Extended Research Statement by Yevgeni Koucheryavy

Currently Yevgeni undertakes research activity in the following broad areas.

• Traffic engineering, congestion control and parameters estimation in packet-switched mobile and wireless environment.
• Specific issues and QoS delivery techniques for future packet-switched mobile and wireless networks.
• Network planning and architectures for converged IP-based networks.

More specifically, the following projects are currently under investigation.

• Cross-layer performance control and optimization system for wireless channels.
• TCP and TFRC analytical modeling.
• Traffic modeling and statistical analysis.
• Network planning and traffic characterization in sensor and ad hoc networks.
• IEEE 802.11 WLAN equipment measurements at microsecond scale.
• 3G/UMTS wireless interface measurements for indoor environment.
• Call and packet level performance evaluation of Next-Generation All-IP mobile systems.
• Data throughput and performance analysis in GPRS, EDGE and HSDPA.
• Implementation of IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) for NS2 environment.
• Investigation of WiMAX QoS capabilities with further possible transport layer optimization.
• Design of admission control in WiMAX networks.

Yevgeni continuously extends his area of interests and expertise.

As for long-term research, apart from some inherent topics from current research, Yevgeni plans to explore several tightly connected emerging topics that are in the mainstream of worldwide research community. Some of topics are broad, some are narrow representing specific issues; nevertheless they are presented as a list as follows.

• Wireless sensor networks. The topic is really broad consisting out of many specific research problems. Yevgeni’s major interests are in network planning, QoS assurance, transport layer protocols design, optimization and fine tuning, integration with NGN. It is important to consider an interaction of low layer technologies such as ZigBee and UWB with upper layer traffic generating applications. It should be also outlined that active RFID technologies tend to converge towards sensor networks and in near future will exhibit certain features originally specific to the sensor networks. This should be investigated carefully.

• Content management and distribution in integrated sensor/RFID and Next Generation network. This is important topic with significant potential for market development and therefore could be greatly supported by industry. Scenarios of interaction between sensor/RFID and distributed data bases via broadband access (WiFi, WiMAX, UMTS) shall be created and explored, shortcomings are to be envisaged and dealt with. Traffic estimation and optimization problems are to be explored here as well.

• Mobile Ad Hoc (MANETs) and Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs). The topic of VANETs recently became really important. Road traffic management is of critical importance worldwide. Current research, as specified above, contains important steps for further research and development, namely carried measurements of IEEE 802.11 equipment have brought precise knowledge about technology peculiarities, hidden and inherent features. Further interaction with IEEE 802.11p (Wireless Access for the Vehicular Environment) could bring interesting research results and possible market-oriented applications. From other hand, taking into account Yevgeni’s experience in QoS assurance techniques, it seems important to perform QoS evaluation for future VANET-based services since these services might be of network-driven nature. Routing protocols shall be considered and evaluated in this context. Wireless technologies interworking should be addressed here as well. Some services implemented on a top of these networks should be considered, for example mobile p2p, location techniques, etc.

• Cross layering is no doubt important topic of current R&D in wireless networking. Yevgeni addresses this topic in his research since year 2004. He plans to launch more extensive and deep investigation in this area. Every single technology should be carefully studied in order to find suitable and feasible cross layer solution. Currently, Yevgeni actively explores the area of cross layer research for IEEE 802.11 and 802.16 networks. Yevgeni considers practical implementation of the proposed techniques and algorithms as of paramount importance; a practical experience gained throughout IEEE 802.11 measurement studies will help greatly in achieving of this goal. Taking into account recent advances in media independent handover (MIH) greatly developed by IEEE 802.21, Yevgeni supposes integration of cross layer techniques and MIH as an interesting and promising research direction.

• With respect to the research topics listed above it appears that optimization of transport layer protocols for wireless environment becomes very challenging task. Taking into account Yevgeni’s extensive expertise in transport layer protocols it is vital to assure deep and well settled research in the field. In particular, this topic is greatly demanded by MANETs and VANETs design and implementation.

• The last, but not the least important research topic under consideration is a mobility management. This topic becomes very significant in context of the Next Generation Networks. Support of emerging ambient and ubiquitous communications should be addressed as well. Particular research problems will be tackled are handover (including MIH), location management and mobility context management. Network layer mechanisms and protocols are to be addressed.

Yevgeni understands and recognizes accepted trends and directions of wired and wireless research worldwide. Participation in international forums, public panels and other R&D bodies is envisaged by him as challenging and extremely important.

Interaction with EU and non-EU universities and research bodies appears to be very important and challenging issue in current research environment.

Yevgeni recognizes importance of financial support of the research under consideration and would implement it via the following instruments.

• National and international public research funding bodies, for example Suomen Akatemia, TEKES, IST FP, Eureka and Celtic, ESF, INTAS etc. Yevgeni has valuable experience in initiation of ESF COST Action and good experience in IST-related funding.

• Personal research grant obtaining seems promising issue as well. During 2003 – 2006 Yevgeni’s group members obtained 4 personal grants from NOKIA Foundation and 1 from Finnish Cultural Foundation. 3 full-time graduate school positions have been granted as well. International bodies such as Marie Curie Fellowship Association should be taken into account.

• Interaction with national and international companies, corporations and SMEs seems to be vital for the most of research topics listed above.