Mathematics Unlimited - 2001 and Beyond,
editors B. Engquist and W. Schmid. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2001. 685-702.
Modern communication networks are able to respond to randomly fluctuating demands and failures by adapting rates, by rerouting traffic and by reallocating resources. They are able to do this so well that, in many respects, large-scale networks appear as coherent, self-regulating systems. The design and control of such networks present challenges of a mathematical, engineering and economic nature. This paper outlines how mathematical models are being used to address one current set of issues concerning the stability and fairness of rate control algorithms for the Internet.