Abstract
Starting from an algorithm recently proposed by Pullan and Hoos, we formulate and analyze iterated local search algorithms for the maximum clique problem. The basic components of such algorithms are a fast neighbourhood search (not based on node evaluation but on completely random selection) and simple, yet very effective, diversification techniques and restart rules. A detailed computational study is performed in order to identify strengths and weaknesses of the proposed algorithms and the role of the different components on several classes of instances. The tested algorithms are very fast and reliable: most of the DIMACS benchmark instances are solved within very short CPU times. For one of the hardest tests, a new putative optimum was discovered by one of our algorithms. Very good performances were also shown on recently proposed and more difficult instances. It is important to remark that the heuristics tested in this paper are basically parameter free (the appropriate value for the unique parameter is easily identified and was, in fact, the same value for all problem instances used in this paper).
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Battiti, R., Protasi, M.: Reactive local search for the maximum clique problem. Algorithmica 29(4), 610–637 (2001)
Bellare, M., Goldreich, O., Sudan, M.: Free bits, PCPs, and nonapproximability—towards tight results. SIAM J. Comput. 27(3), 804–915 (1998)
Bomze, I.M., Budinich, M., Pardalos, P.M., Pelillo, M.: The maximum clique problem. In: Du, D.Z., Pardalos, P.M. (eds.) Handbook of Combinatorial Optimization, suppl. vol. A, pp. 1–74 (1999)
Bomze, I.M., Pelillo, M., Stix, V.: Approximating the maximum weight clique using replicator dynamic. IEEE Trans. Neural Netw. 11(6), 1228–1241 (2000)
Brockington, M., Culberson, J.C.: Camouflaging independent sets in quasi-random graphs, in Johnson and Trick (1996)
Burer, S., Monteiro, R.D.C., Zhang, Y.: Maximum stable set formulations and heuristics based on continuous optimization. Math. Prog. 94, 137–166 (2002)
Busygin, S.: A new trust region technique for the maximum clique problem. Discrete Appl. Math. 154, 2080–2096 (2006)
de Klerk, E., Pasechnik, D.V.: Approximation of the stability number of a graph via copositive programming. SIAM J. Optim. 12, 875–892 (2002)
Dukanovic, I., Rendl, F.: Semidefinite programming relaxations for graph coloring and maximal clique problems. Working paper, Univ. of Klagenfurt, available at http://www.optimization-online.org/DB_HTML/2005/03/1081.html (2005)
Fahle, T.: Simple and fast: improving a branch-and-bound algorithm for maximum clique. LNCS, vol. 2461, pp. 485–498 (2002)
Garey, M., Johnson, D.S.: Computers and Intractability: A Guide to the Theory of NP-completeness. Wiley, New York (1977)
Grosso, A., Locatelli, M., Della Croce, F.: Combining swaps and node weights in an adaptive greedy approach for the maximum clique problem. J. Heuristics 10, 135–152 (2004)
Grosso, A., Locatelli, M., Pullan, W.J.: Short communication, larger cliques for a DIMACS test. http://www.optimization-online.org/DB_HTML/2005/02/1054.html (2005)
Gvozdenovic̀, N., Laurent, M.: Semidefinite bounds for the stability number of a graph via sums of squares of polynomials. In: Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization: 11th International IPCO Conference. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vols. 3509/2005, pp. 136–151. (2005)
Hansen, P., Mladenović, N., Urošević, D.: Variable neighborhood search for the maximum clique. Discrete Appl. Math. 145, 117–125 (2004)
Jagota, A., Sanchis, L.A.: Adaptive, restart, randomized greedy heuristics for maximum clique. J. Heuristics 7, 565–585 (2001)
Johnson, D.S., Trick, M. (eds.): Cliques, Coloring and Satisfiability: Second DIMACS Implementation Challenge. DIMACS Series, vol. 26. American Mathematical Society, Providence (1996)
Katayama, K., Hamamoto, A., Narihisa, H.: An effective local search for the maximum clique problem. Inform. Process. Lett. 95, 503–511 (2005)
Östergard, P.R.J.: A fast algorithm for the maximum clique problem. Discrete Appl. Math. 120, 197–207 (2002)
Lasserre, J.B.: Global optimization with polynomials and the problem of moments. SIAM J. Optim. 11, 796–817 (2001)
Massaro, A., Pelillo, M., Bomze, I.M.: A complementary pivoting approach to the maximum weight clique problem. SIAM J. Optim 12(4), 928–948 (2002)
Pena, J., Vera, J., Zuluaga, L.: Computing the stability number of a graph via linear and semidefinite programming. Working Paper, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon Univ., available at http://www.optimization-online.org/DB_HTML/2005/04/1106.html (2005)
Pullan, W.J., Hoos, H.H.: Dynamic local search for the maximum clique problem. J. Artif. Intell. Res. 25, 159–185 (2006)
Regin, J.-C.: Solving the maximum clique problem with constraint programming. In: LNCS, vol. 2883, pp. 634–648 (2003)
Sanchis, L., Jagota, A.: Some experimental and theoretical results on test case generators for the maximum clique problem. INFORMS J. Comput. 8(2), 87–102 (1996)
SAT’04 Competition, http://www.lri.fr/~simon/contest04/results/ (2004)
Schrijver, A.: A comparison of the Delsarte and Lovasz bounds. IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 25, 425–429 (1979)
Shinano, Y., Fujie, T., Ikebe, Y., Hirabayashi, R.: Solving the maximum clique problem using PUBB. In: Proceedings 12th IPPS/ 9th SPDP, pp. 326–332 (1998)
Singh, A., Gupta, A.K.: A hybrid heuristics for the maximum clique problem. J. Heuristics 12, 5–22 (2006)
Solnon, C., Fenet, S.: A study of ACO capabilities for solving the maximum clique problem. J. Heuristics 12, 155–180 (2006)
Wood, D.R.: An algorithm for finding a maximum clique in a graph. Oper. Res. Lett. 21(5), 211–217 (1997)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grosso, A., Locatelli, M. & Pullan, W. Simple ingredients leading to very efficient heuristics for the maximum clique problem. J Heuristics 14, 587–612 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10732-007-9055-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10732-007-9055-x