On the Computational Power of Radio Channels

Radio networks can be a challenging platform for which to develop distributed algorithms, because the network nodes must contend for a shared channel. In some cases, though, the shared medium is an advantage rather than a disadvantage: for example, many radio network algorithms cleverly use the shared channel to approximate the degree of a node, or estimate the contention. In this paper we ask how far the inherent power of a shared radio channel goes, and whether it can efficiently compute "classicaly hard" functions such as Majority, Approximate Sum, and Parity. Using techniques from circuit complexity, we show that in many cases, the answer is "no". We show that simple radio channels, such as the beeping model or the channel with collision-detection, can be approximated by a low-degree polynomial, which makes them subject to known lower bounds on functions such as Parity and Majority; we obtain round lower bounds of the form Omega(n^{delta}) on these functions, for delta in (0,1). Next, we use the technique of random restrictions, used to prove AC^0 lower bounds, to prove a tight lower bound of Omega(1/epsilon^2) on computing a (1 +/- epsilon)-approximation to the sum of the nodes\u27 inputs. Our techniques are general, and apply to many types of radio channels studied in the literature

The Computational Power of Beeps

In this paper, we study the quantity of computational resources (state machine states and/or probabilistic transition precision) needed to solve specific problems in a single hop network where nodes communicate using only beeps. We begin by focusing on randomized leader election. We prove a lower bound on the states required to solve this problem with a given error bound, probability precision, and (when relevant) network size lower bound. We then show the bound tight with a matching upper bound. Noting that our optimal upper bound is slow, we describe two faster algorithms that trade some state optimality to gain efficiency. We then turn our attention to more general classes of problems by proving that once you have enough states to solve leader election with a given error bound, you have (within constant factors) enough states to simulate correctly, with this same error bound, a logspace TM with a constant number of unary input tapes: allowing you to solve a large and expressive set of problems. These results identify a key simplicity threshold beyond which useful distributed computation is possible in the beeping model.Comment: Extended abstract to appear in the Proceedings of the International Symposium on Distributed Computing (DISC 2015

Design Patterns in Beeping Algorithms

We consider networks of processes which interact with beeps. In the basic model defined by Cornejo and Kuhn, which we refer to as the BL variant, processes can choose in each round either to beep or to listen. Those who beep are unable to detect simultaneous beeps. Those who listen can only distinguish between silence and the presence of at least one beep. Stronger variants exist where the nodes can also detect collision while they are beeping (B_{cd}L) or listening (BL_{cd}), or both (B_{cd}L_{cd}). Beeping models are weak in essence and even simple tasks are difficult or unfeasible with them. This paper starts with a discussion on generic building blocks (design patterns) which seem to occur frequently in the design of beeping algorithms. They include multi-slot phases: the fact of dividing the main loop into a number of specialised slots; exclusive beeps: having a single node beep at a time in a neighbourhood (within one or two hops); adaptive probability: increasing or decreasing the probability of beeping to produce more exclusive beeps; internal (resp. peripheral) collision detection: for detecting collision while beeping (resp. listening); and emulation of collision detection: for enabling this feature when it is not available as a primitive. We then provide algorithms for a number of basic problems, including colouring, 2-hop colouring, degree computation, 2-hop MIS, and collision detection (in BL). Using the patterns, we formulate these algorithms in a rather concise and elegant way. Their analyses (in the full version) are more technical, e.g. one of them relies on a Martingale technique with non-independent variables; another improves that of the MIS algorithm (P. Jeavons et al.) by getting rid of a gigantic constant (the asymptotic order was already optimal). Finally, we study the relative power of several variants of beeping models. In particular, we explain how every Las Vegas algorithm with collision detection can be converted, through emulation, into a Monte Carlo algorithm without, at the cost of a logarithmic slowdown. We prove that this slowdown is optimal up to a constant factor by giving a matching lower bound

Approximate Neighbor Counting in Radio Networks

For many distributed algorithms, neighborhood size is an important parameter. In radio networks, however, obtaining this information can be difficult due to ad hoc deployments and communication that occurs on a collision-prone shared channel. This paper conducts a comprehensive survey of the approximate neighbor counting problem, which requires nodes to obtain a constant factor approximation of the size of their network neighborhood. We produce new lower and upper bounds for three main variations of this problem in the radio network model: (a) the network is single-hop and every node must obtain an estimate of its neighborhood size; (b) the network is multi-hop and only a designated node must obtain an estimate of its neighborhood size; and (c) the network is multi-hop and every node must obtain an estimate of its neighborhood size. In studying these problem variations, we consider solutions with and without collision detection, and with both constant and high success probability. Some of our results are extensions of existing strategies, while others require technical innovations. We argue this collection of results provides insight into the nature of this well-motivated problem (including how it differs from related symmetry breaking tasks in radio networks), and provides a useful toolbox for algorithm designers tackling higher level problems that might benefit from neighborhood size estimates

The Synergy of Finite State Machines

What can be computed by a network of n randomized finite state machines communicating under the stone age model (Emek & Wattenhofer, PODC 2013)? The inherent linear upper bound on the total space of the network implies that its global computational power is not larger than that of a randomized linear space Turing machine, but is this tight? We answer this question affirmatively for bounded degree networks by introducing a stone age algorithm (operating under the most restrictive form of the model) that given a designated I/O node, constructs a tour in the network that enables the simulation of the Turing machine\u27s tape. To construct the tour with high probability, we first show how to 2-hop color the network concurrently with building a spanning tree

Weak models of wireless distributed computing Comparison between radio networks and population protocols

This thesis compares weak distributed computing models that are suit- able for extremely limited wireless networks. The comparison is mainly between multiple variations of radio networks and population protocols. The analysis is based on model features, computability and algorithmic complexity. The thesis analyses essential and optional model features, and organizes the models accordingly. It discusses the applicability of results from stronger models to radio network models, including impossibility results, algorithms and their runtime. It analyzes different radio network algorithms for the classical problems in terms of their features, and it discusses their applicability to other radio network models. It reviews the fundamental differences between population protocols and radio networks. Lastly, the comparative analysis summarizes fundamental differences and separating features