The Effects of Topologies on the Performance of Real-Time Networks

Time-sensitive applications are increasingly prevalent in various network domains, such as industrial, medical, and vehicular communications, imposing substantial demands on network infrastructure. Consequently, ensuring low latency has become a crucial requirement for future networks, particularly through the implementation of deterministic latency network controllers. However, it is essential to recognize that the network controller represents just one facet of network performance management. The configuration of the network's topology also significantly influences its overall performance. This study, therefore, investigates the impact of different topologies on network performance, specifically focusing on deterministic latency guarantees. Our analysis shows the correlation between graph metrics characterizing the topology and its performance. This correlation facilitates a straightforward ranking of topology performance during critical phases like network planning or expansion. We introduce a readily obtainable graph metric that enables relative performance ranking without the need for exhaustive simulations or emulations. The metric exhibits a Spearman Ranking correlation coefficient exceeding 0.93.