ACM Sigmicro Newsletter最新文献

{"title":"Firmware engineering and microprogramming at Colorade State University","authors":"G. Johnson, R. A. Mueller, M. Andrews","doi":"10.1145/1218021.1218026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218021.1218026","url":null,"abstract":"Colorado State University is in the process of building a research emphasis in the area of firmware engineering and microprogramming through the Department of Computer Science and the Center for Computer-Assisted Engineering. The primary participants are Dr. Gearold Johnson, Dr. Robert Mueller, Dr. Michael Andrews, several full-time graduate research assistants (including two doctoral candidates), and a part-time graduate student from the Hewlett Packard Desktop Computer Division.","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"128 s444","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"120835170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of \"Probability and Statistics with Reliability Queueing and Computer Science Application by K. S. Trivedi\", Prentice-Hall, 1982","authors":"A. Agrawala","doi":"10.1145/1218021.1218022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218021.1218022","url":null,"abstract":"Probability and Statistical techniques are of significant importance in many fields and are taught to the students with varying backgrounds and interest. An instructor can provide strong motivation by selecting relevant examples suitable for the students. In most of the traditional fields such as electrical engineering, physics, and economics a number of texts are available at nearly all levels of undergraduate/graduate programs. As the use of probability and stochastic processes is relatively new in computer science, the book \"Probability and Statistics with Reliability, Queueing and Computer Science Application\", Prentice-Hall 1982, by Professor K.S. Trivedi seems to meet a strong need. The book is organized in 11 chapters. The first five chapters provide the introduction to the probability theory. With this background the reader is well prepared to tackle the subsequent topics. These chapters are followed by four chapters on stochastic processes. The stochastic process chapters include topics such as discrete and continuous parameter Markov chains, birth-death processes and network of queues. These chapters are well suited for a student of computer system modeling. Data analysis plays a major role in many system studies. The last two chapters provide a coverage of statistical inference and regression and analysis of variance. The material in the book has been introduced with a significant number of worked out examples. These examples are drawn from computer science and reliability theory. In addition, there are many problems at the end of each chapter. Both these features enhance the usefulness of this book as a text. The thickness of the book may scare a few students; the book has 624 pages. The author suggests that this book be used as a text for a 2 semester course. At present the'trend is to offer a one semester course on the topics covered in the book. At the introductory level the book provides a good coverage. At an advanced level, a course on system modeling will require supplementary material on applications and case studies. However, using this book as a text at the advanced level is still an excellent choice.","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126979311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of \"Implementing Functions: Microprocessors and Firmware by L. Richter, P. Le Beux, G. Choust and G. Noguez\", North-Holland","authors":"C. Neuhauser","doi":"10.1145/1218021.1218023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218021.1218023","url":null,"abstract":"Background This book contains a selection of papers presented at the seventh EUROMICRO Symposium held on September 8 i0, 1981 in Paris. Two-thirds of the approximately I00 authors were affiliated with academic institutions while the remainder were from industry. Research and practice from nearly every European country and the U. S. is represented in these papers. All papers are published in excellent English.","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132689325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of \"Bit-Slice Microprocessor Design by John Mick and James Brick\", McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1980","authors":"W. Tracz","doi":"10.1145/1218021.1218024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218021.1218024","url":null,"abstract":"The book \"Bit-Slice Microprocessor Design\" is the result of Advanced Micro Devices \"nine part course in microprogrammable microprocessing\". As such it is based completely on the Am2900 family of LSI building blocks and shares some of the same material found in the \"AMD 2900 Family Data Book\" which also references this work. The material covered is presented as follows: Chapter I: Computer Architecture, is a brief, 8 page, discussion of basic CPU components, and architecture concepts with a presentation of the separate steps needed to execute an instruction. This is followed by a simple microarchitecture with a comparison between macro and micro machines. Chapter II: Microprogrammed Design, contains a short, 4 page, overview on sequencing concepts, which then is followed by a detailed explanation of the Am2910 microprogram controller. The remaining portion of this chapter is devoted to an example of a CRT controller complete with logic drawings, data paths, and microcode based on Am2910 and 2911 type devices and the AMDASM (trade mark of AMD) microcode assembler. Chapter III: The Data Path, contains a short, 5 page, introduction to ALU components and basic arithmetic concepts. This is followed by a detailed description of the Am290 I A, and 2903 slices, with an example of a 16 bit ALU using four Am2903 slices. Chapter IV: The Data Path-Part II, introduces the Am2904 Status and Shift Control Unit with a detailed microcode example. Chapter V: Program Control Unit, discusses memory interfacing with an example of the Am2930 sub-routine stack capability and a tradeoff discussion of the 2901A vrs. the 2903. Chapter VI: Interrupt, presents an overview of polling yrs. non-polling methods for handling interrupts with examples using the Am29114 Vectored Priority Interrupt Controller. Chapter VII: Direct Memory Access, is the final chapter on AMD components. The concept of direct memory access is introduced followed by a detailed explanation of the Am2940 DMA address generator, and AM2942 Programmable Timer/Counter DMA address generator. Chapter VII: HEX-29, is a detailed discussion of the HEX-29 CPU and System developed by Digital Micro-systems Inc. The HEX-29 is a microprogrammed 16 bit data flow (2901) with 4K of 64 bit microwords using the 2909 as a sequencer. Chapter VIII: Super Sixteen, contains another example of a macro/micro machine, built out of Am2903 ALU slices and an Am2910 sequencer chip with a 9 6 bit microword. In summary, Bit-Slice Microprocessor Design meets its objective of introducing microprogrammable bit-slice …","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130103697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent articles from \"Microprocessing and Microprogramming\"","authors":"Walter A. Wallach","doi":"10.1145/1218028.1218029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218028.1218029","url":null,"abstract":"The following articles have appeared recently and may be of interest to the microprogramming community. If you discover an article which you feel might be of interest, please submit a reference and short summary to the editor, SIGMICRO Newsletter. [Portions of Microprocessing and Microprogramming, The Euromicro Journal are reprinted with permission.]","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134528507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of \"Microprogrammed Control and Reliable Design of Small Computers, by George D. Kraft and Wing N. Toy\", Prentice Hall, 1981","authors":"M. Sievers","doi":"10.1145/1218028.1218030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218028.1218030","url":null,"abstract":"The book is a detailed exposition of the methods and philosophies of Bell Laboratories in the two areas indicated by the title: microprogramming and reliable design techniques. After an introductory chapter devoted to the differences between conventional and microprogrammed control units that includes basic architectures, control store organizations, emulation, and nanoprogramming concepts, the real meat of the text begins with the discussion of internal processor control in the second chapter. Included in this chapter are vertical ano horizontal microprogramming, various techniques for generating microprogram store addresses, including conditional branching instructions, microsubroutines, functional branching, microprogram loops, interrupts, and microprogram sequencing. Numerous examples and optlons are provided for each of these topics.","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"149 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134211639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of \"Microprogramming and Microprocessing by Rich Belgard\", North-Holland, 1981","authors":"Richard A. Belgard","doi":"10.1145/1218028.1218031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218028.1218031","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"111 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128023358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review of \"Bit-Slice Design: Controllers and ALUs by Donnamarie E. White\", Garland STPM Press, 1981","authors":"W. Tracz","doi":"10.1145/1218021.1218025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218021.1218025","url":null,"abstract":"Bit-Slice Design: Controllers and ALUs is an introductory book on the design of microarchitectures featuring the Advanced Micro Devices 2900 Famility of bit-slice devices. The book provides a valuable analysis of FIS (Fixed Instruction Set) Microprocessor, Bit-Slice, and SSI/MSI hardwared logic implementation tradeoffs not found elsewhere in literature (Chapter 1). It also contains a detailed functional evolution of a microsequencer (refered to as a controller) and a similar, although not as detailed, functional evolution of the ALU portion of a microarchitecture. The controller design leads up to the Am2909/2911 micro-program sequencers, the Am2910 sequencer, Am29803 testing matrix and Am2913 and Am2914 interrupt chips/devices, while introducing the concepts of branching, pipelining, subroutines, stacks, looping , and vectored and polled interrupt handling (Chapters 2, 3, and 4). The ALU design leads up to the Am2901 and Am2903 chips (Chapters 5 and 6) with detailed explanations of each. The final chapter gives as quick explanation of how local store can be expanded on the ALU bit~ slice (2903) by using \"LSI glue\" in the form of an Am2905, and how a status register can be added for additional facility (Am2904). In summary, Bit-Slice Design: Controllers and ALUs is more than just a data book of AMD chips. It contains considerable pedagogical material which offers the reader insight into what functions and features are desirable when designing the data flow of a microarchitecture. This book would make an appropriate supplemental book for introductory courses in microprogramming, and offers good reading material for those practitioners wanting to understand a little more about design tradeoffs and AMDs line of bit-slice devices.The views and opinions expressed here are those of the reviewer who takes full responsibility for error.","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"54 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114801928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterisation of microinstructions as destructible flows in controlled graphs","authors":"A. N. Akonteh","doi":"10.1145/1096416.1096417","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1096416.1096417","url":null,"abstract":"The flow of control signals in digital computers is modelled as destructible flows in controlled graphs where each vertex i ε V(G) represents some module of a system zn. By establishing a flow path from vertex i to vertex j an edge x ε E(G) is created which represents a microinstruction. For all sets of vertices V(G) exist a connectivity matrix C on which a set of microinstructions μ I(zn) can be defined. The model can be used to answer several computer design questions including cost-effective control paths, control functions extensions and coding and in digital systems design optimization.","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"47 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1982-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128434162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent articles on protection of computer related innovations","authors":"Walter A. Wallach","doi":"10.1145/1218016.1218017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1145/1218016.1218017","url":null,"abstract":"There have been a number of recent articles in the trade press regarding the protection of computer innovations which are not strictly hardware (such as firmware and software). An article by David Pressman in the August 5 issue of EDN (their A Question of Law column summarizes the five methods of safeguarding innovations, namely:Copyright -- protects any copy of a written work from use by others without permission. Recent changes to Federal law explicitly extend copyright protection to software.Trade Secrecy - By not disclosing information about a product, and requiring all users to sign a nondisclosure agreement, anyone stealing a copy of the product may be prosecuted for stealing a \"trade secret\". This method and copyright protection are mutually exclusive.Unfair Competition - If someone is trying to cash in on some aspect or your product without extending proper credit, you may be able to get relief under this doctrine.Patent - Recent Supreme Court rulings may be leading to liberalized interpretation of patent laws extending patent protection to firmware and software innovations. The key is to claim the innovation with hardware, even if that specific hardware is not required for the innovation to work. Further, the firmware or software must not be the primary item claimed. Trademarks - used to attract attention to your product, and make its piracy more obvious. [Presl].","PeriodicalId":138968,"journal":{"name":"ACM Sigmicro Newsletter","volume":"2011 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1981-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125629235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}