Equivalence of ensembles for large vehicle-sharing models

Abstract

For a class of large closed Jackson networks submitted to capacity constraints, asymptotic independence of the nodes in normal traffic phase is proved at stationarity under mild assumptions, using a Local Limit Theorem. The limiting distributions of the queues are explicit. In the Statistical Mechanics terminology, the equivalence of ensembles - canonical and grand canonical - is proved for specific marginals. The framework includes the case of networks with two types of nodes: single server/finite capacity nodes and infinite servers/infinite capacity nodes, that can be taken as basic models for bike-sharing systems. The effect of local saturation is modeled by generalized blocking and rerouting procedures, under which the stationary state is proved to have product-form. The grand canonical approximation can then be used for adjusting the total number of bikes and the capacities of the stations to the expected demand.