On Minimizing Network Coding Resources: An Evolutionary Approach

Abstract— We consider the problem of minimizing the resources used for network coding while achieving the desired throughput in a multicast scenario. Since this problem is NPhard, we seek a method for quickly finding sufficiently good solutions. To this end, we take an evolutionary approach based on a genetic algorithm that works in an algebraic framework, combined with randomized polynomial identity testing methods. We demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method over other existing minimal approaches by carrying out simulations on a number of different sets of network topologies. We also show, as the more important benefit of the proposed approach, its applicability to a variety of generalized optimization scenarios.