SMCTools 2009:
The 4th International Workshop on Tools for solving
Structured Markov Chains
October 19, 2009

Call for Papers

SCOPE

In the last decades, structured Markov chains have taken a growing interest in performance evaluation methodologies in queueing problems, in biological modeling, in risk insurance analysis, in information retrieval, and more. During this time, due to the strong exploitation of the involved structures, the techniques used to assess the quantity of interest have advanced significantly in terms of their efficiency, while becoming more complex at the same time. This increased complexity often acts as an opposing force to a more wide spread use of these advanced methodologies. Making these novel techniques more accessible via a set of software tools is therefore essential to further promote their use in practical problems.

The workshop solicits papers on theoretical development, software tools and applications involving structured Markov chains (MCs). Theoretical aspects:

• Infinite (countable/continuous) and finite (large) MCs
• Continuous- and discrete-time MCs
• Markov decision processes
• Bounding and approximation methods for large MCs
• Skip-free (QBD, M/G/1, GI/M/1 type) and non-skip-free MCs
• Level dependent and independent MCs
• Tree-structured and tree-like MCs
• Fluid flow queues
• MCs with a regenerative structure
• MCs with tensor structure
• Nearly completely decomposable MCs
• Queuing systems with an underlying structured MC

Software tools for computing the following type of measures:

• Transient and steady state probabilities
• First passage times
• Decay rates, loss rates
• Distributions and moments

Application papers describing the use of structured Markov chains for:

• Performance of computer and communication systems
• Reliability and security analysis
• Information retrieval
• Analysis of biological systems

Important dates

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Conference language is English. All submitted papers will go through a peer review process. All accepted papers will be made available in Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital Library. Prospective authors are encouraged to submit a PDF version of the full paper in the ACM conference proceedings format, which are limited to 10 two-column pages in a font no smaller than 10-points. Also papers in the form of extended abstract, or work in progress are welcome. Paper submission will be handled electronically through EasyChair. Authors with no account in the Easychair system should create an account first. Submit here.