Design multicast protocols for non-cooperative networks

Abstract

Conventionally, most network protocols assume that the network entities that participate in the network activities will always behave as instructed. However, in practice, most network entities will try to maximize their own benefits instead of altruistically contribute to the network by following the prescribed protocols, which is known as selfish. Thus, new protocols should be designed for the non-cooperative network, which is composed of selfish entities. In this paper, we specifically show how to design strategyproof multicast protocols for non-cooperative networks such that these selfish entities will follow the protocols out of their own interests. By assuming that a group of receivers is willing to pay to receive the multicast service, we specifically give a general framework to decide whether it is possible, and how if possible to transform an existing multicast protocol to a strategyproof multicast protocol. We then show how the payments to those relay entities are shared fairly among all receivers so that it encourages collaboration among receivers. As a running example, we show how to design the strategyproof multicast protocol for the currently used core-based multicast structure. We also conduct extensive simulations to study the relations between payment and cost of the multicast structure.