Interactive Real-Time Embedded Systems Education Infused with Applied Internet Telephony

The transition from traditional circuit-switched phone systems to modern packet-based Internet telephony networks demands tools to support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) development. In this paper, we introduce the XinuPhone, an integrated hardware/software approach for educating users about VoIP technology on a real-time embedded platform. We propose modular course topics for design-oriented, hands-on laboratory exercises: filter design, timing, serial communications, interrupts and resource budgeting, network transmission, and system benchmarking. Our open-source software platform encourages development and testing of new CODECs alongside existing standards, unlike similar commercial solutions. Furthermore, the supporting hardware features inexpensive, readily available components designed specifically for educational and research users on a limited budget. The XinuPhone is especially good for experimenting with design trade-offs as well as interactions between real-time software and hardware components

Embedded Systems Courses at RIT

A three-course sequence of cross-disciplinary real-time and embedded systems courses has been introduced at RIT ¢. We are teaching these courses in a studio-lab environment teaming computer engineering and software engineering students. The courses introduce students to programming both microcontrollers and more sophisticated targets, use of a commercial real-time operating system and development environment, modeling and performance engineering of these systems, and their interactions with physical systems

A practical comparison between Java and Ada in implementing a real-time embedded system

This paper presents a student’s observations from an undergraduate research project that explored using Java to implement the software for a real-time embedded system that was originally implemented in a university-level real-time systems course using Ada 95. It briefly gives an overview of the project, the decision made concerning which Java virtual machine to use, and how that virtual machine performed in the real-time environment. It then goes into detail about the merits and drawbacks of using Java to implement real-time and embedded systems such as this one and how using Java to implement them compares with using Ada. Categories and Subject Descriptors D.3.3. [Programming Languages]: Language Constructs an

Mergers and acquisitions transactions strategies in diffusion - type financial systems in highly volatile global capital markets with nonlinearities

The M and A transactions represent a wide range of unique business optimization opportunities in the corporate transformation deals, which are usually characterized by the high level of total risk. The M and A transactions can be successfully implemented by taking to an account the size of investments, purchase price, direction of transaction, type of transaction, and using the modern comparable transactions analysis and the business valuation techniques in the diffusion type financial systems in the finances. We developed the MicroMA software program with the embedded optimized near-real-time artificial intelligence algorithm to create the winning virtuous M and A strategies, using the financial performance characteristics of the involved firms, and to estimate the probability of the M and A transaction completion success. We believe that the fluctuating dependence of M and A transactions number over the certain time period is quasi periodic. We think that there are many factors, which can generate the quasi periodic oscillations of the M and A transactions number in the time domain, for example: the stock market bubble effects. We performed the research of the nonlinearities in the M and A transactions number quasi-periodic oscillations in Matlab, including the ideal, linear, quadratic, and exponential dependences. We discovered that the average of a sum of random numbers in the M and A transactions time series represents a time series with the quasi periodic systematic oscillations, which can be finely approximated by the polynomial numbers. We think that, in the course of the M and A transaction implementation, the ability by the companies to absorb the newly acquired knowledge and to create the new innovative knowledge bases, is a key predeterminant of the M and A deal completion success as in Switzerland.Comment: 160 pages, 9 figures, 37 table

TRACKING AND SUPERVISING A VEHICLE WITH AN EFFICIENT SCHEME OF APPROACH

A stylish vehicle monitoring and tracking device based totally definitely totally on Embedded Linux specially droid application have emerge as produced and achieved for tracking the university car inside the location A to place B at real-time. The encouraged device ought to area inside the car whose role is determined on the internet web page and supervised at real-time. Inside the encouraged device, there can be evaluation concerning the current-day vehicle course and already focused then to the document machine of raspberry pi. Inside the advocated machine the already unique course in the raspberry pi’s document machine received from car owner’s android realistic cell telephone the use of android software. The recommended device furthermore preferred proper care of the visitor’s safety through the use of LPG Gas leakage sensor MQ6 and temperature sensor DS18B20. The recommended tool makes use of contemporary-day technology that based totally mostly on Embedded Linux board specially Raspberry Pi and Smartphone android software program software. The encouraged device produces Gps navigation /GPRS/GSM SIM900A Module which incorporates all of the 3 subjects particularly Gps navigation GPRS GSM. The Gps navigation contemporary region within the automobile GPRS transmits the monitoring information for the server in addition to the GSM may be used as delivering alert message to car’s owner mobile

Leveraging new platforms to provide students with a realistic SoC design experience

Recently there have been a slew of digital design products released that promise to simplify the task of giving students a real-world System-on-Chip (SoC) design experience. These “programmable SoCs” from companies such as Xilinx, Cypress, and Altera combine modern multi-core ARM processors connected to an FPGA through a widely used SoC interconnect standard. This paper discusses a Real Time Embedded System Course I designed that uses the Xilinx Zynq platform to give students first-hand experience with modern System-on-Chip design methodologies and the challenges that designers face in both hardware and software bring-up for a modern IP-based design. The first portion of this paper discusses how students were trained to use the Zynq platform. The first weeks of the class were dedicated to teaching students the basics of real-time system and custom hardware design. Students used a Zynq-based port of Free-RTOS to learn about Real-time operating systems. Through a series of laboratory assignments, students are taught how to interface the RTOS with custom hardware that they place on the FPGA portion of the chip. The course material developed for this portion of the class will be posted online so that other educators may use it in their teaching. The second part of this paper discusses some of the projects proposed and completed by students, and any difficulties the students faced along the way. From two weeks into the class, students are asked to form groups of up to four and propose a final project. For their final project, students are required to design and build a complete working system of their choice. Their final project is required to make use of both the processor running RTOS and at least one custom IP block running on the FPGA. In the final section of this paper I examine student feedback for the course, and comment on some of the challenges I faced in integrating the Zynq PSoC platform, and its corresponding development tools, into the classroom

Intertwined Relationships between Systems Analysis & Design and Software Engineering

Systems Analysis & Design (SA&D) and Software Engineering (SE) are two comparable subjects taught in two different educational disciplines. SA&D is focused on developing an information system, while SE is focused on developing a software. Although only one course exists on SA&D, various courses are available in the field of Software Engineering. However,both of them discuss the same process models to develop a system or software. An information system cannot be built withoutbuilding a software. So why the need exist to address various subject areas within Software Engineering as compared to a single course in SA&D? What is the relationship between the two subject areasand what are differences? Our analysis shows that although the process models are same in both cases; however, focusing on the ‘quality’ of software is the key factor in the area of software engineering, whereas the organization of the chapters according to the water fall model is a major factor in the SA&D texts. We have identified that in addition to selecting a process model, a software engineer needs to focus on five Quality Management metrics (5QMMs) to develop a quality software. Furthermore, traditionally, SA&D was focused on developing business systems while SE was focused on developing large, complex, embedded, and real-time systems. However, this trend is changing in today’s software market, which is dominated by large business systems rather than traditional technical and governmental systems. As such, both SA&D and SE texts are verging towards a common direction to address the complex business needs of the information systems where big dollars are spent in the ever-growing market of demand and supply.Thus the SE texts should continue to address the topics that relate to large business systems including databases and web technologies. On the other hand, SA&D texts should continue to adapt many software engineering quality concepts and bring them in par with the SE texts.

DCF and Real Options in Company Valuation: a Case Study at a Small High-growth Firm--TMIC

This dissertation discusses the application of real options theory in estimate of intrinsic value of a small high-growth software company which has great uncertainties on the strategic project. Traditionally, discounted cash flow (DCF) models are most commonly used in capital budgeting. However, it is argued that DCF models fail to account for the managers' ability to alter the course of investment over time responding to the new information, thus they are likely to underestimate strategic investment. By introducing real option theory and option pricing models, it becomes intuitive to use real options analysis to calculate a project's embedded option value. Besides the application in capital budgeting, the real options analysis could also be used in the company valuation. By identifying the real options embedded on the strategic investment and adding the real options values to the firm's NPV value without flexibility, the intrinsic value of a company can be revealed. This dissertation adopts a case study methodology and demonstrates how real options analysis is used to investigate the value of a target company TMIC, a software company in the Forbes Global List of "The 200 Best Small Companies". In conclusion, real option analysis has not been accurate enough in valuing companies; but they provide a better approach than DCF valuation

Ease: a real-time multitasking executive

Ease the real time multitasking executive described m this thesis is designed for embedded systems with particular emphasis on DSP motor control applications. Ease provides an application software interface to the underlying hardware and encourages an object oriented programming approach which inherently enhances software integrity, maintainability and dependability in the potentially chaotic real time environment. Its focus is to tackle the undesirable aspects of real time programming and device dependent issues thereby allowing the application programmer to concentrate more on the application. The multitasking aspect of the executive means application tasks can be generated with ease which aids development, evolution or enhancement of an application. The multitasking aspect also facilitates tasks dedicated to on-line reconfiguration, error handling and fault correction or shutdown procedures. The software quality of a real time application running on the Ease platform is paid for by a small percentage of CPU processing power and a larger response time to external events than an unstructured monolithic interrupt driven system. During the course of research, development and prototyping of Ease , a number of suitable sample applications have been explored to test and optimise its functionality. The most notable of these is the control system for the motor simulation of a shock absorber with an active disturbance load. This was implemented as seven concurrent tasks in a uniprocessor DSP system, running Ease