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Assistant Researcher@Institute for Network Sciences and Cyberspace, Tsinghua University \n (zeqilai@tsinghua.edu.cn)

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I am currently an assistant professor at the Institute for Network Sciences and Cyberspace, Tsinghua University. I received my Ph.D. in Computer Science from Tsinghua University (Supervisor: Prof. Yong Cui) in 2018 and B.E. in Computer Science from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in 2013. I was a visiting scholar at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University from 2016 to 2017, working with Prof. Y.Charlie Hu.

After graduating from Tsinghua University, my first job was as a senior researcher at Tencent Media Lab from July 2018 to Nov 2019. Together with my excellent colleagues, we designed and implemented a flexible and low-latency network engine called Peregrine Falcon (the bird that can achieve the greatest airspeed in the world!), which was later used by WeMeet/VooV, a large-scale commercial videoconferencing application. I led the protocol design and congestion control algorithms in Peregrine. The Peregrine engine has served hundreds of millions of real-time communication (RTC) users.

Working at Tencent and building a useful and impactful system is a great memory for me. As Peregrine gradually matured and improved, I began to look for new and more challenging research problems. At the end of 2019, I returned to Tsinghua and worked with Prof. Hewu Li and Qian Wu. In addition to previous research interests including computer networks, wireless/mobile computing, and video streaming, I started my research on integrated space and terrestrial networks (ISTN). More specifically, I focus on networking technologies such as topology design, routing, traffic engineering, end-to-end transmission control, emerging applications (e.g. pushing CDNs, edge computing, and ML/AI to satellites!), network security, and experiment methodologies for satellite Internet constellations. Our works have been published at conferences/journals such as ACM MobiCom, USENIX NSDI, IEEE INFOCOM, ACM WWW, IEEE ICNP, IEEE ToN, and IEEE TMC.

Research Topics

Selected Publications

2024

  1. Zeqi Lai, Yibo Wang, Hewu Li, Qian Wu, Qi Zhang, Yunan Hou, Jun Liu, Yuanjie Li, “Your Mega-Constellations Can be Slim: A Cost-Effective Approach for Constructing Survivable and Performant LEO Satellite Networks”, in IEEE INFOCOM 2024 (to appear).
  2. Weisen Liu, Zeqi Lai, Qian Wu, Hewu Li, Qi Zhang, Zonglun Li, Yuanjie Li, Jun Liu, “In-Orbit Processing or Not? Sunlight-Aware Task Scheduling for Energy-Efficient Space Edge Computing Networks”, in IEEE INFOCOM 2024 (to appear).
  3. Jihao Li, Hewu Li, Zeqi Lai, Qian Wu, Weisen Liu, Xiaomo Wang, Yuanjie Li, Jun Liu, Qi Zhang, “SKYCASTLE: Taming LEO Mobility to Facilitate Seamless and Low-latency Satellite Internet Services”, in IEEE INFOCOM 2024 (to appear).
  4. Zeqi Lai, Yangtao Deng, Hewu Li, Qian Wu, Qi Zhang, “Space Digital Twin for Secure Satellite Internet: Vulnerabilities, Methodologies and Future Directions”, in IEEE Network Magazine (to appear).
  5. Jihao Li, Hewu Li, Zeqi Lai, Qian Wu, Yijie Liu, Qi Zhang, Jun Liu, Yuanjie Li, “SatGuard: Concealing Endless and Bursty Packet Losses in LEO Satellite Networks for Delay-Sensitive Web Applications”, in ACM WWW 2024 (to appear).
  6. Wei Liu, Yuanjie Li, Hewu Li, Yimei Chen, Yufeng Wang, Jingyi Lan, Jianping Wu, Qian Wu, Jun Liu, Zeqi Lai, “The Dark Side of Scale: Insecurity of Direct-to-Cell Satellite Mega-Constellations”, in IEEE S&P 2024 (to appear).
  7. Yuanjie Li, Lixin Liu, Hewu Li, Wei Liu, Yimei Chen, Wei Zhao, Jianping Wu, Qian Wu, Jun Liu, Zeqi Lai, “Stable Hierarchical Routing for Operational LEO Networks”, in ACM MobiCom 2024 (to appear).
  8. Lixin Liu, Yuanjie Li, Hewu Li, Jiabo Yang, Wei Liu, Jingyi Lan, Yufeng Wang, Jiarui Li, Jianping Wu, Qian Wu, Jun Liu, Zeqi Lai, “Democratizing Direct-to-Cell Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks”, in USENIX NSDI 2024 (to appear).

2023

  1. Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Yangtao Deng, Qian Wu, Jun Liu, Yuanjie Li, Jihao Li, Lixin Liu, Weisen Liu, Jianping Wu, “StarryNet: Empowering Researchers to Evaluate Futuristic Integrated Space and Terrestrial Networks”, in USENIX NSDI 2023 (Acceptance Rate 50/272 = 18%).

  2. Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Yikun Wang, Qian Wu, Yangtao Deng, Jun Liu, Yuanjie Li, Jianping Wu, “Achieving Resilient and Performance-Guaranteed Routing in Space-Terrestrial Integrated Networks”, in IEEE INFOCOM 2023 (Acceptance Rate 252/1312 = 19%).

  3. Mingyang Lv, Qian Wu, Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Yuanjie Li, Jun Liu, “FALCON: Towards Fast and Scalable Data Delivery for Emerging Earth Observation Constellations”, in IEEE INFOCOM 2023 (Acceptance Rate 252/1312 = 19%).

  4. Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Qian Wu, Qiang Ni, Mingyang Lv, Jihao Li, Jianping Wu, Jun Liu, Yuanjie Li, “Integrating Space Edge Computing with Terrestrial Networks for Futuristic 6G Pervasive On-Demand Services”, IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine.

  5. Yuanjie Li, Hewu Li, Wei Liu, Lixin Liu, Wei Zhao, Yimei Chen, Jianping Wu, Qian Wu, Jun Liu, Zeqi Lai, Han Qiu, “A Networking Perspective on Starlink’s Self-Driving LEO Mega-Constellation”, in ACM MobiCom 2023 (to appear, da lao dai fei, Acceptance Rate 40/136 = 29.4%).

  6. Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Qi Zhang, Qian Wu, Jianping Wu, “Cooperatively Constructing Pervasive and Low-Latency CDNs Upon Emerging LEO Satellites and Clouds”, in IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking 2023.

  7. Yaoying Zhang, Qian Wu, Zeqi Lai, Yangtao Deng, Hewu Li, Yuanjie Li, Jun Liu, “Energy Drain Attack in Satellite Internet Constellations”, to appear in the IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Quality of Service 2023 (IWQoS 2023).

2022

  1. Zeqi Lai, Weisen Liu, Qian Wu, Hewu Li, Jingxi Xu, Jianping Wu, “SPACERTC: Unleashing the Low-latency Potential of Mega-constellations for Real-Time Communications”, in IEEE INFOCOM 2022, (Acceptance Rate 225/1129 = 20%).

  2. Yaoying Zhang, Qian Wu, Zeqi Lai and Hewu Li, “Enabling Low-latency-capable Satellite-Ground Topology for Emerging LEO Satellite Networks”, in IEEE INFOCOM 2022, (Acceptance Rate 225/1129 = 20%).

  3. Lixin Liu, Hewu Li, Yuanjie Li, Zeqi Lai, Yangtao Deng, Yimei Chen, Wei Liu, Qian Wu, “Geographic Low-Earth-Orbit Networking without QoS Bottlenecks from Infrastructure Mobility”, in IEEE IWQoS 2022.

  4. Zitong Lin, Hewu Li, Jun Liu, Zeqi Lai, Guojie Fan, “Inter-Networking and Function Optimization for Mega-Constellationsin”, in IFIP Networking conference 2022.

  5. Yuanjie Li, Hewu Li, Wei Liu, Lixin Liu, Yimei Chen, Jianping Wu, Qian Wu, Jun Liu, Zeqi Lai, “A Case for Stateless Mobile Core Network Functions in Space”, in ACM SIGCOMM 2022.

  6. Weisen Liu, Qian Wu, Zeqi Lai, Jun Liu, Yuanjie Li, “Enabling Ubiquitous and Efficient Data Delivery by LEO Satellites and Ground Station Networks”, in IEEE GLOBECOM 2022.

2021

  1. Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Qi Zhang, Qian Wu, and Jianping Wu. Cooperatively Constructing Cost-Effective Content Distribution Networks upon Emerging Low Earth Orbit Satellites and Clouds. In IEEE ICNP, 2021. (Paper,@Youtube,@Bilibili)

  2. Zeqi Lai, Qian Wu, Hewu Li, Mingyang Lv, Jianping Wu. ORBITCAST: Exploiting Mega-Constellations for Low-Latency Earth Observation. In IEEE ICNP, 2021. (Paper,@Youtube,@Bilibili)

  3. Yuanjie Li, Hewu Li, Lixin Liu, Wei Liu, Jiayi Liu, Jianping Wu, Qian Wu, Jun Liu, and Zeqi Lai. “Internet in Space” for Terrestrial Users via Cyber-Physical Convergence. In ACM HotNets, 2021.

  4. Zhaojie Song, Qian Wu, Hewu Li, Jun Liu and Zeqi Lai. Hysteresis Optimized Multipath TCP Data Scheduling Algorithm in Predictable Networks, 2021 International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (IWCMC).

  5. Yazheng Chen, Hewu Li, Jun Liu, Qian Wu, Zeqi Lai. GAMS: An IP Address Management Mechanism in Satellite Mega-constellation Networks. In 2021 International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (IWCMC).

  6. Zhengpin Zhao, Qian Wu, Hewu Li, Zeqi Lai and Jun Liu, LRAR: A Lightweight Risk-Avoidance Routing Algorithm for LEO Satellite Networks, In 2021 International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (IWCMC).

  7. Jihao Li, Hewu Li, Jun Liu, Zeqi Lai, Qian Wu and Xiaomo Wang, A Timeslot Division Strategy for Availability in Integrated Satellite and Terrestrial Network, In 2021 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC).

  8. Tianming Lan, Hewu Li, Qian Wu, Zeqi Lai and Jun Liu, Exploiting Path Diversity to Increase System Performance in Mega-constellations, 2021 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC).

2020

  1. Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Jihao Li. StarPerf: Characterizing Network Performance for Emerging Mega-Constellations. In IEEE ICNP, 2020. (Paper,Slides,Codes)

  2. Siyu Yang, Hewu Li, Zeqi Lai, Jun Liu, A Synergic Architecture for Content Distribution in Integrated Satellite and Terrestrial Networks, 2020 IEEE/CIC International Conference on Communications in China (ICCC), Chongqing, China, 2020, pp. 96-101. (Corresponding author.)

  3. Jiang Zhou, Hewu Li, Qian Wu, Zeqi Lai, Jun Liu, SR-TPP: Extending IPv6 Segment Routing to enable Trusted and Private Network Paths, 2020 IEEE Symposium on Computers and Communications (ISCC), Rennes, France, 2020.

2019

  1. Zeqi Lai, Y.Charlie Hu, Yong Cui, Linhui Sun, and Ningwei Dai. Furion: Engineering high-quality immersive virtual reality on today’s mobile devices. IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, 2019. (CCF Rank A.)

  2. Ziyi Wang, Yong Cui, and Zeqi Lai. “A First Look at Mobile Intelligence: Architecture, Experimentation and Challenges.” IEEE Network, 2019.

2018 and Earlier

  1. Zeqi Lai, Yong Cui, Ziyi Wang, and Xiaoyu Hu. Immersion on the Edge: A Cooperative Framework for Mobile Immersive Computing. In SIGCOMM demo&poster session. ACM, 2018.

  2. Yong Cui, Yimin Jiang, Zeqi Lai, Xiaomeng Chen, Y.Charlie Hu, Kun Tan, Minglong Dai, and Kai Zheng. Wireless network instabilities in the wild: Prevalence, app (non)resilience, and os remedy. IEEE Transactions on Networking, 2018. (CCF Rank A, corresponding author.)

  3. Zeqi Lai, Y.Charlie Hu, Yong Cui, Linhui Sun, and Ningwei Dai. Furion: Engineering high-quality immersive virtual reality on today’s mobile devices. In MOBICOM. ACM, 2017, (Acceptance Rate 35/189=18%, 158 Google citations).

  4. Zeqi Lai, Yong Cui, Mining Li, Zhenhua Li, Ningwei Dai, and Yuchi Chen. Tailcutter: Wisely cutting tail latency in cloud cdn under cost constraints. In INFOCOM. IEEE, 2016, (Acceptance Rate 300/1644=18%).

  5. Zeqi Lai, Yong Cui, Yimin Jiang, Xiaomeng Chen, Y.Charlie Hu, Kun Tan, Minglong Dai, and Kai Zheng. Wireless network instabilities in the wild: Prevalence, app (non)resilience, and os remedy. In ICNP. IEEE, 2017, (Acceptance Rate 39/209=18%).

  6. Zeqi Lai, Yong Cui, Yayun Bao, Jiangchuan Liu, Yingchao Zhao, and Xiao Ma. Joint media streaming optimization of energy and rebuffering time in cellular networks. In ICPP. IEEE, 2015, (Acceptance Rate 99/305=32%).

  7. Yong Cui, Zeqi Lai, Xin Wang, Ningwei Dai, and Congcong Miao. Quicksync: Improving synchronization efficiency for mobile cloud storage services. In MOBICOM. ACM, 2015, (Acceptance Rate 38/207=18%, first student author!).

  8. Yong Cui, Shihan Xiao, Xin Wang, Minming Li, Hongyi Wang, and Zeqi Lai. Performance-aware energy optimization on mobile devices in cellular network. In INFOCOM. IEEE, 2014, (Acceptance Rate 320/1645=19%).

  9. Yong Cui, Ningwei Dai, Zeqi Lai, Minming Li, Zhenhua Li, Yuming Hu, Kui Ren, Yuchi Chen. TailCutter: Wisely Cutting Tail Latency in Cloud CDNs Under Cost Constraints. IEEE Transactions on Networking, 2019. (CCF Rank A, corresponding author.)

  10. Yong Cui, Zeqi Lai, Xin Wang, and Ningwei Dai. Quicksync: Improving synchronization efficiency for mobile cloud storage services. IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, 2017.

  11. Yong Cui, Zeqi Lai, and Ningwei Dai. A first look at mobile cloud storage services: architecture, experimentation, and challenges. IEEE Network, 30(4), 2016.

  12. Yong Cui, Shihan Xiao, Xin Wang, Zeqi Lai, Zhenjie Yang, Minming Li, and Hongyi Wang. “Performance-aware energy optimization on mobile devices in cellular network.” IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing 16, no. 4 (2017): 1073-1089.

  13. 崔勇, 赖泽祺, 缪葱葱. 移动云存储服务关键技术研究. 中兴通讯技术, 2015, 21(2): 10-13.

IETF Experience

  1. Considerations for Benchmarking Network Performance in Satellite Internet Constellations, Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Yangtao Deng, Qian Wu, Jun Liu. (https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-lai-bmwg-sic-benchmarking/00/)

  2. Problems and Requirements of Evaluation Methodology for Integrated Space and Terrestrial Networks, IETF-112, Zeqi Lai, Hewu Li, Yangtao Deng, Qian Wu, Jun Liu. (https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/slides-112-bmwg-problems-and-requirements-of-evaluation-methodology-for-integrated-space-and-terrestrial-networks/00/)

  3. ISS BoF (Internet Storage Sync) IETF-94 (Yokohama) (https://www.ietf.org/proceedings/94/slides/slides-94-iss-0.pdf), (https://irtf.org/raim-2015-slides/ic/lai.pdf)

Awards

Skills

Android, Java, C/C++, Matlab, Unity 3D, Origin.

Education

Working Experience

Projects

Patents

天地一体互联网体系结构（Satellite Internet）

无线网络与移动计算（Wireless and Mobile Computing）

Misc

In the Press

Organization