"QN + PN = QPN" - Combining Queueing Networks and Petri Nets

Abstract

System analysis is often done due to qualitative and quantitative aspects. Queueing networks and Petri nets are suitable and wide spread model worlds for such a form of analysis, because for both a well founded theory exists. The problem is that Petri nets and queueing networks are only suitable for qualitative analysis resp. quantitative analysis. So the analyst has to create two models of the same system. In recent years several model worlds have been developed, combining qualitative and quantitative aspects thus reducing the modelling effort. The stress nowadays is on timed and stochastic Petri net models. The main disadvantage of these model worlds lies in the difficulties of describing scheduling strategies with Petri net elements. This paper describes a new model world, the QPN world, combining queueing networks and Petri nets for qualitative and quantitative analysis eliminating this disadvantage. It is shown that queueing networks, Petri nets and timed and stochastic Petri nets..