Optimal control of single-server fluid networks

We consider a stochastic single-server fluid network with both a discounted reward and a cost structure. It can be shown that the optimal policy is a priority index policy. The indices coincide with the optimal indices in a semi-Markovian Klimov problem. Several special cases like single-server reentrant fluid lines are considered. The approach we use is based on sample path arguments and Pontryagins maximum principle. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.