Bell Labs [Search] Lucent Technologies


Computing Sciences Research

Our center conducts research in selected areas of computer science by studying computational problems and building new systems. Some current activities include operating systems, distributed computing, algorithms, formal methods, internet-related security and systems, cryptography, architecture, scientific computing, computational geometry, languages, user interfaces, and software design. Our company is a treasure trove of research problems, just waiting to be mined. We often build prototype systems, develop special purpose tools and languages, and pursue joint projects. Our work results in fundamental ideas and innovative tools, and is based on both individual research efforts and synergistic collaborations. Projects can last from weeks to decades. We are part of Bell Labs, innovating for Lucent Technologies. This company, with its headquarters in Murray Hill, began life as the systems and technology arm of AT&T. Lucent has been independent since 1996.

general information

what we are working on today

Systems and networking:
Plan 9 distributed operating system
Designs for high-speed wireless systems (UMTS / HSDPA)
Internet traffic analysis
Scientific computing:
Design tools for optimizing topology, utilization, and link-level control for optical fiber networks
Ocelot design tool for cellular wireless
PDEs, linear algebra, approximation, optimization
software distribution
And lots of other things!
See the individual homepages for a glimpse of some of the other projects that are being pursued in our center.
Theoretical studies:
Theoretical and practical cryptography, graph algorithms, computational complexity, computational geometry.
formal methods, formal specification techniques.
verification tools, e.g., Spin, and Verisoft.
requirements capture and analysis tools, e.g., uBet
test sequence generation methods
Programming languages and program analysis:
static analysis of software (e.g., Uno, Orion)
analysis of information flow in programs
tools for compiler design, concurrency
network security


some highlights of the past

We're generally more interested in the future than in the past, but since you asked.... The things to the right have been produced by the people in our center over the last few decades. Most will need little explanation.

Doug McIlroy presented a nice lecture on the history of computing at Bell Labs.

  • AMPL, a modeling language and tool
  • Unix and the C and C++ programming languages
  • Spin (a formal verification system)
  • SML/NJ implementation of the ML language
  • Uucp, Yacc, Lex, Make, AWK, Grep, Troff et al, ...
  • Datakit and PathStar (switches), Xunet (a cross-country T3 network)
  • Belle (former world computer chess champion)
  • Hobbit (a microprocessor chip)
  • Blit, Gnot (graphics terminals)
  • firewall


Modified: March 2004
Credit: search icon by Renée French cornelia@world.std.com.
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