The student should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the disciplinary foundation of and proven experience in the field of micro-computer engineering as well as insight into current research and development work. This is shown in laboratory and theoretical assignments.

• Demonstrate the ability to identify, formulate and deal with issues autonomously and creatively and to analyse and evaluate technological solutions. This is shown through designing and analyzing embedded software for a modern pipelined processor)

• Demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge critically and systematically as well as the ability to model, simulate, predict and evaluate sequences of events even with limited information. This is shown through designing and analyzing a multi-threaded scheduler.

• Demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and undertake ongoing development of his or her skills. This is shown in laboratory and project assignments which require gathering of information and critical evaluation.

• Demonstrate insight into research and development though understanding the possibilities and limitations of embedded systems technology. This is shown through laboratory and project assignments, highlighting the trade-offs between hard- and software.

 

Machine abstraction:. The instruction set. Data representations. Machine language and instruction formats. Address spaces, addressing. Operations on data. Instructions for program flow control. Sequential programming of a modern microprocessor. Structures for high-level programming: Data types. The stack, activation records, procedure calls, parameter passing and recursion. The interface to the compiler: Model of a typical modern processor\'s internal construction. Pipelining (interlocks, stalls, data forwarding, delayed branch). Instruction scheduling and its effect on processor performance. Memory hierarchies, (cache memory). The interface to the operating system: Memory management (virtual memory). The process concept. Process protection and privileges. Context switching. Management of vectored interrupts and exceptions. Direct and DMA in- and output.

Instruction consists of lectures, (seminars) and assignments. During the course, home assignments may occur, which will give bonus points at the written exam following directly after the course.

Written exam. Mandatory assignments.

Per Lindgren

Patterson, David A. Hennessy, John L. Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface Revised 4th edition (4th and 3rd editions can also be used), Morgan Kaufmann.

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Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering

Study guidance for the course is to be found in our learning platform Canvas before the course starts. Students applying for single subject courses get more information in the Welcome letter. You will find the learning platform via My LTU.

by the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 28 Feb 2007

by Jonny Johansson, HUL SRT 12 Feb 2021