Released packing functions in graphs

Abstract

We introduce and start the study of a variant of packing functions in graphs. Given a graph $G$ with vertex set $V$ and nonnegative integer vectors $\mathbf{k}=(k_v)_{v\in V}$, $\boldsymbol\ell=(l_v)_{v\in V}$ and $\mathbf{u}=(u_v)_{v\in V}$, a function $f : V \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}_0^+$ is a Released $( \mathbf{k}, \boldsymbol\ell, \mathbf{u})$-packing function of $G$ if $l_v\leq f(v)\leq u_v$ for every $v\in V$ and the sum of the values of $f$ over the closed neighborhood of vertices $v$ with $f(v) = u_v$ is at most $k_v$. The weight of $f$ is the value $f(V) = \sum_{v\in V} f(v)$. We study the associated decision problem (RPP), which asks, given $G$, $\mathbf{k}$, $\boldsymbol\ell$, $\mathbf{u}$ and an integer number $x$, whether $G$ admits a Released $( \mathbf{k}, \boldsymbol\ell, \mathbf{u})$-packing function of weight at least $x$. We relate RPP to the $r$-dependent set problem, derive several NP-hardness results, model RPP as a compact (polynomial in size) Integer Linear Program, and take the first steps of a polyhedral study.