49,267 research outputs found
Towards a System Theoretic Approach to Wireless Network Capacity in Finite Time and Space
In asymptotic regimes, both in time and space (network size), the derivation
of network capacity results is grossly simplified by brushing aside queueing
behavior in non-Jackson networks. This simplifying double-limit model, however,
lends itself to conservative numerical results in finite regimes. To properly
account for queueing behavior beyond a simple calculus based on average rates,
we advocate a system theoretic methodology for the capacity problem in finite
time and space regimes. This methodology also accounts for spatial correlations
arising in networks with CSMA/CA scheduling and it delivers rigorous
closed-form capacity results in terms of probability distributions. Unlike
numerous existing asymptotic results, subject to anecdotal practical concerns,
our transient one can be used in practical settings: for example, to compute
the time scales at which multi-hop routing is more advantageous than single-hop
routing
Engineering Resilient Collective Adaptive Systems by Self-Stabilisation
Collective adaptive systems are an emerging class of networked computational
systems, particularly suited in application domains such as smart cities,
complex sensor networks, and the Internet of Things. These systems tend to
feature large scale, heterogeneity of communication model (including
opportunistic peer-to-peer wireless interaction), and require inherent
self-adaptiveness properties to address unforeseen changes in operating
conditions. In this context, it is extremely difficult (if not seemingly
intractable) to engineer reusable pieces of distributed behaviour so as to make
them provably correct and smoothly composable.
Building on the field calculus, a computational model (and associated
toolchain) capturing the notion of aggregate network-level computation, we
address this problem with an engineering methodology coupling formal theory and
computer simulation. On the one hand, functional properties are addressed by
identifying the largest-to-date field calculus fragment generating
self-stabilising behaviour, guaranteed to eventually attain a correct and
stable final state despite any transient perturbation in state or topology, and
including highly reusable building blocks for information spreading,
aggregation, and time evolution. On the other hand, dynamical properties are
addressed by simulation, empirically evaluating the different performances that
can be obtained by switching between implementations of building blocks with
provably equivalent functional properties. Overall, our methodology sheds light
on how to identify core building blocks of collective behaviour, and how to
select implementations that improve system performance while leaving overall
system function and resiliency properties unchanged.Comment: To appear on ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulatio
Are there new models of computation? Reply to Wegner and Eberbach
Wegner and Eberbach[Weg04b] have argued that there are fundamental limitations
to Turing Machines as a foundation of computability and that these can be overcome
by so-called superTuring models such as interaction machines, the [pi]calculus and the
$-calculus. In this paper we contest Weger and Eberbach claims
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