IEEE International Black Sea Conference on Communications and Networking
26-29 May 2020 // Virtual Conference

Keynotes

 

Prof. Ljiljana Trajkovic
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Title:

Complex Networks

Abstract:

The Internet, social networks, power grids, gene regulatory networks, neuronal systems, food webs, social systems, and networks emanating from augmented and virtual reality platforms are all examples of complex networks. Collection and analysis of data from these networks is essential for their understanding. Traffic traces collected from various deployed communication networks and the Internet have been used to characterize and model network traffic, analyze network topologies, and classify network anomalies. Data mining and statistical analysis of network data have been employed to determine traffic loads, analyze patterns of users’ behavior, and predict future network traffic while spectral graph theory has been applied to analyze network topologies and capture historical trends in their development. Recent machine learning techniques have proved valuable for predicting anomalous traffic behavior and for classifying anomalies in complex networks. Further applications of these tools will help improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that govern behavior, improve their performance, and enhance their security of social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Internet blogs, forums, and websites.

Biography:

Ljiljana Trajkovic received the Dipl. Ing. degree from University of Pristina, Yugoslavia, in 1974, the M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering and computer engineering from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, in 1979 and 1981, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from University of California at Los Angeles, in 1986. She is currently a Professor in the School of Engineering Science at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. From 1995 to 1997, she was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Visiting Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department, University of California, Berkeley. She was a Research Scientist at Bell Communications Research, Morristown, NJ, from 1990 to 1997, and a Member of the Technical Staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ, from 1988 to 1990. Her research interests include high-performance communication networks, control of communication systems, computer-aided circuit analysis and design, and theory of nonlinear circuits and dynamical systems. Dr. Trajkovic serves as IEEE Division X Delegate/Director (2019–2020) and served as IEEE Division X Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect (2018). She served as Senior Past President (2018–2019), Junior Past President (2016–2017), President (2014–2015), President-Elect (2013), Vice President Publications (2012–2013, 2010–2011), Vice President Long-Range Planning and Finance (2008–2009), and a Member at Large of the Board of Governors (2004–2006) of the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society. She served as 2007 President of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society and a member of its Board of Governors (2004–2005, 2001–2003). She is Chair of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society joint Chapter of the Vancouver/Victoria Sections. She was Chair of the IEEE Technical Committee on Nonlinear Circuits and Systems (1998). She is General Co-Chair of SMC 2020 and SMC 2020 Workshop on BMI Systems and served as General Co-Chair of SMC 2019 and SMC 2018 Workshops on BMI Systems, SMC 2016, and HPSR 2014, Special Sessions Co-Chair of SMC 2017, Technical Program Chair of SMC 2017 and SMC 2016 Workshops on BMI Systems, Technical Program Co-Chair of ISCAS 2005, and Technical Program Chair and Vice General CoChair of ISCAS 2004. She served as an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems (Part I) (2004–2005, 1993–1995), the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems (Part II) (2018, 2002-2003, 1999–2001), and the IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine (2001–2003). She is a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (2020-2021) and the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (2010–2011, 2002–2003). She is a Professional Member of IEEE-HKN and a Life Fellow of the IEEE.

 

Prof. Halim Yanikomeroglu,
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

Title:

Wireless Access Architecture: The Next 20 Years

Abstract:

The wireless community has been occupied by the 5G related developments for the last many years. As 5G moves from the standardization phase to the deployment phase, a new brainstorming endeavour has started for the subsequent generation (6G) wireless networks. The roots of today’s wireless access architecture (the terrestrial 4G & 5G cellular network) go back to 1940s. The access architecture has evolved substantially over the decades. However, rapid developments in a number of domains outside telecommunications, including those in aerospace and satellite industries as well as in artificial intelligence, will likely result in a disruptive transformation in the wireless access architecture in the next 20 years. In this talk, an ultra-agile, dynamic, distributed, and partly-autonomous vertical heterogeneous network (VHetNet) architecture with very low earth orbit satellites (VLEOs), high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and drone BSs for almost-ubiquitous super-connectivity will be presented. In this disruptive setting, free-space optical (FSO) communications will play an important role in addition to the legacy radio communications. In the absence of a clear technology roadmap, the talk has, to a certain extent, an exploratory view point to stimulate further thinking and creativity in ICT research and innovation.

Biography:

Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu is a Full Professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. He has had extensive collaboration with
industry on 4G and 5G wireless technologies which resulted in 35 granted patents. During 2012-2016, he led one of the largest academic-industrial collaborative research programs on pre-
standards 5G wireless, sponsored by the Ontario Government and the industry. In Summer 2019, he started a new large-scale project on the 6G wireless network architecture. Dr. Yanikomeroglu
supervised 24 PhD & 28 MASc students (all completed with theses) as well as 14 PDFs; about a dozen of the former members of his research team have become faculty members. In addition,
his wireless lab at Carleton has hosted around 50 visiting scholars from around the world. He is a Fellow of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), a Fellow of EIC (Engineering
Institute of Canada), a Fellow of CAE (Canadian Academy of Engineering), and a Distinguished Speaker for both IEEE Communications Society and IEEE Vehicular Technology Society. He
has been one of the most frequent tutorial presenters on the emerging wireless technologies. He served as the General Chair and Technical Program Chair of several major international IEEE
conferences; he also served in the Editorial Boards of several IEEE periodicals. He served as the Chair of IEEE Technical Committee on Personal Communications, and he is currently serving as
the Chair of the Steering Committee of IEEE’s flagship Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC). Dr. Yanikomeroglu received several awards for his research
and teaching including the IEEE Communications Society Wireless Communications Technical Committee Recognition Award in 2018.

 

Xavier Costa-Pérez,
5G Networks R&D, NEC Laboratories Europe

Title:

AI-based Automation for Beyond 5G Networks

Abstract:

AI-based automation allows service providers to reduce CAPEX and OPEX costs and offer, via proper abstractions, infrastructure resources (radio, networking, computing) to vertical sectors traditionally alien to the telco industry (e.g., automotive, health, construction). In this talk we will review AI-enabled automation solutions and explore the concept of resources overbooking to maximize the revenue of infrastructure providers. Hierarchical control plane solutions will be considered to manage the network in an automated manner. Then, some early implementations of proof-of-concepts will be reviewed to evaluate the automation gains potential. Finally, we will illustrate how such automation solutions can be used in Beyond 5G networks comprising industry verticals.

Biography:

Xavier Costa-Pérez is Head of 5G Networks R&D and Deputy General Manager of the Security and Networking Research Division at NEC Laboratories Europe. His team contributes to products roadmap evolution as well as to European Commission H2020 projects and received several awards for successful technology transfers. In addition, his team contributes to related standardization bodies: 3GPP, ETSI NFV, ETSI MEC and IETF. He has served on the Program Committees of several conferences (including IEEE Greencom, WCNC, and INFOCOM), published at top research venues and holds several patents. He received both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Telecommunications from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) in Barcelona and was the recipient of a national award for his Ph.D. thesis.