Equilibrium threshold strategies in observable queueing systems under single vacation policy

Abstract

This paper studies the equilibrium behavior of customers in continuous/discrete time queueing systems under single vacation policy. In the single vacation queueing system, the server can only take exactly one vacation when no customers exist in the system. This scheme is more practical under many specific circumstances. Based on the reward–cost structure, equilibrium behavior is considered in the fully observable and almost observable cases. The threshold strategies in equilibrium are obtained and the stationary system behavior is analyzed under the corresponding strategies. Finally, we illustrate the effect of the information level as well as several parameters on the equilibrium thresholds and social benefits via numerical experiments. The research results could instruct the customers to take optimal strategies and provide the managers with reference information on the pricing problem in the queueing system.