Sampling at subexponential times, with queueing applications

We study the tail asymptotics of the r.v. X(T) where {X(t)} is a stochastic process with a linear drift and satisfying some regularity conditions like a central limit theorem and a large deviations principle, and T is an independent r.v. with a subexponential distribution. We find that the tail of X(T) is sensitive to whether or not T has a heavier or lighter tail than a Weibull distribution with tail e(-root x). This leads to two distinct cases, heavy tailed and moderately heavy tailed, but also some results for the classical light-tailed case are given. The results are applied via distributional Little's law to establish rail asymptotics for steady-state queue length in GI/GI/1 queues with subexponential service times. Further applications are given for queues with vacations, and M/G/1 busy periods. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.