Distance-two information in self-stabilizing algorithms

In the state-based self-stabilizing algorithmic paradigm for distributed computing, each node has only a local view of the system (seeing its neighbors’ states), yet in a finite amount of time the system converges to a global state satisfying some desired property. In this paper we introduce a general mechanism that allows a node to act only on correct distance-two knowledge, provided there are IDs. We then apply the mechanism to graph problems in the areas of coloring and domination. For example, we obtain an algorithm for maximal 2-packing which is guaranteed to stabilize in polynomial moves under a central daemon.