Problems in the design of control procedures for computer networks

This paper is one in a series of short papers highlighting research problems in the area of computer communication. Two previous papers have described problems in the design of data communication networks [CHOU 74] and selected research areas in computer communication [KLEI 74a]. In this paper, we will concentrate on problems which arise in the design of control procedures for computer networks. While some of the problems we are going to describe refer explicitly to packet - switched computer communication networks, others apply to packet-switched as well as line-switched systems. We will consider the following six problems: 1. Flow control and routing 2. Design and implementation of efficient protocols 3. Definition of network performance 4. Portability of communications software 5. Distribution of intelligence 6. Process synchronization with unrealiable components