Performance of an ATM multiplexer queue in the fluid approximation using the Benes approach

This paper describes a new method for evaluating the queue length distribution in an ATM multiplexer assuming the cell arrival process can be assimilated to a variable rate fluid input. The method is based on a result due initially to Benes allowing the analysis of queues with general input. Its extension to fluid input systems is considered here in the case of a superposition of on/off sources. The authors derive an upper bound on the complementary queue length distribution. The method is most easily applied in the case of Poisson burst arrivals (infinite sources model). In this case, the authors derive analytic expressions for the tail of the queue length distribution. A corrective factor is deduced to convert the upper bounds to good approximations. Numerical results justify the accuracy of the method and demonstrate the impact of certain traffic characteristics on queue performance.