Algorithm Design for Networked Information Technology Systems

I felt deeply honored when Professor Sumit Ghosh asked me to write the foreword to his book with an extraordinary perspective. I have long admired him, ?rst as a student leader at Stanford, where he initiated the ?rst IEEE Computer Society’s student chapter, and later as an esteemed and inspiring friend whose transdisciplinary research broadened and enhanced the horizons of practitioners of computer science and engineering, including my own. His ideas, which are derived from his profound vision, deep critical thinking, and personal intuition, reach from information technology to bioscience, as - hibited in this excellent book. To me, an ordinary engineer, it opens up a panoramic view of the Universe of Knowledge that keeps expanding and - spiring,likethegoodIndianproverb,whichsays,“agoodbookinformsyou,an excellent book teaches you, and a great book changes you. ” I sincerely believe that Professor Ghosh’s book will help us change and advance the methods of systems engineering and technology. Vision Inspired vision sees ahead of others what will or may come to be, a vivid, imagined concept or anticipation. An inspired vision personi?es what is good and what like-minded individuals hope for. Our vision is one of creating an Internet of minds, where minds are Web sites or knowledge centers, which create, store, and radiate knowledge through interaction with other minds connected by a universal shared network. This vision will not just hasten the death of distance, but will also - carcerate ignorance.

 

Networked information technology (NIT) systems are synonymous with network-centric or net-centric systems and constitute the cornerstone of the fast approaching information age. To date, however, the design and development of NIT systems have been ad hoc and have suffered from a dearth of supporting scientific and theoretical principles.

Algorithm Design for Networked Information Technology Systems presents a scientific theory of NIT systems and logically develops the fundamental principles to help synthesize control and coordination algorithms for these systems. The algorithms described are asynchronous, distributed decision-making (ADDM) algorithms, and their characteristics include correct operation, robustness, reliability, scalability, stability, survivability, and performance. The book explains through case studies the conception, development, experimental testing, validation, and rigorous performance analysis of practical ADDM algorithms for real-world systems from a number of diverse disciplines.

Topics and features:

Develops a logical and practical approach to synthesizing ADDM algorithms for NIT systems

Utilizes a scientific method to address the design & testing of NIT systems

Incorporates case studies to clearly convey principles and real-world applications

Provides a full context for engineers who design, build, deploy, maintain, and refine network-centric systems spanning many human activities

Offers background on core principles underlying the nature of network-centric systems

NIT systems are critical to new information systems and network- or web-connected control systems in all types of organizations. This new monograph is the first to systematically derive a conceptual foundation for NIT systems and fully present an integrated view of the requisite control and coordination (ADDM) algorithms. Practitioners, professionals, and advanced students will find the book an authoritative resource for the design and analysis of NIT systems algorithms.