Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 July 2016
Consider N sources, each of which transmits signals according to a renewal process with a common, known, underlying distribution. Sequential point estimators for N, which are asymptotically efficient in comparison to the best fixed stopping strategy, are derived. Confidence statements for N, and applications to the problem of estimating finite populations are discussed.
The exact limiting distribution, and moments, of the stopping time we use, which was suggested by Starr, are derived.
This research was partially done at Cornell University and was supported by the following grants: NSF Grant MCS 75 22481, U.S. Army Research Office Contract DAAG29–73–C0008, and Office of Naval Research Contract N00014–75–C–0586.