An Algorithm for Delay-Reliability in Communication Networks Based on Probabilistic User Equilibrium Model

Abstract

In order to make a better performance analysis and reliability evaluation of communication networks, a new definition of Delay-Reliability in communication networks, an algorithm to calculate approximate solutions of the Delay-Reliability in communication networks and a delay failure model in communication networks are presented in this paper. Inspired by the road resistance function in transportation networks, we analyze the similarities and differences between communication networks and transportation networks, and use OPNET simulation to build a new delay failure model in communication networks. Based on probabilistic user equilibrium model and our delay failure model, in stochastic-flow networks, we use discrete random variables to characterize delay in a single link and the link's degraded conditions to propose a new definition of Delay-Reliability in communication networks and its corresponding approximate algorithm. The approximate algorithm is especially useful and practical in large scale backbone network engineering due to its major computational advantage. For illustration, an example is given to show that our definition, algorithm and delay failure model can make a reasonable performance analysis and reliability evaluation of communication networks.