Application for the assignment of a research fellowship (BI) - one position within the framework of own budget (receitas próprias)
Application for the assignment of one research fellowship (BI) within the framework of own budget (receitas próprias) from Universidade da Beira Interior, resulting from “Despacho Reitoral no. 32/R/2009”, on Planning of Opportunistic Spectrum Sharing in Heterogeneous Networks with QoE Optimization, under the following conditions:
Scientific Area: Electrical and Computer Engineering (wireless and mobile communications)
Admission conditions: The successful candidate has sound prerequisites in wireless communication systems at Master’s level, solid knowledge of English language (spoken and written), and possesses strong wireless communications analytical, simulation and modelling skills. Advanced skills on cooperative communications with relays, optimization and planning of 4G networks, analytical/experimental propagation characterization, services and applications characterization for ubiquitous mesh networks, and quality of experience aspects in cognitive radio networks are definitely an asset to the planned research, as well as strong knowledge on C, C++, C# and Visual Studio.
Work plan: The grantee work plan includes exploring advanced algorithms for multi-band access/selection, envisaging optimizing the offered capacity whilst maintaining the user service experience acceptable. Also secondary users may have temporary opportunistic access to free spectrum "holes" or a set of users may simultaneously utilize, optionally, spectrum resources in lower/upper frequency bands, improving the Quality of Experience (QoE).
Spectrum usage optimization is one of the goals of this research proposal. The opportunistic utilization of spectrum holes by secondary users will be investigated by implementing novel MAC designs regarding sensing cooperation and opportunistic transmission that will use cross layer and cross system information. Sensing times and data transmission duration are important parameters of the MAC design. MAC performance depends on how the optimal sensing and transmission durations must be and the order in which the spectrum holes are researched to minimize the time needed to complete the searching task.
Another objective is to attend to the increasing demand of higher data rates. In IMT-Advanced scenarios physical layer enhancement techniques being studied include carrier aggregation, coordinated multi-point transmission and reception, relay, and advanced uplink and downlink spatial multiplexing. One key enhancement feature is the bandwidth extension via spectrum aggregation (i.e. aggregation of several smaller carriers to provide larger system bandwidth), supporting deployment bandwidth up to 100 MHz.
Multi-hop and Infrastructural users will be managed by a Multiband Common Radio Resource Management (MB-CRRM) entity.
This management will be direct in the Infrastructural case scheduling user/group of users in a given frequency and indirect in the multi-hop case (secondary users) by demanding or leaving a control channels open for secondary user coordination and taxation. The management of secondary users will be performed by making frequency hopping directives so that a dynamic coordinated secondary use of the spectrum can be made possible.
QoS measurements are generally defined in terms of network delivery capacity and resource availability, but not in terms of the satisfaction to the end-user. The support of very high data rates connection may not be enough to guarantee user satisfaction. Opportunistic spectrum access may induce traffic delay, jitter and packet loss, which are critical network and user experience performance metrics. In this context, the impact of cognitive radios on delay sensitive applications must also be accessed.
Parameters to be optimized involve: transmission power, frequency carrier, carrier bandwidth, control channel frequency and power, service reliability and quality. Multi band-common radio resource management strategies are considered, assisted by a prediction tool/algorithm that provides the future position and traffic demand of a mobile node for maximizing network resources utility and QoS delivery. By assuming a secondary usage of the spectrum, it is ensured the spectrum utility maximization. From the technical point of view, modelling and simulation approaches will be followed.
Applicable Laws and Regulations: Portuguese Law Nº. 40/2004, of 18 of August (Statute of Research Fellow); Regulation of Advanced Formation and Qualification of Human Resources 2011.
Working place: The work will be developed in the Instituto de Telecomunicações/DEM of University of Beira Interior, under the supervision of Prof. Fernando José Velez.
Duration of Research Fellowship: The research fellowship will last for 4 months, starting in 15 of February 2012. The research contract can be renewed for extra 4 months maximum.
Value of Monthly Fee Grant: The amount of Scholarship is €980.00, according to the table values of the scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores). The payment of the scholarship will be made monthly, by bank transfer.
Evaluation criteria: Selection of the candidates will be performed by evaluation of the submitted documents (60%), followed by an interview (40%) of the top candidates, taking into consideration their educational performance, professional experience, merit and motivation.
Jury for the Selection: President: Prof. Fernando José da Silva Velez; Permanent members: Prof. Abílio Silva and Prof. Alexandre Borges Miranda. Substitute members: Prof. António Sérgio Lebres and Prof. Anna Guerman.
Form of advertising / notification of results: The final evaluation results will be sent to the candidates by email.
Deadline for candidature and submission form of applications: The application is open from 25/01/2012 until 08/02/2012.
Applications must be formalized, necessarily, by sending a letter of application and the following documents: curriculum vitae, certified transcript of studies and other relevant documents.
Applications must be delivered personally, during the opening period of the competition, from 9:00 to 17:30 hours in the address given below, or sent by email to fjv@ubi.pt, until 08/02/2012.
Address for the submissions:
Instituto de Telecomunicações
Departamento de Engenharia Electromecânica
Faculdade de Engenharia
Universidade da Beira Interior
Calçada Fonte do Lameiro
Edifício I das Engenharias
6201-001 Covilhã
Email: fjv@ubi.pt
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