On recent advances in loss network performance analysis

M.R. Thompson

Abstract: Loss networks are a class of resource allocation models which have proved useful in the study and design of communication networks, including cellular mobile networks, integrated services digital networks, database structures and multiprocessor architectures. This paper is concerned with estimating performance measures of loss networks such as congestion probabilities. Although many of these measures have explicit formulae, it often requires too much processor time to perform the calculations, making it necessary to use approximation techniques. Specifically we compare the celebrated Erlang fixed point approximation with the recently-proposed Markov random field method. The principles behind both will be presented. Simple examples are chosen to demonstrate each method's application, and comparison is made in terms of relative accuracy, computational time and complexity.

Keywords: Loss networks; Stochastic models; Telecommunications

Acknowledgement: This worked was funded by the Australian Research Council.

The author:

• Mark Thompson, Discipline of Mathematics, The University of Queensland. mrt@maths.uq.edu.au

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Last modified: 23rd December 1998