Combined study

4 years

prof. Ing. Zdeněk Smékal, CSc.

Chairman :
prof. Ing. Zdeněk Smékal, CSc.
Councillor internal :
doc. Ing. Radim Burget, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jiří Mišurec, CSc.
doc. Ing. Vladislav Škorpil, CSc.
doc. Ing. Jiří Hošek, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jaroslav Koton, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
doc. Ing. Otto Dostál, CSc.
prof. Ing. Boris Šimák, CSc.
prof. Ing. Ivan Baroňák, Ph.D.

The student is fostered to use the theoretical knowledge and experience gained through own research activities in an innovative manner. He is able to efficiently use the gathered knowledge for the design of own and prospective solutions within their further experimental development and applied research. The emphasis is put on gaining both theoretical and practical skill, ability of self-decisions, definition of research and development hypotheses to propose projects spanning from basic to applied research, ability to evaluation of the results and their dissemination as research papers and presentation in front of the research community.

The doctor study program "Teleinformatics" aims to generate top research and development specialists, who have deep knowledge of principles and techniques used in communication and data wired and wireless networks and also in related areas and also in data/signal acquisition, processing and the back representation of user data on the level of application layer. The main parts of the studies are represented by areas dealing with information theory and communication techniques. The graduate has deep knowledge in communication and information technologies, data transfer and their security. The graduate is skilled in operation systems, computer languages and database systems, their usage and also design of suitable software and user applications. The graduate is able to propose new technology solution of communication tools and information systems for advanced transfer of information.

Graduates of theprogram "Teleinformatics" apply in particular in research, development and design teams, in the field of professional activity in production or business organizations, in the academic sphere and in other institutions involved in science, research, development and innovation, in all areas of the company where communication systems and information transfer through data networks are being applied and used.
Our graduates are particularly experienced in the analysis, design, creation or management of complex systems aimed for data transfer and processing, as well as in the programming, integration, support, maintenance or sale of these systems.

Doctoral studies are carried out according to the individual study plan, which will prepare the doctoral student in cooperation with the doctoral student at the beginning of the study. The individual study plan specifies all the duties stipulated in accordance with the BUT Study and Examination Rules, which the doctoral student must fulfill to successfully finish his studies. These responsibilities are time-bound throughout the study period, they are scored and fixed at fixed deadlines. The student enrolls and performs tests of compulsory courses, at least two obligatory elective subjects with regard to the focus of his dissertation, and at least two elective courses (English for PhD students, Solutions for Innovative Entries, Scientific Publishing from A to Z).
The student may enroll for the state doctoral exam only after all the tests prescribed by his / her individual study plan have been completed. Before the state doctoral exam, the student prepares a dissertation thesis describing in detail the goals of the thesis, a thorough evaluation of the state of knowledge in the area of ​​the dissertation solved, or the characteristics of the methods it intends to apply in the solution. The defense of the controversy that is opposed is part of the state doctoral exam. In the next part of the exam the student must demonstrate deep theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of microelectronics, electrotechnology, materials physics, nanotechnology, electrical engineering, electronics, circuit theory. The State Doctoral Examination is in oral form and, in addition to the discussion on the dissertation thesis, it also consists of thematic areas related to compulsory and compulsory elective subjects.
To defend the dissertation, the student reports after the state doctoral examination and after fulfilling conditions for termination, such as participation in teaching, scientific and professional activity (creative activity) and at least a monthly study or work placement at a foreign institution or participation in an international creative project .

The doctoral studies of a student follow the Individual Study Plan (ISP), which is defined by the supervisor and the student at the beginning of the study period. The ISP is obligatory for the student, and specifies all duties being consistent with the Study and Examination Rules of BUT, which the student must successfully fulfill by the end of the study period. The duties are distributed throughout the whole study period, scored by credits/points and checked in defined dates. The current point evaluation of all activities of the student is summarized in the “Total point rating of doctoral student” document and is part of the ISP. At the beginning of the next study year the supervisor highlights eventual changes in ISP. By October, 15 of each study year the student submits the printed and signed ISP to Science Department of the faculty to check and archive.
Within the first four semesters the student passes the exams of compulsory, optional-specialized and/or optional-general courses to fulfill the score limit in Study area, and concurrently the student significantly deals with the study and analysis of the knowledge specific for the field defined by the dissertation thesis theme and also continuously deals with publishing these observations and own results. In the follow-up semesters the student focuses already more to the research and development that is linked to the dissertation thesis topic and to publishing the reached results and compilation of the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the second year of studies the student passes the Doctor State Exam, where the student proves the wide overview and deep knowledge in the field linked to the dissertation thesis topic. The student must apply for this exam by April, 30 in the second year of studies. Before the Doctor State Exam the student must successfully pass the exam from English language course.
In the third and fourth year of studies the student deals with the required research activities, publishes the reached results and compiles the dissertation thesis. As part of the study duties is also completing a study period at an abroad institution or participation on an international research project with results being published or presented in abroad or another form of direct participation of the student on an international cooperation activity, which must be proved by the date of submitting the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the winter term in the fourth year of study students submit the elaborated dissertation thesis to the supervisor, who scores this elaborate. The final dissertation thesis is expected to be submitted by the student by the end of the fourth year of studies.
In full-time study form, during the study period the student is obliged to pass a pedagogical practice, i.e. participate in the education process. The participation of the student in the pedagogical activities is part of his/her research preparations. By the pedagogical practice the student gains experience in passing the knowledge and improves the presentation skills. The pedagogical practice load (exercises, laboratories, project supervision etc.) of the student is specified by the head of the department based on the agreement with the student’s supervisor. The duty of pedagogical practice does not apply to students-payers and combined study program students. The involvement of the student in the education process within the pedagogical practice is confirmed by the supervisor in the Information System of the university.

1. Analog circuits containing elements with the fractional order

   The thesis is focused on modeling, simulations and experimental verification of structures where relation between response and driving signal contains derivation or integration of non-integer order (so-called fractional structures or circuits). The task is also to design of suitable application possibilities of fractional order circuits, e.g. frequency filters, reconfigurable filters, tunable oscillators or other circuits. Attention should be kept also on other ways how to implement fractional order circuits, e.g. implementation of structures with distributed parameters (RC-EDP), on computer modelling of matter and structures from nature and biology and also on mathematical description.

   Tutor: Jeřábek Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Analysis of Images and Image Sequences Captured by Drone

   The theme is focused on advanced analysis of both static and dynamic image content captured by drones. The aim is to research possibilities of specific regions of interest extraction, autonomous target searching and drone guidance for specific tasks such as terrain mapping, systematic object search etc.

   Tutor: Říha Kamil, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Converged networks with limited bandwidth

   Converged networks with limited bandwidth require a research of alternatives of increasing their throughput. It is about solving the problems connected with broadband data transmission, which is in its part limited by a narrower bandwidth, the so-called bottleneck problem. Come up with solution possibilities and subsequently design, model and implement a new system on the NetCOPE platform. Consider solutions based on QoS, solutions based on compression algorithms, and their combinations. Knowledge in the area of IP networks, modelling in Matlab and Simulink, and programming in languages VHDL or Verilog are supposed. You are supposed to compare your system with existing ones and to specify its advantages.

   Tutor: Škorpil Vladislav, doc. Ing., CSc.

4. Converters for mutual A/D and D/A conversions working in the current mode

   The work is focused on the design of A/D and D/A converters working in the current mode. The aim is to design a suitable structure of number-current and current-number converters without internal current-voltage and voltage-current conversions with respect to enhancing the bandwidth in comparison with converters working in the voltage mode. Part of the work is also the design and analysis of current-mode antialiasing filters. The design will start from unconventional circuit element structures such as current conveyors (CCI, CCII, CCIII) with simple or floating output, current feedback amplifiers (CFA) or transconductance amplifiers (OTA, BOTA, DBTA). Requirements to be met by the candidate: the knowledge of circuit theory and simulation programs (MicroCap, PSpice).

   Tutor: Lattenberg Ivo, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Elastic optical networks in critical infrastructure

   Fixed channel spacing distribution between separately data streams proves to be an insufficient technique. With the development of software-defined networks, there is a new trend in the reallocation of the spectrum, elastic optical network (EON). These networks react flexibly to the line occupation and predictively define spectrum allocation. With spectrum reallocation, individual interfaces may be blocked due to routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and routing and spectrum assignment (RSA) spectrum sharing from/to access networks. Elastic optical networks can transfer the quantum key over short distances.

   Tutor: Horváth Tomáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Electrical Phantoms Emulating Impedance of Natural Materials

   The topic aims at the design and description of analog circuits – phantoms, by which the electrical impedance properties of samples of natural materials are emulated. These phantoms are based on the use of fractional calculus, while in their implementation are used mainly passive elements with fractional-order impedance (the so-called constant phase elements) and their suitable transformations and combinations. Impedance measurement methods for emulated materials will be investigated. Part of the work will also cover the design of documents for the production of phantom samples in selected technology.

   Tutor: Kubánek David, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Electronical phantoms describing fractional impedance behaviour of real-world systems

   This topic focuses on the synthesis and description of analogue circuits – phantoms that emulate and capture in time the electrical properties of systems/tissues being analyzes mainly using the impedance spectroscopy technique. The definition of these phantoms is based on using the fractional calculus, whereas for their realization mainly the passive fractional-order elements and their suitable combination and transformation, which represents an area not sufficiently investigated so far. The importance of such phantoms for the future research is the possibility of explicit comparison and suitability of measurement techniques used for material characterization.

   Tutor: Jeřábek Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

8. Electronically configurable analogue circuits

   This topic is focused on design of two-ports, filtering circuits especially and oscillators for instance, with possibility to externally and electronically change significant parameters of the circuit and in the case of filter also change of type of frequency response. Design with fractional-order element sis also expected. Available active elements are supposed to be used as it is or in modified variants. Simulations not only with simple models but also with transistor-level structures are expected. When verified by experimental measurement, behavioural modelling is preferred.

   Tutor: Jeřábek Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

9. Feature analysis of current-mode electronic frequency filters

   The work is focused on the feature analysis of current-mode electronic frequency filters. The aim is to design algoritmizable methods that lead to finding features of filters generally defined by the schematic. It will be necessary to evaluate the available feature ranges, e.g. quality, pass-band current transfer, dynamic range within a defined supply voltage, sensitivity, etc. In the case of finding the quality range, the point is to find the extremes of a multi-variable non-linear function. Mathematical tools (e.g. Maple or MathCAD) will first be used for this purpose; afterwards the algorithm itself will be designed. Requirements to be met by the candidate: algorithm thinking, the knowledge of computer programming and circuit theory.

   Tutor: Lattenberg Ivo, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

10. High-capacity optical transmission systems

    Optical transmission systems have evolved rapidly over the last decade to meet the ever-increasing demand for increased capacity. Wavelength multiplexing is now widely used to increase optical fiber capacity, and further capacity increase is achieved by increasing data transfer rate. In order to meet these requirements for future high-capacity transmission systems, several technical challenges need to be addressed, such as new optical modulation formats with high spectral efficiency, optimization of receivers capable of detecting new modulation formats, mitigation of linear and nonlinear phenomena in optical fibers, or amplification signal with minimal noise.

    Tutor: Münster Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

11. Methods for measurement of basic and derived parameters of data networks

    Goal of this thesis is to research in area of measurement of basic parameters of data networks based mostly on Internet Protocol (IP), such as throughput, one-way delay and round-trip time, so as in area of derived parameters, such as quality of voice and video services. This comes with problematics of modelling of behaviour of network and user under various conditions, long-term and short-term events, a description of mass-serving systems and also features and behaviour key internet and measuring protocols in computer networks, so as topic of their possible setting and security. Based on analysis of available tools and their features, or development of own tools, design of solution and approaches for various types of measurements is expected. Designed methodology should be verified both in environment of lab and real-world networks.

    Tutor: Jeřábek Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

12. Methods for Optimization of Ultra-Wideband Analog Integrated Systems-on-Chip Using Parasitic Effects of Transistors

    The thesis is focused on design of optimization methods of MOS-only analog ultra-wideband analog integrated systems-on-chip of arbitrary integer and fractional order. The aim is research and development of low-voltage and low-power applications by advantageous usage of influences of transistor parasitics that work in frequency range units of GHz. Selected novel implementations of true time delay circuits, oscillators, second- or higher-order filters, emulators of synthetic inductors, etc. with potential applications in 5G communication systems will undergo on-chip fabrication and experimental verification. The research will be also conducted in cooperation with Prof. Khaled N. Salama from Sensors Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, KSA, with a paid internship option.

    Tutor: Herencsár Norbert, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

13. Novel distributed and quasi-distributed fiber optic sensing systems

    The work focuses on the design, simulation and development of distributed and quasi-distributed fiber optic sensing systems. These systems use conventional single-mode telecommunication optical fibers, multimode fibers, polymer optical fibers (POF), microstructural fibers, multicore fibers, or other special fibers as a sensor. Using scattering phenomena (Raman, Brillouin, or Rayleigh scattering), or possibly changing the parameters of the transmitted optical signal (change in intensity, phase, polarization, etc.), it is possible to obtain information about temperature, vibration and other physical quantities along the optical fiber.

    Tutor: Münster Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

14. Optical fiber amplifiers

    The ongoing growth of telecommunications networks is currently made possible by optical fibers. Together with telecommunications systems, optical amplifiers have made it possible to transmit huge amounts of data from kilometers distances to transoceanic distances, providing the capacity needed for current and future communications networks. Optical amplifiers play an important role not only in optical telecommunications, but also in optical sensing and many other applications. Rare-doped amplifiers (eg Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers), Raman amplifiers, and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) are common today. Special types of amplifiers such as parametric amplifiers offer many advantages, but they are complex and expensive. In addition to the amplifiers themselves, new types of optical fibers (eg multicore) and the possibilities of amplification in these fibers have to be considered.

    Tutor: Münster Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

15. Parallelization of Evolutionary Algorithms

    The aim is research in the field of evolutionary algorithms parallelization. Parallelization is an integral part of an endeavour to increase effectiveness of evolutionary algorithms and their possible use. Research should build on current knowledge and carry out research on the impact of selected parameters and design details on the performance. Research should be concentrated on the island models of evolutionary algorithms. According to the chosen method the knowledge of some programming language is required, as well as scripting languages Python or Matlab. Selected development and testing environment is left on free choice. The result should be presented and results verified.

    Tutor: Škorpil Vladislav, doc. Ing., CSc.

16. Privacy sells: Use of Data Protection

    The dissertation theses deals with investigation in data and privacy protection, whereas it will be discussed whether the standards from the DSGVO offer a measurable competitive advantage. The theses aims to make a significant contribution to the formation of opinion and offers a basis for theory development as up to now there have been hardly any scientifically processed or valid studies in this area.

    Tutor: Malina Lukáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

17. Quantum key distribution in telecommunication networks

    Today's digital world is dependent on data security during communication but also in storage, for example in e-banking, e-commerce, e-health or e-government. With the advent of quantum computers, there is a risk of potential security breaches today. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides a way to distribute and share secret keys that are necessary for cryptographic protocols. The information is coded into individual photons. Integrating QKD systems into existing network infrastructure used for telecommunications is a topical challenge. Some other major challenges include increasing of the key rate, increasing the range of the QKD system, or reducing the complexity and robustness of existing solutions.

    Tutor: Münster Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

18. Research of Fractional-Order Element Emulators for Reliable Modeling of Real-World Systems

    The thesis is focused on research of analog emulators of fractional-order elements (FOEs) with an order of (-1; +1). The aim is the development of reliable low-voltage and low-power MOS transistor-based emulators of capacitors and inductors by advantageous usage of influences of transistor parasitics. Selected novel implementations of FOEs will be used for modeling of different varieties and types of agricultural products and biomedical tissues (fruit/vegetable aging, ear channel/lung/liver modeling of humans and animals, etc.) based on real measured data collected via electrical impedance spectroscopy measurement technique. The research will be also conducted in cooperation with Prof. Khaled N. Salama from Sensors Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, KSA, with a paid internship option.

    Tutor: Herencsár Norbert, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

19. Research on security and privacy in intelligent networks

    The topic focuses on the analysis of security threats, the design of security solution based on modern cryptography and the optimization of solutions for upcoming intelligent networks such as Internet of Everything, Internet of Vehicles, 5G and Smart Cities. The research will focus on problems and solutions for communication security in decentralized networks and the adaptation and implementation of data privacy-enhancing technologies. The participation on Department’s national and international research projects is expected.

    Tutor: Malina Lukáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

20. Resistive Capacitive Elements with Distributed Parameters and Their Utilization in Electrical Circuits

    The topic aims at the research into design of resistive-capacitive elements with distributed parameters (RC-EDP) and their utilization in electrical. The main part of the study will be design of RC-EDP implementing immittance functions of fractional (i.e. integer) order. Different types of RC-EDP implementations and production technologies will be analyzed. For the selected technology, the production data will be processed. The topic also includes the design and verification of RC-EDP applications in electronic circuits, especially realizing circuit functions of fractional order.

    Tutor: Kubánek David, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

21. Security in Converged Networks

    The aim is to analyse the up-to-date development and trends in the area of converged networks, mainly the problems of protection against cybernetic attacks. The areas of 5G mobile, SDN (Software Defined Networks) and related transmission technologies are seemed to be among the advanced possibilities. Design of innovative or new protection methods is supposed to be based on the obtained observation. The research requires orientation in networks area, experience with MATALB or SCILAB programs, and knowledge of at least one of VHDL, C or Java languages, evolutionary algorithms, and possibly use of the system FPGA.

    Tutor: Škorpil Vladislav, doc. Ing., CSc.

22. Sequential Estimation of Arterial Wall Contours

    Examination of the common carotid artery (CCA) based on ultrasound measurements is an effective method for detecting cardiovascular diseases. In particular, the spatial evolution of the CCA wall is related to diagnostically relevant parameters describing, e.g., CCA tissue elasticity. Accordingly, the goal of this PhD thesis is to estimate the time-varying contour of the CCA wall from an ultrasound video sequence. This is to be achieved by developing a sequential extension of a machine learning method known as Gaussian process regression (GPR). In the GPR method, a function to be learned is represented by a random process, which avoids an explicit parametric representation. The desired sequential extension of the GPR method should be able to continuously track the detailed shape of the CCA wall over a time period of arbitrary duration. (Collaboration partner: Prof. Franz Hlawatsch, TU Wien)

    Tutor: Říha Kamil, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

23. Smoothing Methods for Arterial Wall Motion Tracking

    Examination of the common carotid artery (CCA) from ultrasound measurements is an effective method for detecting cardiovascular diseases. The goal of this PhD thesis is the development of time-recursive methods for tracking CCA- related multiple scatterers in an ultrasound videosequence. These methods will be based on hidden Markov models describing the temporal evolution of the scatterers and smoothing techniques for multitarget tracking, and they will take advantage of the strong statistical dependencies of the scatterers. The smoothing approach is expected to outperform current filtering approaches at the expense of a higher computational complexity.

    Tutor: Říha Kamil, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

24. Spatial Audio Signal Processing Using Small-Size Microphone Arrays

    Microphone arrays of small dimensions, mainly fitted with MEMS microphones, are currently used in a number of applications, such as voice assistants, robots or monitoring in sensor networks, especially for their ability of spatial filtering of the sound signal from background noise. However, they also have potential in multimedia applications including augmented and virtual reality. The problem, however, is the limitation of their dimensions with respect to the spatial filtering capability at low sampling frequencies. The aim of this dissertation is to use new methods of spatial filtering of sound signal picked up by a field of microphones in order to further reduce the dimensions of the field and increase the resolution and accuracy of filtering. The dissertation will focus not only on the research for suitable algorithms of signal processing, but also on its mechanical design enabling the adjustment of acoustic properties of microphones, especially the shaping of directional characteristics. The research will be carried out in cooperation with the Faculty of Transportation Sciences of the Czech Technical University and the Université du Maine Le Mans.

    Tutor: Schimmel Jiří, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

25. Spatiotemporal Analysis and Synthesis of Sound Field

    The spatiotemporal analysis displays the cumulative development of the sound field as a function of direction of the sound intensity using the spatial impulse response. Application of this method is, for example, an analysis of listening rooms, estimation of direction of the incoming sound and more. On the contrary, the spatiotemporal synthesis allows the perceptually based reproduction of 3D sound field for film and multimedia production, virtual and augmented reality or 360-degree video. The aim of dissertation thesis is research and development of methods of sound field pick-up using microphone arrays and subsequent synthesis for specific rendering systems.

    Tutor: Schimmel Jiří, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

26. Using Machine Learning for Modelling of Audio Systems

    Neural networks and machine learning are currently used in the area of audio signal processing for data mining, e.g. recognition of genre, music information retrieval from recordings, etc., and speech processing, such as word recognition, speaker identification, emotion recognition, etc. However, their potential use is also in modelling of audio systems. The aim of dissertation thesis is to find algorithms for optimization of parameters of digital musical effects, algorithms for room acoustic simulation and more using machine learning and hearing models for training of neural networks. The research will focus on the static optimization of the system parameters according to the original analog system and on the dynamic change of the parameters in real time on the basis of the properties of the processed audio signal. Research will be conducted in collaboration with companies dealing with the development of software for processing audio signals.

    Tutor: Schimmel Jiří, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

1. round (applications submitted from 01.04.2020 to 15.05.2020)

1. Design of Smart Communication Network – Smart Grid

   The aim is to create a design of an optimized smart communication network (Smart Grid) connected with Internet of Things (IoT), focusing on smart cities eventually houses. Use of modern sensors and other elements. Transmission and reliability optimization M2M (Machine-To-Machine) and advanced communication infrastructure design. Making wireless communication protocols more effective. Developing ideas of Industry 4.0. Mobile networks are planned for 5G and LTE, PLC, Ethernet, NB-IoT, SigFox, LoRaWAN. Use of the simulation tool Network Simulator 3 (NS3) and similar environments is supposed.

   Tutor: Škorpil Vladislav, doc. Ing., CSc.

2. Research on lightweight cryptography for IoT

   The topic focuses on the analysis, design and optimization of lightweight cryptography protocols and solutions. The main aspect of the research is to design solutions providing the security and data protection for Internet of Things (IoT) based on communication types such as D2D (device - device) and D2I (device - infrastructure). The research will focus on problems and solutions of applied cryptography on computational and memory constrained resources. The participation on Department’s national and international research projects is expected.

   Tutor: Malina Lukáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Security of Software Defined Networks

   The aim is to analyse security aspects of the Software Defined Networks (SDN) technology. Optimization of existing and design of new algorithms against vulnerability of SDN will be proposed. New strategies are needed to secure the operation of the control plane, ensuring the controller is a priority. The attack vectors for SDN systems and share routes to secure the virtual network infrastructure that supports SDN and then the methods that are currently being considered in network protection play an important role. Due to the separation of the control plane from the data plane, there are several parts that must be protected from attackers. In addition to attacks on the controller, there are attacks on links, data plane devices, and applications. The application sphere of the research will be Blockchain-Based Distributed Trading in Energy Internet, smart grids, microgrids, solar energy systems and other current technologies. Selection and subsequent use of suitable simulation tools and other means is expected.

   Tutor: Škorpil Vladislav, doc. Ing., CSc.