System Architecture and Networking

Imagine just any electronic system that is not somehow networked with other systems. Found one? Must be a pretty boring system then, since one of the fascinating developments of the last years is that devices of all form factors and functionality become connected. In our group we study parallel and distributed systems with an emphasis on pervasive systems or, as we call it, resource constrained networked embedded systems.

Here is simplified picture of an RCNES. Research topics within SAN focus on distributed aspects of RCNES (middleware and networked services), on the platform (predictable and reliable resource management) and on efficient embedded computations (typical for signal processing). Research questions are, for example, how to build and manage applications composed from distributed services, how to perform distributed resource management. We pay a lot of attention to quality aspects, which include performance, predictability, dependability, programmability and security. A dominant issue in our work is therefore the architecture of these RCNES, in particular the software architecture, as this is where the quality aspects are addressed.

We relate our work to application domains which we see as vehicles for our research. Example application domains include distributed media systems, wireless sensor networks, automotive electronics and, more recently, lighting.

Much of our work is done in cooperation with industry through national and international projects. Have a look at our research page to see the projects we are involved in.

SAN is always interested to get into contact with motivated master students who want to do a PhD. Students should have a major in distributed systems (architecture), embedded systems or the like and have a strong interest in system software. For students with an interest in the design of software rather than doing research we refer to our Software Technology programme.

SAN is an expertise area within the capacity group Computer Science. Together with the Mathematics group these form the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science of Eindhoven University of Technology.