Quality of Service (QoS) has been a major concern in the field of network management, even more so for emerging dynamic multimedia applications (Video on Demand, Telefony over IP etc.)

Multi-layer networks are networks in which several protocols may coexist at different layers. The Pseudo-Wire architecture provides encapsulation and decapsulation functions of protocols over Packet-Switched Networks. In a multidomain context, computing a path to support end-to-end services requires the consideration of encapsulation and decapsulation capabilities. It appears that graph models are not expressive enough to tackle this problem. In this paper, we propose a new model of heterogeneous networks using Automata Theory. A network is modeled as a Push-Down Automaton (PDA) which is able to capture the encapsulation and decapsulation capabilities, the PDA stack corresponding to the stack of encapsulated protocols. We provide polynomial algorithms that compute the shortest path either in hops or in the number of encapsulations and decapsulations along the inter-domain path, the latter reducing manual configurations and possible loops in the path.

1 The Future Internet will see the emergence of value-added applications (e.g. telepresence, etc.) requiring Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees across multiple managed networks. Deploying mechanisms to solve technical questions entails a minimal cooperation between network operators (aka. carriers). But, this cooperation is subject to economic constraints (e.g. confidentiality on resources, pricing, risk avoidance, etc.). To overcome them, an interesting direction lies in the creation of operator federations, aka. alliances, that would ensure a technical convergence. In this paper, we detail the work in progress on a scenario of inter-carrier service negotiation taking place within such a federation. The service is negotiated between a third party responsible for the federation and customers. We describe the associated game and analyze equilibrium conditions in it.

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