An architecture for incorporating decentralized economic models in application layer networks

Efficient discovery and resource allocation is one of the challenges of any large scale Application Layer Network (ALN) such as computational Grids, Content Distribution Networks or P2P applications. In centralized approaches, the user requests can easily matched to the most convenient resource. This approach, however, shows scalability limits. In this paper, we explore an architecture for incorporating fully decentralized economic mechanisms as an approach for resource allocation in ALNs. These mechanisms are implemented by a set of trading agents that operates on behalf of the clients and service providers, interacting over an overlay network and interfacing with the underlying platform’s resources. A prototype of the proposed architecture is presented and the practical implications of its implementation in a grid scenario are discussed.