Improved Algorithms for k-Domination and Total k-Domination in Proper Interval Graphs

Given a positive integer k, a k-dominating set in a graph G is a set of vertices such that every vertex not in the set has at least k neighbors in the set. A total k-dominating set, also known as a k-tuple total dominating set, is a set of vertices such that every vertex of the graph has at least k neighbors in the set. The problems of finding the minimum size of a k-dominating, resp. total k-dominating set, in a given graph, are referred to as k-domination, resp. total k-domination. These generalizations of the classical domination and total domination problems are known to be NP-hard in the class of chordal graphs, and, more specifically, even in the classes of split graphs (both problems) and undirected path graphs (in the case of total k-domination). On the other hand, it follows from recent work by Kang et al. (2017) that these two families of problems are solvable in time \(\mathcal {O}(|V(G)|^{6k+4})\) in the class of interval graphs. In this work, we develop faster algorithms for k-domination and total k-domination in the class of proper interval graphs. The algorithms run in time \(\mathcal {O}(|V(G)|^{3k})\) for each fixed \(k\ge 1\) and are also applicable to the weighted case.