Network calculus

Network calculus is "a set of mathematical results which give insights into man-made systems such as concurrent programs, digital circuits and communication networks."[1] Network calculus gives a theoretical framework for analysing performance guarantees in computer networks. As traffic flows through a network it is subject to constraints imposed by the system components, for example:

These constraints can be expressed and analysed with network calculus methods. Constraint curves can be combined using convolution under min-plus algebra. Network calculus can also be used to express traffic arrival and departure functions as well as service curves.

The calculus uses "alternate algebras ... to transform complex non-linear network systems into analytically tractable linear systems."[2]

Currently, there exists two branches in network calculus: one handling deterministic bounded, and one handling stochastic bounds.[3]

  1. ^ Le Boudec, Jean-Yves; Thiran, Patrick (2001). Goos, Gerhard; Hartmanis, Juris; van Leeuwen, Jan (eds.). Network Calculus: A Theory of Deterministic Queuing Systems for the Internet. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Vol. 2050. doi:10.1007/3-540-45318-0. ISBN 978-3-540-42184-9. S2CID 20610609.
  2. ^ Jiang, Yuming; Liu, Yong (2009). Stochastic Network Calculus. Bibcode:2009snc..book.....L. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.725.5561. doi:10.1007/978-1-84800-127-5. ISBN 978-1-84800-126-8.
  3. ^ Fidler, M. (2010). "Survey of deterministic and stochastic service curve models in the network calculus". IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials. 12: 59–86. doi:10.1109/SURV.2010.020110.00019. S2CID 10745931.