Efficient Search of Combinatorial Maps using Signatures

Abstract: In this paper, we address the problem of computing canonical representations of n-dimensional combinatorial maps and of using them for efficiently searching for a map in a database. We define two combinatorial map signatures: the first one has a quadratic space complexity and may be used to decide of isomorphism with a new map in linear time whereas the second one has a linear space complexity and may be used to decide of isomorphism in quadratic time. We show that these signatures can be used to efficiently search for a map in a database.

Keywords: Combinatorial map; signature; map isomorphism.