A Push-Pull Gradient Method for Distributed Optimization in Networks

Shi Pu, Wei Shi, Jinming Xu, Angelia Nedich

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper, we focus on solving a distributed convex optimization problem in a network, where each agent has its own convex cost function and the goal is to minimize the sum of the agents' cost functions while obeying the network connectivity structure. In order to minimize the sum of the cost functions, we consider a new distributed gradient-based method where each node maintains two estimates, namely, an estimate of the optimal decision variable and an estimate of the gradient for the average of the agents' objective functions. From the viewpoint of an agent, the information about the decision variable is pushed to the neighbors, while the information about the gradients is pulled from the neighbors (hence giving the name 'push-pull gradient method'). The method unifies the algorithms with different types of distributed architecture, including decentralized (peer-to-peer), centralized (master-slave), and semi-centralized (leader-follower) architecture. We show that the algorithm converges linearly for strongly convex and smooth objective functions over a directed static network. In our numerical test, the algorithm performs well even for time-varying directed networks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2018 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, CDC 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages3385-3390
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781538613955
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2 2018
Event57th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, CDC 2018 - Miami, United States
Duration: Dec 17 2018Dec 19 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control
Volume2018-December
ISSN (Print)0743-1546
ISSN (Electronic)2576-2370

Conference

Conference57th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, CDC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMiami
Period12/17/1812/19/18

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Control and Optimization

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