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Zhihua Lai (PhD)

Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft Research Cambridge (MSRC), A Top 3 Steem Blockchain Witness (Block Producer), Ex-Amazon/Ex-General-Electric. Passionate for Algorithms, Blockchain and Cloud (ABC).

Profiles

@ MSRC Github @ DoctorLai Personal Page: https://zhihua-lai.com

I am currently a Senior Software Engineering in AFO (Azure For Operators) in Microsoft Research Cambridge where I contribute and build high performance software (C, eBPF) that run on 5G Base Stations.

During the employment with Amazon, I have contributed to development of several large scale distributed applications in the domain of AWS (Amazon Web Services) e.g. S3 Simple Secure Storage. I have worked from Day 1 at S3 Object Lambda and witnessed the successful launch of it (Mar-18-2021).

During the employment with General Electric, I have added the _while loop, regular expression, http library, jwt APIs and many other features to the Magik compiler (Wiki).

During the employment with Ranplan Wireless, I have designed and implemented the cutting-edge Intelligent Radiowave Propagation Engine that is pushed to its limits by using Win32 inline Assembly in the core. See https://ranplanwireless.com/

Over the years, I am passionate about computer algorithms, and I have quite a few patents on intelligent radiowave propagation algorithms. I am quick to learn, determined to tasks and work efficiently in design, implement, test and document.

In High School (2002), I have won the third prize on NOI programming contest i.e. National Olympiad Informatics.

I am a TOP 3 Witness aka Block Producer of the Steem Blockchain. I am beknown for the contributions (infrastructure, tools, API and services) to the Steem Blockchain. See https://steemyy.com

At my spare time, I contribute to open source projects such as Tron Blockchain (java-tron), Ledger Wallet (app-tron C) and Steem Blockchain (steemd C++).

Job Experience

Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft (Cambridge, UK) 2021/07 to Present: AFO (Azure For Operators), Microsoft Research Cambridge

Software Development Engineer at Amazon AWS (Cambridge, UK) 2020/01 to 2021/07: SDE (L5) = Someone Does Everything = Full Stack Software Engineer + On-Call Duties

  • Technology: Java/RxJava, Python, Ruby, Javascript (Node, Vue.Js), AWS S3, EC2, CloudFormation, API Gateway, Lambda, DynamoDB, CloudWatch, Step Function, CDK/LPT...

Highlights of contributions:

  • Working on S3 Object Lambda from Day 1! https://aws.amazon.com/s3/features/object-lambda/
  • Built the internal tooling to track the performance of S3 - the largest distribute storage product in the world. Automated categorization of issues and performance bottlenecks in a very large distributed system help engineers identify and address the problem.

Staff Software Engineer at General Electric (Cambridge, UK) 2018/12 to 2020/01: It has been a tremendous success for me as I have learned a lot, improved myself and become confident in the GE Smallworld technology stacks. I have merged 165+ PRs and completed 92+ stories (25 Pull Requests Merged in First 3 Months), and have contributed quite a few to the smallworld products (Smallworld GIS Software core and other components)

  • Technology: BASH, C/C++, Javascript (NodeJS), Java and Magik; REST API, OAuth2 (UAA), Docker, Kubernetes Clusters.

Highlights of contributions:

  • I added the while loop to the Magik programming language.
  • I added the regular expression to the Magik programming language.
  • I designed and implemented the HTTP library.
  • I designed and implemented the JWT (Json Web Token) library - used in UAA Authentication
  • I implemented the Magik Random Interop Library that improves the performance and fix the multithreading race condition problems
  • I added the Magik URL validation library in the core
  • I contributed to the development of the outbound/inbound framework
  • I contributed to MUnit testing framework

Principal Algorithm Engineer at Ranplan Wireless (Cambridgeshire, UK) 2010/09 to 2018/11: I am one of the lead developers for this product (C#7, .NET4.7): https://ranplanwireless.com/products/ and I design, develop and maintain the core library (Radio Propagation engine). It is a 500K LOC code base that consists of Visual Studio C++ 2017, Delphi 10.2 Tokyo with some Inline Assembly and some VBS/JS.

Key result areas included:

  • To supportthe development of Ranplan in-house ray tracing model
  • To lead cutting-edge channel modelling algorithms and techniques
  • To train and share all knowledge of algorithm in radio propagation channel modelling
  • To provide level 3 support and customer consulting project services
  • To contribute to Ranplan Patents

Highlights:

  • Core developer of the flagship product: The Author of Ranplan Radiowave Propagation Model (one of my babies): My overall job purpose was to provide and implement my algorithm research expertise in developing Ranplan Radio Propagation Model (RPM) which is one of Ranplan's key intellectual property.
  • Lead a Propagation Team e.g. Rewrite RPM in C++.
  • OpenCL GPU Implementation of Vector Ray Launching Propagation Algorithms.
  • Prototyping the Geo-localization algorithm using KNN and other machine learning algorithms.
  • Develop the 32/64-bit cutting-edge wireless radiowave propagation engine (plugins, scripts) using C++, Delphi and Inline Assembly.
  • Research, bug-fixes and development for an indoor wireless planning tool using C#.
  • Develop and maintain web-based licensing software using PHP + MySQL + Javascript.
  • Develop Hundreds of Unit Tests and Integration Tests in C# and VBScript.
  • Develop More than 1500 APIs using Delphi (Win32/64 COM Library).
  • Develop Tools of Statistics and Code Quality on Jenkins Continuous Server Powershell.
  • Develop Smart/Intelligent algorithms to convert clutter GIS data to vector building data.
  • Develop various GIS conversion/cropping tools using C# ie. GeoConverter.

Marie Curie Experienced Researcher at University of Sheffield, UK 2013 to 2015: Development of tools for the design of wireless and energy efficient buildings; in charge of high frequency ray tracing tools. WIFEEB Grant ID: 286333

Awards

  • 2002: ACM - National Olympic Informatics (NOI), Third Prize by China Computer Federation & NOIP Orgranisation Committee
  • 2001: ACM - Fujian Olympic Informatics (FOI), Third Prize by Fujian Education Federation & Fujian Science Orgranisation

Patents

  • PCT/GB2015/053224, Zhihua Lai etc., Method for Predicting Outdoor Three-Dimensional Space Signal Field Strength By Extended Cost-231-Walfisch-Ikegami Propagation Model, US Patent Application No. 15/522,728, Claimed Filing Date: 27 October 2015.
  • PCT/GB2015/053223, Zhihua Lai etc., Method for Predicting Indoor Three-Dimensional Space Signal Field Strength Using An Outdoor-To-Indoor Propagation Model, US Patent Application No. 15/522,735, Claimed Filing Date: 27 October 2015.
  • And a few others.

Education and Awards

2006-2010 : PhD, Computer Science and Wireless; University of Bedfordshire (UK)

*Thesis title: The Development of an Intelligent Ray Launching Algorithm for Wireless Network Planning*
 
- *2013*: Top 30 iPinyou Global RTB Bidding Algorithm Contest (season two offline) (rule based Simulate Annealing heuristic algorithm)\
- *2009*: Marie Curie Fellowship for Transfer of Knowledge by University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland

2004-2006 : BSc, Computer Science (First Class, Score 15.51 out of 16); University of Luton (UK)

*Thesis title: Chinese Chess*

- *2004*: National Computer Rank Programming Contest, Top 30 by National Education Examinations & China Education

Technical Experience

I have developed/maintained the Serverless Load Balancers for STEEM Blockchain (RPC Nodes)

Other side projects/tools/libraries/APIs:

Open Source : Most of my tools are open source and I constantly find bugs and create issues or PR to other open source libraries. My github id is doctorlai and my NPM-Js ID is justyy. I was also a Utopian Moderator (Rewarding Open Source Contributor on Steem Blockchain). A few Pull Requests that I have contributed: https://steemyy.com/others.php#pr

Selected Publications

  • Accelerating Open RAN Research Through an Enterprise-scale 5G Testbed, In The 29th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking (ACM MobiCom'23), October 2-6, 2023, Madrid, Spain. ACM, New York, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3570361.3615745
  • Programmable RAN Platform for Flexible Real-Time Control and Telemetry, In The 29th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking (ACM MobiCom'23), October 2-6, 2023, Madrid, Spain. ACM, New York, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3570361.3614065 - Best Demo Award Runner-Up
  • Taking 5G RAN Analytics and Control to a New Level, In The 29th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking (ACM MobiCom'23), October 2-6, 2023, Madrid, Spain. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 16 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3570361.3592493
  • Taking 5G RAN Analytics and Control to a New Level, Technical Report | December 2022
  • Chapter 2 - Radio Propagation Modelling, in Book "Heterogeneous Cellular Networks: Theory, Simulation and Deployment", Cambridge University Press, 2012.
  • Chapter 5 - Outdoor-Indoor Channel, in Book "LTE-Advanced and Next Generation Wireless Networks: Channel Modelling and Propagation", John Wiley & Sons, November, 2012.
  • Intelligent Ray Launching Algorithm for Indoor Scenarios, Radioengineering, Towards EUCAP 2012: Emerging Materials, Methods, and Technologies in Antenna & Propagation, Volume 20, Number 2, 2011, ISSN: 1210-2512, p.p.:398-408.
  • The Development of a Parallel Ray Launching Algorithm for Wireless Network Planning, International Journal of Distributed Systems and Technologies, IGI, DOI: 10.4018/jdst.2011040101, Volume 2, Issue 2, 2011.
  • Indoor Massive MIMO Channel Modelling Using Ray-Launching Simulation, International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 279380.
  • Joint Ray Launching Method for Outdoor to Indoor Propagation Prediction Based on Interpolation, The Ninth European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP, IEEE, Lisbon, Portugal, April 12-17, 2015.
  • Joint Ray Launching Method for Indoor to Outdoor Propagation Prediction Based on Ray Aggregation, The Ninth European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP, IEEE, Lisbon, Portugal, April 12-17, 2015.
  • Implementation and Validation of a New Combined Model for Outdoor to Indoor Radio Coverage Predictions, Hindawi Publishing Corporation EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking, 2010: 215352.
  • Modelling the mmWave Channel Based on Intelligent Ray Launching Model, The Ninth European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP, IEEE, Lisbon, Portugal, April 12-17, 2015.
  • Implementation and Validation of a 2.5D Intelligent Ray Launching Algorithm for Large Urban Scenarios, The Sixth European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP, IEEE, Prague, Czech Republic, March 26-30, 2012,ISBN: 978-1-4577-0919-7.
  • Antenna Height Compensation for an Indoor to Outdoor Channel model based on a 2D Finite Difference Model, 29th Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium, Marrakesh, Morocco, March 20-23, 2011.
  • A New Deterministic Hybrid Model for Indoor-to-Outdoor Radio Coverage Prediction, The Fifth European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EUCAP, IEEE, Rome, Italy, April 11-15, 2011, ISBN: 978-88-8202-074-3, p.p.:3771-3774.

Worth mentioning

  • My propagation model 'IRLA' has been cited in the book "Femtocells - Technologies and Deployment", John Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 978-0-470-74298-3.
  • I write highly-optimized code (which uses less memory and executes faster). For example, for Problem 1532 on ACM Timus Online Judge, my submission ranks the second. The maximum time allowed is 4 seconds but my algorithm executes in 0.312 seconds. http://acm.timus.ru/rating.aspx?space=1&num=1532&count=100
  • I run a delegated service on steem blockchain @justyy where Steemians delegate their Steem Power to me and my bots send out the Steem Dollars (tokens) at a rate of 8% to 10%. Also my bots are up running 24/7 to vote the quality posts of the delegatees.
  • I am currently the 4-th most delegated account on the STEEM Blockchain e.g. 300+ delegations according to https://steemyy.com/top-delegations-by-count/
  • I run @dailychina where the algorithms select top 10 quality posts and reward them daily (very popular and postive feedbacks received).
  • I develop @fairlottery (Blockchain Lottery) and @witnesstools (Steem Blockchain Gambling).
  • I write discord/telegram bots that distribute test coins (TRX, USDT, USDC, USDD) on Tron Blockchain (Shasta and Nile Test Net).
  • I develop and run Simple Token Swap Tools on Multiple blockchains (Cross Chains Token Swap Tools): Steem To Solana, Steem To Ethereum, Steem to Bitshares, Steem to TRON and Steem to USDT.
  • I develop and run Account Registration Services on Steem Blockchain: Register a Free Account on Steem Blockchain.
  • I develop the Steem Blockchain Explorer.

My Other Activities

  • 2019-11 to 2019-12: I taught the course Microbit Programming at weekends in Chesterton Community Colleage (organised by Chinese Family Together and Hacklab Cambridge) to kids (8 yrs+).
  • I teach my sons programming videos which are uploaded to youtube: https://zhihua-lai.com/teaching/

<dr.zhihua.lai [AT] gmail.com> • +44 (0)7939518997
Indefinitely Leave to Remain - address - Cambridge, UK

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctorlai/
Reference provided on requests.