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Abstract:
We continue the study of the online unit clustering problem,
introduced by Chan and Zarrabi-Zadeh (\emph{Workshop on Approximation and
Online Algorithms 2006}, LNCS 4368, p.121--131. Springer, 2006).
We design a deterministic algorithm with a competitive ratio of $7/4$ for the
one-dimensional case. This is the first deterministic algorithm
that beats the bound of 2. It also has a better competitive ratio
than the previous randomized algorithms. Moreover, we provide the
first non-trivial deterministic lower bound, improve the
randomized lower bound, and prove the first lower bounds for
higher dimensions.