Cooperation in a Network: Altruism increases Flow (with Chris Arney), technical report for the 2009 USMA Network Science Workshop, West Point, NY.
Abstract: The authors utilize the results of network simulations to measure system performance and node/channel properties of a communication network. The framework of cooperative game theory sets the context of the simulation where the nodes are considered players in the network flow game and the general goal is to maximize flow through the network. Various cooperative/competitive flow management schemes are simulated and analyzed, looking in particular at the altruistic and competitive contributions of the players. The results indicate that altruistic cooperation of nodes improves system utility function and system performance.
