'Geometry' of Resource Allocation and Load Balancing in Computing/Communication Systems

Nick Bambos
Stanford University


Wednesday, November 07, 2007
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Terman Engineering Center, Room 453


Abstract:

We consider a processing system having several parallel buffers, where classes of jobs/tasks are queued up, while awaiting execution. At each point in time, the system can be set to one of several available service modes; each queue then receives service at a mode-dependent rate. Modes correspond to feasible configurations of various processing resources. The model unifies resource allocation situations in autonomic computing, wireless transmitter power control, packet switching, etc. Taking a 'geometric' perspective, we discuss some new general families of algorithms, which maximize the throughput by dynamically choosing service modes in response to observed buffer backlogs. We also discuss issues pertaining to jitter and power control captured by this model.