Ulrich Schmid
Full professor (Head of ECS Group)
Research
Publications (+ BibTeX Entries)
Research
I am interested in finding sound solutions to relevant and difficult scientific problems in all areas of computer engineering. My major concerns are motivation and support of my own PhD students and PostDocs and, more generally, creating a climate that combines challenge, openness, fun & freedom in my research group. My past and current PhD students (I am proud of and grateful to all of them) could tell ...
Research fields: Starting out from the mathematical analysis of algorithms and network protocols for multiaccess channels, I turned to analytic combinatorics in the analysis of the performance of queueing systems subject to deadlines. My current major research interests are modeling and mathematical analysis of fault-tolerant distributed algorithms, distributed real-time systems, dynamic networks, and fault-tolerant asynchronous VLSI circuits/SoCs.
Here is what I would currently consider my five most interesting publications:
- Michael Drmota and Ulrich Schmid. The analysis of the expected successful operation time of slotted ALOHA, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory 39(5):1567-1577, 1993.
- Ulrich Schmid and Klaus Schossmaier. How to reconcile fault-tolerant interval intersection with the Lipschitz condition, Distributed Computing 14(2):101-111, May 2001.
- Peter Robinson and Ulrich Schmid. The Asynchronous Bounded-Cycle Model. Theoretical Computer Science, 412(40):5580-5601, 2011. (Best Paper Award at SSS'08).
- Danny Dolev, Matthias Függer, Christoph Lenzen, Markus Posch, Ulrich Schmid, and Andreas Steininger. Rigorously modeling self-stabilizing fault-tolerant circuits: An ultra-robust clocking scheme for systems-on-chip. Journal of Computer and System Sciences, 80(4):860-900, 2014.
- Matthias Függer, Thomas Nowak, and Ulrich Schmid. Unfaithful glitch propagation in existing binary circuit models. IEEE Transactions on Computers, 65(3):964-978, March 2016.
Five additional publications that I also find interesting can be found here.
Selected presentations:
- Reconciling Fault-Tolerance and Robustness. Invited presentation at Workshop on Design and Analysis of Robust Systems (DARS'16) at CPS Week 2016.
- Synchrony and Time in Fault-Tolerant Distributed Algorithms. Invited Tutorial at the 8th International Conference on Formal Modeling and Analysis of Timed Systems (FORMATS'10).
- Distributed Algorithms and VLSI. Keynote 10th International Symposium on Stabilization, Safety, and Security of Distributed Systems (SSS'08).
- A Perspective of Fault-Tolerant Clock Synchronization. Keynote IEEE International Symposium on Precision Clock Synchronization for Measurement, Control and Communication (ISPCS'07).
I served in the PCs of many distributed computing conferences (PODC, DISC, OPODIS etc.). I have also been general (co-)chair of DISC'17 in Vienna, and I am the PC chair of DISC'18 in New Orleans.
Projects
Here are some of my current and more recent research projects:
This project is devoted to the development of the theoretical foundations, models, algorithms and analysis techniques for relaxed distributed agreement in directed dynamic networks. It shall yield new insights into the fundamental limitations of dynamic networks as well as the development of novel algorithms that solve distributed agreement problems reliably even under very weak communication guarantees.
RiSE is an FWF-supported research network (NFN), devoted to applying rigorous methods from formal verification to systems engineering. My primary areas of interest are currently parameterized model-checking of fault-tolerant distributed algorithms, dynamic systems modeling and analysis of distributed algorithms, and applying algorithmic game theory for competitive analysis of real-time scheduling algorithms.
The aim of the FATAL project is the development of the foundations of a modeling and analysis framework for fault-tolerant asynchronous VLSI circuits, by combining fault-tolerant distributed algorithms knowledge and experimental assessment of both radiation-induced failures and metastability.
PSRTS is devoted to the development of a sound scientific basis for fault-tolerant distributed hard real-time systems with relaxed synchrony conditions, by adding a proper real-time systems perspective to the theory of distributed algorithms.
The Theta project is devoted to the development and validation of a partially synchronous system model based upon a bounded ratio of end-to-end delays for fault-tolerant distributed real-time systems.
Teaching
My major intention here is to convey some my own enthusiasm about research to my own students, and to help them to develop their individual skills as much as possible - which also requires challenging them to the extent necessary for reaching international competitiveness. I also want them to understand that computer science is much more than programming, and that solving challenging research problems primarily requires mathematical/formal and abstraction skills. In fact, I strongly believe that developing such skills is the core (and unrivaled) responsibility of universities and hence the central issue in academic curricula.
Besides Scientific Working in our Bachelorstudium "Technische Informatik", I primarily teach the following courses in our Masterstudium "Technische Informatik" (and other master studies):
- Distributed Algorithms
- Real-Time Scheduling
- Problems in Distributed Computing
- Building Reliable Distributed Systems
- Scientific Project Computer Engineering
Moreover, since 2018, I am also full faculty member of the Doctorate Program Logical Methods in Computer Science (LogiCS), which is now in its 2nd 4-years period and has opened up its scope to the application areas cyber-physical systems, distributed systems and security & privacy. We are looking for applications for 16 funded PhD positions - details for how to apply can be found here.
Other responsibilities
I serve in several internal and external commitees and boards. Feel free to contact me in any matter related to the following:
- Speaker of the Professorenkurie of the Fakultät für Informatik
- Coordinator for Bachelor and Master curriculum "Technische Informatik"
- Coordinator of our new Bachelor with Honors program
- Coordinator for Forschungsschwerpunkt "Technische Informatik"
- Member of Fakultätsrat Informatik
- Member of Studienkommission Informatik
About myself
I am currently full professor and head of the Embedded Computing Systems Group at the Institut für Technische Informatik at TU Vienna. My background is in computer science and mathematics as well as in industrial electronics and embedded systems design. I received several awards and prices, most notably the Austrian START-prize, and own the venia docendi ("Habilitation") for the whole field of computer science at TU Wien.
Here is my full curriculum vitae:
I am married to Dr. Isolde Schmid-Reiter, who is assistant professor at the University of Vienna and secretary general of the European Academy of Music Theatre. My private interests besides my family are music (playing organ), philosophy, literature, and athletics.