The internet, evolutionary variational inequalities, and the time-dependent Braess paradox (Q2468772)

The internet has evolved into a network that underpins our developed societies and economics. In the paper, a dynamic network model of the internet is developed that is based on evolutionary variational inequalities of the form \[ \text{determine }x^*\in K\text{ such that }\langle\langle F(x^*), x-x^*\rangle\rangle\geq 0\qquad\forall x\in K. \] The evolutionary variational inequality formulation of the internet with a focus on the multiclass flows, multiclass costs, and equilibria is presented. The proposed model can handle not only time-varying multiclass demands but also timevarying capacities on the multiclass route flows. The authors illustrate the novelty of paper in the context of a time-dependent paradox [cf. \textit{D. Braess}, Unternehmensforsch. 12, 258--268 (1968; Zbl 0167.48305)] in which the corresponding evolutionary variational inequalities are explictly solved.