GANG : Networks, Graphs and Algorithms (project-team)

About the project : Project-Team site Activity report Research reports Theses Theme : Com Communicating systems Paris - Rocquencourt research center

This Research-Team is a follow-up of GYROWEB Research-Team

Project-Team Presentation

Joint project-team with University of Denis Diderot and CNRS (LIAFA , UMR 7089).

GANG focuses on algorithm design for large scale networks using structural properties of these networks. Application domains include the development of optimized protocols for large dynamic networks such as mobile networks or overlay networks over Internet such as peer-to-peer applications, and the navigability of social networks. GANG tools come from recent advances in the field of graph algorithms, both in centralized and distributed settings. In particular, this includes graph decomposition and geometric properties (such as low doubling dimension, low dimension embedding, etc.).

Research themes

Today, the management of large networks, Internet being the reference, is best effort. However, the demand for mobility (ad hoc networks, wireless connectivity, etc.) and for dynamicity (node churn, fault tolerance, etc.) is increasing. In this distributed setting, it becomes necessary to design a new generation of algorithms and protocols to face the challenge of large scale mobility and dynamicity.

In the mean time, recent and sophisticated theoretical results have emerged, offering interesting new tracks for managing large networks. These results concern centralized and decentralized algorithms for solving key problems in communication networks, including routing, but also information retrieval, localization, or load balancing. They are mainly based on structural properties observed in most of real networks: approximate topology with low dimension metric spaces, low treewidth, low doubling dimension, graph minor freeness, etc. In addition, graph decomposition techniques have recently progressed. The scientific community has now tools for optimizing network management. First striking results include designing overlay networks for peer-to-peer systems and understanding the navigability of large social networks.

GANG objective is to push forward these promising tracks to extend recent theoretical results in the above domains. A long term goal is to enable distributed algorithms dedicated for practical applications such as:

• Internet management through metric models for latencies,
• new peer-to-peer applications such as cooperative streaming or peer-to-peer backup,
• managing large dynamic networks such as ad hoc networks or overlays over Internet.

International and industrial relations

• Collaboration with France Telecom (CRC Mardi) MARDI is a collaboration contract between INRIA and France Telecom. It gathers GANG and Spontex (FT) around the study of decentralized networks over Internet.
• European action 295 DYNAMO about algorithm design for dynamic networks including Internet, the web, ad hoc networks, and peer-to-peer systems.

Software

peerple

Scientific leader

Laurent VIENNOT     [homepage]
+33 1 39 63 52 25
Laurent.Viennot@inria.fr
Secretary : +33 1 39 63 53 63