Removing 'black sheep' could make Internet run more efficiently
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 15:30
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Whether dealing with Internet traffic or vehicle traffic, congestion can slow everything down. One team of researchers working on improving network transmission efficiency has developed a strategy that identifies certain links or edges that can be removed to decrease the overall congestion. Somewhat counterintuitively, these links - which the researchers call "black sheep" - are those that connect the busiest hubs. In a sense, the strategy is similar to closing some of the busiest roads during rush hour, and finding that vehicles reach their destinations faster than before.