Self-adjusting routing schemes for time-varying traffic in scale-free networks

We consider the effects of time-varying packet generation rates in the performance of communication networks. The time variations could be a result of the patterns in human activities. As a model, we study the effects of a degree-dependent packet generation rate that includes a sinusoidal term. Applying a modified traffic awareness protocol (TAP) previously proposed for static packet generation rates to the present situation leads to an altered value of the optimization parameter, when compared to that obtained in the static case. To enhance the performance and to cope with the time-varying effects better, we propose a class of self-adjusting traffic awareness protocols that makes use of instantaneous traffic information beyond that included in the modified TAP. Two special cases that make use of global and local information, respectively, are studied. Comparing results of our proposal schemes with the modified TAP, it is shown that the present self-adjusting schemes perform more effectively.