High throughput, low set-up time reconfigurable linear feedback shift registers

This paper presents a hardware design for a scalable, high throughput, configurable LFSR. High throughput is achieved by producing L consecutive outputs per clock cycle with a clock cycle period that, for practical cases, increases only logarithmically with the block size L and the length of the register N. Flexibility is ensured by offering full reconfigurability of the generator polynomial within 1 clock cycle. At the heart of the design is a decomposition of the block-based state-update transition-matrix into two matrices, which enables an efficient implementation in terms of both latency and area. Potential target applications for this design include PN sequence generation in CDMA systems, BIST for VLSI circuits, CRC, encryption and error correction

Hard-real-time scheduling on a weakly programmable multi-core processor with application to multi-standard channel decoding

In Software Defined Radio (SDR), some or all of the physical layer functions are implemented by software. In this paper, we focus on the channel decoding part of SDR. We use Synchronous Data Flow (SDF) and Cyclo-Static Data Flow (CSDF) graphs to model channel decoding functions. We want to tackle the problem of scheduling a dynamic mix of multiple radios with throughput constraints on a multi-standard multi-channel channel decoder. The decoder consists of a Micro-Controller Unit (MCU) and several weakly programmable Hardware Units (HU) with internal states and very limited buffer sizes. Each HU has a Round Robin (RR) scheduler hosted on the MCU. To reduce scheduling overhead, RR schedules applications at coarse granularity. Due to limited buffer sizes, some tasks of an application are tightly coupled. We propose a so-called coupled scheduling policy, which is a relaxation of strict gang scheduling, to concurrently schedule these tasks. We propose a technique to model coupled scheduling in (C)SDF graphs. Under our scheduling policies, we also design an admission controller to guarantee the throughput requirements of running applications. To verify the approach, we have implemented a simulation system to run DVB-SH and DVB-T concurrently and independently

Analyzing synchronous dataflow scenariaos for dynamic software-defined radio applications

Contemporary embedded systems for wireless communications support various radios. A software-defined radio (SDR) is a radio implemented as concurrent software processes that typically run on a multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSoC). SDRs are real-time streaming applications with throughput requirements. One efficient approach for timing analysis of concurrent real-time applications is the dataflow model of computation (MoC). Nonetheless, the dataflow modeling of SDRs is challenging due to their dynamically changing data processing workload. A dataflow MoC that is not expressive enough to capture this dynamism gives pessimistic throughput results. On the other hand, if it is too expressive and detailed, it may not be analyzable at all. In this paper, we address the challenge of dataflow modeling of SDRs such that their timing behavior can be accurately analyzed to guarantee real-time requirements without unnecessarily over-allocating MPSoC resources. The basis of our modeling approach is splitting the dynamic data processing behavior of a SDR into a group of static modes of operation. Each static mode of operation is then modeled by a Synchronous Dataflow (SDF), which we refer to as scenario. This paper has two main contributions: 1) a scenario-based dataflow model of Long Term Evolution (LTE), which is the latest standard in cellular communication, and 2) investigation of existing throughput analysis techniques of SDF scenarios for our LTE model. Our results show that scenario-based worst-case throughput computation is 2 to 3.4 times more accurate than a state-of-the-art SDF analysis technique. Our investigation also shows that existing timing analysis techniques of SDF scenarios have very low run-time that scales very well with increase in graph size. This makes SDF scenarios suitable in practice for modeling and analyzing SDRs as well as similar dynamic application

Optimal Combination of Chest Compression Depth and Rate in Virtual Reality Resuscitation Training: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Randomized Lowlands Saves Lives Trial

Contains fulltext : 230541.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Rationale and design of the Lowlands Saves Lives trial: a randomised trial to compare CPR quality and long-term attitude towards CPR performance between face-to-face and virtual reality training with the Lifesaver VR app

Contains fulltext : 215303.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)INTRODUCTION: Layperson cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a key aspect in the chain of survival after cardiac arrest. New, low-cost, easily accessible training methods such as virtual reality (VR) training with a smartphone application may reach broader populations, but data on CPR performance are scarce. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Lowlands Saves Lives trial is a prospective randomised open-blinded end-point evaluation study, comparing two 20 min CPR training protocols: standardised, certified instructor-led face-to-face training complying with current education guidelines (using Laerdal Little Anne manikins), and VR training, using the UK Resuscitation Council endorsed Lifesaver VR app. In the latter, chest compressions are practiced on a pillow.During VR training, participants learn to resuscitate by completing a filmed CPR scenario while wearing VR goggles and headphones. Eligible for inclusion are adult attendees of Lowlands Science, a specific section of the 3-day Lowlands music festival (50 000 attendees), dedicated exclusively to science. Following the training, all participants will perform a CPR test on a Laerdal Resusci Anne QCPR manikin. Primary outcome measures are depth and rate of chest compressions, measured using CPR manikins. The key secondary outcome is overall CPR performance, with real-time examination (blinded for study group) of all items of a European Resuscitation Council endorsed checklist, and evaluation of a sample of videotaped CPR tests by a blinded event committee.Given the unique setting of a festival, the primary additional analysis will address the impact of alcohol levels on CPR quality parameters and overall performance. Follow-up questionnaires will evaluate the attitude towards performing CPR. This unique study may provide important insights into innovative CPR training methods, factors that impact CPR performance and the impact on long-term attitude towards resuscitation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study received approval from the research ethics committee of the Radboudumc. All participants will provide written informed consent. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at (inter)national conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT04013633)