Chaotic Maps

In this chapter, we introduce chaotic maps as a method of simulating on/off network traffic flows. Chaotic systems are systems that are sensitive to initial conditions (SIC). That is, even a small perturbation in the starting conditions can significantly affect the long-term behaviour of the system. Chaotic behaviour is modeled using low-order, nonlinear dynamical maps. These maps are low-order because they are described by only a few parameters and variables. The parameters of the maps are fixed, but variables vary over time, giving the maps their dynamical properties.