Random Sampling

A collection of algorithms in Java 8 for the problem of random sampling with a reservoir.

Reservoir sampling is a family of randomized algorithms for randomly choosing a sample of k items from a list S containing n items, where n is either a very large or unknown number. Typically n is large enough that the list doesn't fit into main memory. [1] In this context, the sample of k items will be referred to as sample and the list S as stream.

This package distinguishes these algorithms into two main categories: the ones that assign a weight in each item of the source stream and the ones that don't. These will be referred to as weighted and unweighted random sampling algorithms respectively. In unweighted algorithms, each item in the stream has probability k/n in appearing in the sample. In weighted algorithms this probability depends on the extra parameter weight. Each algorithm may interpret this parameter in a different way, for example in [2] two possible interpretations are mentioned.

Using

You can add a dependency from your project as follows:

Using Maven

<dependency>
    <groupId>gr.james</groupId>
    <artifactId>random-sampling</artifactId>
    <version>0.28</version>
</dependency>

Using Gradle

implementation 'gr.james:random-sampling:0.28' // Runtime
api            'gr.james:random-sampling:0.28' // Public API

Examples

Select 10 numbers at random in the range [1,100]. Each number has a 10% probability of appearing in the sample.

RandomSampling<Integer> rs = new WatermanSampling<>(10, new Random());
rs.feed(IntStream.rangeClosed(1, 100).boxed().iterator());
Collection<Integer> sample = rs.sample();
System.out.println(sample);

Select 5 random tokens from an input stream.

RandomSampling<String> rs = new VitterXSampling<>(5, new Random());
rs.feed(new Scanner(System.in));
System.out.println(rs.sample());

Same example using Algorithm Z.

RandomSampling<String> rs = new VitterZSampling<>(5, new Random());
rs.feed(new Scanner(System.in));
System.out.println(rs.sample());

Select 2 terms from a vocabulary, based on their weight.

WeightedRandomSampling<String> rs = new EfraimidisSampling<>(2, new Random());
rs.feed("collection", 1);
rs.feed("algorithms", 2);
rs.feed("java", 2);
rs.feed("random", 3);
rs.feed("sampling", 4);
rs.feed("reservoir", 5);
System.out.println(rs.sample());

Unweighted random sampling using the Java 8 stream API.

RandomSamplingCollector<Integer> collector = WatermanSampling.collector(5, new Random());
Collection<Integer> sample = IntStream.range(0, 20).boxed().collect(collector);
System.out.println(sample);

Weighted random sampling using the Java 8 stream API.

WeightedRandomSamplingCollector<String> collector = ChaoSampling.weightedCollector(2, new Random());
Map<String, Double> map = new HashMap<>();
map.put("collection", 1.0);
map.put("algorithms", 2.0);
map.put("java", 2.0);
map.put("random", 3.0);
map.put("sampling", 4.0);
map.put("reservoir", 5.0);
Collection<String> sample = map.entrySet().stream().collect(collector);
System.out.println(sample);

Algorithms

1 Algorithm R by Waterman

Signature: WatermanSampling implements RandomSampling

References

• The Art of Computer Programming, Vol II, Random Sampling and Shuffling.

2 Algorithm X by Vitter

Signature: VitterXSampling implements RandomSampling

References

• Vitter, Jeffrey S. "Random sampling with a reservoir." ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software (TOMS) 11.1 (1985): 37-57.

3 Algorithm Z by Vitter

Signature: VitterZSampling implements RandomSampling

References

• Vitter, Jeffrey S. "Random sampling with a reservoir." ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software (TOMS) 11.1 (1985): 37-57.

4 Algorithm L by Li

Signature: LiLSampling implements RandomSampling

References

• Li, Kim-Hung. "Reservoir-sampling algorithms of time complexity O (n (1+ log (N/n)))." ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software (TOMS) 20.4 (1994): 481-493.

5 Algorithm A-Res by Efraimidis

Signature: EfraimidisSampling implements WeightedRandomSampling

References

• Efraimidis, Pavlos S., and Paul G. Spirakis. "Weighted random sampling with a reservoir." Information Processing Letters 97.5 (2006): 181-185.

6 Algorithm by Chao

Signature: ChaoSampling implements WeightedRandomSampling

References

• Chao, M. T. "A general purpose unequal probability sampling plan." Biometrika 69.3 (1982): 653-656.
• Sugden, R. A. "Chao's list sequential scheme for unequal probability sampling." Journal of Applied Statistics 23.4 (1996): 413-421.

7 Algorithm by Ohlsson

Signature: SequentialPoissonSampling implements WeightedRandomSampling

References

• Ohlsson, Esbjörn. "Sequential poisson sampling." Journal of official Statistics 14.2 (1998): 149.

7 Algorithm by Rosén

Signature: ParetoSampling implements WeightedRandomSampling

References

• Rosén, Bengt. "Asymptotic theory for order sampling." Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference 62.2 (1997): 135-158.
• Rosén, Bengt. "On sampling with probability proportional to size." Journal of statistical planning and inference 62.2 (1997): 159-191.

References

[1] Wikipedia contributors. "Reservoir sampling." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 Oct. 2017. Web. 21 Nov. 2017.

[2] Efraimidis, Pavlos S. "Weighted random sampling over data streams." Algorithms, Probability, Networks, and Games. Springer International Publishing, 2015. 183-195.