Reading note of A Personal Note on How to Start Research in Computer Networks

Reading note:

a.Pick a direction or area of interest based on your background in netwoking. Try to be as specific as possible.

b.Compile a set of 'keywords' to start searching for high quality readings for each of the previously selected topics.

c.Out of the search hits, select around 15-20 papers that you think are most related to what you had in mind and are of the highest quality.

d.For the selected 15-20 papers read only the abstract, introduction and conclusion in detail

e.Read those 4-6 papers from beginning to end, identifying in detail: (I) the main approaches, (II) methods of analysis: (a) metrics, (b) evaluation tools, and (c) analysis and interpretation of resulting simulation or measured data, and (III) conclusions. At the same time, try to keep a list of what you think the authors may have missed in the paper/study, gaps or limitations that could be improved upon and any ideas on how to accomplish these improvements. Some questions to ask include: Did all/some papers use similar approaches? Have they used the same evaluation criteria, or method of analysis? If not, then what are the strengths/weaknesses of each method? Also, keep a list of ideas that you want to explore further, or background material you want to brush upon. This will create another list of readings for you in later stages.

f.Write a two page proposal defining, as clearly as possible, the following items:

• Motivation
• Research challenges
• Overview of existing work
• Limitations of existing work
• Potential directions and ideas for improvement
• Expected results and impact on the field.

g.Have some knowlegeable (trustworthy) friends review the proposal for you and give feedback (mainly on presentation and clarity, leave technical remarks for the reserach advisor). If/when you think it is clear, then discuss the proposal with your research advisor. If you do not think it is clear, go back and re-write.

h.Try to focus...

i.Remember that having a strategy is sometimes more important than dispersed ideas. More readings will come at a later phase. It is more important to focus at this point and not get confused, so be very selective in your readings.]

j.If you have done a good job at the above, I think you are at a good 'starting' point to pursue research! Good luck with the rest...
k.The next step is to write a 10 page proposal elaborating on the 2 pages above, adding your own twist on the problem, outlining your initial thoughts, results and findings, and outlining a clear plan to continue the work.
 

 

Research Library:

1.IEEE library on-line

2.ACM library on-line

3.citeseer.com

 

Comments on resource:

Check the title, abstract, names of authors, their affiliations, and most importantly the conference or journal. Many IEEE and ACM conferences/Journals are of high quality. Some, however, are more selective and competitive than others. Examples of well-known conferences/journals include, but are not limited to:

• In the general area of Computer Networks: IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (ToN), IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (JSAC), ACM SIGCOMM, IEEE INFOCOM, IEEE ICNP, IEEE SIGMetrics, Computer Networks Journal (Elsevier), IEEE ICC, IEEE GlobeCom, ACM CCR, among others.
• In the more specific areas of wireless networks (including mobile ad hoc networks, sensor networks and cellular-like infrastructure-based networks): ACM MobiCom, ACM MobiHoc, ACM MONET Journal, AdHoc Networks Journal (Elsevier), ACM Wireless Networks (WiNet) Journal, ACM SenSys, IEEE/ACM IPSN, IEEE WCNC, ACM MC2R, to name a few.

Happy day, happy life!