Resource Management in Mobile Communication Systems and Distributed Computer Systems

In computer and communication systems, competition and mutual interactions among users sharing system resources is frequently observed. Typical examples include the sharing of bandwidth in a wireless network or storage capacity in caching systems. In this context, we study different problems, such as load-balancing and proactive resource management in cellular networks, dynamic spectrum access and transmission power control, as well as distributed management of caching storage capacity. Due to mutual user interference, we have modeled and analyzed the aforementioned problems by means of economic theories and methodologies (e.g., game theory, auctions, markets, pricing), which provide useful mathematical tools for studying such situations. Different solution concepts have been considered (e.g., Nash equilibrium, or Nash bargaining solution, in cooperative contexts) and appropriate optimization methods have been applied to characterize such solutions and provide corresponding algorithmic methods to calculate the respective operating points (centrally or in a distributed manner).