Optimal NT policies for M/G/1 system with a startup and unreliable server

This paper studies the control policies of an M/G/1 queueing system with a startup and unreliable server, in which the length of the vacation period is controlled either by the number of arrivals during the idle period, or by a timer. After all the customers are served in the queue exhaustively, the server immediately takes a vacation and operates two different policies: (i) the server reactivates as soon as the number of arrivals in the queue reaches to a predetermined threshold N or the waiting time of the leading customer reaches T units; and (ii) the server reactivates as soon as the number of arrivals in the queue reaches to a predetermined threshold N or T time units have elapsed since the end of the completion period. If the timer expires or the number of arrivals exceeds the threshold N, then the server reactivates and requires a startup time before providing the service until the system is empty. Furthermore, it is assumed that the server breaks down according to a Poisson process and his repair time has a general distribution. We analyze the system characteristics for each scheme. The total expected cost function per unit time is developed to determine the optimal thresholds of N and T at a minimum cost.     

带工作休假和工作故障的M/M/1/N排队系统性能分析

本文在可修M/M/1/N排队系统中引入了启动时间、工作休假和工作故障策略.在该系统中,服务台在休假期间不是完全停止工作,而是处于低速服务状态.设定服务台在任何时候均可发生故障,当故障发生时立刻进行维修.且当服务台在正规忙期出现故障时,服务台仍以较低的服务速率为顾客服务.服务台的寿命时间和修理时间均服从指数分布,且在不同的时期有不同的取值.同时,从关闭期到正规忙期有服从指数分布的启动时间.本文建立此模型的有限状态拟生灭过程(QBD),使用矩阵几何方法得到系统的稳态概率向量,并应用基本阵和协方差矩阵理论,计算出系统稳态可用度、系统方差、系统吞吐率、系统稳态队长及各系统稳态概率等系统性能指标.同时,通过数值实验对各系统参数对系统性能的影响进行了初探.文中的敏感性分析体现了这种方法的有效性和可用性.实验表明,文中提出的模型,可有效改善仅带有工作休假或工作故障策略排队模型的系统性能.     

The optimal control of an M/G/1 queueing system with server vacations, startup and breakdowns

This paper studies the control policy of the N policy M/G/1 queue with server vacations, startup and breakdowns, where arrivals form a Poisson process and service times are generally distributed. The server is turned off and takes a vacation whenever the system is empty. If the number of customers waiting in the system at the instant of a vacation completion is less than N, the server will take another vacation. If the server returns from a vacation and finds at least N customers in the system, he requires a startup time before providing service until the system is again empty. It is assumed that the server breaks down according to a Poisson process and his repair time has a general distribution. The system characteristics of such a model are analyzed and the total expected cost function per unit time is developed to determine the optimal threshold of N at a minimum cost.     

Stationary distributions and optimal control of queues with batch Markovian arrival process under multiple adaptive vacations

We consider an infinite-buffer single server queue with batch Markovian arrival process (BMAP) and exhaustive service discipline under multiple adaptive vacation policy. That is, the server serves until system emptied and after that server takes a random maximum number H different vacations until either he finds at least one customer in queue or the server have exhaustively taken all the vacations. The maximum number H of vacations taken by the server is a discrete random variable. We obtain queue-length distributions at various epochs such as, service completion/vacation termination, pre-arrival, arbitrary, post-departure and pre-service. The proposed analysis is based on the use of matrix-analytic procedure to obtain queue-length distribution at a post-departure epoch. Later we use supplementary variable method and simple algebraic manipulations to obtain the queue-length distribution at other epochs using queue-length distribution at post-departure epoch. Some important performance measures, like mean queue lengths and mean waiting times have been obtained. Several other vacation queueing models can be obtained as a special case of our model, e.g., single-, multiple-vacation model and queues with exceptional first vacation time. Finally, the total expected cost function per unit time is considered to determine a locally optimal multiple adaptive vacation policy at a minimum cost.     

Maximum entropy analysis of the M[x]/M/1 queueing system with multiple vacations and server breakdowns

We consider a single unreliable sever in an M^[x]/M/1 queueing system with multiple vacations. As soon as the system becomes empty, the server leaves the system for a vacation of exponential length. When he returns from the vacation, if there are customers waiting in the queue, he begins to serve the customers; otherwise, another vacation is taken. Breakdown times and repair times of the server are assumed to obey a negative exponential distribution. Arrival rate varies according to the server’s status: vacation, busy, or breakdown. Using the maximum entropy principle, we develop the approximate formulae for the probability distributions of the number of customers in the system which is used to obtain various system performance measures. We perform a comparative analysis between the exact results and the maximum entropy results. We demonstrate, through the maximum entropy results, that the maximum entropy principle approach is accurate enough for practical purposes.     

带启动时间和可修服务台的M/M/1/N工作休假排队系统

分析带有启动时间、服务台可故障的M/M/1/N单重工作休假排队系统.在该系统中,服务台在休假期间不是完全停止工作,而是处于低速服务状态.假定服务台允许出现故障且当出现故障时,服务台停止为顾客服务且立即进行修理.服务台的失效时间和修理时间均服从指数分布,且工作休假期和正规忙期具有不同的取值;同时,从关闭期到正规忙期有服从指数分布的启动时间.建立此工作休假排队系统的有限状态拟生灭过程(QBD),使用矩阵几何方法得到QBD的各稳态概率相互依赖的率阵,从而求得稳态概率向量.通过有限状态QBD的最小生成元和稳态概率向量得到系统的基本阵和协方差矩阵,求解出系统方差、系统稳态可用度、系统吞吐率、系统稳态队长、系统稳态故障频度等系统性能.数值分析体现了所提出方法的有效性和实用性,通过敏感性分析将各参数对系统性能的影响进行了初探,为此模型的实际应用提供了很好的理论依据.     

Comparative analysis of a randomized N-policy queue: An improved maximum entropy method

We analyze a single removable and unreliable server in an M/G/1 queueing system operating under the 〈p, N〉-policy. As soon as the system size is greater than N, turn the server on with probability p and leave the server off with probability (1 ? p). All arriving customers demand the first essential service, where only some of them demand the second optional service. He needs a startup time before providing first essential service until there are no customers in the system. The server is subject to break down according to a Poisson process and his repair time obeys a general distribution. In this queueing system, the steady-state probabilities cannot be derived explicitly. Thus, we employ an improved maximum entropy method with several well-known constraints to estimate the probability distributions of system size and the expected waiting time in the system. By a comparative analysis between the exact and approximate results, we may demonstrate that the improved maximum entropy method is accurate enough for practical purpose, and it is a useful method for solving complex queueing systems.     

Entropy maximization and NT vacation M/G/1 model with a startup and unreliable server: comparative analysis on the first two moments of system size

We consider the control policy of an M/G/1 queueing system with a startup and unreliable server, in which the length of the vacation period is controlled either by the number of arrivals during the idle period, or by a timer. After all the customers have been served in the queue, the server immediately takes a vacation and operates an NT vacation policy: the server reactivates as soon as the number of arrivals in the queue reaches a predetermined threshold N or when the waiting time of the leading customer reaches T units. In such a variant vacation system, the steady-state probabilities cannot be obtained explicitly. Thus, the maximum entropy principle is used to derive the approximate formulas for the steady-state probability distributions of the queue length. A comparitive analysis of two approximation approaches, using the first and the second moments of system size, is studied. Both solutions are compared with the exact results under several service time distributions with specific parameter values. Our numerical investigations demonstrate that the use of the second moment of system size for the available information is, in general, sufficient to obtain more accurate estimations than that of the first moment.     

Impatient customers in an M/M/1 queue with single and multiple working vacations

We consider an M/M/1 queue with impatient customers and two different types of working vacations. The working vacation policy is the one in which the server serves at a lower rate during a vacation period rather than completely stop serving. The customer’s impatience is due to its arrival during a working vacation period, in which the customer service rate is lower than the normal busy period. We analyze the queue for two different working vacation termination policies, a multiple working vacation policy and a single working vacation policy. Closed-form solutions and various performance measures like, the mean queue lengths and the mean waiting times are derived. The stochastic decomposition properties are verified for both multiple and single working vacation cases. A comparison of both the models is carried out to capture their performances with the change in system parameters.     

A batch arrival queue under randomised multi-vacation policy with unreliable server and repair

This article examines an M^[x]/G/1 queueing system with an unreliable server and a repair, in which the server operates a randomised vacation policy with multiple available vacations. Upon the system being found to be empty, the server immediately takes a vacation. If there is at least one customer found waiting in the queue upon returning from a vacation, the server will be activated for service. Otherwise, if no customers are waiting for service at the end of a vacation, the server either remains idle with probability p or leaves for another vacation with probability 1???p. When one or more customers arrive when the server is idle, the server immediately starts providing service for the arrivals. It is possible that an unpredictable breakdown may occur in the server, in which case a repair time is requested. For such a system, we derive the distributions of several important system characteristics, such as the system size distribution at a random epoch and at a departure epoch, the system size distribution at the busy period initiation epoch, and the distribution of the idle and busy periods. We perform a numerical analysis for changes in the system characteristics, along with changes in specific values of the system parameters. A cost effectiveness maximisation model is constructed to show the benefits of such a queueing system.     

Optimal management for infinite capacity N-policy M/G/1 queue with a removable service station

In this article, we consider an infinite capacity N-policy M/G/1 queueing system with a single removable server. Poisson arrivals and general distribution service times are assumed. The server is controllable that may be turned on at arrival epochs or off at service completion epochs. We apply a differential technique to study system sensitivity, which examines the effect of different system input parameters on the system. A cost model for infinite capacity queueing system under steady-state condition is developed, to determine the optimal management policy at minimum cost. Analytical results for sensitivity analysis are derived. We also provide extensive numerical computations to illustrate the analytical sensitivity properties obtained. Finally, an application example is presented to demonstrate how the model could be used in real applications to obtain the optimal management policy.     

On a batch arrival Poisson queue with a random setup time and vacation period

The single server queue with vacation has been extended to include several types of extensions and generalisations, to which attention has been paid by several researchers (e.g. see Doshi, B. T., Single server queues with vacations — a servey. Queueing Systems, 1986, 1, 29–66; Takagi, H., Queueing Analysis: A Foundation of Performance evaluation, Vol. 1, Vacation and Priority systems, Part. 1. North Holland, Amsterdam, 1991; Medhi, J., Extensions and generalizations of the classical single server queueing system with Poisson input. J. Ass. Sci. Soc., 1994, 36, 35–41, etc.). The interest in such types of queues have been further enhanced in resent years because of their theoretical structures as well as their application in many real life situations such as computer, telecommunication, airline scheduling as well as production/inventory systems. This paper concerns the model building of such a production/inventory system, where machine undergoes extra operation (such as machine repair, preventive maintenance, gearing up machinery, etc.) before the processing of raw material is to be started. To be realistic, we also assume that raw materials arrive in batch. This production system can be formulated as an M^x/M/1 queues with a setup time. Further, from the utility point of view of idle time this model can also be formulated as a case of multiple vacation model, where vacation begins at the end of each busy period. Besides, the production/inventory systems, such a model is generally fitted to airline scheduling problems also. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the steady state behavior of such an M^x/M/1 queueing system with a view to provide some system performance measures, which lead to remarkable simplification when solving other similar types of queueing models.This paper deals with the steady state behaviour of a single server batch arrival Poisson queue with a random setup time and a vacation period. The service of the first customer in each busy period is preceded by a random setup period, on completion of which service starts. As soon as the system becomes empty the server goes on vacation for a random length of time. On return from vacation, if he finds customer(s) waiting, the server starts servicing the first customer in the queue. Otherwise it takes another vacation and so on. We study the steady state behaviour of the queue size distribution at random (stationary) point of time as well as at departure point of time and try to show that departure point queue size distribution can be decomposed into three independent random variables, one of which is the queue size of the standard M^x/M/1 queue. The interpretation of the other two random variables will also be provided. Further, we derive analytically explicit expressions for the system state (number of customers in the system) probabilities and provide their appropriate interpretations. Also, we derive some system performance measures. Finally, we develop a procedure to find mean waiting time of an arbitrary customer.     

Cost analysis of a finite capacity queue with server breakdowns and threshold-based recovery policy

This paper analyzes a repairable M/M/1/N queueing system under a threshold-based recovery policy. The threshold-based recovery policy means that the server breaks down only if there is at least one customer in the system, and the recovery can be performed when q (1 ≤ q ≤ N) or more customers are present. For this queueing system, a recursive method is applied to obtain steady-state solutions in neat closed-form expressions. We then develop some important system characteristics, such as the number of customers in the system, the probability that the server is busy, the effective arrival rate and the expected waiting time in the system, etc. A cost model is constructed to determine the optimal threshold value, the optimal system capacity and the optimal service rate at a minimum cost. In order to solve this optimization problem, the direct search method and Newton's method are employed. Sensitivity analysis is also conducted with various system parameters. Finally, we present some managerial insights through an application example.     

A retrial queue for modeling fault-tolerant systems with checkpointing and rollback recovery

In this paper we analyze a retrial queue that can be used to model fault-tolerant systems with checkpointing and rollback recovery. We assume that the service time of each job is decomposed into N modules, at the end of each of which a checkpoint is established. Checkpointing and rollback recovery consists, basically, of saving periodically the state of the system on a secure device so that, upon recovery from a system failure, the system can resume the computation from the most recent checkpoint, rather than from the beginning. Upon a successful service completion of a job, the server activates a timer and remains awake. If the timer expires without a request, the server departs for a vacation. Upon returning from the vacation, the server activates the timer again. Furthermore, both idle and vacation periods can be interrupted by the server in order to perform secondary jobs. Applications of this model can be found in power saving of mobile devices in a half-duplex communication system operating in wireless environment, and in long-running software applications. We investigate stability condition and steady state analysis. We also apply a mean value analysis to obtain useful performance measures, and prove that the model satisfies the stochastic decomposition property. Useful energy metrics are determined and constrained optimization problems are formulated and used to obtain extensive numerical results.     

T-preemptive priority queue and its application to the analysis of an opportunistic spectrum access in cognitive radio networks

We propose a new priority discipline called the T-preemptive priority discipline. Under this discipline, during the service of a customer, at every T time units the server periodically reviews the queue states of each class with different queue-review processing times. If the server finds any customers with higher priorities than the customer being serviced during the queue-review process, then the service of the customer being serviced is preempted and the service for customers with higher priorities is started immediately. We derive the waiting-time distributions of each class in the M/G/1 priority queue with multiple classes of customers under the proposed T-preemptive priority discipline. We also present lower and upper bounds on the offered loads and the mean waiting time of each class, which hold regardless of the arrival processes and service-time distributions of lower-class customers. To demonstrate the utility of the T-preemptive priority queueing model, we take as an example an opportunistic spectrum access in cognitive radio networks, where one primary (licensed) user and multiple (unlicensed) users with distinct priorities can share a communication channel. We analyze the queueing delays of the primary and secondary users in the proposed opportunistic spectrum access model, and present numerical results of the queueing analysis.     

Discrete-time single-server finite-buffer queues under discrete Markovian arrival process with vacations

This paper treats a discrete-time single-server finite-buffer exhaustive (single- and multiple-) vacation queueing system with discrete-time Markovian arrival process (D-MAP). The service and vacation times are generally distributed random variables and their durations are integral multiples of a slot duration. We obtain the queue-length distributions at departure, service completion, vacation termination, arbitrary and prearrival epochs. Several performance measures such as probability of blocking, average queue-length and the fraction of time the server is busy have been discussed. Finally, the analysis of actual waiting time under the first-come-first-served discipline is also carried out.     

An algorithmic analysis of multi-server vacation model with service interruptions

Motivated by the trade-off between reliability and utilization level of a stochastic service system, we considers a Markovian multi-server vacation queueing system with c unreliable servers. In such a system, some servers may not be available due to either planned stoppage (vacations) or unplanned service interruptions (server failures). The vacations are controlled by a threshold policy. With this policy, at a service completion instant, if d (?c) servers become idle, they take a vacation together and will keep taking vacations until they find at least c − d + 1 customers are in the system at a vacation completion instant, and then they return to serve the queue. In addition, all on-duty servers are subject to failures and can be repaired within a random period of time. We formulate a quasi-birth–death (QBD) process, establish the stability condition, and develop a computational algorithm to obtain the stationary performance measures of the system. Numerical examples are presented to show the performance evaluation and optimization of such a system. The insights gained from this model help practitioners make capacity and operating decisions for this type of waiting line systems.     

Randomized control of T-policy for an M/G/1 system

We study an M/G/1 queueing system with a server that can be switched on and off. The server can take a vacation time T after the system becomes empty. In this paper, we investigate a randomized policy to control a server with which, when the system is empty, the server can be switched off with probability p and take a vacation or left on with probability (1 − p) and continue to serve the arriving customers. For this system, we consider the operating cost and the holding cost where the operating cost consists of the system running and switching costs (start up and shut down costs). We describe the structure and characteristics of this policy and solve a constrained problem to minimize the average operating cost per unit time under the constraint for the holding cost per unit time.     

Analysis of discrete-time batch service renewal input queue with multiple working vacations

This paper investigates a discrete-time single server batch service queue with multiple working vacations wherein arrivals occur according to a discrete-time renewal process. The server works with a different service rate rather than completely stopping during the vacation period. The service is performed in batches and the server takes a vacation when the system does not have any waiting customers at a service completion epoch or a vacation completion epoch. We present a recursive method, using the supplementary variable technique to obtain the steady-state queue-length distributions at pre-arrival, arbitrary and outside observer’s observation epochs. The displacement operator method is used to solve simultaneous non-homogeneous difference equations. Some performance measures and waiting-time distribution in the system have also been discussed. Finally, numerical results showing the effect of model parameters on key performance measures are presented.