Matthias R. BRUST

Short Curriculum Vitae

Matthias R. Brust studied computer science, mathematics, and physics at the Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany) and, subsequently, computer science with cartography as minor subject at the University of Trier (Germany). In 2002, he received his Master of Science in Computer Science with specialization in databases and knowledge-based systems from the University of Trier. His studies were accompanied with terms abroad at the State University of Campinas (Brazil) and at the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (Brazil).
In 2003, Matthias R. Brust received a three-year scholarship for researches in hybrid wireless networks and mobile learning (m-learning) from the Ministère de la Culture, de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche, Luxembourg. Since January 2007, he is research assistant at the University of Luxembourg. Matthias R. Brust received his Ph.D. degree in December 2007.

Research Interests

Sensor and Ad hoc Networks: Topology Control and Clustering

Mobile devices are limited in terms of energy available and communication range. Keeping the communication range at its minimum is important to minimize interferences, therefore decreasing energy consumption and augmenting network capacity. In order to adjust these parameters, it is necessary to control the topology. Informally speaking, topology control (TC) can be defined as the art of coordinating the network nodes in order to generate a network topology with the optimized properties. Clustering is considered as a form of topology control that creates hierarchal organizations locally. One crucial question hereby is how local actions influence the global network properties and if it is possible to wittingly provoke these desired properties? A well-controlled topology can unleash a considerable potential of a network. In this context fundamental research has been conducted that leads to useful metrics and network topology characterizations. In addition, Topology Control and clustering algorithms have been proposed for different optimization criteria.

Optimizations and Applications of Hybrid Wireless Networks

Topology control mechanisms are mostly applied in the field of ad hoc and sensor networks. In practice, multi-hop wireless networks combined with a backbone network are becoming more and more promising. The uplink to the backbone network can be realized via GSM or UMTS technologies. This uplink might cause additional costs and offer low bandwidth compared to local ad hoc communications, but can be used to gather essential information, thus keeping an application running and the user up-to-date in sensitive situations. The user is able to share the information with neighbors in ad hoc transmission range. Such a hybrid wireless network including its uplink capabilities offers additional possibilities to maintain an efficient network topology. In this context, we developed prototypical applications designed for hybrid wireless networks, inter alia multimedia context distribution, podcasting system, and learning in hybrid environments.

Small-World Properties and Bio-inspired Approaches

Many useful solutions for network-specific problems come from nature and motivate engineers to design so-called bio-inspired algorithms in order to tackle problems in a similar efficiency as biological entities. In this context, the problem of finding efficient ways of interlinking multiple network partitions has been engineered inspired by the small-world phenomenon. Small-world networks obey two distinguished characteristics: they have a strong local clustering while still retaining a small average distance between two nodes. A small path length corresponds to fewer hops, which is of importance for effective routing mechanisms as well as for the overall communication performance of the entire network. Local clustering fosters redundancy and promotes the capability of a node to disseminate information to its neighbors. The research results include localized algorithms that optimize the global characteristics of a network in order to get small-world properties.

Small-World Communication Pattern in M-Learning

The small-world communication pattern is present in m-learning application scenarios. Lecture material, slides, annotations, and particularly also tasks are initially distributed to the students. A common behavior is to form groups and resolve tasks locally, but since not all tasks can be tackled within the own group, usually other groups are consulted. In other words, for successfully running such an application, a communication network shall obey the two distinguished characteristics of small-world networks: strong local clustering (group) and small average distance between two nodes (asking someone outside the own group). Research conducted fosters on the design of topology control mechanisms in accordance of data-flow and communication patterns-in particular small-worlds-of a distributed application. This promising approach gives new insights in the strong interrelation between the layers.

Cooperative Learning and Annotation Systems

Today’s computer-based annotation systems implement a wide range of functionalities that often go beyond those available in traditional paper-and-pencil annotations. Conceptually, annotation systems are based on thoroughly investigated psycho-sociological and pedagogical learning theories. They offer a huge diversity of annotation types that can be placed in textual as well as in multimedia format. Additionally, annotations can be published or shared with a group of interested parties via well-organized repositories. Although highly sophisticated annotation systems exist both conceptually as well as technologically, we still observe that their acceptance is somewhat limited. We argue that nowadays annotation systems suffer from several fundamental problems that are inherent in the traditional paper-and-pencil annotation paradigm. As a solution, we propose to shift the annotation paradigm for the implementation of annotation system. Therefore we formulized the artefact-context annotation paradigm that is supposed to be adapted to computer-based annotations. In this paradigm, an annotation is augmented by additional semiotic functionalities enabling pointing and gesture-like annotations as well as additional attributes. Due to this augmentation, these sophisticated computer-based annotations are called artefacts and the media for an artefact is called context.

Academic Activities

• External reviewer of First International Workshop on Localized Algorithms and Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks (LOCALGOS 2007), USA, June 2007
• Small-Worlds in Wireless Networks, Lecture talk in Lecture “Mobile Computing”, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 2007
• Topology Control, Lecture talk in Lecture “Spontaneous Networks”, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 2007
• Co-supervising seminar “Mobile Computing”, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 2007
• External reviewer of International Journal of Computers and Applications, ACTA Press, Vol. 3, April 2006
• 2006 ACM-ICPC International Collegiate Programming Contest w/ Brazil, co-organization, Brazil, September 2006
• Distributed Systems, Lecture, 2005
• Object-Oriented Programming, Lecture, 2005
• Games in Artificial Intelligence, Seminar series, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, November 2004
• Ubiquitous Computing: The new Wave of Computing, Bandeirantes Faculty of Suzano (UNISUZ), Brazil, October 2004
• Session Chair at International Conference on Education and Information Systems (EISTA 04), USA, July 2004
• Ad Hoc Networks for Mobile Learning, Seminar series, Technological Institute of Aeronautics (CTA-ITA), Brazil, March 2004
• Associate editor and external reviewer of the International Journal of Learning, Vol 10, 2003
• I-Centric Communication (Invited talk), University Center of Caraguatatuba (UNIMODULO), Brazil, September 2003
• Mathematical Concepts in Distance Learning (Invited talk), V Symposium of Mathematics, Braz Cubas University, Brazil, October 2002
• Artificial Intelligence: Games and Game Theory (Lecture), University of Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Brazil, October 2002
• AnITA-A Tool for Online Evaluation (Invited talk), Seminar Series “Sciencia ao Meio dia”, University of Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Brazil, March 2002

Publications

2008

Matthias R. BRUST, Adrian ANDRONACHE, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: HyLearn: A Mobile Learning System for Hybrid Networks. In the 4th IEEE International Workshop on Pervasive Learning (PerEL 2008) Hong Kong: IEEE Computer Society Press, 2008, pp. pp. 395-399.

Matthias R. BRUST, Hannes FREY, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: Dynamic Multi-Hop Clustering for Mobile Hybrid Wireless Networks. In The Second International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Management and Communication (ACM ICUIMC 2008), Suwon, Korea, January 2008.

2007

Matthias R. BRUST, Hannes FREY and Steffen ROTHKUGEL, "Adaptive Multi-hop Clustering in Mobile Networks", 4th International Conference on Mobile Technology, Applications and Systems (MOBILITY 2007), Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore, ACM Press.

Gregoire DANOY, Pascal BOUVRY, Matthias R. BRUST and Enrique ALBA, "Optimal Design of Ad Hoc Injection Networks by Using Genetic Algorithms," in Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2007), England, London, 2007, p. 2256.

Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: Small Worlds: Strong Clustering in Wireless Networks. in First International Workshop on Localized Algorithms and Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks (LOCALGOS 2007), Santa Fe, USA, 2007.

Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: On Anomalies in Annotation Systems. in The Third International Workshop on E-learning and Mobile Learning on Telecommunications, ELETE 2007, IEEE Computer Society Press, Mauritius, May 2007.

Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: Localized Support for Injection Point Election in Hybrid Networks. The Sixth International Conference on Networking (ICN 2007), Martinique, French Caribbean, IEEE Computer Society Press, April 2007.

Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: A Taxonomic Approach to Topology Control in Ad-hoc and Wireless Networks. in The Sixth International Conference on Networking, ICN 2007, IEEE Computer Society Press, Martinique, French Caribbean, April 2007.

Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL, Adrian ANDRONACHE: Node Stability in Dynamic Communication Networks. First Asia International Conference on Modeling & Simulation (AMS 2007), Phuket, Thailand, IEEE Computer Society Press, March 2007.

Ulf WEHLING, Christian HOFF, Steffen ROTHKUGEL, Matthias R. BRUST: Exploiting Context Information for Computer-based Annotation Systems. International Technology, Education and Development Conference, INTED 2007, Valencia, Spain, March 2007.

Matthias R. BRUST, Adrian ANDRONACHE, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: WACA: A Hierarchical Weighted Clustering Algorithm optimized for Mobile Hybrid Networks. Third International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Communications, ICWMC-2007, IEEE Computer Society Press, Guadeloupe, French Caribbean, March 2007.

Matthias R. BRUST, Adrian ANDRONACHE, Steffen ROTHKUGEL, Carlos H.C. RIBEIRO: Stability Criteria for Clusterhead Selection in Mobile Ad-hoc Networks. CEWIT 2007, Stony Brook University, New York, USA, January 2007.

Matthias R. BRUST, Zinaida BENENSON, Adrian ANDRONACHE, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: Topology-based Clusterhead Candidate Selection in Wireless Ad-hoc and Sensor Networks. 2nd International Workshop on Software for Sensor Networks, SENSORWARE 2007 held in conjunction with IEEE COMSWARE 2007, January 2007.

2006

Adrian ANDRONACHE, Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: HyMN: An Interest-based Multimedia Providing System for Hybrid Wireless Networks. First International Workshop on Broadband and Wireless Computing, Communication and Applications, BWCCA-2006, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, December 2006.

Steffen ROTHKUGEL, Matthias R. BRUST and Adrian ANDRONACHE: HyMN: A Self-Organizing System for Interest-based Data Distribution in Mobile Hybrid Wireless Networks. In: ERCIM News Nr. 67, Special: Embedded Intelligence, October 2006.

Adrian ANDRONACHE, Steffen ROTHKUGEL and Matthias R. BRUST: Multi-Application Optimization of Heuristic Clustering Weight Functions. META'2006: School and Workshop Metaheuristics: From Theory to Applications, Hammamet, Tunisia, November 2006

Adrian ANDRONACHE, Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL: Multimedia Content Distribution in Hybrid Wireless Networks using Weighted Clustering. 2nd ACM Workshop on Wireless Multimedia Networking and Performance Modeling, WMuNeP 2006, Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain, October 2006

Steffen ROTHKUGEL, Matthias R. BRUST, Carlos H.C. RIBEIRO: Inquiring the Potential of Evoking Small-World Properties for Self-Organizing Communication Networks. International Conference on Networking, ICN 2006, Mauritius, April 2006.

2005

Steffen ROTHKUGEL, Matthias R. BRUST: Tool-Support for Analyzing Small-World Properties in Hybrid Wireless Networks. International Conference on Wireless and Information Technology 2005, USA.

José Eduardo M. LOBO, Jorge Luis Risco BECERRA, Matthias R. BRUST, T. NAKANISHI: A Survey about Software Development Process and Software Reuse Components Approaches. Global Congress on Engineering and Technology Education (GCETE 2005), Bertioga, Brazil.

José Eduardo M. LOBO, Jorge Luis Risco BECERRA, Matthias R. BRUST, Steffen ROTHKUGEL, Christian ADRIANO: Developing a Collaborative and Autonomous Training and Learning Environment for Hybrid Wireless Networks. Global Congress on Engineering and Educational Technology 2005 (GCETE 2005), Bertioga, Brazil.

2004

Matthias R. BRUST and Steffen ROTHKUGEL: Cooperative and Mobile Learning in Ad-Hoc Networks. Proceedings of WCETE 2004,World Conference on Engineering and Technology Education (WCETE 2004), Guaruja, Brazil.

Matthias R. BRUST: Semi-Adaptive Testing Strategies in a Web-based Generic Tutoring System. Instructional Technologies: Cognitive Aspects of Online Programs, Paul Darbyshire; Victoria University of Technology, Australia, Chapter 5. ISBN 1-59140-565-3.

Christian HUTTER, Matthias R. BRUST, and Steffen ROTHKUGEL: ADS: Directory Services for Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks Based on an Information Market Model. 1st International Workshop on Ubiquitous Computing (IWUC-2004) held in conjunction with the 6th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS 2004).

Matthias R. BRUST and Steffen ROTHKUGEL: Analyzing Design Process and Experiments on the AnITA Generic Tutoring System. International Conference on Education and Information Systems, Orlando, USA, (EISTA 04).

Matthias R. BRUST, Christian M. ADRIANO, Ivan M.L. RICARTE: Redesigning Computer-based Learning Environments: Evaluation as Communication. International Conference on Education and Information Systems, Orlando, USA, (EISTA 04).

Matthias R. BRUST, Daniel GÖRGEN, Christian HUTTER and Steffen ROTHKUGEL: ADS as Information Management Service in an M-Learning Environment. 8th International Conference on Knowledge-Based Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems (KES2004).

Matthias R. BRUST and Steffen ROTHKUGEL: A Communication Model for Adaptive Service Provisioning in Hybrid Wireless Networks. WSEAS Transactions on Circuits and Systems, Issue 9, Volume 3, November 2004, ISSN 1109-2734.

Matthias R. BRUST and Steffen ROTHKUGEL: A Communication Model for Adaptive Service Provisioning in Hybrid Wireless Networks. 3rd WSEAS Int.Conf. on Information Security, Hardware/Software Codesign and Computer Networks (ISCOCO 2004).

2003

Matthias R. BRUST: Applying Test-Paradigms in a Generic Tutoring System Concept for Web-based Learning. Information and Resource Management (IRMA 2003), Philadelphia, USA.

Matthias R. BRUST, Christian M. ADRIANO, José Eduardo M. LOBO: Proposing an Evaluation System as Interface for World-Wide Academic Assessment: The engineering Aspect. XXXI Brazilian Congress of Engineering Education 2003 (COBENGE 2003).

2002

Matthias R. BRUST, Peter STURM, S. BARRETO: AnITA: Realizing E-Scenarios by an Generic XML-based Architecture. Brazilian Congress of Engineering Education (COBENGE 2002), Piracicaba, Brazil.