CAREER: Algorithms for Services - Oriented Communications Networks

现代计算机网络的重点已经开始转向服务和功能，而不是效率和优化。这要求算法将以用户为中心的性能度量(如公平性、可用性和延迟)与更传统的目标(如总带宽成本或总吞吐量)相结合；这些算法最好在抽象模型中提供形式上的保证，以及系统开发人员的一般经验规则。本研究涉及上述框架内的几个问题的研究。第一个问题是设计高效的分布式算法来实现计算机网络中的近似公平，并研究诱导自私用户收敛到近似公平解的简单机制。第二个问题是研究对等系统中的路由问题；对等系统是一组终端节点，它们在应用层协作实现新的网络服务。另一个问题是研究FIFO等常见的分组调度协议变得不稳定的分组注入速率。为了克服这一领域的理论家和实践者之间的差距，将开发一门新的课程，名为《计算机网络算法》，并将公开提供课程材料。另一门名为“现代算法技术”的课程也将被开发。

The focus in modern computer networks has started to shift towardsservices and functionality rather than efficiency andoptimization. This calls for algorithms that combine user-centricperformance metrics such as fairness, availability, and latency withmore traditional objectives such as the total bandwidth cost or totalthroughput; it is desirable for these algorithms to provide formalguarantees in abstract models, as well as general rules of thumb forsystem developers. This research involves the study of severalproblems within the above framework.The first problem is to design efficient distributed algorithms forachieving approximate fairness in computer networks, and to studysimple mechanisms that induce convergence of selfish users toapproximately fair solutions. The second problem is to study routingissues in peer-to-peer systems; peer-to-peer systems are groups ofend-nodes that collaborate to implement new network services at theapplication level. Another problem is to study the packet-injectionrate at which common packet scheduling protocols such as FIFO becomeunstable.In an attempt to overcome the gap between theoreticians andpractitioners in this field, a new course titled "Algorithms forcomputer networks" will be developed, and the course material will bemade publicly available. Another course titled "Modern algorithmictechniques" will also be developed.