Evolutionary Dynamics of Complex Communications Networks

Until recently, most network design techniques employed a bottom-up approach with lower protocol layer mechanisms affecting the development of higher ones. This approach, however, has not yielded fascinating results in the case of wireless distributed networks.

Addressing the emerging aspects of modern network analysis and design, Evolutionary Dynamics of Complex Communications Networks introduces and develops a top-bottom approach where elements of the higher layer can be exploited in modifying the lowest physical topology--closing the network design loop in an evolutionary fashion similar to that observed in natural processes.

This book provides a complete overview of contemporary design approaches from the viewpoint of network science and complex/social network analysis. A significant part of the text focuses on the classification and analysis of various network modification mechanisms for wireless decentralized networks that exploit social features from relevant online social networks.

Each chapter begins with learning objectives and introductory material and slowly builds to more detailed analysis and advanced concepts. Each chapter also identifies open issues, while by the end of the book, potential research directions are summarized for the more interested researcher or graduate student.

The approach outlined in the book will help network designers and administrators increase the value of their infrastructure without requiring any significant additional investment. Topics covered include: basic network graph models and properties, cognitive methods and evolutionary computing, complex and social network analysis metrics and features, and analysis and development of the distinctive structure and features of complex networks.

Considering all aspects of modern network analysis and design, the text covers the necessary material and background to make it a suitable source of reference for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and scientists

Vasileios Karyotis was born in Athens, Greece, in November 1980. He received his Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in 2004, his M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., in 2005 and his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from NTUA, Greece, in 2009. Since 2009 he has been with the Network Management and Optimal Design (NETMODE) Lab of NTUA, Greece, where he is currently a senior researcher. His research interests span the areas of stochastic modeling and performance evaluation of communications networks, resource allocations, malware propagation and complex networks. Dr. Karyotis was awarded a fellowship from the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania (2004-2005) and one of two departmental fellowships for exceptional graduate students from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of NTUA (2007-2009). He has participated in the technical program committee of ICC and Globecom conferences since 2008 and 2008 respectively, and other conferences as well. He has acted as a reviewer for numerous journals and conferences IEEE, ACM, ICST, etc., such as the IEEE Trans. on Parallel and Distributed Systems, IEEE Trans. on Vehicular Technology, IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communications and IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications. He is a member of the Technical Chamber of Greece since 2004, and a Member of the IEEE since 2003.

Eleni Stai was born in Athens, Greece, in July 1986. She received her Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, in 2009. She received her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Athens in 2013. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a research assistant in the Network Management and Optimal Design Laboratory (NETMODE) at the National Technical University of Athens. From May 2011 to May 2012, she was a visiting scholar at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA, and a research assistant with the Institute of Systems Research, University of Maryland. She is the recipient of scholarships from the Foundation for Education and European Culture and the A.G. Leventis Foundation. Also, she received the Christ Papakiriakopoulos award, the Greek State Scholarship Foundation award and the Eurobank award. Ms. Stai is a student member of IEEE and member of the Technical Chamber of Greece. Her main research interests include complex communications networks, social networks and applications, evolving networks, topology control in wireless multi-hop networks, resource allocation in wireless networks, routing/scheduling and congestion control in decentralized networks.

Symeon Papavassiliou was born in Athens, Greece, in December 1967. He received his diploma in electrical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, in 1990 and his MSc and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, New York, in 1992 and 1995, respectively. Currently he is an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. From 1995 to 1999, he was a senior technical staff member at AT&T Laboratories, New Jersey. In August 1999 he joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA, where he was an associate professor until 2004. From June 1996 until August 1999 he was also an adjunct professor at the Electrical Engineering Department of Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Papavassiliou was the Director of the Broadband, Mobile and Wireless Networking Laboratory (2000-2004) at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA, a founding member and Associate Director of the New Jersey Center for Wireless Networking and Internet security (2002-2004, New Jersey, USA), and a member of the New Jersey Center for Multimedia Research (1999-2001) and of the New Jersey Center for Wireless Telecommunications (1999-2003). Since 2005 he is also Associate Director of the Network Management and Optimal Design Laboratory at the National Technical University of Athens. He has an established record of publications in his field of expertise, with more than 200 technical journal and conference published papers. He received the Best Paper Award in IEEE INFOCOM'94, the AT&T Division Recognition and Achievement Award in 1997, the US National Science Foundation Career Award in 2003, the Best Paper Award in IEEE WCNC 2012, and the Excellence in Research Grant in Greece in 2012. Dr. Papavassiliou also served on the board of the Greek National Regulatory Authority on Telecommunications and Posts (2006- 2009). His main research interests are in the area of communication networks, with emphasis on the analysis, optimization and performance evaluation of mobile and distributed systems, wireless networks and complex systems. He is an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems and a technical editor for IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine. He is also a senior member of the IEEE.