The achievable region approach to the optimal control of stochastic systems

The achievable region approach seeks solutions to stochastic optimization p roblems by characterizing the space of all possible performances (the achie vable region) of the system of interest and optimizing the overall system-w ide performance objective over this space. This is radically different from conventional formulations based on dynamic programming. The approach is ex plained with reference to a simple two-class queuing system. Powerful new m ethodologies due to the authors and co-workers are deployed to analyse a ge neral multiclass queuing system with parallel servers and then to develop a n approach to optimal load distribution across a network of interconnected stations. Finally, the approach is used for the first time to analyse a cla ss of intensity control problems.