SPEAKERS
Keynote 1: Cognition-based networks: Applying cognitive science to wireless networking
Keynote speaker: Michele Zorzi, University of Padova, Italy
Abstract
Several techniques for wireless networking, such as opportunistic spectrum access, or self- healing networks, may be seen as using a form of cognition, meaning that they mimic reasoning processes of intelligent beings. We propose to expand this cognition-based process by exploiting the parallel processing power of the infrastructure, so as to go beyond cognition as is meant by these approaches. We leverage novel approaches, taken from cognitive science and artificial intelligence, involving not only supervised but also unsupervised learning, and we envision their application to wireless systems. A recent example of application of this approach is in the context of video over wireless. The transmission of multimedia content, and its adaptation to the condition of the communication infrastructure, i.e., the wireless channel or the content delivery network, are envisioned as particularly critical steps for the development of latest generation mobile networks. For this scenario, we propose and evaluate a video classifier based on a Restricted Boltzmann Machine that tries to extract abstract features of videos from the analysis of the sizes of a few coded frames. These features can then be exploited by the communication network itself to optimize video transmission based on its content. As an additional example, currently in progress, we will also discuss how a cognition-based approach to context awareness may provide new opportunities for handover optimization in heterogeneous networks. Finally, we will also describe the testbed that we recently developed at the University of Padova for cognition-based research, which employs cheap commercial devices and can be easily replicated.
Biography
Michele Zorzi received his Laurea and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Padova in 1990 and 1994, respectively. During academic year 1992-1993 he was on leave at UCSD, working on multiple access in mobile radio networks. In 1993 he joined the faculty of the Dipartimento di Elettronica e Informazione, Politecnico di Milano, Italy. After spending three years with the Center for Wireless Communications at UCSD, in 1998 he joined the School of Engineering of the University of Ferrara, Italy, where he became a professor in 2000. Since November 2003 he has been on the faculty of the Information Engineering Department at the University of Padova. His present research interests include performance evaluation in mobile communications systems, random access in mobile radio networks, ad hoc and sensor networks, Internet-of-Things, energy constrained communications protocols, and underwater communications and networking.
He was Editor-In-Chief of IEEE Wireless Communications from 2003 to 2005 and Editor-In-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Communications from 2008 to 2011, and has been an Editor for several journals and a member of the Organizing or the Technical Program Committee for many international conferences. He was also guest editor for special issues in IEEE Personal Communications ("Energy Management in Personal Communications Systems'') and IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications ("Multimedia Network Radios'' and "Underwater Wireless Communications and Networking''). He served as a Member-at-Large of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Communications Society from 2009 to 2011, and is currently its Director of Education.
Keynote 2:Evolution for the Mobile Broadband
Keynote speaker: Anania Ettore Alessandro
Abstract:
The presentation will focus on the Market trends and evolution for the Mobile BroadBand. The number of mobile broadband accesses has expanded steadily as users continue to add tablets, modems and phones as alternative communication methods. A growing proportion of mobile broadband subscribers is migrating from 3G to LTE. Through the analysis of mobile devices trend, a possible approach to develop LTE and continue to invest in HSPA+ is proposed. LTE key factors and LTE-Advanced opportunities, to improve spectral efficiency (bit per hertz) will be highlighted to improve customer experience.
Biography:
Alessandro started his career in CSELT Turin (research Institute for Telecom Italia Group). He worked for BLU (mobile planning architecture) and TIM (Services Engineering). He joined WIND Telecomunicazioni in the fall of 2008 and brings over 14 years of experience. He has spent his years working in telecommunications, with extensive experience working with network vendors in mobile access aspects of planning. He has extensive knowledge of technical and economical design for mobile access architecture in the 2G/3G, LTE and LTE-A services including both voice and data systems. He is involved in the Business Plan, in the evaluation of new technological solution, defining new architecture, define and evaluate Request For Quotation supporting Procurement Department in the negotiation for suppliers in the Mobile Access.
