Cooperative optimization and control in a networked environment

许多实际的复杂物理系统，如互联网系统、公用电网、网络化控制系统和传感器网络等，都表现出由许多（合作的）操作单元（称为节点）和相互连接的（物理或虚拟的）骨干（称为网络路径）组成的复杂结构。网络路径的作用不仅在于提供链接功能，还在于促进节点之间的交互。系统的整体性能通常不仅取决于节点的运行，还取决于网络路径结构，或者换句话说，取决于节点之间的交互，即使这种交互可能是虚拟的。因此，对这类复杂系统的任何优化都应该是一种既能提供最优节点动态，又能提供所有网络路径的最佳选择，从而实现所需的整体系统性能的策略。

Many practical complex physical systems, such as internet systems, utility power grids, networked control systems, and sensor network, etc., exhibit a complex structure consisting of many (cooperative) operating units, called nodes, and interconnected (physically or virtually) backbone, called network paths. The role of network paths is not just in providing link function but actually in the aspect of facilitating the interaction among nodes. The overall system performance is normally not only determined by operation of nodes but also by network path structure, or, in other words, by the interaction among nodes, even if such interaction may be virtual. Accordingly, any optimization of such kind of complex systems should be a strategy that could render both optimal node dynamics and the best choice of all network paths achieving the desired overall system performance.