Self-stabilizing unidirectional network algorithms by power-supply

Power-supply, a surprisingly simple and new general paradigm for the development of self-stabilizing algorithms in different models, is introduced. The paradigm is exemplified by developing simple and efficient self-stabilizing algorithms for leader election and either BFS or DFS spanning tree constructions, in strongly-connected unidirectional and bi-directional dynamic networks (synchronous and asynchronous). The different algorithms stabilize in O(n) time in both synchronous and asynchronous networks without assuming any knowledge about the network topology or size, where n is the total number of nodes. Following the leader election algorithms we present a generic self-stabilizing spanning tree and/or leader election algorithm that produces a whole spectrum of new and efficient algorithms for these problems. Two variations that produce either a rooted Depth First Search tree or a rooted Breadth First Search tree are presented.