Optimization Of Stochastic Discrete Systems And Control On Complex Networks

This book presents the latest findings on stochastic dynamic programming models and on solving optimal control problems in networks. It includes the authors’ new findings on determining the optimal solution of discrete optimal control problems in networks and on solving game variants of Markov decision problems in the context of computational networks. First, the book studies the finite state space of Markov processes and reviews the existing methods and algorithms for determining the main characteristics in Markov chains, before proposing new approaches based on dynamic programming and combinatorial methods. Chapter two is dedicated to infinite horizon stochastic discrete optimal control models and Markov decision problems with average and expected total discounted optimization criteria, while Chapter three develops a special game-theoretical approach to Markov decision processes and stochastic discrete optimal control problems. In closing, the book’s final chapter is devoted to finite horizon stochastic control problems and Markov decision processes. The algorithms developed represent a valuable contribution to the important field of computational network theory.

Opening new directions in research in both discrete event dynamic systems as well as in stochastic control, this volume focuses on a wide class of control and of optimization problems over sequences of integer numbers. This is a counterpart of convex optimization in the setting of discrete optimization. The theory developed is applied to the control of stochastic discrete-event dynamic systems. Some applications are admission, routing, service allocation and vacation control in queuing networks. Pure and applied mathematicians will enjoy reading the book since it brings together many disciplines in mathematics: combinatorics, stochastic processes, stochastic control and optimization, discrete event dynamic systems, algebra.

Nonlinear Stochastic Control and Filtering with Engineering-oriented Complexities presents a series of control and filtering approaches for stochastic systems with traditional and emerging engineering-oriented complexities. The book begins with an overview of the relevant background, motivation, and research problems, and then: Discusses the robust stability and stabilization problems for a class of stochastic time-delay interval systems with nonlinear disturbances Investigates the robust stabilization and H∞ control problems for a class of stochastic time-delay uncertain systems with Markovian switching and nonlinear disturbances Explores the H∞ state estimator and H∞ output feedback controller design issues for stochastic time-delay systems with nonlinear disturbances, sensor nonlinearities, and Markovian jumping parameters Analyzes the H∞ performance for a general class of nonlinear stochastic systems with time delays, where the addressed systems are described by general stochastic functional differential equations Studies the filtering problem for a class of discrete-time stochastic nonlinear time-delay systems with missing measurement and stochastic disturbances Uses gain-scheduling techniques to tackle the probability-dependent control and filtering problems for time-varying nonlinear systems with incomplete information Evaluates the filtering problem for a class of discrete-time stochastic nonlinear networked control systems with multiple random communication delays and random packet losses Examines the filtering problem for a class of nonlinear genetic regulatory networks with state-dependent stochastic disturbances and state delays Considers the H∞ state estimation problem for a class of discrete-time complex networks with probabilistic missing measurements and randomly occurring coupling delays Addresses the H∞ synchronization control problem for a class of dynamical networks with randomly varying nonlinearities Nonlinear Stochastic Control and Filtering with Engineering-oriented Complexities describes novel methodologies that can be applied extensively in lab simulations, field experiments, and real-world engineering practices. Thus, this text provides a valuable reference for researchers and professionals in the signal processing and control engineering communities.

The book addresses the system performance with a focus on the network-enhanced complexities and developing the engineering-oriented design framework of controllers and filters with potential applications in system sciences, control engineering and signal processing areas. Therefore, it provides a unified treatment on the analysis and synthesis for discrete-time stochastic systems with guarantee of certain performances against network-enhanced complexities with applications in sensor networks and mobile robotics. Such a result will be of great importance in the development of novel control and filtering theories including industrial impact. Key Features Provides original methodologies and emerging concepts to deal with latest issues in the control and filtering with an emphasis on a variety of network-enhanced complexities Gives results of stochastic control and filtering distributed control and filtering, and security control of complex networked systems Captures the essence of performance analysis and synthesis for stochastic control and filtering Concepts and performance indexes proposed reflect the requirements of engineering practice Methodologies developed in this book include backward recursive Riccati difference equation approach and the discrete-time version of input-to-state stability in probability

This book constitutes the conference proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Algorithmic Decision Theory , ADT 2017, held in Luxembourg, in October 2017.The 22 full papers presented together with 6 short papers, 4 keynote abstracts, and 6 Doctoral Consortium papers, were carefully selected from 45 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on preferences and multi-criteria decision aiding; decision making and voting; game theory and decision theory; and allocation and matching.

Stochastic discrete-event systems (SDES) capture the randomness in choices due to activity delays and the probabilities of decisions. This book delivers a comprehensive overview on modeling with a quantitative evaluation of SDES. It presents an abstract model class for SDES as a pivotal unifying result and details important model classes. The book also includes nontrivial examples to explain real-world applications of SDES.

This book presents recent findings and results concerning the solutions of especially finite state-space Markov decision problems and determining Nash equilibria for related stochastic games with average and total expected discounted reward payoffs. In addition, it focuses on a new class of stochastic games: stochastic positional games that extend and generalize the classic deterministic positional games. It presents new algorithmic results on the suitable implementation of quasi-monotonic programming techniques. Moreover, the book presents applications of positional games within a class of multi-objective discrete control problems and hierarchical control problems on networks. Given its scope, the book will benefit all researchers and graduate students who are interested in Markov theory, control theory, optimization and games.

Discrete event systems (DES) have become pervasive in our daily lives. Examples include (but are not restricted to) manufacturing and supply chains, transportation, healthcare, call centers, and financial engineering. However, due to their complexities that often involve millions or even billions of events with many variables and constraints, modeling these stochastic simulations has long been a “hard nut to crack”. The advance in available computer technology, especially of cluster and cloud computing, has paved the way for the realization of a number of stochastic simulation optimization for complex discrete event systems. This book will introduce two important techniques initially proposed and developed by Professor Y C Ho and his team; namely perturbation analysis and ordinal optimization for stochastic simulation optimization, and present the state-of-the-art technology, and their future research directions. Contents:Part I: Perturbation Analysis:The IPA Calculus for Hybrid SystemsSmoothed Perturbation Analysis: A Retrospective and Prospective LookPerturbation Analysis and Variance Reduction in Monte Carlo SimulationAdjoints and AveragingInfinitesimal Perturbation Analysis and Optimization AlgorithmsSimulation-based Optimization of Failure-prone Continuous Flow LinesPerturbation Analysis, Dynamic Programming, and BeyondPart II: Ordinal Optimization:Fundamentals of Ordinal OptimizationOptimal Computing Budget Allocation FrameworkNested PartitionsApplications of Ordinal Optimization Readership: Professionals in industrial and systems engineering, graduate reference for probability & statistics, stochastic analysis and general computer science, and research. Keywords:Simulation;Optimization;Stochastic Systems;Discrete-Even Systems;Perturbation Analysis;Ordinal Optimization