Approximation algorithms for maximum weight k-coverings of graphs by packings

Abstract

Let [Formula: see text] be a family of graphs and let [Formula: see text] be a set of connected graphs, each with at most [Formula: see text] vertices, [Formula: see text] fixed. A [Formula: see text]-packing of a graph GA is a vertex induced subgraph of GA with every connected component isomorphic to a member of [Formula: see text]. A maximum weight [Formula: see text]-covering of a graph GA by [Formula: see text]-packings, is a maximum weight subgraph of GA exactly covered by [Formula: see text] vertex disjoint [Formula: see text]-packings. For a graph [Formula: see text] let [Formula: see text](GA) be a graph, every vertex [Formula: see text] of which corresponds to a vertex subgraph [Formula: see text] of GA isomorphic to a member of [Formula: see text], two vertices [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text](GA) being adjacent if and only if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have common vertices or interconnecting edges. The closed neighborhoods containment graph [Formula: see text] of a graph [Formula: see text], is the graph with vertex set [Formula: see text] and edges directed from vertices [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] if and only if they are adjacent in GA and the closed neighborhood of [Formula: see text] is contained in the closed neighborhood of [Formula: see text]. A graph [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text] reduced graph if it can be obtained from a graph [Formula: see text] by deleting the edges of a transitive subgraph [Formula: see text] of CNCG(GA). We describe 1.582-approximation algorithms for maximum weight [Formula: see text]-coverings by [Formula: see text]-packings of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] reduced graphs when [Formula: see text] is vertex hereditary, has an algorithm for maximum weight independent set and [Formula: see text]. These algorithms can be applied to families of interval filament, subtree filament, weakly chordal, AT-free and circle graphs, to find 1.582 approximate maximum weight [Formula: see text]-coverings by vertex disjoint induced matchings, dissociation sets, forests whose subtrees have at most [Formula: see text] vertices, etc.