Computer Engineering Commons^™

Hardware Implementation Of Real-Time Operating System’S Thread Context Switch, Deepak Kumar Gauba

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Increasingly, embedded real-time applications use multi-threading. The benefits of multi-threading include greater throughput, improved responsiveness, and ease of development and maintenance. However, there are costs and pitfalls associated with multi-threading.

In some of hard real-time applications, with very precise timing requirements, multi-threading itself becomes an overhead cost mainly due to scheduling and contextswitching components of the real-time operating system (RTOS). Different scheduling algorithms have been suggested to improve the overall system performance. However, context-switching still consumes much of the processor’s time and becomes a major overhead cost especially for hard real-time embedded systems.

A typical RTOS context switch consumes 50 …

Automated Procedures For Quantification Of Rhizosphere Physical Properties In Micro Ct Images, Natarajan S. Pillai

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The rhizosphere, i.e. the zone of soil immediately surrounding plant roots plays a prominent role in supplying plants with water and nutrients. However, surprisingly little is known about rhizosphere physical properties and how they affect root growth, water and nutrient uptake. The lack of non-invasive and non-destructive imaging techniques necessary to observe living roots growing in undisturbed soil have been a main reason for this shortcoming. Recent advances in synchrotron X-ray micro tomography (CMT) provide the potential to directly observe soil physical properties around living roots in-situ.In this work we develop procedures for assisting scientist to study the soil properties …

A Reconfigurable Pattern Matching Hardware Implementation Using On-Chip Ram-Based Fsm, Indrawati Gauba

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The use of synthesizable reconfigurable IP cores has increasingly become a trend in System on Chip (SOC) designs. Such domain-special cores are being used for their flexibility and powerful functionality. The market introduction of multi-featured platform FPGAs equipped with on-chip memory and embedded processor blocks has further extended the possibility of utilizing dynamic reconfiguration to improve overall system adaptability to meet varying product requirements. A dynamically reconfigurable Finite State Machine (FSM) can be implemented using on-chip memory and an embedded processor. Since FSMs are the vital part of sequential hardware designs, the reconfiguration can be achieved in all designs containing …

Jvm-Based Techniques For Improving Java Observability, Peng Du

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Observability measures the support of computer systems to accurately capture, analyze, and present (collectively observe) the internal information about the systems. Observability frameworks play important roles for program understanding, troubleshooting, performance diagnosis, and optimizations. However, traditional solutions are either expensive or coarse-grained, consequently compromising their utility in accommodating today’s increasingly complex software systems. New solutions are emerging for VM-based languages due to the full control language VMs have over program executions. Existing such solutions, nonetheless, still lack flexibility, have high overhead, or provide limited context information for developing powerful dynamic analyses. In this thesis, we present a VM-based infrastructure, called …

A Framework For Automatically Repairing Gui Test Suites, Si Huang

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Testing is an effective means for assuring the quality of software. In programs with Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), event sequences serve as test cases for executing system tests. To aid in the test generation process, researchers have developed methods that automatically derive graph models from GUIs, which can then be traversed to create sequences for testing. Recent advances using these graph models incorporate combinatorial interaction testing sampling techniques to generate longer GUI test cases, which exercise more event interactions and have been shown to improve fault detection. However, because the models extracted are only approximations of the actual event interactions, …

On The Annotation Of Web Videos By Efficient Near-Duplicate Search, Wan-Lei Zhao, Xiao Wu, Chong-Wah Ngo

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

With the proliferation of Web 2.0 applications, usersupplied social tags are commonly available in social media as a means to bridge the semantic gap. On the other hand, the explosive expansion of social web makes an overwhelming number of web videos available, among which there exists a large number of near-duplicate videos. In this paper, we investigate techniques which allow effective annotation of web videos from a data-driven perspective. A novel classifier-free video annotation framework is proposed by first retrieving visual duplicates and then suggesting representative tags. The significance of this paper lies in the addressing of two timely issues …

Cloud Computing For Schools, Shane O'Doherty

Dissertations

This project evaluates previous Information and Communication Technology policy and practice relating to primary schools in Ireland with a view to suggesting a better way forward in light of advances in ICT, such as the availability of fast broadband services, including fibre broadband, browser-based applications and the advent of cloud computing. Cloud computing refers to the Internet as a source of both software programs and also data retention, in effect the Internet provides the software and data services via browsers to users who may remain entirely unaware of the technology at work, uncluttered by hardware or software licensing issues or …

Reasonable Number Of Issuing Original Bill Of Lading, Zhongming Ren

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Concurrently Evolving Sensor Morphology And Control For A Hexapod Robot, Gary Parker, Pramod J. Nathan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Evolving a robot’s sensor morphology along with its control program has the potential to significantly improve its effectiveness in completing the assigned task, plus accommodates the possibility of allowing it to adapt to significant changes in the environment. In previous work, we presented a learning system where the angle, range, and type of sensors on a hexapod robot, along with the control program, were evolved. The evolution was done in simulation and the tests, which were also done in simulation, showed that effective sensor morphologies and control programs could be co-learned by the system. In this paper, we describe the …

Using Evolutionary Strategies For The Real-Time Learning Of Controllers For Autonomous Agents In Xpilot-Ai, Gary Parker, Michael H. Probst

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Real-time learning is the process of an artificial intelligence agent learning behavior(s) at the same pace as it operates in the real world. Video games tend to be an excellent locale for testing real-time learning agents, as the action happens at real speeds with a good visual feedback mechanism, coupled with the possibility of comparing human performance to that of the agent's. In addition, players want to be competing against a consistently challenging opponent. This paper is a discussion of a controller for an agent in the space combat game Xpilot and the evolution of said controller using two different …

A Single Chip Computational Sensor System For Neutron Detection Applications, Nathan R. Schemm, Sina Balkir, Michael Hoffman, Mark Bauer, David Schultz, James C. Petrosky, John W. Mcclory, Marcus Natta, Jennifer I. Brand, Jinke Tang, Wendong Wang

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper presents the design and test results of a standalone computational radiation sensor system based on a single chip solution. A low-power sensor front end with a charge sensitive amplifier and an event driven analog-to-digital converter is integrated on the same chip as a dedicated microcontroller to process and bin the data from the neutron detector diode heterojunction according to pulse height. This combination effectively implements a single chip multichannel analyzer with the capability to do further processing of the data in software. The design was fabricated in a 0.18 CMOS technology with field tests demonstrating the validity of …

From Computing Sets Of Optima, Pareto Sets, And Sets Of Nash Equilibria To General Decision-Related Set Computations, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Several algorithms have been proposed to compute sets of optima, Pareto sets, sets of Nash equilibria. In this paper, we present a general algorithm for decision-related set computations that includes all these algorithms as particular cases.

To make our algorithm understandable to people working in optimization and in game theory, we also provide motivations and explanations for our formalizations of the corresponding problems and for the related notions of computable mathematics.

Informatics And Natural Computation: Final Report, Francis T. Marchese

Cornerstone 3 Reports : Interdisciplinary Informatics

The purpose of this grant is to develop an interdisciplinary course in Informatics and Natural Computation that would service undergraduate computer, natural, and physical science majors. Informatics is the science of information, the practice of information processing, and the engineering of information systems. Informatics studies the structure, algorithms, behavior, and interactions of natural and artificial systems that store, process, access and communicate information. Natural computing refers to a collection of disciplines that unite nature with computing in three distinct ways:

1. Nature serves as a source of inspiration for the development of computational tools or systems that are used for …

Scan Loss Pattern Synthesis For Adaptive Array Ground Stations, William C. Barott, Mary Ann Ingram, Paul G. Steffes

Publications

We present several techniques for maximizing the contact time between low Earth orbiting satellites (LEOs) and a ground station (GS). The GS comprises an adaptive array of electronically steered space-fed lenses (SFLs). Each SFL is manufactured as a low-cost printed circuit with the result that it exhibits scanning loss. By differently orienting the boresights of the SFLs in the adaptive array, the SFL's scanning losses can be made to optimally complement the path loss of the LEO, thereby reducing the cost of the GS while maximizing the download capacity of the satellite link. The optimization, implemented with a genetic algorithm …

Multi-Scale Edge Detection Algorithms And Their Information-Theoretic Analysis In The Context Of Visual Communication, Bo Jiang

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The unrealistic assumption that noise can be modeled as independent, additive and uniform can lead to problems when edge detection methods are applied to low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) images. The main reason for this is because the filter scale and the threshold for the gradient are difficult to determine at a regional or local scale when the noise estimate is on a global scale. Therefore, in this dissertation, we attempt to solve these problems by using more than one filter to detect the edges and discarding the global thresholding method in the edge discrimination. The proposed multi-scale edge detection algorithms …

Analysis And Optimization Of Dynamic Spectrum Sharing For Cognitive Radio Networks, Manish Wadhwa

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation is to present the analysis and optimization of dynamic spectrum sharing for cognitive radio networks (CRNs). Spectrum scarcity is a well known problem at present. In order to deal with this problem, dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) was proposed. DSS is a technique where cognitive radio networks dynamically and opportunistically share the channels with primary users. The major contribution of this dissertation is in analyzing the problem of dynamic spectrum sharing under different scenarios and developing optimal solutions for these scenarios. In the first scenario, a contention based dynamic spectrum sharing model is considered and its …

The Executable Command In Support Of Scheduled Subroutine Calls, Andrew Scott Lewis

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A potential solution to improving the utilization of increased thread level parallelism available in modern general purpose CPU's is the inclusion of a hardware scheduler. The hardware scheduler is designed to schedule subroutine calls based on a numerical condition in a high performance memory located on the CPU die, due to which the size of available memory is extremely limited. The main stumbling block in the development of a feasible hardware scheduler is the lack of a method of invoking a scheduled call using a single pointer. The use of a single pointer allows the limited size of the memory …

Action Recognition Based On Multi-Level Representation Of 3d Shape, Binu M. Nair

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A novel algorithm is proposed in this thesis for recognizing human actions using a combination of two shape descriptors, one of which is a 3D Euclidean distance transform and the other based on the Radon transform. This combination captures the necessary variations from the space time shape for recognizing actions. The space time shapes are created by the concatenation of human body silhouettes across time. The comparisons are done against some common shape descriptors such as the zernike moments and Radon transform. This is also compared with an algorithm which uses the same concept of a space time shape and …

Wavelet-Based Enhancement Technique For Visibility Improvement Of Digital Images, Numan ÜNaldı

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Image enhancement techniques for visibility improvement of color digital images based on wavelet transform domain are investigated in this dissertation research.

In this research, a novel, fast and robust wavelet-based dynamic range compression and local contrast enhancement (WDRC) algorithm to improve the visibility of digital images captured under non-uniform lighting conditions has been developed. A wavelet transform is mainly used for dimensionality reduction such that a dynamic range compression with local contrast enhancement algorithm is applied only to the approximation coefficients which are obtained by low-pass filtering and down-sampling the original intensity image. The normalized approximation coefficients are transformed using …

Comparing Discrete Simulation And System Dynamics: Modeling An Anti-Insurgency Influence Operation, Wayne Wakeland, Una E. Medina

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper contrasts the tradeoffs of modeling the same dynamic problem at a micro scale and at a macro scale of analysis: discrete system simulation (DS) versus continuous system simulation or system dynamics (SD). Both are employed to model the influence of entertainment education on terrorist system decay, with implications for field application. Each method optimizes different design, scope/scale, data availability/accuracy, parameter settings, and system sensitivities. Whether the research served by the computer model is applied or theoretical, DS tends to be useful for understand low-level individual unit/step influences on system change over time, whereas SD tends to shine when …

Ceg 433/633-01: Operating Systems, Bin Wang

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Cs 480/680: Comparative Programming Languages, Michael L. Raymer

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Cs 205: Introduction To Computers And Office Productivity Software, Terri Bauer

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Focus on learning MS Office software applications including intermediate word processing, spreadsheets, database and presentation graphics using a case study approach where critical thinking and problem solving skills are required. Computer concepts are integrated throughout the course to provide an understanding of the basics of computing, the latest technological advances and how they are used in industry. Ethics and issues encountered in business are discussed to challenge students on societal impact of technology.

Cs 415: Social Implications Of Computing, Leo Finkelstein

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

CS 415 is a communication skills course using as its subject matter current salient issues associated with the social implications of computing. In addition to the course text, you will need to use certain reading materials in the library and elsewhere, and you will be responsible for using concepts and theories provided in class lectures and discussions.

Cs 205: Introduction To Computers And Office Productivity Software, Ann Tirpack

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Focus on learning MS Office software applications including intermediate word processing, spreadsheets, database and presentation graphics using a case study approach where critical thinking and problem solving skills are required. Computer concepts are added to provide an understanding of the basics of computing, the latest technological advances and how they are used in industry. Ethics and issues encountered in business are discussed to challenge students on societal impact of technology.

Ceg 210-01: Pc Networking I, Karen Meyer

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Introduction to networking technologies including infrastructure and architectures, standards, protocols and directory services, administrations, security and management. Integrated lecture and lab.

Ceg 730-01: Distributed Computing Principles, Yong Pei

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Ceg 220-01: Introduction To C Programming For Engineers - I, Ronald F. Taylor

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

This course provides a general introduction to computers as a problem-solving tool using the C programming language. Emphasis is on algorithms and techniques useful to engineers. Topics include data representation, debugging, and program verification. Some programming assignments may involve complex arithmetic and trigonometric and exponential functions. 4 credit hours. The course includes a scheduled laboratory section for which you must register.

Cs 240: Computer Programming I, Travis E. Doom

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Basic concepts of programming and programming languages are introduced. Emphasis is on structured programming and stepwise refinement. Prerequisite: MTH 130 or MPL 5.

Cs 241: Computer Programming Ii, Travis E. Doom

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

A continuation of CS240. The emphasis is on data abstraction and software engineering. Prerequisite: CS240.