Lexis: An optimization-based model for the evolution of protocol stacks (Saamer Akhshabi, Constantine Dovrolis)
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Network protocol stacks typically follow a multi-layer hierarchical architecture. What determines the required number of layers, or the number of protocols at each layer? The space of applications, services and user expectations (at the top layer) and the space of elementary functions (at the bottom layer) are constantly evolving – how does this dynamic environment affect the organization of layered protocol stacks? What determines the evolvability of a protocol in the presence of changes? And how can we design new protocols that can effectively coexist, or even replace, older incumbents that are widely deployed?