IEEE Wireless Communications • April 2012 50 1536-1284/12/$25.00 © 2012 IEEE U SER C OOPERATION IN W IRELESS N ETWORKS INTRODUCTION For over two decades, classical game theory has been intensively applied in wireless net- working and communications [1, 2]. As wireless nodes become mobile, more autonomous, self- organizing, self-configuring, and the access net- works are more decentralized, the associated mathematical tools need to be adapted. Since one-shot game models (cooperative or not) do not allow to update strategies, do not allow error corrections, the game theorists have pro- posed dynamic game theory. These include stochastic games, evolutionary games, differen- tial games and their ramifications. Dynamic game theory is a more appropriate framework and captures more the behaviors of wireless networks where randomness, time delays and uncertainties are present. One of the dynamic game-theoretic modeling is evolutionary game theory (EGT). It goes back at least to the works by Fisher (1930), Hamilton (1964), May- nard Smith (1972). For more details on evolu- tionary game dynamics in wireless networks, we refer to [3]. Many researchers are currently engaged in developing evolutionary game theo- ry based schemes in large-scale wireless net- works that allows to describe evolution of cooperation, evolutionary network formation, dynamic network security, evolution of proto- cols, network neutrality, random graph-based topology and architectures. Most of the current research in the field is restricted to applying standard coalitional game models and techniques to study very limited aspects of cooperation in wireless networks. At the same time, the implementation of coalitional games in large-scale wireless networks encoun- ters several challenges such as appropriate mod- eling, efficiency, stability, signaling reduction, complexity, fairness, incomplete information and mobility management. Dynamic coalitional game is a very promising tool for designing fair, robust, practical, and effi- cient adaptive coalitional strategies in wireless networks where the network conditions evolve dynamically (i.e., backoff state, channel sate, arrival of users, departure of users, etc.). The evolutionary coalitional game modeling is one of the dynamic coalitional game framework. It is very powerful framework inspired from biology, genetics and evolutionary ecology. As in standard coalitional games, the central concept of evolutionary coalitional game is that of coalition, i.e., a subset of players that join their forces and decide to act together (jointly): the players form their coalitions to join optimal payoffs, players from the same group can negoti- ate collectively. For each subset of players, one associates a value, generating a function called characteristic form. In wireless networks, one needs to take into consideration the cost of com- munications [4] and costs of bargaining for a join decision so that the value will be a function of the benefit and the cost. In this article, we overview the evolutionary ingredients that constitute the fundamentals of evolutionary coalitional games as well as their potential applications in wireless networking and communications. Our aim is to provide a better understanding of the current research issues in this emerging direction. We also attempt an investigation into pertaining design constraints and outline the use of evolutionary dynamics tools to meet certain design objectives. The remainder of the article is organized as follows. In the next section we present the basic MANZOOR AHMED KHAN, TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN HAMIDOU TEMBINE, ECOLE SUPÉRIEURE D’ELECTRICITÉ A THANASIOS V. V ASILAKOS, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN MACEDONIA ABSTRACT The current state of the art of evolutionary coalitional game theory in wireless networking and communications is captured in this article, where solutions are discussed under their related applications. Fully distributed algorithms for global optima in network selection games are examined. Then the problem of dynamic net- work formation and evolutionary coalitional games in wireless networks are investigated. This article also points out the open research issues, new interests, and developments in this interdis- ciplinary field. E VOLUTIONARY C OALITIONAL G AMES : D ESIGN AND C HALLENGES IN W IRELESS N ETWORKS This work was started when the first author was visiting Supelec, France. The authors discuss the current state of the art of evolution- ary coalitional game theory in wireless networking and com- munications, and propose solutions under their related applications.