text: We consider a tandem queue with coupled processors, which is subject to global breakdowns. When the network is in the operating mode and both queues are non empty, the total service capacity is shared among the stations according to fixed proportions. When one of the stations becomes empty, the total service capacity is given to the non-empty station. Moreover, arrival rates depend on the state of the network. The system is described by a Markov modulated random walk in the quarter plane representing the number of jobs in the two stations and the state of the network. By applying the generating function approach, we first apply the power series approximation method to obtain power series expansions of the generating function of the stationary queue lengths for both network states. Then, we also provide a way to derive the generating function of the stationary queue lengths for both network states in terms of the solution of a Riemann-Hilbert boundary value problem. Numerical results are obtained to show insights in the system performance.
  @cite_27: We consider a tandem queue with coupled processors and analyze the two-dimensional Markov process representing the numbers of jobs in the two stations. A functional equation for the generating function of the stationary distribution of this two-dimensional process is derived and solved through the theory of Riemann-Hilbert boundary value problems.
  @cite_25: This paper presents a novel technique for deriving asymptotic expressions for the occurrence of rare events for a random walk in the quarter plane. In particular, we study a tandem queue with Poisson arrivals, exponential service times and coupled processors. The service rate for one queue is only a fraction of the global service rate when the other queue is non-empty; when one queue is empty, the other queue has full service rate. The bivariate generating function of the queue lengths gives rise to a functional equation. In order to derive asymptotic expressions for large queue lengths, we combine the kernel method for functional equations with boundary value problems and singularity analysis.
  @cite_15: In Resing and Ormeci [16] it is shown that the two-stage tandem queue with coupled processors can be solved using the theory of boundary value problems. In this paper we consider the issues that arise when calculating performance measures like the mean queue length and the fraction of time a station is empty. It is assumed that jobs arrive at the first station according to a Poisson process and require service at both stations before leaving the system. The amount of work that a job requires at each of the stations is an independent, exponentially distributed random variable. When both stations are nonempty, the total service capacity is shared among the stations according to fixed proportions. When one of the stations becomes empty, the total service capacity is given to the nonempty station. We study the two-dimensional Markov process representing the numbers of jobs at the two stations. The problem of finding the generating function of the stationary distribution can be reduced to two different Riemann-Hilbert boundary value problems, where both problems yield a complete analytical solution. We discuss the similarities and differences between the two problems, and relate them to the computational aspects of obtaining performance measures.
summary: A tandem queue with two coupled processors was analyzed in @cite_27 , while later computational issues, as well as asymptotic results were discussed and presented in @cite_15 @cite_25 , respectively. There, it was shown that the problem of finding the bivariate generating function of the stationary joint queue length distribution is reduced to a Riemann-Hilbert boundary value problem.