6th International Conference on Quantitative Evaluation of SysTems
QEST 2009

Technical University of Budapest, Department of Telecommunications
13th-16th September, 2009

*** co-located with the 6th International Conference on ***
*** FORmal Modelling and Analysis of Timed Systems ***


Deadlines:

Abstract submission by 16 March, 2009
Paper and tool submission by 23 March, 2009
Tutorial submission by 27 April, 2009
Author notification by 25 May, 2009
Camera ready version by 15 June, 2009


Scope and Topics:

The International Conference on Quantitative Evaluation of SysTems (QEST)
is the leading forum on evaluation and verification of computer systems and
networks, through stochastic models and measurements. QEST has a broad range
of interest - the common thread is that the evaluation be quantitative. The
range of performance metrics of interest spans classical measures involving
performance and reliability, as well as quantification of properties that
are classically qualitative, such as safety, correctness, and security.
QEST welcomes measurement-based studies as well as analytic studies. QEST
welcomes diversity in the model formalisms and methodologies employed, as
well as development of new formalisms and methodologies. QEST is keenly
interested in case studies that highlight the role of quantitative
evaluation
in the design of "systems", where the notion of system is broad. Systems of
interest include computer hardware and software architectures, communication
systems, embedded systems and biological systems. Moreover, tools for
supporting the practical application of research results in all of the
above areas are of special interest, and therefore tool papers are sought.
In short, QEST aims to create a sound methodological basis for assessing
and designing systems using quantitative means.


Evaluation of Papers:

All submitted papers will be thoroughly judged by at least three reviewers
on the basis of their originality, technical quality, scientific or
practical
contribution to the state of the art, methodology, clarity, and adequacy of
references.

QEST considers five types of papers with additional reviewing criteria
(in no particular order):

1. Theoretical: advance our understanding, apply to non-trivial problems and
be mathematically rigorous.

2. Methodological and technical: describe situations that require the
development and proposal of new analysis processes and techniques.
Process structure and the individual steps should be clearly described.
If the methodology has already been evaluated with applications, a
brief description of the lessons learned would be very helpful.

3. Application: describe a non-trivial application, and provide a comparison
with previous results, if previously analyzed.

4. Tools: should motivate the development of the new tools and the
formalisms they support. Tool papers need not discuss the theoretical
properties of the formalisms they are based on, nor details of the
algorithms used. Instead, they should focus on the architecture of the
software and discuss its practical capabilities with particular
reference
to the size and type of model it can handle within reasonable time and
space limits.

5. Tool demonstration: 2-page papers that describe a relevant tool, as well
as its features, evaluation, or any other information that may
demonstrate the merits of the tool.


Submissions:

We invite submissions of original papers related to the topics of the
conference. Submissions must be in English, IEEE double-column format,
and must indicate the above paper type. Electronic submission instructions
may be found at www.qest.org. Submitted papers should not exceed 10 pages
(2 for tool demonstrations). Additional material for the aid of the
reviewers (e.g., proofs) can be sent in a clearly marked appendix. Papers
must be unpublished and must not be submitted for publication elsewhere.
All accepted papers (including tool demonstrations) will appear in the
Conference Proceedings published by the IEEE Computer Society Press, and
must be presented at the conference by one of the authors. A best-paper
award will be presented at the conference. Selected papers will appear in
a special issue of a major journal. Submissions will be handled by the
EasyChair system (go to EasyChair/QEST2009).


Tool presentations:

Sessions will be arranged to present and demonstrate tools relevant to
any conference topic. Accepted tool descriptions will appear in the
conference proceedings.


Tutorials:

There will be one day of tutorials at the start of the conference.
Tutorial proposals (up to 4 pages) should be sent to the Tutorial Chair.


Chairs and Committees:

General Chair Miklos Telek (HU)

Programme Co-chairs Michael Huth (UK), David Nicol (US)

Tools Chair Marco Gribaudo (IT)

Tutorials Chair Andras Horvath (IT)

Local Organisation Chair Levente Bodrog (HU)

Publicity Chair Armin Heindl (DE)


Steering Committee

Gianfranco Balbo (IT) Gianfranco Ciardo (US)
Boudewijn Haverkort (NL, chair) Holger Hermanns (DE)
Jane Hillston (UK) Joost-Pieter Katoen (DE)
Peter Kemper (US) William Knottenbelt (UK)
Marta Kwiatkowska (UK) Gerardo Rubino (FR)
William H. Sanders (US)


Program Committee

Parosh Abdulla (SE) Christel Baier (DE) Nathalie Bertrand (FR)
Patricia Bouyer (FR) Peter Buchholz (DE) Muffy Calder (UK)
Giuliano Casale (US) Juan Carrasco (ES) Ivana Cerna (CZ)
Gianfranco Ciardo (US) Tugrul Dayar (TR) Josee Desharnais (CA)
Alessandra di Pierro (IT) Susanna Donatelli (IT) Tony Field (UK)
Leana Golubchik (US) Boudewijn Haverkort* (NL) Armin Heindl (DE)
Holger Hermanns (DE) Jane Hillston (UK) Andras Horvath (IT)
Peter Kemper (US) Gabriele Kotsis (AT) Marta Kwiatkowska (UK)
Kim Larsen (DK) John C.S. Lui (CN) Istvan Majzik (HU)
Marco Ajmone Marsan (IT) Jose L. Marzo (ES) Annabelle McIver (AU)
Daniel A. Menasce (US) Andrew S. Miner (US) Takayuki Osogami (JP)
Joel Ouaknine (UK) George F. Riley (US) Roberto Segala (IT)
Bruno Tuffin (FR) Verena Wolf (CH) * ex officio