A new look at a smart polling model

Abstract

We analyze a Markovian smart polling model, which is a special case of the smart polling models studied in the work of Boon et al. (Queueing Syst 66:239–274, 2010), as well as a generalization of the gated M / M / 1 queue considered in Resing and Rietman (Stat Neerlandica 58:97–110, 2004). We first derive tractable expressions for the stationary distribution (when it exists) as well as the Laplace transforms of the transition functions of this polling model—while further assuming the system is empty at time zero—and we also present simple necessary and sufficient conditions for ergodicity of the smart polling model. Finally, we conclude the paper by briefly explaining how these techniques can be used to study other interesting variants of this smart polling model.