This paper presents an analysis of the single-server discrete-time finite-buffer queue with general interarrival and geometric service time, GI/Geom/1/N. Using the supplementary variable technique, and considering the remaining interarrival time as a supplementary variable, two variations of this model, namely the late arrival system with delayed access (LAS-DA) and early arrival system (EAS), have been examined. For both cases, steady-state distributions for outside observers as well as at random and prearrival epochs have been obtained. The waiting time analysis has also been carried out. Results for the Geom/G/1/N queue with LAS-DA have been obtained from the GI/Geom/1/N queue with EAS. We also give various performance measures. An algorithm for computing state probabilities is given in an appendix.

Algorithms are proposed for the numerical inversion of the analytical solutions obtained through classical transform methods. We compute steady-state probabilities and moments of the number of customers in the system (or in the queue) at three different epochs—postdeparture, random, and prearrival—for models of the type M/GY/1, where the capacity of the single server is a random variable. This implies first finding roots of the characteristic equation, which is detailed in an appendix for a general service time distribution. Numerical results, given a service time distribution, are illustrated through graphs and tables for cases covered in this study: deterministic, Erlang, hyperexponential, and uniform distributions. In all cases, the proposed method is computationally efficient and accurate, even for high values of the queueing parameters. The procedure is adaptable to other models in queueing theory (especially bulk queues), to problems in inventory control, transportation, flexible manufacturing process, etc. Exact results that can be obtained from the algorithms presented here will be found useful to test inequalities, bounds, or approximations.