A unified stochastic model for the packet stream from periodic sources

Abstract

Latouche, G and V. Ramaswami, A unified stochastic model for the packet stream from periodic sources, Performance Evaluation 14 (1992) 103–121. Motivated by applications to performance analysis of packet communication systems with synchronous slotted cells, a unified stochastic model is developed to describe the packet stream generated by periodic sources. The model permits the incorporation of the statistical characteristics of the call setup instants as well as those of the holding time and packet generation scenarios of individual calls. The description of an individual call takes into account discretization due to packetization and can also accommodate very general scenarios. The stationary version of the aggregate packet stream from a collection of periodic sources is characterized, and algorithmically implementable formulae are derived for its first two moments. Through examples, we demonstrate that certain characteristics of the aggregate stream are significantly affected by the packet generation of individual calls.