Theoretical approach and impact of correlations on the critical packet generation rate in traffic dynamics on complex networks

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework to understand how correlations in network topology influence the critical packet generation rate and traffic flow transitions in complex networks.

Contribution

It introduces a formalism based on biased random walks to analyze the impact of local topology and correlations on network traffic capacity.

Findings

Correlations significantly affect the critical packet generation rate.

Node neighborhood topology influences transport capacity.

The transition from flow to jammed phase is explained microscopically.

Abstract

Using the formalism of the biased random walk in random uncorrelated networks with arbitrary degree distributions, we develop theoretical approach to the critical packet generation rate in traffic based on routing strategy with local information. We explain microscopic origins of the transition from the flow to the jammed phase and discuss how the node neighbourhood topology affects the transport capacity in uncorrelated and correlated networks.