IBCN: a brief overview
The Intec Broadband Communication Networks research group (IBCN. www.ibcn.intec.ugent.be) is a leading telecommunications and software research group based in Ghent, Belgium, belonging to the Department of Information Technology (INTEC) of the Ghent University (UGent).
IBCN is also a research group of IBBT, the Interdisciplinary institute for BroadBand Technology. IBBT is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary ICT research centre (looking at technological, legal, business and sociological aspects) on behalf of the Flemish business community and government in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in general, and the development of broadband applications in particular.
IBCN was established in 1992 and currently counts around 100 members, including 8 professors and 7 post-docs. The group has participated in numerous ACTS and IST projects and is currently involved in several European IST FP6 projects. IBCN is frequently partnering with local ICT industry on a wide range of research and development topics. The IBCN group also takes part in national and Flemish research programs. The research has resulted in 30 PhDs and over 550 publications in international journals or conference proceedings.
The IBCN group is largely responsible for the education in networking and software engineering in the Faculty of Engineering of the Ghent University.
The IBCN research group is heavily involved in the technical branch of i-LAB, the comprehensive test-center of IBBT used for experimental research. It has 550+ Linux nodes, and uses various technologies like IP, Ethernet and DSL. In addition to a wired testbed, the testcenter includes a significant wireless testbed, an operational GRID network, and advanced testing and measurement equipment.
IBCN research: from networks to applications
IBCN’s current research scope extends from networks to applications. The wide range of research topics can be sorted in following domains:
- Complex network architectures and protocols This includes Fixed Multilayer Networks (access/metro/core), Home Networks, Grid Computing, Virtual Private Ad-Hoc Networks (VPANs) and Personal Networks, Multimedia Transport and Storage. Considered technologies cover IP/(G)MPLS/Ethernet/Optical, Optical packet, burst and circuit switching, Carrier grade Ethernet, ...
- Emerging mobile and wireless networks This includes Wireless Mesh Networks, Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks, and Wireless Access for Fast Moving Users. The research covers a wide range of technologies such as WiFi (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), RFID, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, and Satellite.
- Innovative service delivery architectures and software applications IBCN's research is structured around the following areas: Network & Service Management, Context-awareness, Ehealth, iDTV, and Thin Clients. Technologies include J2EE, JAIN/SLEE, SIP Servlets, ... for service management, OSGi for software lifecycle management of remote devices, etc.
IBCN competences: from research to proof-of-concept
In the broad range of research domains mentioned above, the IBCN group combines theoretical top-down research and development with validation, experimentation and proof-of-concept. As such, the group has developed the following set of competences across its research domains:
- Design and development of innovative protocols and algorithms and network architectures. An example is the MEHROM (Micromobility support with Efficient Handoff & Route Optimization Mechanisms) protocol for fast handoff with low packet loss and path optimisation.
- Network-level simulation and validation The defined and developed protocols, algorithms and network architectures are rigorously simulated and validated using a range of techniques: operations research techniques, such as linear programming and heuristics; simulation (NS based, OPNET based, proprietary in-house developed as e.g. the in-house developed Advanced network-aware Grid Simulator to emulate the behaviour of Grid management components); techno-economic analysis; and performance analysis.
- IBCN's competence of validation, experimentation and proof-of-concept is guaranteed through an extensive set of prototyping, emulation, and testbed evaluation & exploitation technologies and practices, like: Click prototyping; combined simulation and emulation techniques (NS - Click); several testbeds; operational exploitation of the BEgrid node.
IBCN partnerships: 10+ years of European experience
In a European context, the group has participated in numerous ACTS and IST projects (ACTS: Horizon, Open, Photon, Mephisto, Panel, Tobasco, Ithaci, Prisma; IST: Optimist, Tequila, Harmonics, David, Lion, Stolas, Scampi, Nexway, Medianet, MUSE, NOBEL, MAGNET, ePhoton/ONE, Euro-NGI, Newcom).
Currently the group is involved in 8 European IST FP6 projects: Muse II, Nobel II, Magnet Beyond, Lasagne, Bread, ePhoton/ONE+, Euro-FGI, Integrail, CitizenMedia, and Phosphorus.
The IBCN group is strongly involved in research with local industry, partnering with Alcatel-Lucent, Barco, Belgacom, Cisco, Siemens, Telenet, Televic, Ubiwave, etc. for research and development.
The IBCN group takes part in national and Flemish research programs (e.g. information technology, optical networking, mobile multimedia...).
