Evolution and Structure of the Internet A Statistical Physics Approach [Hardcover]

This book, first published in 2004, applies statistical physics and complex systems theory to the evolution and structure of the Internet.Using a statistical physics approach the internet is viewed as a growing system that evolves in time through the addition and removal of nodes and links. This perspective permits us to outline the dynamical theory required for a description of the macroscopic evolution of the internet. The presence of such a theoretical framework appears to be a revolutionary and promising path towards our understanding of the internet and the various processes taking place on this network.Using a statistical physics approach the internet is viewed as a growing system that evolves in time through the addition and removal of nodes and links. This perspective permits us to outline the dynamical theory required for a description of the macroscopic evolution of the internet. The presence of such a theoretical framework appears to be a revolutionary and promising path towards our understanding of the internet and the various processes taking place on this network.Viewed in this analysis from a statistical physics perspective, the Internet is perceived as a developing system that evolves through the addition and removal of nodes and links. This perspective permits the authors to outline the dynamical theory that can appropriately describe the Internet's macroscopic evolution. The presence of such a theoretical framework will provide a revolutionary way of enhancing the reader's understanding of the Internet's varied network processes.Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. A brief history of the Internet; 2. How the Internet works; 3. Measuring the global Internet; 4. The Internet's large-scale topology; 5. Modeling the Internet; 6. Internet robustness; 7. Virtual and social networks in the Internet; 8. Searching and walking on the Internet; 9. Epidemics in the Internet; 10. Beyond the Internet's skeleton: traffic and global performance; 11. Outlook; Appendil³4