A directed hypergraph model for random time dependent shortest paths

We consider routing problems in dynamic networks where are travel times are both random and time dependent. The problem of finding the best route to a fixed destination is formulated in terms of shortest hyperpaths on a suitable time-expanded directed hypergraph. The latter problem can be solved in linear time, with respect to the size of the hypergraph, for several definitions of hyperpath length. Different criteria for ranking routes can be modeled by suitable definitions of hyperpath length. We also show that the problem becomes intractable if a constraint on the route structure is imposed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.