169 research outputs found
System-Level Design and Virtual Prototyping of a Telecommunication Application on a NUMA Platform
International audienceThe use of model-driven approaches for embedded system design has become a common practice. Among these model-driven approaches, only a few of them include the generation of a full-system simulation comprising operating system, code generation for tasks and hardware simulation models. Even less common is the extension to massively parallel, NoC based designs, such as required for high performance streaming applications where dozens of tasks are replicated onto identical general purpose processor cores of a Multi-processor System-on-chip (MP-SoC). We present the extension of a system-level tool to handle clustered Network-on-Chip (NoC) with virtual prototyping platforms. On the one hand, the automatic generation of the virtual prototype becomes more complex as topcell, address mapping and linker script have to be adapted. On the other hand, the exploration of the design space is particularly important for this class of applications, as performance may strongly be impacted by Non Uniform Memory Access (NUMA)
Models of Architecture
The current trend in high performance and embedded computing consists of designing increasingly complex heterogeneous hardware architectures with non-uniform communication resources. In order to take hardware and software design decisions, early evaluations of the system non-functional properties are needed. These evaluations of system efficiency require high-level information on both the algorithms and the architecture. In state of the art Model Driven Engineering (MDE) methods, different communities have developed custom architecture models associated to languages of substantial complexity. This fact contrasts with Models of Computation (MoCs) that provide abstract representations of an algorithm behavior as well as tool interoperability.In this report, we define the notion of Model of Architecture (MoA) and study the combination of a MoC and an MoA to provide a design space exploration environment for the study of the algorithmic and architectural choices. An MoA provides reproducible cost computation for evaluating the efficiency of a system. A new MoA called Linear System-Level Architecture Model (LSLA) is introduced and compared to state of the art models. LSLA aims at representing hardware efficiency with a linear model. The computed cost results from the mapping of an application, represented by a model conforming a MoC on an architecture represented by a model conforming an MoA. The cost is composed of a processing-related part and a communication-related part. It is an abstract scalar value to be minimized and can represent any non-functional requirement of a system such as memory, energy, throughput or latency
NFV Platforms: Taxonomy, Design Choices and Future Challenges
Due to the intrinsically inefficient service provisioning in traditional networks, Network Function Virtualization (NFV) keeps gaining attention from both industry and academia. By replacing the purpose-built, expensive, proprietary network equipment with software network functions consolidated on commodity hardware, NFV envisions a shift towards a more agile and open service provisioning paradigm. During the last few years, a large number of NFV platforms have been implemented in production environments that typically face critical challenges, including the development, deployment, and management of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). Nonetheless, just like any complex system, such platforms commonly consist of abounding software and hardware components and usually incorporate disparate design choices based on distinct motivations or use cases. This broad collection of convoluted alternatives makes it extremely arduous for network operators to make proper choices. Although numerous efforts have been devoted to investigating different aspects of NFV, none of them specifically focused on NFV platforms or attempted to explore their design space. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey on the NFV platform design. Our study solely targets existing NFV platform implementations. We begin with a top-down architectural view of the standard reference NFV platform and present our taxonomy of existing NFV platforms based on what features they provide in terms of a typical network function life cycle. Then we thoroughly explore the design space and elaborate on the implementation choices each platform opts for. We also envision future challenges for NFV platform design in the incoming 5G era. We believe that our study gives a detailed guideline for network operators or service providers to choose the most appropriate NFV platform based on their respective requirements. Our work also provides guidelines for implementing new NFV platforms
FrontEnd Toolkit: a toolkit to transform IDEAs into intelligent action
This FrontEnd Toolkit is about applying
Design Thinking to transform new ideas into innovative
products, services andbusinesses with an impact. The front
end development of new user and customer-oriented solutions
is a key opportunity aswell as a significant challenge for
organizations and success is built on collaborative
approaches. The overall objective is to help policy- makers,
project owners, and managers as well as their stakeholders
to design and implement projects with real impact. The
Toolkit helps to establish an idea’s key value to
stakeholders, and supports planning for the creation of high
impact projects. It assists in defining complexity, cost,
delivery, functionality,and future upgrade potential of a
concept and creates new opportunities for partnerships. The
Front End innovation is all about purposefully combining
different skills, disciplines, and resources with knowledge
related to the local innovation ecosystem to gain insights
that inspire and help shape a new, valuable offering. The
process of creating this constellation of elements involves
understanding emerging opportunities,client and user
mindsets, needs and expectations. It also involves making
sense of the competitive environment, the social and
individual constraints and enablers that drive the
acceptance and up take of new products, services and
business models
Network Service Orchestration: A Survey
Business models of network service providers are undergoing an evolving
transformation fueled by vertical customer demands and technological advances
such as 5G, Software Defined Networking~(SDN), and Network Function
Virtualization~(NFV). Emerging scenarios call for agile network services
consuming network, storage, and compute resources across heterogeneous
infrastructures and administrative domains. Coordinating resource control and
service creation across interconnected domains and diverse technologies becomes
a grand challenge. Research and development efforts are being devoted to
enabling orchestration processes to automate, coordinate, and manage the
deployment and operation of network services. In this survey, we delve into the
topic of Network Service Orchestration~(NSO) by reviewing the historical
background, relevant research projects, enabling technologies, and
standardization activities. We define key concepts and propose a taxonomy of
NSO approaches and solutions to pave the way towards a common understanding of
the various ongoing efforts around the realization of diverse NSO application
scenarios. Based on the analysis of the state of affairs, we present a series
of open challenges and research opportunities, altogether contributing to a
timely and comprehensive survey on the vibrant and strategic topic of network
service orchestration.Comment: Accepted for publication at Computer Communications Journa
Control Software for Reconfigurable Coprocessors
On-line data processing at the ATLAS general purpose particle detector, which is currently under construction at Geneva, generates demands on computing power that are difficult to satisfy with commodity CPU-based computers. One of the most demanding applications is the recognition of particle tracks that originate from B-quark decays. However, this and many others applications can benefit from parallel execution on field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). After the demonstration of accelerated track recognition with big FPGA-based custom computers, the development of FPGA based coprocessors started in the late 1990's. Applications of FPGA coprocessors are usually partitioned between the host and the tightly coupled coprocessor. The objective of the research that I present in this thesis was the development of software that mediates to applications the access to FPGA coprocessors. I used a software process based on iterative prototyping to cope with the expected changing requirements. Also, I used a strict bottom-up design to create classes that model devices on the coprocessors. Using these low-level classes, I developed tools which were used for bootstrapping, debugging, and firmware update of the coprocessors during their development and maintenance. Measurements show that the software overhead introduced by object-oriented programming and software layering is small. The software-support for six different coprocessors was partitioned into corresponding independent packages, which reuse a set of packages that provide common and basic functions. The steady evolution and use of the software during more than four years shows that the software is maintainable, adaptable, and usable
The use of interactive communication technologies for collaborative E-mentoring
This document investigates COVID-19’s impact on the education system by gathering data on
how interactive digital technologies mitigated such disruption. Moreover, the study also
analyses how and if education’s approaches were modified during the pandemic and what
issue(s) arose in that process. The procedures consisted of the analysis of evidence retrieved
from three surveys delivered to a broader group of teachers, students, and parents (N=215)
crossed with an examination of a set of 5-week longitudinal interviews (30) with three
stakeholder groups - teachers, students, and parents (N=6). Results of the analysis are used to
derive a set of important design implications that: (1) highlights shortcomings of the distance
learning strategies used during COVID-19 and how they can be mitigated; (2) empowers
teachers, students and parents with innovative pedagogical approaches that can be fostered by
interactive digital technologies that are optimized for distance learning; (3) promotes
positive learning experiences supported with scientific evidence. The interactive system’s
design derived from a collaborative reflection expressed on the stakeholders’ daily needs while
teaching and learning during the unpredictable circumstances created by the pandemic. The
OWL CLUB mobile app system seeks to curate the knowledge exchange in a more humane
and positive digital experience among an education community. This application also allows
the creation and growth of a space that encourages new genuine connections in a digital
learning environment for students, with the pursuit of knowledge as their main objective.Este documento investiga o impacto do COVID-19 no sistema educacional, reunindo dados sobre
como as tecnologias digitais interativas mitigaram tal disrupção. Além disso, o estudo também analisa
como e se as abordagens educativas foram modificadas durante a pandemia e qual ou quais as questões
que surgiram nesse processo. Os procedimentos consistiram na análise de evidências obtidas através
de três questionários feitos a um grupo mais amplo de professores, alunos e pais (N = 215) cruzadas
com uma análise de um conjunto de entrevistas longitudinais de 5 semanas (30) com três grupos de
atores - professores, alunos e pais (N = 6). Os resultados da análise são usados para obter um conjunto
de importantes implicações de design que: (1) destacam as deficiências das estratégias de ensino à
distância usadas durante o COVID-19 e como elas podem ser mitigadas; (2) capacita professores,
alunos e pais com abordagens pedagógicas inovadoras que podem ser promovidas por tecnologias
digitais interativas, otimizadas para o ensino à distância; (3) promove experiências de aprendizagem
positivas apoiadas em evidências científicas. A criação do sistema interativo deriva de uma reflexão
colaborativa expressa sobre as necessidades diárias das partes interessadas durante o ensino e a
aprendizagem durante as circunstâncias imprevisíveis criadas pela pandemia. O sistema de aplicativos
móveis OWL CLUB procura assegurar a troca de conhecimento numa experiência digital mais
humana e positiva entre uma comunidade educativa. Esta aplicação também permite a criação e o
crescimento de um espaço que estimula novas conexões genuínas num ambiente digital de
aprendizagem para os estudantes, tendo a busca pelo conhecimento como objetivo principal
Differentiator factors in the implementation of social network sites
Estágio realizado na Business Analyst da Documento Crítico - Desenvolvimento de Software, S. A. (Cardmobili) e orientado pelo Eng.ª Catarina MaiaTese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Informática e Computação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200
Master of Science
thesisTo address the need of understanding and optimizing the performance of complex applications and achieving sustained application performance across different architectures, we need performance models and tools that could quantify the theoretical performance and the resultant gap between theoretical and observed performance. This thesis proposes a benchmark-driven Roofline Model Toolkit to provide theoretical and achievable performance, and their resultant gap for multicore, manycore, and accelerated architectures. Roofline micro benchmarks are specialized to quantify the behavior of different architectural features. Compared to previous work on performance characterization, these micro benchmarks focus on capturing the performance of each level of the memory hierarchy, along with thread-level parallelism(TLP), instruction-level parallelism(ILP), and explicit Single Instruction, Multiple Data(SIMD) parallelism, measured in the context of the compilers and runtime environment on the target architecture. We also developed benchmarks to explore detailed memory subsystems behaviors and evaluate parallelization overhead. Beyond on-chip performance, we measure sustained Peripheral Component Interconnect Express(PCIe) throughput with four Graphics Processing Unit(GPU) memory managed mechanisms. By combining results from the architecture characterization with the Roofline Model based solely on architectural specification, this work offers insights for performance prediction of current and future architectures and their software systems. To that end, we instrument three applications and plot their resultant performance on the corresponding Roofline Model when run on a Blue Gene/Q architecture
- …