Optimal buffer allocation in tandem queues with communication blocking

In this letter, we consider an m-node tandem queue (queues in series) with a Poisson arrival process and either deterministic or non-overlapping service times. With the assumption that each node has a finite buffer except for the first node, we show the non-increasing convex property of stationary waiting time with respect to the finite buffer capacities. We apply it to an optimization problem which determines the smallest buffer capacities subject to probabilistic constraints on stationary waiting times.