Efficient algorithms on distributive lattices Original Research Article

We present several efficient algorithms on distributive lattices. They are based on a compact representation of the lattice, called the ideal tree. This allows us to exploit regularities in the structure of distributive lattices. The algorithms include a linear-time algorithm to reconstruct the covering graph of a distributive lattice from its ideal tree, a linear-time incremental algorithm for building the ideal lattice of a poset and a new incremental algorithm for listing the ideals of a poset in a combinatorial Gray code manner (in an H(1,2) code.)