The Electronics Research Group (ERG) of the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen has a range of experience relating to the design, simulation, optimisation, and benchmarking of systems. It operates within the Communications and Optical Engineering research group.
The prime focus of the group is to investigate communications systems and identify potential performance problems, suggest appropriate techniques which may improve performance, and to analyse the impact of implementing specific techniques. The group is able to draw upon previous experience of a wide-range of protocols and systems which it has either studied or implemented. It has also performed a range of benchmarking and acceptance testing of network equipment.
There is a particular research interest in the development of link layer protocols, router technology to support IP (including IPv6 and multimedia over IP), and transport protocols.
The group has experience built-up over more than a decade through research programmes funded by various organisations including: Defence Research Agency (Malvern), Satellite Communications Centre (DRA Defford), Intelsat, European Space Agency (ESA), British National Space Centre (BNSC), The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the EC via its IST Programmes, and consultancy to private companies. A number of research projects and consultancy contracts have also been completed in other areas of electronics. The group is supported by an experimental network testbed.
ERG has studied the performance of the TCP transport protocol, leading to publications in the areas of congestion control and error recovery. It has also published research on TCP-aware link protocols for wireless communications. Funded by EPSRC, the Group is currently studying the architectural issues in indirect TCP Gateways for enhancement of TCP for wireless and satellite networks. This interest in end systems software extends to cover reliable multicast and the delivery of multimedia via IP.
The group has a well-equipped set of laboratories based on SUN workstations, PCs and Macintosh computers. All computers are networked using 10/100/1000/10000 Ethernet. A range of tools (constructed either in-house, purchased, or on loan) are available and may be used to assist in the monitoring, analysis and implementation of communications protocols. These have been developed and used in both a satellite and terrestrial context.
A separate site describes and documents the ERG network testbed, see [http://www.erg.abdn.ac.uk].
Further information about the ERG may be obtained from:
Prof G Fairhurst School of Engineering University of Aberdeen Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK