Is it possible to vary the mean parameter of the Time-based Entity Generator (or Event-Based Random Number) in SimEvents?

Hello,

I would like to simulate random arrivals of entities at a server, and would also like to incorporate seasonality of these arrivals. Thus, the entities should be generated with an exponential distribution, but the mean of this distribution would ideally vary throughout the simulation (i.e. throughout the year). During a low season, the mean would be fixed at one value, then for the high season there would be linear ramp up to a peak and ramp down back to the low season mean. The starting point and duration of this high season are model inputs.

I have been able to create the seasonal effect I'm looking for with the Signal Builder block. By way of a "Timed to Event Signal" block, I have been able to use this signal as input to a Time-based Entity Generator with "Intergeneration time from port t" selected and the output of the Timed to Event Signal connected to port t. This of course generates entities with inter-generation times that exactly match the signal being used as input.

What I would like to be able to do is use this signal as the "Mean" of the exponential distribution that will dictate random inter-generation times. In other words, in my Time-based Entity Generator, if I set it to "Intergeneration time from dialog" and set "Distribution:" to Exponential, is there a way to have the "Mean:" parameter defined by a signal rather than a fixed value entered in the Block Parameters dialog box.

I have also considered using an Event-based Random Number block for the Exp distribution, however the Mean parameter in this case is also entered through a dialog box, and I'm unsure of how to vary that during the simulation based on my custom signal.

If there is a way to do this through m-code, that would also be fine, as I'm using m-code to create the Signal Builder block anyway and then I connect it to my other simulation components.

I hope this was clear, and that someone might know how to help!

Thanks

Answer 1

[Paraskevas Papanikolaou]

Hi ,

Have you made any progress with the problem described above ?I am trying to do something similar and I would like to know if you manage to find a solution or use another way to overcome this problem. I would really appreciate if you could answer in order to save time and effort.

Thanks in advance