optimizationcover

Optimizationcover is a term used in combinatorial optimization to describe a problem family in which a collection of sets is chosen to cover a universe while an objective related to the selected sets is optimized. The notion blends elements of the classic set cover problem with an optimization criterion beyond basic coverage, allowing decisions to trade off coverage against cost, quality, or other resources.

Formally, let U be a finite universe of elements and S = {S1, ..., Sn} a family of subsets of U. Each set Si may have an associated cost c_i and quality or weight q_i. An optimization cover is a subcollection C ⊆ {1, ..., n} such that the union of the chosen sets covers U (∪_{i in C} S_i = U) and an objective function F(C) is optimized. Common goals include minimizing total cost ∑_{i in C} c_i, maximizing a coverage value, or meeting a budget constraint while ensuring full coverage. Variants distinguish exact optimization covers from heuristic or approximate ones, and may impose penalties for redundancy or require a fixed number of sets.

Computation for optimization covers is typically NP-hard, mirroring the difficulty of set cover with added criteria. Practical approaches include greedy algorithms with submodularity guarantees, local search, and integer programming formulations. When the coverage quality function is submodular, greedy methods can achieve provable approximation bounds under constraints.

Applications span sensor placement, network monitoring, feature selection in machine learning, software testing (test case selection), data summarization, and resource allocation. Related concepts include the set cover problem, hitting set, and submodular optimization.