Parameterized Enumeration with Ordering

The classes Delay-FPT and Total-FPT recently have been introduced into parameterized complexity in order to capture the notion of efficiently solvable parameterized enumeration problems. In this paper we focus on ordered enumeration and will show how to obtain Delay-FPT and Total-FPT enumeration algorithms for several important problems. We propose a generic algorithmic strategy, combining well-known principles stemming from both parameterized algorithmics and enumeration, which shows that, under certain preconditions, the existence of a so-called neighbourhood function among the solutions implies the existence of a Delay-FPT algorithm which outputs all ordered solutions. In many cases, the cornerstone to obtain such a neighbourhood function is a Total-FPT algorithm that outputs all minimal solutions. This strategy is formalized in the context of graph modification problems, and shown to be applicable to numerous other kinds of problems.