An approximation method for the analysis of GI/G/1 queues

Abstract

We study in this paper an approximation method for the calculation of various performance measures of a GI/G/1 queue. Instead of solving the waiting time directly, we analyze the idle-period distribution as the starting point. The result is then taken as input to many known results to get other performance measures. We show that the distribution of the GI/G/1 idle period satisfies a nonlinear integral equation. This equation directly leads to an accurate approximate solution of the idle-period distribution of the GI/G/1 queue where the interarrival times have a generalized hyperexponential distribution (GH). Since all distribution functions can be approximated by a GH distribution at any given accuracy (Botta and Harris 1986), the solution method developed in this paper serves as a unified basis for the analysis of GI/G/1 queues. © 1997 INFORMS.