Agent-Driven Resource Optimization in User Networks: A Game Theoretical Approach

In this paper, we evaluate the feasibility of distributed control of shared resources in user networks. A user network is totally controlled by the users, both at application and transport level. This paradigm has become possible with the advent of broadband wireless networking technologies such as IEEE 802.11. One of the most popular applications in these networks is peer-to-peer file exchange. As a consequence, the “external” access to the Internet (set of links between the user network and the Internet) is a shared resource that can be optimized by node cooperation (i.e., if a node cannot serve its demand with its own external link, it requests help from another node via the high-bandwidth internal user network). We consider cellular automata to model such networks and game theory to model cell behavior. Every cell chooses to behave as a cooperative or defector node. Cooperators may assist in file exchange, whereas defectors try to get advantage of network resources without providing help in return. Simulation results help to understand the conditions for cooperative cells to win the game.