Systems architecture

About: Systems architecture is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 17612 publications have been published within this topic receiving 283719 citations. The topic is also known as: system architecture.

Scheduling with bus access optimization for distributed embedded systems

Abstract: In this paper, we concentrate on aspects related to the synthesis of distributed embedded systems consisting of programmable processors and application-specific hardware components. The approach is based on an abstract graph representation that captures, at process level, both dataflow and the flow of control. Our goal is to derive a worst case delay by which the system completes execution, such that this delay is as small as possible; to generate a logically and temporally deterministic schedule; and to optimize parameters of the communication protocol such that this delay is guaranteed. We have further investigated the impact of particular communication infrastructures and protocols on the overall performance and, specially, how the requirements of such an infrastructure have to be considered for process and communication scheduling. Not only do particularities of the underlying architecture have to be considered during scheduling but also the parameters of the communication protocol should be adapted to fit the particular embedded application. The optimization algorithm, which implies both process scheduling and optimization of the parameters related to the communication protocol, generates an efficient bus access scheme as well as the schedule tables for activation of processes and communications.

On The Advantages of Tagged Architecture

Abstract: This paper proposes that all data elements in a computer memory be made to be self-identifying by means of a tag. The paper shows that the advantages of the change from the traditional von Neumann machine to tagged architecture are seen in all software areas including programming systems, operating systems, debugging systems, and systems of software instrumentation. It discusses the advantages that accrue to the hardware designer in the implementation and gives examples for large- and small-scale systems. The economic costs of such an implementation for a minicomputer system are examined. The paper concludes that such a machine architecture may well be a suitable replacement for the traditional von Neumann architecture.

Rapid design space exploration of heterogeneous embedded systems using symbolic search and multi-granular simulation

Abstract: In addition to integrating different Intellectual Property cores, heterogeneous embedded systems provide several architecture knobs such as voltage, operating frequency, configuration, etc. that can be varied to optimize performance. Such flexibilities results in a large design space making system optimization a very challenging task. Moreover, such systems operate in mobile and other power constrained environments. Therefore, in addition to rapid exploration of a large design space a designer has to optimize both time and energy performance. To address these issues, we propose a hierarchical design space exploration methodology. Our methodology initially uses symbolic constraint satisfaction to rapidly prune the design space. This pruning process is followed by a system wide performance estimation to further reduce the number of candidate designs. Finally, detailed simulation using low-level simulators are performed to select an appropriate design. Our methodology is implemented by integrating two tools, DESERT and HiPerE, into the M model based Integrated simuLAtioN (MILAN) framework. DESERT uses Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams based symbolic search to rapidly explore a large design space and identifies candidate designs that meet the user specified performance constraints. HiPerE provides rapid estimation of system wide energy and latency based on component level simulations and also facilitates energy optimization. MILAN provides the required modeling support for these tools and also facilitates component specific multi-granular simulations through seamless integration of various simulators.

Design and implementation of a distributed virtual machine for networked computers

Abstract: This paper describes the motivation, architecture and performance of a distributed virtual machine (DVM) for networked computers. DVMs rely on a distributed service architecture to meet the manageability, security and uniformity requirements of large, heterogeneous clusters of networked computers. In a DVM, system services, such as verification, security enforcement, compilation and optimization, are factored out of clients and located on powerful network servers. This partitioning of system functionality reduces resource requirements on network clients, improves site security through physical isolation and increases the manageability of a large and heterogeneous network without sacrificing performance. Our DVM implements the Java virtual machine, runs on x86 and DEC Alpha processors and supports existing Java-enabled clients.

Collaborative visualization

Abstract: Current visualization systems are designed around a single user model, making it awkward for large research teams to collectively analyse large data sets. The paper shows how the popular data flow approach to visualization can be extended to allow multiple users to collaborate-each running their own visualization pipeline but with the opportunity to connect in data generated by a colleague, Thus collaborative visualizations are 'programmed' in exactly the same 'plug-and-play' style as is now customary for single-user mode. The paper describes a system architecture that can act as a basis for the collaborative extension of any data flow visualization system, and the ideas are demonstrated through a particular implementation in terms of IRIS Explorer.