nbconv - Evaluate Arbitrary Negative Binomial Convolutions
Five distinct methods are implemented for evaluating the
sums of arbitrary negative binomial distributions. These
methods are: Furman's exact series representation (Furman
(2007) <doi:10.1016/j.spl.2006.06.007>), an FFT-based approach,
a "hybrid" approach that uses FFT for non-extreme probabilities
and falls back to the series representation for extremely low
probabilities, saddlepoint approximation, and a
method-of-moments approximation. Functions are provided to
calculate probability masses, cumulative probabilities, and
quantiles of the convolutions in question using said evaluation
methods. Functions for generating random deviates from negative
binomial convolutions and for directly calculating the mean,
variance, skewness, and excess kurtosis from cumulants are also
provided.