SASIMI 2010

Abstract:
Digital information management is the key enabler for the unparalleled rise in productivity and efficiency gains experienced by the world economies. Enterprise computing systems are important elements of the world’s digital infrastructure by providing ever-present and ever-increasing information processing, storage, and networking capabilities. As such, they are also significant drivers of economic growth and societal changes. However, continued expansion of enterprise computing systems is now hindered by their unsustainable and rising energy needs. Moreover governments, people, and corporations are becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of enterprise computing systems and their supporting cyber-physical structures. It is with this backdrop that I will present a number of best practices and methods for improving the energy efficiency of enterprise computing systems, ranging from core-level to platform-level power management, from design of energy proportional hardware to system-wide provisioning of heterogeneous resources, and from task scheduling to virtualization.

Abstract:
This talk will discuss the use of workflow paradigm for modeling, design, implementation and evaluation of UCAAD. The acronym stands for user-centric automation and assistive devices and systems (services). Some UCAADS aim to help improve quality of life and self-reliance of their users, including elderly or functionally limited individuals. Examples are smart medication dispensers, autonomous appliances, service robots and robotic helpers. Other UCAADS are automation tools for care-providing institutions. Examples include smart medication cabinets and mobile tools that enforce bar-code controlled medication dispensing and administration for the purpose of enhancing the quality of medication use process.

The talk will first present case studies to illustrate that UCAADS with workflow-based architecture can be easily configured and customized to support different processes, rely on different infrastructures and suit different users. In such a device (or system), components are workflows. We can use workflow definitions as behavior specification of the devices and as models of user actions. Being executable, the specification and models enable the usability of the device and correctness of device-user interactions to be accessed via simulation as soon as the requirement specification and design of the device are available. When software procedures, hardware devices, etc. required by workflows become available, we can implement the device by having its behavior specification run on a workflow engine and letting the middleware integrate the workflow components at runtime dynamically.

The talk will conclude by presenting Embedded Workflow Framework (EMWF) and USE (UCAADS Simulation Environment). EMWF is written in C and provides lightweight engines on Linux, Microsoft Windows CE and XP Embedded. It is being developed to enable the implementation of workflow-based UCAADS specifically, similar embedded devices and systems in general. Similar to other simulation environments, USE also provides extensible libraries of reusable models and device components as well as data capture and display tools. In addition, USE supports the incorporation of workflow model elements with elements of human processor models commonly used in studies on human-computer interactions. In this way, USE enables the dependencies of device-user interactions on user behavior and skills be accounted for more precisely in simulation experiments of the device and its user(s).

Abstract:
Automotive electronics have been advancing rapidly in their successful pursuit of environmental friendliness, safety, comfort, and convenience. Such advancements have been achieved through the use of approximately one hundred processors per luxury car. MEMS devices and power semiconductors have also played an important role in realizing energy-efficient automobiles and automated-societies. In this talk, I will describe the prospects of “Smart Automobiles for Future Ecosystems” with specific focus on creating ecological and dependable embedded systems, while considering new semiconductor technologies, their applications, and high-level design methodologies. At the end of my talk, I will also refer to the expectations for future innovations.

Abstract:
A modern chip often contains large numbers of pre-designed macros (e.g., embedded memories, IP blocks) and standard cells, with very different sizes. The fast-growing design complexity with large-scale mixed-size macros and standard cells has caused significant challenges to modern circuit placement. In this paper, we first discuss the strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques for mixed-size placement. We then present a unified analytical algorithm to place large macros and standard cells simultaneously, with the first attempt in the literature to resolve the two intrinsic problems in analytical macro placement: rotation and legalization of large macros. Comparative studies are provided to show the superiority of our unified analytical algorithm. Finally, we provide some future research directions for modern mixed-size placement.

Abstract:
Three-dimensional die-stacking technologies are rapidly maturing, with intense research and development happening in the areas of manufacturing, EDA/CAD, test and yield improvement. The computer architecture research area is also starting to show great interest in 3D technology. In this talk, I will summarize some of the major directions that academic researchers are currently exploring, highlight some of these efforts, and discuss future opportunities in these and other areas of computer and system architectures. In particular, I will cover 3D opportunities for compute (including processor and application-specific accelerators), memory, and the integration of other technologies from a computer architecture perspective.