MATLAB: Sparse matrix index shifting (a bug?)

bsxfunbuglogical sparsematlab_bugsparse

If we run the following code:
la = sparse(ceil(5*rand(1,100)), 1:100, true, 5, 100);
lb = sparse(ones(1,20), 1:20, true, 1, 100);
lb = lb(randperm(100)); % if remove this line, everything is fine
ra = double(bsxfun(@and, la, lb));
disp(sum(sum(ra)));
rb = double(bsxfun(@and, la, full(lb)));
disp(sum(sum(rb)));
the output would be:
   (1,1)       98
   (1,1)       20
The outputs should be the same since the function full does not change the content of lb, but matlab gives different results in both version 2010a and 2011b (I have only tested in these two versions). It seems that the inconsistency comes from the index shifting operation in line 3. If line 3 is removed, everything becomes fine. Is there any explanation about this? or did I miss something?
Thank you very much.

Best Answer

I assume it is a problem of BSXFUN with sparse logical arrays:
la = sparse(ceil(2 * rand(1, 10)), 1:10, true, 2, 10);
lb = sparse(ones(1, 5), 1:2:10, true, 1, 10);
r = double(la & lb(ones(1, 2), :));
disp(full(r));   % *Ok*


fprintf('\n');
r = double(bsxfun(@and, la, full(lb)));
disp(full(r));   % *Ok*
fprintf('\n');
r = double(bsxfun(@and, la, double(lb)));
disp(full(r));   % *Ok*
fprintf('\n');
r = double(bsxfun(@and, la, lb));
disp(full(r));   % *Fault*
I did not found this in the list of known bugs, but searching is not easy. Please contact the technical support.
Related Question