The effect of packet lifetime on scale-free network information traffic

We model the information traffic on scale-free networks considering the packets' limited lifetime. In previous papers, an order parameter η, which reflects the accumulation of packets, has been employed to estimate traffic congestion; if η>0, the traffic system is in the congestion state. With lifetime mechanism, where a packet will be removed from the system once its lifetime ends, it is found that traffic congestion is avoided. We then introduce another order parameter λ to characterize the variation of dropped packets and find that the network systems undergo a continuous transition from stable state to explored state at a critical point ^Rd. The packet loss rate and the average packets traveling time are also studied. Transition of these values happens at the same critical point of ^Rd. This work may be helpful for understanding information traffic in networks.