Performance modeling of rule-based architectures as discrete-time quasi birth-death processes

This paper deals with the examination and mathematical modeling of rule-based systems and list topologies applied in software architectures as well as in hardware solutions. In our investigation we focus on telecommunication applications utilizing list topologies. We introduce quasi birth-death processes as the mathematical formalism behind our models. Besides, we extend the simple model of list topologies with respect to the input and output interfaces of the implementation. Furthermore, we present our model on the example of access control lists applied in IP routers and we show results that can be derived from the model