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WEB Algorithms
WEB Algorithms (in English)
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 14:59:54
Abstract
The course discusses algorithmic issues related to the Web, employing interesting algorithmic and mathematical techniques for modeling and analyzing various Web related problems w.r.t. network structure (small world, hotlink assignment, page ranking), basics of game theory, selfish agents, auctions, distributed selfish packet routing and load balancing, and on-line control in some generality.
Objective
Understanding of the main algorithmic issues and techniques related to the WEB.
Content
The course discusses algorithmic issues related to the Web, with a focus on recent theoretical developments that employ interesting algorithmic and mathematical techniques for modeling and analyzing various Web related problems. The course does not aim to cover the full breadth of such developments, but rather to highlight some important algorithmic ideas that supposedly will remain useful for the next generation(s) Internet. The course first considers network structure related topics such as the impact of the Small World Phenomenon on routing in networks, the optimal placement of new hotlinks within a website, and PageRank and related rankings of web search results. Next, we discuss the basics of Game Theory to understand the actions and interactions of so-called selfish agents who pursue their own interest. As the Web lacks a central control, the concept of selfish agents is particularly interesting for modeling the behavior of Web users and programs. The course presents auction-like mechanisms and algorithms that "steer" the actions of selfish Web users into a certain desired equilibrium situation. Typical applications are the routing of data packets, or the balancing of a computational load among network attached processors. Further, the course considers on-line control and algorithms in a Web environment. In such an online setting, the future is unknown and decisions have to be taken based on the so far available knowledge.
Resources
Literature
current research papers
General Information
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 15 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | WEB Algorithms (in English) |
|
2 h weekly |
| exercise | WEB Algorithms (in English) |
|
1 h weekly |