Developments in network location with mobile and congested facilities

We review four facility location problems which are motivated by urban service applications and which can be thought of as extensions of the classic Q-median problem on networks. In problems P1 and P2 it is assumed that travel times on network links change over time in a probabilistic way. In P2 it is further assumed that the facilities (servers) are movable so that they can be relocated in response to new network travel times. Problems P3 and P4 examine the Q-median problem for the case when the service capacity of the facilities is finite and, consequently, some or all of the facilities can be unavailable part of the time. In P3 the facilities have stationary home locations but in P4 they have movable locations and thus can be relocated to compensate for the unavailability of the busy facilities. We summarize our main results to date on these problems.     

On pinning control of some typical discrete-time dynamical networks

Recently, the pinning control of complex dynamical networks to their homogeneous states has been studied by many researchers, most of the dynamical networks are continuous-time ones, i.e., their dynamical behavior can be described by ODEs. An interesting result is that, for a continuous-time network, its desired (homogeneous) state can be achieved by pinning some nodes with relatively large degrees (also called the specifically pinning scheme [Wang XF, Chen GR. Pinning control of scale-free dynamical networks. Physica A 2002;310:521–31]). Is this specifically pinning scheme also effective for the discrete-time dynamical networks? In this paper, we demonstrate that the pinning control for a discrete-time dynamical network is difficult, and sometimes it is impossible to achieve the desired state just by controlling the nodes with larger degrees. In order to control the discrete-time dynamical networks successfully, we may need to control all the nodes. Finally, we also consider how to extend the interval for the feedback gain d for successful control.     

Generalized loopy 2U: A new algorithm for approximate inference in credal networks

Credal networks generalize Bayesian networks by relaxing the requirement of precision of probabilities. Credal networks are considerably more expressive than Bayesian networks, but this makes belief updating NP-hard even on polytrees. We develop a new efficient algorithm for approximate belief updating in credal networks. The algorithm is based on an important representation result we prove for general credal networks: that any credal network can be equivalently reformulated as a credal network with binary variables; moreover, the transformation, which is considerably more complex than in the Bayesian case, can be implemented in polynomial time. The equivalent binary credal network is then updated by L2U, a loopy approximate algorithm for binary credal networks. Overall, we generalize L2U to non-binary credal networks, obtaining a scalable algorithm for the general case, which is approximate only because of its loopy nature. The accuracy of the inferences with respect to other state-of-the-art algorithms is evaluated by extensive numerical tests.     

A method for maximizing the reliability coefficient of a communications network

The most common idea of network reliability in the literature is a numerical parameter calledoverall network reliability, which is the probability that the network will be in a successful state in which all nodes can mutually communicate. Most papers concentrate on the problem of calculating the overall network reliability which is known to be an NP hard problem. In the present paper, the question asked is how to find a method for determining a reliable subnetwork of a given network. Givenn terminals and one central computer, the problem is to construct a network that links each terminal to the central computer, subject to the following conditions: (1) each link must be economically feasible; (2) the minimum number of links should be used; and (3) the reliability coefficient should be maximized. We argue that the network satisfying condition (2) is a spanning arborescence of the network defined by condition (1). We define the idea of thereliability coefficient of a spanning arborescence of a network, which is the probability that a node at average distance from the root of the arborescence can communicate with the root. We show how this coefficient can be calculated exactly when there are no degree constraints on nodes of the spanning arborescence, or approximately when such degree constraints are present. Computational experience for networks consisting of up to 900 terminals is given.This report was prepared as part of the activities of the Management Science Research Group, Carnegie-Mellon University, under Contract No. N00014-82-K-0329 NR 047–048 with the U.S. Office of Naval Research. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the U.S. Government.     

用最少的虚工序构建等效多阶段工序网络

运用网络计划可以直观地表示项目管理中的诸多疑难问题, 便于分析和求解. 但是它也存在明显的缺点, 如, (1) 工序网络的有向无回路性表明很多时候适合运用动态规划法, 但它在通常情况下的无阶段性使得该方法无法直接应用; (2) 任意构建的工序网络容易表现得错综复杂, 不利于研究; (3) 用最少的虚工序表示双代号网络是NP-难问题, 因此对一个工序系统可能构建出多个差别迥异的工序网络, 有碍于进度计划管理研究, 等等. 如果能将工序网络构建成等效的多阶段网络, 各工序分别表示在相应的阶段中, 无疑有助于上述问题的解决. 构建等效多阶段工序网络需要添加虚工序. 通过添加最少的虚工序将工序网络构建成等效多阶段网络, 从而有助于建立更合理的工序网络表示法.     

A Concavity Result for Network Design Problems

The Network Design Problem has been studied extensively and in many of these models the cost is assumed to be a concave function of the loads on the links. In this paper we investigate under which conditions this is indeed the case for the communication networks. The result is presented as a theorem, the Concavity Theorem, and a list of conditions that can easily be verified. It is also shown how the theorem can be extended to other applications, like in the area of road transportation.     

Spectral coarse graining of complex clustered networks

Synchronization in complex dynamical networks is in the focus of network science today, where intensive efforts have been devoted to understanding its mechanisms and developing basic theories with applications. However, the sheer sizes of large-scale networks have been the main hurdle in such analysis and applications. Recently, a coarse graining scheme based on network synchronization was proposed to reduce the network size while preserving the synchronizability of the original network. In this research, we investigate the effects of the coarse graining process on synchronizability over complex clustered networks. Numerous experiments demonstrate a close correlation between the degree of clustering of the initial network and the ability of spectral coarse graining in preserving the network synchronizability. It is found that synchronizability can be well preserved after applying the spectral coarse graining if the considered network has a clear cluster structure, whereas this is not so for networks with vague clustering. Since most real-world networks have prominent cluster structures, this research provides new insights into understanding large-scale dynamical networks and analyzing their complex topological characteristics as well as synchronization mechanisms.     

Structural cohesion and embeddedness in two-mode networks

The detection of structural cohesion is a key utility of social network analysis, but little work has been done to refine the detection of structural cohesion in two-mode networks. Most work on cohesion in two-mode networks either: (1) attempts to detect cohesion in such networks using one-mode projections (which can be problematic for reasons we discuss); or (2) focuses on restrictive substructures like bi-cliques to identify cohesive subgroups. We propose a new strategy for two-mode networks that follows the general reasoning of approaches to detecting structural cohesion in one-mode networks. Our approach identifies the number of actors from one node set that may be removed before disconnecting actors in the opposite set. We also develop a definition of embeddedness that draws on Moody and White’s hierarchical nesting approach.     

The construction of infinite families of any κ-tight optimal and singular κ-tight optimal directed double loop networks

The double loop network (DLN) is a circulant digraph with n nodes and outdegree 2. It is an important topological structure of computer interconnection networks and has been widely used in the designing of local area networks and distributed systems. Given the number n of nodes, how to construct a DLN which has minimum diameter? This problem has attracted great attention. A related and longtime unsolved problem is: for any given non-negative integer k, is there an infinite family of k-tight optimal DLN? In this paper, two main results are obtained: (1) for any k ≥ 0, the infinite families of k-tight optimal DLN can be constructed, where the number n(k,e,c) of their nodes is a polynomial of degree 2 in e with integral coefficients containing a parameter c. (2) for any k ≥ 0,an infinite family of singular k-tight optimal DLN can be constructed.     

几种特殊结构全光网中多播路由的波长分配算法

研究全光WDM网络中多播请求的路由与波长分配问题.给定网络拓扑和一组多播通信请求,要求对其进行路由和波长分配,满足波长连续性和波长无冲突约束,使得所用的波长总数最少.就几类特殊网络进行了研究.首先对二分树网络进行了研究,此时问题是多项式时间可求解的.其次对树网络进行了讨论,证明了即使是星网络,问题也不存在近似比小于m1/2-ρ(0＜ρ＜1))的近似算法,除非NP=ZPP,这里m是星图的边数.随后给出了近似比为(√m 1)(log r/√m 1 1)的近似算法,此结果对一般图也成立.最后考虑了环网和树环网,给出了近似比为3.6和2△的近似算法,这里△是图的最大度.     

Optimal multicast route packing

This paper considers the hop-constrained multicast route packing problem with a bandwidth reservation to build QoS-guaranteed multicast routing trees with a minimum installation cost. Given a set of multicast sessions, each of which has a hop limit constraint and a bandwidth requirement, the problem is to determine the set of multicast routing trees in an arc-capacitated network with the objective of minimizing the cost. For the problem, we propose a branch-and-cut-and-price algorithm, which can be viewed as a branch-and-bound method incorporating both the strong cutting plane algorithm and the column generation method. We implemented and tested the proposed algorithm on randomly generated problem instances with sizes up to 30 nodes, 570 arcs, and 10 multicast sessions. The test results show that the algorithm can obtain the optimal solution to practically sized problem instances within a reasonable time limit in most cases.     

SRPT applied to bandwidth-sharing networks

We consider bandwidth-sharing networks, and show how the SRPT (Shortest Remaining Processing Time) discipline can be used in order to improve the delay performance of the system. Our main idea is not to use SRPT globally between the traffic classes, which has been shown to induce instability, but rather deploy SRPT only locally within each traffic class. We show that with this approach, the performance of any stable bandwidth allocation policy can be improved. Importantly, our result is valid for any network topology and any flow size distribution. A numerical study is included to illustrate the results.     

A decomposition approximation method for multiclass BCMP queueing networks with multiple-server stations

Closed multiclass separable queueing networks can in principle be analyzed using exact computational algorithms. This, however, may not be feasible in the case of large networks. As a result, much work has been devoted to developing approximation techniques, most of which is based on heuristic extensions of the mean value analysis (MVA) algorithm. In this paper, we propose an alternative approximation method to analyze large separable networks. This method is based on an approximation method for non-separable networks recently proposed by Baynat and Dallery. We show how this method can be efficiently used to analyze large separable networks. It is especially of interest when dealing with networks having multiple-server stations. Numerical results show that this method has good accuracy.     

Fast, Efficient Equipment Placement Heuristics for Broadband Switched or Internet Router Networks

Planning and designing the next generation of IP router or switched broadband networks seems a daunting challenge considering the many complex, interacting factors affecting the performance and cost of such networks. Generally, this complexity implies that it may not even be clear what constitutes a “good” network design for a particular specification. Different network owners or operators may view the same solution differently, depending on their unique needs and perspectives. Nevertheless, we have observed a core common issue arising in the early stages of network design efforts involving leading-edge broadband switched technologies such as ATM, Frame Relay, and SMDS; or even Internet IP router networks. This core issue can be stated as follows: Given a set of service demands for the various network nodes, where should switching or routing equipment be placed to minimize the Installed First Cost of the network? Note that the specified service demands are usually projections for a future scenario and generally entail significant uncertainty. Despite this uncertainty, we have found that network owners and operators generally feel it is worthwhile to obtain high-level advice on equipment placement with a goal of minimizing Installed First Cost. This paper reports on a heuristic approach we have implemented for this problem that has evolved out of real network design projects. A tool with both a Solution Engine and an intuitive Graphical User Interface has been developed. The approach is highly efficient; for example, the tool can often handle LATA-sized networks in seconds or less on a workstation processor. By using only nodal demands rather than the more complex point-to-point demands usually required in tools of this sort, we have created an approach that is not only highly efficient, but is also a better match to real design projects in which demand data is generally scant and highly uncertain.     

The Role of Metanetworks in Network Evolution

The question of what structures of relations between actors emerge in the evolution of social networks is of fundamental sociological interest. The present research proposes that processes of network evolution can be usefully conceptualized in terms of a network of networks, or “metanetwork,” wherein networks that are one link manipulation away from one another are connected. Moreover, the geography of metanetworks has real effects on the course of network evolution. Specifically, both equilibrium and non-equilibrium networks located in more desirable regions of the metanetwork are found to be more probable. These effects of metanetwork geography are illustrated by two dynamic network models: one in which actors pursue access to unique information through “structural holes,” and the other in which actors pursue access to valid information by minimizing path length. Finally, I discuss future directions for modeling network dynamics in terms of metanetworks.     

Dynamical networks: Continuous time and general discrete time models

Dynamical networks are characterized by 1) their topology (structure of the graph of interactions among the elements of a network); 2) the interactions between the elements of the network; 3) the intrinsic (local) dynamics of the elements of the network. A general approach to studying the commulative effect of all these three factors on the evolution of networks of a very general type has been developed in [1]. Besides, in this paper there were obtained sufficient conditions for a global stability (generalized strong synchronization) of networks with an arbitrary topology and the dynamics which is a composition (action of one after another) of a local dynamics of the elements of a network and of the interactions between these elements. Here we extend the results of [1] on global stability (generalized strong synchronization) to the case of a general dynamics in discrete time dynamical networks and to general dynamical networks with continuous time.     

Asymmetric distances,semidirected networks and majority in Fermat–Weber problems

The Fermat–Weber problem is considered with distance defined by a quasimetric, an asymmetric and possibly nondefinite generalisation of a metric. In such a situation a distinction has to be made between sources and destinations. We show how the classical result of optimality at a destination or a source with majority weight, valid in a metric space, may be generalized to certain quasimetric spaces. The notion of majority has however to be strengthened to supermajority, defined by way of a measure of the asymmetry of the distance, which should be finite. This extended majority theorem applies to most asymmetric distance measures previously studied in literature, since these have finite asymmetry measure. Perhaps the most important application of quasimetrics arises in semidirected networks, which may contain edges of different (possibly zero) length according to direction, or directed edges. Distance in a semidirected network does not necessarily have finite asymmetry measure. But it is shown that an adapted majority result holds nevertheless in this important context, thanks to an extension of the classical node-optimality result to semidirected networks with constraints. Finally the majority theorem is further extended to Fermat–Weber problems with mixed asymmetric distances.     

A multicast routing algorithm based on searching in directed graph

Aiming at constructing a delay and delay variation bounded Steiner tree in the real-time streaming media communication, in this paper, we discuss a multicast routing algorithm based on searching a directed graph (MRASDH). During the process of the construction of the multicast tree, some nodes and links in the network topology do not affect the outcome of the constructed tree. Therefore, based on the thought of shrinking the search space through deleting these non-relative nodes and edges to the utmost, the ant algorithm is utilized to generate a directed sub-graph of the network topology for each destination node, in which each node owns a bounded out-degree. And all these sub-graphs can be merged into a new directed graph that serves as the new search space. In the new space, the simulated annealing algorithm is applied to obtain a multicast tree that satisfies the condition for the optimization. The performance analysis and simulation results demonstrate that this algorithm can effectively construct a delay and delay variation bounded multicast tree. They also show that the algorithm have lower time complexity than the current ones, which means a much better result would be achieved when the system scale rises greatly.     

移位交换网的最优路由算法

移位交换网是重要的互联网络之一 ,在并行计算中有着广泛应用 .然而 ,它缺少任意点对间的最短路由算法 .已有的路由算法都不能保证其任意节点对间都是最短路由 .文中给出了一个最短路由算法 ,也是最优路由算法 ,它使得从源节点到目的节点的任何信息都是沿最短路由传输 .同时 ,我们还得到了任意节点对间的距离公式     

基于混沌理论的创新网络中组织间信任演化研究

以往关于信任的研究是在稳定均衡的假设下进行的,然而信任演化过程中会表现出非线性的混沌状态,具有复杂系统的特征。基于演化博弈理论和混沌理论,建立了创新网络中组织间信任演化模型,分析了创新网络中组织间信任的复杂性、初值敏感性、分岔行为及内随机性等混沌特性,推导出信任演化方程与Logistic映射之间的关系,采用Lyapunov稳定性理论进行混沌性判定,证明创新网络中组织间信任通过倍周期分岔通往混沌,得到了信任从有序进入混沌的一般条件,运用算例进行仿真展示信任演化通往混沌的过程,分析创新网络中信任演化进入混沌区的实际意义,并选择硅谷和筑波科技城两个实例做对比分析,验证了该研究的实用性和有效性。创新网络中组织间信任的混沌演化反映出信任发展的非线性特点,为创新网络中组织间信任的混沌利用和控制提供理论指导。