We de ne and study an extension of the classical theory of nonblocking networks that is applicable to multirate circuit and fast packet ATM switching sys tems We determine conditions under which the Clos Cantor and Bene s networks are strictly nonblocking We also determine conditions under which the Bene s network and variants of the Cantor and Clos networks are rearrangeable We nd that strictl...

This paper postulates that when help is provided without contract, a soft debt is tacitly accrued by the bene ciary to the provider. It introduces a two-player stochastic game with random bene ts and costs, focusing on strategies that rely on the soft debt balance. It shows the existence of stationary Markov equilibriums in which players trade favors whenever the resulting soft debt balance is ...

A Hierarchical Extended Kohonen Map (HEKM) learns to associate actions to perceptions under the supervision of a planner: they cooperate to solve path nding problems. We argue for the utility of using the hierarchical version of the KM instead of the \ at" KM. We measure the bene ts of cooperative learning due to the interaction of neighboring neurons in the HEKM. We highlight a bene cial side-...

Over the last several years, economists have studied the impact of standards on market dynamics. Recently, there has been increased attention to standards as barriers to free trade. The O ce of Technology Assessment [US Congress, O ce of Technology Assessment, 1992] has suggested a variety of policy level concerns, including trade related matters, and suggests that in part the issues may be bas...