Constrained consumable resource allocation in alternative stochastic networks via multi-objective decision making

Abstract

Many real projects complete through the realization of one and only one path of various possible network paths.<br /> Here, these networks are called alternative stochastic networks (ASNs). It is supposed that the nodes of considered<br /> network are probabilistic with exclusive-or receiver and exclusive-or emitter. First, an analytical approach is proposed<br /> to simplify the structure of the network. This approach transforms the network into a simpler equivalent one. This<br /> paper discusses the constrained consumable resource allocation problem in an ASN. Many recent researchers apply<br /> heuristic and simulation methods to solve the constrained resource allocation in these problems. In this paper, we<br /> propose an analytical approach based on multi-objective modeling. The objective functions of this model are the<br /> cumulative distribution function of the completion time of ASN paths. These functions must be maximized within<br /> the desired network completion time. Lexicographic method is used to solve the proposed multi-objective model.<br /> The proposed method is illustrated by an example.