Discrete Stochastic Processes

Stochastic processes are found in probabilistic systems that evolve with time. Discrete stochastic processes change by only integer time steps (for some time scale), or are characterized by discrete occurrences at arbitrary times. Discrete Stochastic Processes helps the reader develop the understanding and intuition necessary to apply stochastic process theory in engineering, s...

Stochastic processes are found in probabilistic systems that evolve with time. Discrete stochastic processes change by only integer time steps (for some time scale), or are characterized by discrete occurrences at arbitrary times. Discrete Stochastic Processes helps the reader develop the understanding and intuition necessary to apply stochastic process theory in engineering, science and operations research. The book approaches the subject via many simple examples which build insight into the structure of stochastic processes and the general effect of these phenomena in real systems.

The book presents mathematical ideas without recourse to measure theory, using only minimal mathematical analysis. In the proofs and explanations, clarity is favored over formal rigor, and simplicity over generality. Numerous examples are given to show how results fail to hold when all the conditions are not satisfied.

Robert G. Gallager is a Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and one of the world's leading information theorists. He is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Engineering, the US National Academy of Sciences, and his numerous awards and honours include the IEEE Medal of Honour (1990) and the Marconi Prize (2003). He was awarded the MIT Graduate Stude...

Robert G. Gallager is a Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and one of the world's leading information theorists. He is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Engineering, the US National Academy of Sciences, and his numerous awards and honours include the IEEE Medal of Honour (1990) and the Marconi Prize (2003). He was awarded the MIT Graduate Student Teaching Award in 1993, and this book is based on his 20 years of experience of teaching this subject to students.