Response Time Characterization of an Information Retrieval System

A methodology for computer performance evaluation based on the statistical characterization of response time is described. The results of its application to an information retrieval system are presented. The first part of the paper gives a general discussion of measurement techniques, data reduction procedures and the structure of the system being examined. A set of “system environment” parameters and a set of “job” parameters are then defined and appraised in terms of actual measurements collected over two different weekly periods. Various ways of using the statistical characterization for improving performance are then considered.