A survey of recent advances in fuzzy logic in telecommunications networks and new challenges

Fuzzy logic has been successfully deployed in many real-world automatic control systems including subway systems, autofocus cameras, washing machines, automobile transmissions, air-conditioners, industrial robots, aerospace, and autonomous robot navigation. In contrast, the use of fuzzy logic in telecommunication systems and networks is recent and limited. Fundamentally, Zadeh's fuzzy set theory provides a robust mathematical framework for dealing with "real-world" imprecision and nonstatistical uncertainty. Given that the present day complex networks are dynamic, that there is great uncertainty associated with the input traffic and other environmental parameters, that they are subject to unexpected overloads, failures and perturbations, and that they defy accurate analytical modeling, fuzzy logic appears to be a promising approach to address many important aspects of networks. This paper reviews the current research efforts in fuzzy logic-based approaches to queuing, buffer management, distributed access control, load management, routing, call acceptance, policing, congestion mitigation, bandwidth allocation, channel assignment, network management, and quantitative performance evaluation in networks. The review underscores the future potential and promise of fuzzy logic in networks. The paper then presents a list of key research efforts in the areas of fuzzy logic-based algorithms and new hardware and software architectures that are necessary both to address new challenges in networking and to help realize the full potential of fuzzy logic in networks.