A unified ME algorithm for arbitrary open QNMs with mixed blocking mechanisms

Abstract

A generic maximum entropy (ME) product-form approximation is proposed for arbitrary single class open first-come-first-served (FCFS) queueing network models with blocking (QNMs-B), subject to bursty GE-type interarrival and service times and the mixed blocking mechanisms (BMs) of Blocking-After-Service (BAS), Blocking-Before-Service (BBS) and Repetitive-Service (RS) Blocking with Random (RS-RD) and Fixed (RS-FD) destinations. A new GE-type analytic framework is devised, based on the ME analysis of a virtual multiple class GE/GE/1/N+U queueing system with finite capacity, $N (N>1)$ augmented by $U (U\geq1)$ auxiliary-waiting lines, to determine the first two moments of BAS- and BBS-dependent effective service times towards a node-by-node decomposition of the entire network. In this context, a unified ME algorithm is devised for the approximate analysis of arbitrary open FCFS QNMs-B with a mixture of the BMs of BAS, BBS, RS-RD and RS-FD. Typical numerical tests are carried out to assess the credibility of the unified ME algorithm against discrete event simulation and also establish GE-type experimental performance bounds. A critique on the feasibility of ME formalism for QNMs-B and suggested extensions are included.