Split: a flexible and efficient algorithm to vector-descriptor product

Abstract

Many Markovian stochastic structured modeling formalisms like Petri nets, automata networks and process algebra represent the infinitesimal generator of the underlying Markov chain as a descriptor instead of a traditional sparse matrix. A descriptor is a compact and structured storage based on a sum of tensor (Kronecker) products of small matrices that can be handled by many algorithms allowing affordable stationary and transient solutions even for very large Markovian models. One of the most efficient algorithms used to compute iterative solutions of descriptors is the Shuffle algorithm which is used to perform the multiplication by a probability vector. In this paper we propose an alternative algorithm called Split, since it offers a flexible solution between the pure sparse matrix approach and the Shuffle algorithm using a hybrid solution. The Split algorithm puts the Shuffle approach in perspective by presenting a faster execution time for many cases and at least the same efficiency for the worst cases. The Split algorithm is applied to solve two SAN models based on real problems showing the practical contribution of this paper.