Joris Walraevens

Performance analysis of a single-server ATM queue with a priority scheduling

In this paper, we consider a discrete-time queueing system with head-of-line priority. First, we will give some general results on a GI-1-1 queue with priority scheduling. In particular, we will derive expressions for the probability generating function of the system contents and the cell delay. Some performance measures (such as mean, variance and approximate tail distributions) of these quantities will be derived, and used to illustrate the impact and significance of priority scheduling in an ATM output queueing switch.

Delay characteristics in discrete-time GI-G-1 queues with non-preemptive priority queueing discipline

Priority scheduling for packets is becoming a hot topic, as attempts are being made to integrate voice services in existing data networks. In this paper, we consider a discrete-time queueing system with head-of-line (HOL) non-preemptive priority scheduling. Two classes of traffic will be considered, i.e., high-priority and low-priority traffic, which both generate variable-length packets. We will derive expressions for the probability generating function of the packet delay of the high-priority traffic and the low-priority traffic. From these, some performance measures (such as the mean value) will be derived. These will be used to illustrate the significance of priority scheduling and will be applied to an output queueing switch.

A Discrete-Time Priority Queue with Train Arrivals

We analyze a discrete-time priority queue with train arrivals. Messages of a variable number of fixed-length packets belonging to two classes arrive to the queue at the rate of one packet per slot. We assume geometrically distributed message lengths. Packets of the first class have transmission priority over the packets of the other class. By using probability generating functions, some performance measures such as the moments of the packet delay are calculated. The impact of the priority scheduling discipline and the correlation in the arrival process is shown by some numerical examples.

A queueing model for general group screening policies and dynamic item arrivals

Classification of items as good or bad can often be achieved more economically by examining the items in groups rather than individually. If the result of a group test is good, all items within it can be classified as good, whereas one or more items are bad in the opposite case. Whether it is necessary to identify the bad items or not, and if so, how, is described by the screening policy. In the course of time, a spectrum of group screening models has been studied, each including some policy. However, the majority ignores that items may arrive at random time epochs at the testing center in real life situations. This dynamic aspect leads to two decision variables: the minimum and maximum group size. In this paper, we analyze a discrete-time batch-service queueing model with a general dependency between the service time of a batch and the number of items within it. We deduce several important quantities, by which the decision variables can be optimized. In addition, we highlight that every possible screening policy can, in principle, be studied, by defining the dependency between the service time of a batch and the number of items within it appropriately.

Performance comparison of several priority schemes with priority jumps

In this paper, we consider several discrete-time priority queues with priority jumps. In a priority scheduling scheme with priority jumps, real-time and non-real-time packets arrive in separate queues, i.e., the high- and low-priority queue respectively. In order to deal with possibly excessive delays however, non-real-time packets in the low-priority queue can in the course of time jump to the high-priority queue. These packets are then treated in the high-priority queue as if they were real-time packets. Many criteria can be used to decide when packets of the low-priority queue jump to the high-priority queue. Some criteria have already been introduced in the literature, and we first overview this literature. Secondly, we propose and analyse a new priority scheme with priority jumps. Finally, we extensively compare all cited schemes. The schemes all differ in their jumping mechanism, based on a certain jumping criterion, and thus all have a different performance. We show the pros and cons of each jumping scheme.

A modified HOL priority scheduling discipline: Performance analysis

In this paper, we introduce and analyze a modified HOL (head-of-the-line) priority scheduling discipline. The modification is incorporated to cope with the so-called starvation problem of regular HOL priority queues. We consider a discrete-time single-server queueing system with two priority queues of infinite capacity and with the introduced priority scheme. We show that the use of probability generating functions is suitable for analyzing the system contents and the packet delay. Some performance measures (such as means and variances) of these stochastic quantities will be derived. Furthermore, approximate expressions of the tail probabilities are obtained from the probability generating functions, by means of the dominant-singularity method. These expressions, together with their characteristics, constitute one of the main contributions of this paper. Finally, the impact and significance of the m-HOL (modified HOL) priority scheduling on these performance measures is illustrated by some numerical examples.

Analyzing a degenerate buffer with general inter-arrival and service times in discrete time

Abstract In novel switching approaches such as Optical Burst Switching, the involved buffers can only provide a degenerate waiting room, with delays restricted to multiples of a basic value, the granularity. Although the resulting performance loss was already studied analytically, previous work is either limited by the assumption of independent arrivals, or it involves a matrix with size growing fast with buffer size or arrival process complexity. Overcoming this, we developed a generic and accurate loss performance model for a degenerate GI/G/1 buffer in discrete time, that yields results instantly for any constellation of burst sizes, inter-arrival times, granularity, load and buffer size. This paper presents our model and compares its results to simulations, illustrating the impact of different types of correlation in the arrival process on loss performance. Our basic model is general and accurate, it can thus serve as a basic tool for optical switch design.

On priority queues with priority jumps

In this paper, we investigate a simplified head-of-the-line with priority jumps (HOL-PJ) scheduling discipline. Therefore, we consider a discrete-time single-server queueing system with two priority queues of infinite capacity and with a newly introduced HOL-PJ priority scheme. We derive expressions for the probability generating function of the system contents and the packet delay. Some performance measures (such as mean and variance) of these quantities are derived and are used to illustrate the impact and significance of the HOL-PJ priority scheduling discipline in an output queueing switch. We compare this dynamic priority scheduling discipline with a first-in, first-out (FIFO) scheduling and a static priority scheduling (HOL) and we investigate the influence of the different parameters of the simplified HOL-PJ scheduling discipline.

Analysis of threshold-based batch-service queueing systems with batch arrivals and general service times

Most research concerning batch-service queueing systems has focussed on some specific aspect of the buffer content. Further, the customer delay has only been examined in the case of single arrivals. In this paper, we examine three facets of a threshold-based batch-service system with batch arrivals and general service times. First, we compute a fundamental formula from which an entire gamut of known as well as new results regarding the buffer content of batch-service queues can be extracted. Second, we produce accurate light- and heavy-traffic approximations for the buffer content. Third, we calculate various quantities with regard to the customer delay. This paper thus provides a whole spectrum of tools to evaluate the performance of batch-service systems.

Analysis of a discrete-time preemptive resume priority buffer

In this paper, we analyze a discrete-time preemptive resume priority queue. We consider two classes of customers which have to be served, where customers of one class have preemptive resume priority over customers of the other. Both classes contain customers with generally distributed service times. We show that the use of probability generating functions is beneficial for analyzing the system contents and customer delays of both classes. It is shown (theoretically as well as by some practical procedures) how moments and approximate tail probabilities of system contents and customer delays are calculated. The influence of the priority scheduling discipline and the service time distributions on the performance measures is shown by some numerical examples.