Informational Network traffic model based on fractional calculus

摘要

A model is proposed which treats network traffic as a stochastic process with an infinite mean delay. Such a model can be used to explain the appearance of long-range dependence and a fractal-like feature of network data flow. The heavy-tailed delay distributions, the hyperbolically decay of the packet delay auto-covariance function and fractional differential equations are shown to be formally related. The new interpretation of fractional calculus opens up a new area for using this well-developed mathematical tool to understand the local and global characteristics of the packet traffic behaviour.