromatic number and denoted $χ_{ON}(G)$. In this note, we study this problem on $S_k$-free graphs where $S_k$ is a star on $k+1$ vertices. When $G$ is $S_k$-free, we show that $χ_{ON}(G) = O(k\cdot \log^{2+ε}Δ)$, for any $ε> 0$, where $Δ$ denotes the maximum degree of $G$. Further, we show existence of claw-free ($S_3$-free) graphs that require $Ω(\log Δ)$ colors.

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arXiv2020

Combinatorial Bounds for Conflict-free Coloring on Open Neighborhoods

In an undirected graph $G$, a conflict-free coloring with respect to open neighborhoods (denoted by CFON coloring) is an assignment of colors to the vertices such that every vertex has a uniquely colored vertex in its open neighborhood. The minimum number of colors required for a CFON coloring of $G$ is the CFON chromatic number of $G$, denoted by $χ_{ON}(G)$. The decision problem that asks whether $χ_{ON}(G) \leq k$ is NP-complete. We obtain the following results: * Bodlaender, Kolay and Pieterse [WADS 2019] showed the upper bound $χ_{ON}(G)\leq {\sf fvs}(G)+3$, where ${\sf fvs}(G)$ denotes the size of a minimum feedback vertex set of $G$. We show the improved bound of $χ_{ON}(G)\leq {\sf fvs}(G)+2$, which is tight, thereby answering an open question in the above paper. * We study the relation between $χ_{ON}(G)$ and the pathwidth of the graph $G$, denoted ${\sf pw}(G)$. The above paper from WADS 2019 showed the upper bound $χ_{ON}(G) \leq 2{\sf tw}(G)+1$ where ${\sf tw}(G)$ stands for the treewidth of $G$. This implies an upper bound of $χ_{ON}(G) \leq 2{\sf pw}(G)+1$. We show an improved bound of $χ_{ON}(G) \leq \lfloor \frac{5}{3}({\sf pw}(G)+1) \rfloor$. * We prove new bounds for $χ_{ON}(G)$ with respect to the structural parameters neighborhood diversity and distance to cluster, improving existing results. * We also study the partial coloring variant of the CFON coloring problem, which allows vertices to be left uncolored. Let $χ^*_{ON}(G)$ denote the minimum number of colors required to color $G$ as per this variant. Abel et. al. [SIDMA 2018] showed that $χ^*_{ON}(G) \leq 8$ when $G$ is planar. They asked if fewer colors would suffice for planar graphs. We answer this question by showing that $χ^*_{ON}(G) \leq 5$ for all planar $G$. All our bounds are a result of constructive algorithmic procedures.

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arXiv2020

Conflict-free coloring on closed neighborhoods of bounded degree graphs

The closed neighborhood conflict-free chromatic number of a graph $G$, denoted by $χ_{CN}(G)$, is the minimum number of colors required to color the vertices of $G$ such that for every vertex, there is a color that appears exactly once in its closed neighborhood. Pach and Tardos [Combin. Probab. Comput. 2009] showed that $χ_{CN}(G) = O(\log^{2+\varepsilon} Δ)$, for any $\varepsilon > 0$, where $Δ$ is the maximum degree. In [Combin. Probab. Comput. 2014], Glebov, Szabó and Tardos showed existence of graphs $G$ with $χ_{CN}(G) = Ω(\log^2Δ)$. In this paper, we bridge the gap between the two bounds by showing that $χ_{CN}(G) = O(\log^2 Δ)$.

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arXiv2019

Conflict-Free Coloring on Open Neighborhoods

In an undirected graph, a conflict-free coloring (with respect to open neighborhoods) is an assignment of colors to the vertices of the graph $G$ such that every vertex in $G$ has a uniquely colored vertex in its open neighborhood. The conflict-free coloring problem asks to find the smallest number of colors required for a conflict-free coloring. The conflict-free coloring problem is NP-complete. From results in Abel et. al. [SODA 2017], it can be inferred that every planar graph has a conflict-free coloring with at most nine colors. As the best known lower bound for planar graphs is four colors, it was asked in the same paper if fewer colors would suffice. We make progress in answering this question, by showing that every planar graph can be colored using at most six colors. The same proof idea is used to show that every outerplanar graph can be colored using at most five colors. Using a different approach, we further show that every outerplanar graph can be colored using at most four colors. Finally, we study the problem on Kneser graphs. We show that $k+2$ colors are necessary and sufficient to color the Kneser graph $K(n,k)$ when $n\geq k(k+1)^2 + 1$.

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arXiv2018

On the Tractability of (k,i)-Coloring

In an undirected graph, a proper (k,i)-coloring is an assignment of a set of k colors to each vertex such that any two adjacent vertices have at most i common colors. The (k,i)-coloring problem is to compute the minimum number of colors required for a proper (k,i)-coloring. This is a generalization of the classic graph coloring problem. We show a parameterized algorithm for the (k,i)-coloring problem with the size of the feedback vertex set as a parameter. Our algorithm does not use tree-width machinery, thus answering a question of Majumdar, Neogi, Raman and Tale [CALDAM 2017]. We also give a faster and simpler exact algorithm for (k, k-1)-coloring. From the hardness perspective, we show that the (k,i)-coloring problem is NP-complete for any fixed values i, k, whenever i<k, thereby settling a conjecture of Mendez-Diaz and Zabala [1999] and again asked by Majumdar, Neogi, Raman and Tale. The NP-completeness result improves the partial NP-completeness shown in the preliminary version of this paper published in CALDAM 2018.

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