A futures market-based model for dynamic network resource allocation

Management of telecommunication network requires quick, continuous and decentralized allocation of network bandwidth to various sorts of demands. So as to achieve the efficient network resource allocation, this paper describes a market-based model combining futures market with the agent-based approach. That is, utilization time is divided into many time-slots, and futures markets in hereafter use of bandwidth are opened. In our model, all market participants (software agents) observe only market prices and decide to buy or sell bandwidth trying to maximize their utilities over time so that they can secure enough network resources. The authors discuss network resource allocation through simulation using the proposed model.