Network Coding: The Case of Multiple Unicast Sessions

摘要

In this paper, we investigate the benefit of network coding over routing for multiple independent unicast transmissions. We compare the maximum achievable throughput with network coding and that with routing only. We show that the result depends crucially on the network model. In directed networks, or in undirected networks with integral routing requirement, network coding may outperform routing. In undirected networks with fractional routing, we show that the potential for network coding to increase achievable throughput is equivalent to the potential of network coding to increase bandwidth efficiency, both of which we conjecture to be non-existent.