Stochastic Discrete Event Systems Modeling, Evaluation, Applications

Stochasticdiscreteeventsystems(SDES)arisefrequentlyinthedesign,ana- sis,andoptimizationofman-madeengineeredsystems.Thedominantdyn- ics ofsuchsystems tendto be modeled notthroughthe applicationofphysical laws but through the speci?cation of protocols, algorithms, and managerial rules. The key role of such protocols, algorithms, and rules as a determ- ing factor in the performance of engineered systems has become increasingly evident as technology has advanced over the last half century. Opportunities for utilizing SDES as a design tool clearly arise in vir- ally all settings in which software ?nds application, because software often is generated in the course of formally specifying the algorithms and protocols to be followed by a man-made system. But SDES also have become a st- dard means of evaluating managerial policies and rules arising in higher-level systems in which human beings interact with technology, as in the setting of call centers,large manufacturing systems, and corporatesupply chains. Given the importance of SDES, the development of a systematic and compreh- sive mathematical and computational toolset for the speci?cation and design of such systems has become a key issue that has attracted a great deal of attention within the engineering community.