Janet Bruten

Ant-based load balancing in telecommunications networks

This article describes a novel method of achieving load balancing in telecommunications networks. A simulated network models a typical distribution of calls between nodes; nodes carrying an excess of traffic can become congested, causing calls to be lost. In addition to calls, the network also supports a population of simple mobile agents with behaviors modeled on the trail-laying abilities of ants. The ants move across the network between randomly chosen pairs of nodes; as they move, they deposit simulated pheromone as a function of their distance from their source node and the congestion encountered on their journey. They select their path at each intermediate node according to the distribution of simulated pheromone at each node. Calls between nodes are routed as a function of the pheromone distributions at each intermediate node. The performance of the network is measured by the proportion of calls that are lost. The results of using ant-based control (ABC) are compared with those achieved by using fixed shortest-path routes, and also those achieved by using an alternative algorithmically based type of mobile agent previously proposed for use in network management. The ABC system is shown to result in fewer call failures than the other methods, while exhibiting many attractive features of distributed control.

Ant-like agents for load balancing in telecommunications networks

This paper describes a novel method of achieving load balancing in telecommunications networks. A simulated network models a typical distribution of calls between arbitrary nodes; nodes carrying an excess of traffic can become congested , causing calls to fail. In addition to calls, the network also supports a population of simple mobile agents with behaviours modelled on the trail laying abilities of ants. The agents move across the network between arbitrary pairs of nodes, selecting their path at each intermediate node according to the distribution of simulated pheromones at each node. As they move they deposit simulated pheromones as a function of their distance from their source node, and the congestion encountered on their journey. Calls between nodes are routed as a function of the pheromone distributions at each intermediate node. The performance of the network is measured by the proportion of calls which fail. The results are compared with those achieved by using fixed shortest-path routes, and also by using an alternative algorithmically-based type of mobile agent. The ant-based system is shown to drop fewer calls than the other methods, while exhibiting many attractive features of distributed control.

Arbitrageurs in Segmented Markets

Abstract This paper describes a system of autonomous software agents able to engage in bargaining in an electronic market. The introduction of arbitrageurs is shown to have a stabilising effect on prices in segmented markets. This type of agent could be used in applications such as market-based control, electronic commerce and economic modelling. The paper describes the need for arbitrage in segmented markets and reports the results of simulating experiments with different market structures.