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Department of Computer Science 7
Research
Dept. of Computer Science  >  CS 7  >  Research
Department of Computer Science 7
Research

Our research can be divided into the areas quality-of-service (QoS)-oriented system design and autonomic networking. In QoS-oriented system design we focus on the systematic design of networked and embedded systems. The vision is to provide model-based tool support over the whole engineering cycle in a seamless way to yield systems optimized with respect to QoS issues. Quality-of-service is understood as an umbrella covering various aspects such as traditional performance measures (e.g., throughput of a network, system response time, loss rate, etc.) and dependability measures (e.g., reliability of a network, availability of a server system, etc.) but also real time, energy efficiency, security, and economics.

For the QoS-oriented system design, modeling in its various aspects plays a key role and is complemented by measurements and tests. Models are used for system specification (the group is experienced in using SDL, MSC, and UML and related tools), stochastic analysis and simulation (experience exists in using queuing networks, stochastic Petri nets, UML models, and several simulation tools), real-time analysis, HW/SW co-design (synthesis and optimization starting from high-level models such as SDL and graph models) and modular software engineering for mobile and reconfigurable components (driven by UML models). Test cases are also generated from high-level models and provide information about the functional and QoS-related system behavior. Measurements are performed for selected experimental networks (e.g., a cluster-based Web-server, a soccer robot team, a WLAN, a sensor network) and are used to validate and calibrate the models.

The autonomic networking research primarily focuses on autonomous sensor/actuator networks that consist of a large number of small and cheap sensor nodes and a team of mobile robots. Sensor nodes contain a sensing unit, a processor, energy supply, and a wireless communication adapter; sensor networks can be used to collect, process, and communicate measurement data. Such systems provide many design challenges on several abstraction layers, including medium access control, ad-hoc routing, self-organization, large-scale distributed information processing in the presence of severe resource restrictions, dynamic topologies and frequent failures. Mobile robots extend the possibilities of stationary sensor networks by the abilities of locomotion and real interaction with the environment. Important research questions in both stationary as well as mobile sensor networks are QoS aspects such as energy efficiency, performance, dependability, and security. We also investigate how concepts from cellular and molecular biology (e.g., cellular signaling pathways) can be applied in autonomous sensor/actuator networks. Finally, we work on new concepts for network monitoring and intrusion detection in the area of network security.

Quality-of-Service (Coordination: Dr.-Ing. A. Heindl)
Design and Test of Communication Systems (Coordination: Dr.-Ing. W. Dulz)
Autonomic Networking (Coordination: Dr.-Ing. F. Dressler)
  Impressum Last modified: 2006-01-16