>Internet routers mostly rely on deterministic non-conflicting rules
Exponential backoff (which the previous poster mentioned) is randomized and success is by definition non-deterministic algorithm to resolve conflicting usage. It works very well, and is very simple. But deterministic and non-conflicting are really not qualities that the IP protocol is known for.
Exponential backoff (which the previous poster mentioned) is randomized and success is by definition non-deterministic algorithm to resolve conflicting usage. It works very well, and is very simple. But deterministic and non-conflicting are really not qualities that the IP protocol is known for.