Some lower bounds in dynamic networks with oblivious adversaries

Abstract

This paper considers several closely-related problems in synchronous dynamic networks with oblivious adversaries, and proves novel Ω(d + poly(m)) lower bounds on their time complexity (in rounds). Here d is the dynamic diameter of the dynamic network and m is the total number of nodes. Before this work, the only known lower bounds on these problems under oblivious adversaries were the trivial Ω (d) lower bounds. Our novel lower bounds are hence the first nontrivial lower bounds and also the first lower bounds with a poly(m) term. Our proof relies on a novel reduction from a certain two-party communication complexity problem. Our central proof technique is unique in the sense that we consider the communication complexity with a special leaker. The leaker helps Alice and Bob in the two-party problem, by disclosing to Alice and Bob certain "non-critical" information about the problem instance that they are solving.