Network Coding and Its Applications in Communication Networks

Abstract

The network coding technique generalizes the traditional routing approach by allowing the intermediate network nodes to create new packets by combining the packets received over their incoming edges. This technique has several important benefits such as an increase in throughput and an improvement in the reliability and robustness of the network. The goal of this chapter is to present a tutorial review of the network coding technique, the practical implementation of network coding, as well as its applications in several areas of networking. We begin by presenting the encoding model and the algebraic framework for network code construction. Next, we discuss efficient deterministic and randomized algorithms for construction of feasible network codes in multicast networks. Next, we present practical implementation schemes and discuss the applications of network coding in content distribution networks, peer-to-peer networks, and wireless networks.