Question

Describe how this parking lot can be interpreted as being a queueing system. In particular, identify the customers and the servers. What is the service being provided

Answer 1

Answer: a. Car Drivers

b. parking spaces

c. Parking

Explanation: A queuing system is a mathematical model used in congestion control. Similar to the physical queues we use daily, it assigns resources (or coffee) to the users of a service based on the arrival time.  

A parking lot provides customers (car owners/drivers) with the service of packing their car in an area designated for that sole purpose, so that they don’t get a parking ticket for example.

Here the car drivers are the customers, and the parking spaces available can be viewed as the server. One of the limiting factors in a queuing system is the server. When the servers are idle, service is provided without the need to queue. This changes when they are occupied. When we compare a parking lot to a queuing system, the available spaces are the limiting factor.