Performance Management of Multiple-Access Communication Networks for Large-Scale Integrated Systems

This paper focuses on conceptual design and prototypical development of a performance management procedure for computer communication networks serving large-scale integrated systems. The procedure aims to improve the network performance in handling various types of messages by on-line adjustment of protocol parameters. The techniques of perturbation analysis of discrete event dynamic systems (DEDS), stochastic approximation, and learning automata have been used in formulating the performance management procedure. This prototype procedure has been evaluated on a network testbed which consists of a number of host computers interconnected by an IEEE 802.4-based MAP network. The conceptual design presented in this paper offers a step forward to bridging the gap between management standards and users' demands for efficient network operations since most standards such as ISO and IEEE address only the architecture, services, and interfaces for network management. The proposed concept for performance management can be used as a general framework to assist design and management of various DEDS such as flexible manufacturing systems (FMS).