Yanxiao Zhao, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Yanxiao Zhao is an Associate Professor in the ECE Department, Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her Ph.D. degree from the Department of ECE, Old Dominion University, under the supervision of Dr. Min Song.

Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Zhao was a faculty member at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology from 2012-2018. Dr. Zhao’s research interests include, but not limited to: cyber security, wireless networks including vehicular networks, wireless autonomous networks, wireless body area networks, software-defined networks, and device-to-device (D2D) communications, energy harvesting for Internet of things with wearable sensors, power management and communications in smart grid. Dr. Zhao has secured over $1 Million research grants supported by NSF, NASA and Air Force. Dr. Zhao has published over 70 papers in prestigious journals and international conferences. She was the recipient of the Best Paper Award for three international conferences WASA2009, ChinaCom2016 and ICMIC2019. She has been actively organizing international conferences by serving as TPC co-chair, publicity chairs and TPC members. She is an IEEE Senior Member.

Industry Expertise (2)

Computer Networking

Computer Software

Areas of Expertise (5)

Wireless Communications and Networks

Wireless Energy Harvesting Systems

Wearable sensors for healthcare

Internet of Things (IoT)

Cyber Security

Education (2)

Old Dominion University: Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering 2012

Xi'an Jiaotong University: M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering 2005

Courses (2)

Courses taught at VCU (2018-present)

EGRE 364 Microcomputer Systems, spring 2019 EGRE 364 Microcomputer Systems, fall 2019

Courses taught at SDSMT (2012-2018)

Computer Networks Wireless Communications Communication Systems Digital System Design in VHDL Electronics

Selected Articles (17)

The Controller Placement Problem in Software Defined Networking: A Survey

IEEE Network

G. Wang, Y. Zhao, J. Huang, W. Wang

2017-10-01

In this article, we first survey the state-of-the-art solutions to the controller placement problem in SDN, and draw a taxonomy based on their objectives, and then propose a new approach to minimize the packet propagation latency between controllers and switches.

Optimal On Demand Delay-constrained Fair Distribution for Self-coexistence WRAN

Computer Networks Journal

Y. Zhao, MD N. Anjum, L. Pu, G. Wang, Y. Luo

2018-04-07

In this paper, we fully consider the distinct delay constraints and frame demands of users and formulate the resource allocation optimization problem as an integer programming problem. A new approach termed On Demand Delay-constrained Fair Distribution (ODDFD) is proposed to solve this optimization problem.

DTER: Schedule Optimal RF Energy Request and Harvest for Internet of Things

IEEE Internet of Things Journal

Y. Luo, L. Pu, Y. Zhao, G. Wang, M. Song

2018-02-20

We propose a new energy harvesting strategy that uses a dedicated energy source (ES) to optimally replenish energy for radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting powered Internet of Things. Specifically, we develop a two-step dual tunnel energy requesting (DTER) strategy that minimizes the energy consumption on both the energy harvesting device and the ES.

Data Aggregation Point Placement Problem in Neighborhood Area Networks of Smart Grid

Mobile Networks and Applications Journal

G. Wang, Y. Zhao, Y. Ying, J. Huang, R. Winter

2018-01-26

In this paper, we investigate the DAP placement problem and propose solutions to reduce the distance between DAPs and smart meters. Specifically, the DAP placement problem is formulated with two objectives, e.g., the average distance minimization and the maximum distance minimization.

Harness Interference for Performance Improvement in Underwater Sensor Networks

IEEE Systems Journal

Y. Luo, L. Pu, Y. Zhao, J. Cui

2017-08-29

In this paper, we propose a new communication scheme, called the mirror node assisted communication (MNAC), to improve the channel efficiency in underwater sensor networks (UWSNs). In the new scheme, a mirror node is selected properly for each specified source node so that the signals from the source and the mirror nodes could add destructively at a protected receiver.

Prediction-based Spectrum Management in Cognitive Radio Networks

IEEE Systems Journal

Y. Zhao, Z. Hong, Y. Luo, G. Wang, L. Pu

2017-09-08

In this paper, we propose a new prediction-based spectrum management strategy to tackle this challenge. Both spectrum prediction and users’ mobility prediction are fully considered in the proposed strategy.

Exploring Uncertainties of Transmission and Reception Delays for Underwater Acoustic Networks

IEEE Wireless Communications Letter

Y. Luo, L. Pu, Y. Zhao, J. Cui

2017-04-28

In this letter, we study delay uncertainties of a real underwater system on sending and receiving acoustic signals. Based on experimental data, the delay is first decomposed into seven components, then the features of each component are studied carefully.

A Game-Theoretic Resource Allocation Approach for Intercell Device-to-Device Communications in Cellular Networks

IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computing

J. Huang, Y. Yin, Y. Zhao, Q. Duan, W. Wang, S. Yu,

2016-10-01

In this paper, we investigate the resource allocation issue for intercell scenarios where a D2D link is located in the overlapping area of two neighboring cells. Furthermore, we present three intercell D2D scenarios regarding the resource allocation problem.

An Effective AODV- based Flooding Detection and Prevention for Smart Meter Network

International Conference on Identification, Information and Knowledge in the Internet of Things (IIKI)

M. Hasan, Y. Zhao, G. Wang, Y. Luo, R. Winter

2018-10-19

To detect and prevent flooding attacks, we propose a new AODV-based routing protocol called FLOoding aWareness AODV (FLOW-AODV) considering both with and without Internet Protocol (IP) spoofing.

Enhanced AODV: Detection and Avoidance of Black Hole Attack in Smart Metering Network

International Conference on Computer Communications and Networks (ICCCN) Workshop (WiMAN)

Md R. Hasan, Y. Zhao, G.Wang, Y. Luo and R. Winter,

2017-08-03

To detect and avoid black hole attacks, we propose a new routing protocol, termed Enhanced Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (E-AODV) by modifying the Route Reply (RREP) system based on AODV.

Optimal Energy Requesting Strategy for RF-based Energy Harvesting Wireless Communications

IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM)

Y. Luo, L. Pu, Y. Zhao, G.Wang, M. Song,

2017-05-01

This paper introduces a new energy harvesting strategy that uses a dedicated energy source to optimally replenish energy for radio frequency (RF) based wireless communication systems. Specifically, we develop a two-step dual tunnel energy requesting (DTER) strategy that allows an energy harvesting device to effectively obtain energy from a dedicated energy source.

A K-Means-Based Network Partition Algorithm for Controller Placement in Software Defined Network

IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC)

G. Wang, Y. Zhao, J. Huang, Q. Duan, J. Li,

2016-05-23

In this paper, we investigate multi-controller placement problem from the perspective of latency minimization. Distinct from previous works, the network partition technique is introduced to simplify the problem.

High-Order Hidden Bivariate Markov Model: A Novel Approach on Spectrum Prediction

25th International Conference on Computer Communication and Networks (ICCCN)

Y. Zhao, Z. Hong, G. Wang, J. Huang

2016-08-01

In this paper, we propose a novel prediction approach termed high-order hidden bivariate Markov model (H^2BMM), by leveraging the advantages of both HBMM and high-order. H^2BMM applies two dimensional parameters, i.e., hidden process and underlying process, to more accurately describe the channel behavior.

Optimal Resource Allocation for Delay Constrained Users in Self-coexistence WRAN

IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM)

Y. Zhao, MD N. Anjum, M. Song, X. Xu, G. Wang

2015-12-06

To fully consider various delay constraints and frame demands, in this paper we formulate the resource allocation optimization problem as an integer programming problem and present a new approach termed On Demand Delay-constrained Fair Distribution (ODDFD).

Detection of primary user's signal in cognitive radio networks: Angle of Arrival based approach

IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM)

Y. Zhao, J Huang, W Wang, R. Zaman

2014-12-08

In this paper, we address this issue and propose to employ an Angle of Arrival (AoA) based sensing approach to effectively distinct a primary user's signal from a secondary user' signal.

FMAC: A Fair MAC Protocol for Coexisting Cognitive Radio networks

IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM)

Y. Zhao, M. Song, C. Xin

2013-04-14

In this paper, we introduce a novel MAC protocol, termed fairness-oriented media access control (FMAC), to address the dynamic availability of channels and achieve fair and efficient coexistence of cognitive radio networks.

Spectrum sensing based on three-state model to accomplish all-level fairness for co-existing multiple cognitive radio networks

IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM)

Y. Zhao, M. Song, C. Xin, M. Wadhwa

2012-03-25

In this paper, we propose a three-state sensing model that distinguishes the channel into three states: idle, occupied by a primary user, or occupied by a secondary user.