Study on a Dynamic Resource Allocation for a Communication Network Based on a Market-based Model

Abstract

This paper describes a market-based model for network resource allocation combining forward market with agent-based approach. In our model, market participants observe only market prices, decide to buy or sell their network resources, and order their requests consisting of limit price and volume. The proposed model has two key properties, ‘forward’ market and call market of double auction type called ‘Itayose’ method. Time to certain future is divided into many time-slots, and markets for the future bandwidth use are opened in all the time-slots. Thus the agents can try to maximize their utilities over time. Itayose is an auction mechanism under which bids and offers are matched at a single price according to the principle of price priority, and the amount of transaction and contracted price are determined at the intersection of the demand curve and the supply curve. Compared to the Walrasian type auction which market-based models commonly use, agents have to decide both order prices and quantities. Hence the market can gather richer information from the agents. It is expected to be more advantageous in fast resource allocation. Further, we also discuss optimization technique for agents and simulation results which demonstrate the function of the proposed model.