Beyond F5 and GVW: The Proper-Cover Algorithm for Fast Ideal Basis Computation

Abstract

Gröbner basis computation incurs heavy computational overhead, especially under lexicographic order. F5 and its GVW variant dominate efficient field-based Gröbner basis solving. The proper basis algorithm offers a parameterized ideal computation framework without leveraging modern signature-based optimizations. This work presents the Proper-Cover algorithm for zero-dimensional polynomial ideals by combining GVW's cover optimization over signature with the proper basis theory. We generalize signature, cover, POT ordering, reduction and S-pair concepts to parameterized coefficients, design a two-phase algorithm with compatible factor construction and hungry refinement, and rigorously prove termination and output correctness. Accordingly, we propose a new framework for the efficient computation of polynomial ideal bases. Benchmark results show that Proper-Cover surpasses F5 under all monomial orderings and delivers clear speedups over GVW for lexicographic (plex) order.