Control and optimization methods in communication network problems

In this paper the authors focus on two areas of communication network design in which methods of control and optimization theory have proven useful. These are the area of multiple access communication (for networks with shared links such as radio networks and local area networks) and the area of network routing (for networks with point-to-point interconnections). The authors review a few selected problems in each area to show the role of the control concepts involved and they then proceed to identify other areas of communication network design in which the same control theoretic and optimization methodology may be applicable and useful. The authors do not survey the work done in this area, nor do they review work in control areas whose methods are applicable in other communication network problems. Instead, the authors attempt to bring to the attention of the control systems community the numerous instances of problems arising in the pure communication network design process that can benefit from the attention and the capabilities of this community.