Some optimal traffic regulation schemes for ATM networks: a Markov decision approach

Some new traffic regulation schemes are defined in terms of a relief-spacing (or spacing of the allowance for cell delivery to the network) function. The class of open-loop traffic regulators (TR's) is defined in terms of relief-spacing functions which depend on some user-state; this class may be viewed as an extension of the Spacer-Controller defined in terms of some constant (user-state independent) relief-function. The optimal open-loop TR's are derived by formulating proper optimization problems and applying a Markov decision approach. Numerical results illustrate the improved performance of the optimal open-loop TR over that of the (constant relief-spacing) Spacer-Controller. Finally, the class of closed-loop TR's is defined in terms of relief-spacing functions which depend on both some user- and some network-state information and its optimal element is derived. The improved performance under the optimal closed-loop TR over that of the optimal open-loop TR is illustrated and their difference determines the performance gain if feedback information can become available on time. >