Money-Based Coordination of Network Packets

Abstract

In this work, we apply a common economic tool, namely money, to coordinate network packets. In particular, we present a network economy, called PacketEconomy, where each flow is modeled as a population of rational network packets, and these packets can selfregulate their access to network resources by mutually trading their positions in router queues. Every packet of the economy has its price, and this price determines if and when the packet will agree to buy or sell a better position. We consider a corresponding Markov model of trade and show that there are Nash equilibria (NE) where queue positions and money are exchanged directly between the network packets. This simple approach, interestingly, delivers improvements even when fiat money is used. We present theoretical arguments and experimental results to support our claims.

Implementing PacketEconomy: Distributed money‐based QoS in OMNET++

“…The theoretical model described in the work of Efraimidis and Koutsiamanis uses linear packet utility functions as examples, but in general any positive and monotonically decreasing function can be used. We have generalized the function definition to a larger class of functions to allow flows to express more complex QoS requirements and also to illustrate the generality of our overall approach.…”

“…To be able to specify this price, each packet needs to calculate how much utility will be gained or lost if the trade takes place. An analysis on the optimal compensation prices or rate‐based and window‐based flows when linear utility functions are used is presented in the work of Efraimidis and Koutsiamanis . This work generalizes which kinds of utility functions can be used in the manner described by Equation .…”

“…Within that context, we focus on solutions that work when assuming selfish competitive flows, instead of cooperating ones, since in practice the flows are created by independent and selfish end users. Our proposal comprises using money and packet trades as a coordination mechanism at the microeconomics level, described in detail in the work of Efraimidis and Koutsiamanis …”

“…This section provides an overview of the theoretical PacketEconomy model. A more detailed description of PacketEconomy can be found in the work of Efraimidis and Koutsiamanis . PacketEconomy comprises a network model with selfish flows, a queue that supports packet trades, a currency, and a specific economic goal.…”

“…In this work, we present a realistic implementation of PacketEconomy, within the OMNET++ discrete‐event simulator, using the INET network simulation library and the experimental evaluation of the implementation. In Section 2 we present the related work and in Section 3 an overview of the theoretical model underpinning this implementation, described in more detail in the work of Efraimidis and Koutsiamanis . In Section 4 we present the details of the implementation in OMNET++, used in the experiments.…”