Skip to main content

Construction of Phase Type Distributions by Bernstein Exponentials

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Computer Performance Engineering and Stochastic Modelling (EPEW 2023, ASMTA 2023)

Abstract

Analysis of stochastic models is often hurdled by the complexity of probability density functions associated with generally distributed random variables. Among the approximation techniques that can be employed to reduce computational complexity, Bernstein polynomials (BP) exhibit some properties that make them suitable for the needs of that particular context. However, they also show some drawbacks; notably, their application is limited to bounded supports. We introduce Bernstein exponentials (BE) by transforming BP so as to enable approximation over unbounded intervals. We show that BE form a subclass of acyclic phase type (PH) distributions, thus possessing a well defined stochastic interpretation. The characteristics of this subclass allows for efficient analysis in the context of M/PH/1 queues. In particular, we develop a technique to calculate the queue length distribution in case of BE service time with linear time complexity in the number of phases of the service time distribution. Finally, we experiment BE approximations in distribution fitting and in the analysis M/G/1 queues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Asmussen, S., Nerman, O.: Fitting phase-type distributions via the EM algorithm. In: Proceedings: “Symposium i Advent Statistik", Copenhagen, pp. 335–346 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bobbio, A., Cumani, A.: ML estimation of the parameters of a PH distribution in triangular canonical form. In Balbo, G., Serazzi, G., (eds.) Computer Performance Evaluation, pp. 33–46. Elsevier Science Publishers (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bobbio, A., Horváth, A., Telek, M.: Matching three moments with minimal acyclic phase type distributions. Stoch. Model. 21, 303–326 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. Bobbio, A., Telek, M.: A benchmark for PH estimation algorithms: result for acyclic-PH. Stochastic Models 10(661–677) (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Carnevali, L., Grassi, L., Vicario, E.: State-density functions over dbm domains in the analysis of non-markovian models. IEEE Trans. on SW Eng. 35(2), 178–194 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Carnevali, L., Sassoli, L., Vicario, E.: Using stochastic state classes in quantitative evaluation of dense-time reactive systems. IEEE Trans. on SW Eng. 35(5), 703–719 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cumani, A.: On the canonical representation of homogeneous Markov processes modelling failure-time distributions. Microelectron. Reliab. 22, 583–602 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cumani, A.: Esp - A package for the evaluation of stochastic petri nets with phase-type distributed transition times. In: Proceedings International Workshop Timed Petri Nets, Torino (Italy), pp. 144–151 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Feldman, A., Whitt, W.: Fitting mixtures of exponentials to long-tail distributions to analyze network performance models. Perform. Eval. 31, 245–279 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Horváth, A., Telek, M.: Approximating heavy tailed behavior with Phase-type distributions. In: Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Matrix-Analytic Methods in Stochastic models, Leuven, Belgium (June 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Horváth, A., Telek, M.: PhFit: a general phase-type fitting tool. In: Field, T., Harrison, P.G., Bradley, J., Harder, U. (eds.) TOOLS 2002. LNCS, vol. 2324, pp. 82–91. Springer, Heidelberg (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46029-2_5

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  12. Horváth, A., Telek, M.: Matching more than three moments with acyclic phase type distributions. Stoch. Model. 23(2), 167–194 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Johnson, M.A., Taaffe, M.R.: Matching moments to Phase distributions: nonlinear programming approaches. Stoch. Model. 6, 259–281 (1990)

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  14. Latouche, G., Ramaswami, V.: Introduction to matrix analytic methods in stochastic modeling. SIAM (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lorentz, G.G.: Bernstein Polynomials. University of Toronto Press (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Neuts, M.: Probability distributions of phase type. In: Florin, E.H. (ed.) Liber Amicorum Prof. pp. 173–206. University of Louvain (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Neuts, M.F.: Matrix Geometric Solutions in Stochastic Models. Johns Hopkins University Press (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Neuts, M.F.: Matrix Geometric Solutions in Stochastic Models. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (1981)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  19. Scarpa, M., Bobbio, A.: Kronecker representation of stochastic Petri nets with discrete PH distributions. In: International Computer Performance and Dependability Symposium - IPDS 1998, pp. 52–61. IEEE CS Press (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Telek, M., Horváth, G.: A minimal representation of Markov arrival processes and a moments matching method. Perform. Evaluat. 64(9–12), 1153–1168 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Horváth .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Horváth, A., Vicario, E. (2023). Construction of Phase Type Distributions by Bernstein Exponentials. In: Iacono, M., Scarpa, M., Barbierato, E., Serrano, S., Cerotti, D., Longo, F. (eds) Computer Performance Engineering and Stochastic Modelling. EPEW ASMTA 2023 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14231. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43185-2_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43185-2_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-43184-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-43185-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics