High-level asynchronous system design using the ACK framework

Journal ArticleDesigning asynchronous circuits is becoming easier as a number of design styles are making the transition from research projects to real, usable tools. However, designing asynchronous "systems" is still a difficult problem. We define asynchronous systems to be medium to large digital systems whose descriptions include both datapath and control, that may involve non-trivial interface requirements, and whose control is too large to be synthesized in one large controller. ACK is a framework for designing high performance asynchronous systems of this type. In ACK we advocate an approach that begins with procedural level descriptions of control and datapath and results in a hybrid system that mixes a variety of hardware implementation styles including burst-mode AFSMs, macromodule circuits, and programmable control. We present our views on what makes asynchronous high level system design different from lower level circuit design, motivate our ACK approach, and demonstrate using an example system design

Accelerating board games through Hardware/Software Codesign

Board games applications usually offer a great user experience when running on desktop computers. Powerful high-performance processors working without energy restrictions successfully deal with the exploration of large game trees, delivering strong play to satisfy demanding users. However, nowadays, more and more game players are running these games on smartphones and tablets, where the lower computational power and limited power budget yield a much weaker play. Recent systems-on-a-chip include programmable logic tightly coupled with general-purpose processors enabling the inclusion of custom accelerators for any application to improve both performance and energy efficiency. In this paper, we analyze the benefits of partitioning the artificial intelligence of board games into software and hardware. We have chosen as case studies three popular and complex board games, Reversi, Blokus, and Connect6. The designs analyzed include hardware accelerators for board processing, which improve performance and energy efficiency by an order of magnitude leading to much stronger and battery-aware applications. The results demonstrate that the use of hardware/software codesign to develop board games allows sustaining or even improving the user experience across platforms while keeping power and energy low

Structures and interactivity of media--a prototype for the electronic book

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1988.Bibliography: leaves 150-164.by David S. Backer.Ph.D

Design and implementation of a generalised computer aided learning system

This thesis surveys the development of computer aided learning and outlines the tools that are used for creating computer aided learning systems. A project to create and port over a computer aided learning system from a VAX 11/750 to a PDF model 11/44 based on the UNIX operating system is described. The computer aided learning system makes extensive use of existing software tools available on UNIX and is hence named CALUNIX for Computer Aided Learning on UNIX

Real-time sound synthesis on a multi-processor platform

Real-time sound synthesis means that the calculation and output of each sound sample for a channel of audio information must be completed within a sample period. At a broadcasting standard, a sampling rate of 32,000 Hz, the maximum period available is 31.25 μsec. Such requirements demand a large amount of data processing power. An effective solution for this problem is a multi-processor platform; a parallel and distributed processing system. The suitability of the MIDI [Music Instrument Digital Interface] standard, published in 1983, as a controller for real-time applications is examined. Many musicians have expressed doubts on the decade old standard's ability for real-time performance. These have been investigated by measuring timing in various musical gestures, and by comparing these with the subjective characteristics of human perception. An implementation and its optimisation of real-time additive synthesis programs on a multi-transputer network are described. A prototype 81-polyphonic-note- organ configuration was implemented. By devising and deploying monitoring processes, the network's performance was measured and enhanced, leading to an efficient usage; the 88-note configuration. Since 88 simultaneous notes are rarely necessary in most performances, a scheduling program for dynamic note allocation was then introduced to achieve further efficiency gains. Considering calculation redundancies still further, a multi-sampling rate approach was applied as a further step to achieve an optimal performance. The theories underlining sound granulation, as a means of constructing complex sounds from grains, and the real-time implementation of this technique are outlined. The idea of sound granulation is quite similar to the quantum-wave theory, "acoustic quanta". Despite the conceptual simplicity, the signal processing requirements set tough demands, providing a challenge for this audio synthesis engine. Three issues arising from the results of the implementations above are discussed; the efficiency of the applications implemented, provisions for new processors and an optimal network architecture for sound synthesis

Application specific asynchronous microgengines for efficient high-level control

technical reportDespite the growing interest in asynchronous circuits, programmable asynchronous controllers based on the idea of microprogramming have not been actively pursued. Since programmable control is widely used in many commercial ASICs to allow late correction of design errors, to easily upgrade product families, to meet the time to market, and even effect run-time modifications to control in adaptive systems, we consider it crucial that self-timed techniques support efficient programmable control. This is especially true given that asynchronous (self-timed) circuits are well suited for realizing reactive and control-intensive designs. We offer a practical solution to programmable asynchronous control in the form of application-specific micro-programmed asynchronous controllers (or microengines). The features of our solution include a modular and easily extensible datapath structure, support for two main styles of handshaking (namely two-phase and four-phase), and many efficiency measures based on exploiting concurrency between operations and employing efficient circuit structures. Our results demonstrate that the proposed microengine can yield high performance?in fact performance close to that offered by automated high-level synthesis tools targeting custom hard-wired burstmode machines

High definition systems in Japan

The successful implementation of a strategy to produce high-definition systems within the Japanese economy will favorably affect the fundamental competitiveness of Japan relative to the rest of the world. The development of an infrastructure necessary to support high-definition products and systems in that country involves major commitments of engineering resources, plants and equipment, educational programs and funding. The results of these efforts appear to affect virtually every aspect of the Japanese industrial complex. The results of assessments of the current progress of Japan toward the development of high-definition products and systems are presented. The assessments are based on the findings of a panel of U.S. experts made up of individuals from U.S. academia and industry, and derived from a study of the Japanese literature combined with visits to the primary relevant industrial laboratories and development agencies in Japan. Specific coverage includes an evaluation of progress in R&D for high-definition television (HDTV) displays that are evolving in Japan; high-definition standards and equipment development; Japanese intentions for the use of HDTV; economic evaluation of Japan's public policy initiatives in support of high-definition systems; management analysis of Japan's strategy of leverage with respect to high-definition products and systems

Application specific asynchronous microengines for efficient high-level control

technical reportDespite the growing interest in asynchronous circuits programmable asynchronous controllers based on the idea of microprogramming have not been actively pursued Since programmable control is widely used in many commercial ASICs to allow late correction of design errors to easily upgrade product families to meet the time to market and even efficient run time modications to control in adaptive systems we consider it crucial that self timed techniques support efficient programmable control This is especially true given that asynchronous (self-timed) circuits are well suited for realizing reactive and control intensive designs We offer a practical solution to programmable asynchronous control in the form of application-speciffic microprogrammed asynchronous controllers (or microengines). The features of our solution include a modular and easily extensible datapath structure support for two main styles of hand shaking (namely two phase and four phase), and many efficiency measures based on exploiting concurrency between operations and employing efficient circuit structures Our results demonstrate that the proposed microengine can yield high performance-in fact performance close to that offered by automated high level synthesis tools targeting custom hard wired burstmode machines