Complex Systems

A Relative Complexity Metric for Decision-theoretic Applications in Complex Systems Download PDF

Raymond M. Bendett

Perambur S. Neelakanta
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Florida Atlantic University,
Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA

Abstract

Proposed in this paper is a relative complexity metric deduced from the principles of cross-entropy associated with a complex system. Further indicated is the use of such a metric in decision-theoretic applications relevant to a complex system. As an example, the proposed method is applied to modern cellular phone systems in facilitating the so-called hard handoff effort by which, a mobile unit switches to a new base station when the signal from the serving base station becomes too weak (as a result of inevitably prevailing fading conditions). This wireless communication based decision-making scenario is justifiably portrayed as a spatiotemporal exercise in a complex system. The efficacy of the proposed relative complexity metric in facilitating the handoff effort is illustrated via simulations and discussed.