Optimal-Length Labeling Schemes and Fast Algorithms for k-gathering and k-broadcasting

Abstract

We consider basic communication tasks in arbitrary radio networks: $k$-broadcasting and $k$-gathering. In the case of $k$-broadcasting messages from $k$ sources have to get to all nodes in the network. The goal of $k$-gathering is to collect messages from $k$ source nodes in a designated sink node. We consider these problems in the framework of distributed algorithms with advice. Krisko and Miller showed in 2021 that the optimal size of advice for $k$-broadcasting is $\hat{I}˜(\min (\log \hat{I}”,$ $\log k))$, where $\hat{I}”$ is equal to the maximum degree of a vertex of the input communication graph. We show that the same bound $\hat{I}˜(\min (\log \hat{I}”,\log k))$ on the size of optimal labeling scheme holds also for the $k$-gathering problems. Moreover, we design fast algorithms for both problems with asymptotically optimal size of advice. For $k$-gathering our algorithm works in at most $D+k$ rounds, where $D$ is the diameter of the communication graph. This time bound is optimal even for centralized algorithms. We apply the $k$-gathering algorithm for $k$-broadcasting to achieve an algorithm working in time $O(D+{\log }^{2}n+k)$ rounds. We also exhibit a logarithmic time complexity gap between distributed algorithms with advice of optimal size and distributed algorithms with distinct arbitrary labels.

Accepted for SOFSEM 2026