Stochastic Discrete Event Systems : Modeling, Evaluation, Applications
The behavior of many technical systems important in everyday life can be described using discrete states and state-changing events. Stochastic discrete-event systems (SDES) capture the randomness in choices and over time due to activity delays and the probabilities of decisions. The starting point for the evaluation of quantitative issues like performance and dependability is a formal description of the system of interest in a model. An abstract model class for SDES is presented as a pivotal unifying result. Several important model classes, including queuing networks, Petri nets and automata, are detailed together with their formal translation into this abstract model class. Standard and recently developed algorithms for the performance evaluation, optimization and control of SDES are presented in the context of the abstract model class. The necessary software tool support is also covered. The book is completed with nontrivial examples from areas like manufacturing control, performance of communication systems, and supply-chain management, highlighting the application of the techniques presented.
Modelling, State Observation and Diagnosis of Quantised Systems
The book concerns quantised systems which emerge from continuous-variable systems by quantising the values of all signals. It is shown how this leads to an abstract system description by means of a stochastic automaton. Based on stochastic automata, new methods for the solution to state observation and fault diagnostic problems are derived. The methods are extended to networks of stochastic automata, allowing component-oriented modelling and, thus, to deal with complex systems. The practical applicability and usefulness of the approach is shown at several examples.

