An Algorithm for Estimating the Expected Number of Customers for a Class of Markovian Queueing Systems

Abstract

An algorithm is presented for estimating the expected number of customers for a class of Markovian queueing systems. The class is characterized by those systems whose transition matrix for the underlying customer arrival and departure process is finite, irreducible, and aperiodic. The algorithm does not depend on a closed-form solution for the limiting behavior of the queue. The expected number of customers is frequently used as a measure of effectiveness to describe the behavior of the system or to optimize its design or control. To calculate such a quantity one must usually obtain a closed-form expression for the steady-state probabilities. Unfortunately, of the myriad of Markovian queueing systems, only a few have known closed-form expressions for their steady-state probabilities. The most well-known, using Kendall’s notation, are the M/M/1 and the M/M/c system. The algorithm described below estimates the expected number in the system under steady-state without a need for closed form steady-state probabilities. All that is needed is the transition matrix for the underlying Markov chain.