A bicriterion approach for routing problems in multimedia networks

Routing problems in communication networks supporting multiple services, namely, multimedia applications, involve the selection of paths satisfying multiple constraints (of a technical nature) and seeking simultaneously to ‘optimize’ the associated metrics. Although traditional models in this area are single-objective, in many situations, it is important to consider different, eventually conflicting, objectives. In this paper, we consider a bicriterion model dedicated to calculating nondominated paths for specific traffic flows (associated with video services) in multiservice high-speed networks. The mathematical formulation of the problem and the bicriterion algorithmic approach developed for its resolution are presented together with computational tests regarding an application to video-traffic routing in a high-speed network. The algorithmic approach is an adaptation of recent work by Ernesto Martins and his collaborators, namely, the MPS algorithm.