The flow deviation method: An approach to store-and-forward communication network design

mo problems reZevant t o the design of a store-and-forward communication network ( the message routing problem and the channeZ capacity assignment problem) are formulated and are recognized t o be essentiaZ Zy nonZinear, uncoMnA;tcained muZticomodity (m. c . 1 fZm problems. A " F Z m Deviation" ( F D ) method fo r the soZution o f these non-linear, unconstrained m.c. fZm probZems i s described which i s qui te simiZar t o the gradient method fo r functions o f continuous variables; here the concept of gradient i s repZaced by the concept of "shortest route" flow. A s i n the gradient method, the application of successive flow deviations leads t o ZocaZ minima. of the FD method t o the design of the ARPA Computer Network are discussed. FinaZ l y , two in teres t ing applications