resource_discrete: Create a discrete resource
In WARDEN: Workflows for Health Technology Assessments in R using Discrete EveNts

resource_discrete

R Documentation

Create a discrete resource

Description

Creates a discrete resource management system for discrete event simulations. This system manages a fixed number of identical resource units that can be blocked (used) by patients and maintains a priority queue for waiting patients.

Usage

resource_discrete(
  n,
  discipline = "FIFO",
  max_queue = Inf,
  allow_multiple_queue = TRUE
)

Arguments

`n`	Integer >= 0. Total capacity of the resource.
`discipline`	`"FIFO"` (default) or `"LIFO"`. Queue discipline applied within the same priority level.
`max_queue`	Non-negative integer or `Inf` (default). Maximum number of patients that can wait in the queue. Patients that arrive when the queue is full are rejected (`attempt_block()` returns `NA`).
`allow_multiple_queue`	Logical (default `TRUE`). If `FALSE`, a patient that already has a queued entry will be rejected (`attempt_block()` returns `NA`) instead of being allowed to queue again.

Value

An environment of class "resource_discrete" with the following methods:

size(): Total capacity.
queue_size(): Number of patients currently in the queue.
n_free(): Number of free resource units.
n_using(): Number of units currently in use.
utilization(): Fraction of capacity in use (0-1).
patients_using(): Vector of patient IDs currently using the resource.
patients_using_times(): Vector of start times for patients using the resource.
queue_start_times(): Vector of queue start times in queue order.
queue_priorities(): Vector of priorities in queue order.
queue_info(n): Data frame with patient_id, priority, start_time for the queue.
is_patient_in_queue(patient_id): Check if patient is in queue. Defaults to i from the calling environment.
is_patient_using(patient_id): Check if patient is using the resource. Defaults to i from the calling environment.
attempt_block(patient_id, priority, start_time, amount): Attempt to block amount units. Returns TRUE (acquired), FALSE (queued), or NA (rejected). Defaults patient_id to i and start_time to curtime from the calling environment.
attempt_free(patient_id, remove_all, amount): Free the resource for a patient. Defaults patient_id to i.
attempt_free_if_using(patient_id, remove_all): Free only if patient is currently using. Defaults patient_id to i.
next_patient_in_line(n): Get next n patients in queue.
modify_priority(patient_id, new_priority): Modify patient priority in queue. When the patient has k active queue entries, complexity is O(k log n), not O(log n).
add_resource(n): Add n resource units.
remove_resource(n, current_time): Remove n resource units. Defaults current_time to curtime.
queue_wait_time(patient_id): Final queue wait time, set on successful dequeue. Returns NA if never queued or still waiting. Defaults patient_id to i.
queue_wait_time_current(patient_id, current_time): Current elapsed queue wait: 0 at entry, grows each event while waiting, returns final wait on acquisition, NA if never queued. Defaults to i / curtime.
had_to_queue(patient_id): Returns 1L if patient ever queued, 0L otherwise. Defaults patient_id to i.
time_in_use(patient_id, current_time): Time since patient acquired resource. Returns NA if not currently using. Defaults to i / curtime.
total_patients_blocked(): Count of unique patients that ever successfully acquired.
total_patients_queued(): Count of unique patients that ever entered the queue.
batch_seize(patient_ids, priority, start_time, amount_each): Seize for multiple patients in a single C++ call. Returns an integer vector (1 = acquired, 0 = queued, -1 = rejected).

Examples

# Create a resource with 3 units
beds <- resource_discrete(3)

# Check initial state
beds$size()       # 3
beds$n_free()     # 3
beds$queue_size() # 0

# Block resources (reads i and curtime from calling environment)
i <- 101L; curtime <- 0.0
beds$attempt_block()

# Or explicitly
beds$attempt_block(patient_id = 102L, priority = 1L, start_time = 1.0)

# LIFO resource and limited queue
stack <- resource_discrete(2, discipline = "LIFO", max_queue = 5)

WARDEN documentation built on July 23, 2026, 5:08 p.m.