Comments

Runner-up, 'Best paper at Conference' award, Internet Research/Emerald. This paper was presented at 6th International Network Conference (INC 2006)] 11-14 July 2006, which was held by University of Plymouth and details of the conference are available at http://www.cscan.org

Abstract

This paper considers communication network design problems that arise in the real world, with large numbers of nodes - and link and switch costs dependent upon their traffic capacity. Such costs, in turn, depend upon network topology so are not fixed at the start of, or through, any optimisation process. Realistic topological restrictions are also discussed. The limitations of conventional approaches – both constructive and search based – are noted and the requirements of practical optimisation methods explored. Two workable approaches to network design - one an established local search variant, another a more novel geometric approach – are introduced and combined. Various simple and compound algorithms, ranging from exhaustive search to fast heuristic are compared with experimental results given in conclusion.

Disciplines

Computer and Systems Architecture | Digital Communications and Networking | Hardware Systems | Systems and Communications

Recommended Citation

Grout, V., Picking, R., Cunningham, S. & Hebblewhite, R. (2006), ‘Realistic Large-Scale Network Optimisation’. [Paper presented to the 6th International Network Conference (INC 2006)] 11-14 July 2006, pp121-130]. Plymouth: Plymouth University