John Iacono

Bio: John Iacono is an academic researcher from Université libre de Bruxelles. The author has contributed to research in topics: Data structure & Amortized analysis. The author has an hindex of 24, co-authored 170 publications receiving 2130 citations. Previous affiliations of John Iacono include New York University & Aarhus University.

Cache-Oblivious Persistence

Abstract: Partial persistence is a general transformation that takes a data structure and allows queries to be executed on any past state of the structure. The cache-oblivious model is the leading model of a modern multi-level memory hierarchy.We present the first general transformation for making cache-oblivious model data structures partially persistent.

An O(n log n)-Time Algorithm for the Restricted Scaffold Assignment

Abstract: The assignment problem takes as input two finite point sets S and T and establishes a correspondence between points in S and points in T, such that each point in S maps to exactly one point in T, and each point in T maps to at least one point in S. In this paper we show that this problem has an O(n log n)-time solution, provided that the points in S and T are restricted to lie on a line (linear time, if S and T are presorted).

Wrapping the mozartkugel

Abstract: We study wrappings of the unit sphere by a piece of paper (or, perhaps more accurately, a piece of foil). Such wrappings differ from standard origami because they require infinitely many infinitesimally small “folds” in order to transform the flat sheet into a positive-curvature sphere. Our goal is to find shapes that have small area even when expanded to shapes that tile the plane. We characterize the smallest square that wraps the unit sphere, show that a 0.1% smaller equilateral triangle suffices, and find a 20% smaller shape that still tiles the plane.

Cache-Oblivious Priority Queues with Decrease-Key and Applications to Graph Algorithms.

Abstract: We present priority queues in the cache-oblivious external memory model with block size $B$ and main memory size $M$ that support on $N$ elements, operation \textsc{UPDATE} (combination of \textsc{INSERT} and \textsc{DECREASEKEY}) in $O \left(\frac{1}{B}\log_{\frac{\lambda}{B}} \frac{N}{B}\right)$ amortized I/Os and operations \textsc{EXTRACT-MIN} and \textsc{DELETE} in $O \left(\lceil \frac{\lambda^{\varepsilon}}{B} \log_{\frac{\lambda}{B}} \frac{N}{B} \rceil \log_{\frac{\lambda}{B}} \frac{N}{B}\right)$ amortized I/Os, using $O \left(\frac{N}{B}\log_{\frac{\lambda}{B}} \frac{N}{B}\right)$ blocks, for a user-defined parameter $\lambda \in [2, N ]$ and any real $\varepsilon \in (0,1)$. Our result improves upon previous I/O-efficient cache-oblivious and cache-aware priority queues [Chowdhury and Ramachandran, TALG 2018], [Brodal et al., SWAT 2004], [Kumar and Schwabe, SPDP 1996], [Arge et al., SICOMP 2007], [Fadel et al., TCS 1999]. We also present buffered repository trees that support on a multi-set of $N$ elements, operation \textsc{INSERT} in $O \left(\frac{1}{B}\log_{\frac{\lambda}{B}} \frac{N}{B}\right)$ I/Os and operation \textsc{EXTRACT} on $K$ extracted elements in $O \left(\frac{\lambda^{\varepsilon}}{B} \log_{\frac{\lambda}{B}} \frac{N}{B} + \frac{K}{B}\right)$ amortized I/Os, using $O \left(\frac{N}{B}\right)$ blocks, improving previous cache-aware and cache-oblivious results [Arge et al., SICOMP '07], [Buchsbaum et al., SODA '00]. In the cache-oblivious model, for $\lambda = O \left(E/V\right)$, we achieve $O \left(\frac{E}{B}\log_{\frac{E}{V B}} \frac{E}{B}\right)$ I/Os for single-source shortest paths, depth-first search and breadth-first search algorithms on massive directed dense graphs $(V,E)$. Our algorithms are I/O-optimal for $E/V = \Omega (M)$ (and in the cache-aware setting for $\lambda = O(M)$).

Output-sensitive algorithms for computing nearest-neighbour decision boundaries

Abstract: Given a set R of red points and a set B of blue points, the nearest-neighbour decision rule classifies a new point q as red (respectively, blue) if the closest point to q in R ⋃ B comes from R (respectively, B). This rule implicitly partitions space into a red set and a blue set that are separated by a red-blue decision boundary. In this paper we develop output-sensitive algorithms for computing this decision boundary for point sets on the line and in ℝ2. Both algorithms run in time O(n log k), where k is the number of points that contribute to the decision boundary. This running time is the best possible when parameterizing with respect to n and k.

Triangulating a simple polygon in linear time

Abstract: We give a deterministic algorithm for triangulating a simple polygon in linear time. The basic strategy is to build a coarse approximation of a triangulation in a bottom-up phase and then use the information computed along the way to refine the triangulation in a top-down phase. The main tools used are the polygon-cutting theorem, which provides us with a balancing scheme, and the planar separator theorem, whose role is essential in the discovery of new diagonals. Only elementary data structures are required by the algorithm. In particular, no dynamic search trees, of our algorithm.

Programming curvature using origami tessellations

Abstract: Origami describes rules for creating folded structures from patterns on a flat sheet, but does not prescribe how patterns can be designed to fit target shapes. Here, starting from the simplest periodic origami pattern that yields one-degree-of-freedom collapsible structures-we show that scale-independent elementary geometric constructions and constrained optimization algorithms can be used to determine spatially modulated patterns that yield approximations to given surfaces of constant or varying curvature. Paper models confirm the feasibility of our calculations. We also assess the difficulty of realizing these geometric structures by quantifying the energetic barrier that separates the metastable flat and folded states. Moreover, we characterize the trade-off between the accuracy to which the pattern conforms to the target surface, and the effort associated with creating finer folds. Our approach enables the tailoring of origami patterns to drape complex surfaces independent of absolute scale, as well as the quantification of the energetic and material cost of doing so.