Exact and approximation algorithms for covering timeline in temporal graphs

Abstract

We consider a variant of vertex cover on temporal graphs that has been recently defined for summarization of timeline activities in temporal graphs. The problem has been proved to be NP-hard, even for several restrictions of the time domain and vertex degree. We present novel algorithmic contributions for the problem and we give an approximation algorithm of factor $$O(T \log {n})$$ O ( T log n ) , on a temporal graph of T timestamps and n vertices. We focus then on the NP-hard restriction of the problem, where at most one temporal edge is defined in each timestamp. For this restriction we present a $$4(T-1)$$ 4 ( T - 1 ) approximation algorithm and a parameterized algorithm (a reduction to kernel) for parameter the cost, called span, of the solution.