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2012 |
Igor Cherepinsky, Alessandro Pinto Stringent Safety Design and Verification Methods for VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Article) 2012. @article{cherepinskySafetyDesignAHS2012, name = {Stringent Safety Design and Verification Methods for VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicles}, author = {Igor Cherepinsky, Alessandro Pinto}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ahs_high_integrity_uav_v_4.pdf}, year = {2012}, date = {2012-01-01}, booktitle = {America Helicopter Society Formum 68}, abstract = {In the last decade, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become common place. Operation of such vehicles in close proximity to humans and/or other vehicles inhabited by humans is inevitable, especially for VTOL UAVs. Thus, to achieve their full mission potential (and justify higher cost), VTOL UAVs must satisfy stringent requirements that guarantee the safety of humans operating in their proximity. These requirements bring new aspects to safety considerations. In industry, standard safety practices for inhabited vehicles are well known. These standard practices however cannot adequately address all aspects of VTOL UAV mission management. This is especially true where elements of emergent behavior are needed, such as contingency management and reactive mission replanning. This paper will present a case for a set of stringent safety requirements (in some cases exceeding requirements for inhabited vehicle) for this new class of vehicles as well as present some initial work on architectures and design methods to assure that the end product can perform a wide variety of missions safely.}, } In the last decade, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become common place. Operation of such vehicles in close proximity to humans and/or other vehicles inhabited by humans is inevitable, especially for VTOL UAVs. Thus, to achieve their full mission potential (and justify higher cost), VTOL UAVs must satisfy stringent requirements that guarantee the safety of humans operating in their proximity. These requirements bring new aspects to safety considerations. In industry, standard safety practices for inhabited vehicles are well known. These standard practices however cannot adequately address all aspects of VTOL UAV mission management. This is especially true where elements of emergent behavior are needed, such as contingency management and reactive mission replanning. This paper will present a case for a set of stringent safety requirements (in some cases exceeding requirements for inhabited vehicle) for this new class of vehicles as well as present some initial work on architectures and design methods to assure that the end product can perform a wide variety of missions safely. |
Pinto, Alessandro Methods and Tools to Enable the Design and Verification of Intelligent Systems (Article) 2012. @article{pinto_infotech_2012, name = {Methods and Tools to Enable the Design and Verification of Intelligent Systems}, author = {Alessandro Pinto}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/amm_infotech_2012_final.pdf}, year = {2012}, date = {2012-01-01}, booktitle = {AIAA Infotech at Aerospace}, abstract = {The intelligence of an autonomous system is implemented in software today. Useful applications of autonomous vehicles such as cars, aircraft and rotorcraft involve operations that require high level of assurance to avoid consequences on human lives. These systems reproduce the external world in software and keep learning ad adapting to its changes. This characteristic renders testing ineffective to prove their correctness since the input and state spaces are too large. For the same reason, formal verification of autonomous systems is hard, and despite progress, proving properties of large systems is still out of reach even for state of the art verification tools. The design and verification approach presented in this article is component-based: systems are composition of intelligent modules interacting through command/report interfaces. An intelligent module provides and requires commands. The correct execution of the provided commands is guaranteed under the assumption that the required commands are correctly executed by other intelligent modules. Standard lan- guages developed by the model-driven design and artificial intelligence communities can be effectively used to capture the specification of an intelligent system and enable a high assurance design process.}, } The intelligence of an autonomous system is implemented in software today. Useful applications of autonomous vehicles such as cars, aircraft and rotorcraft involve operations that require high level of assurance to avoid consequences on human lives. These systems reproduce the external world in software and keep learning ad adapting to its changes. This characteristic renders testing ineffective to prove their correctness since the input and state spaces are too large. For the same reason, formal verification of autonomous systems is hard, and despite progress, proving properties of large systems is still out of reach even for state of the art verification tools. The design and verification approach presented in this article is component-based: systems are composition of intelligent modules interacting through command/report interfaces. An intelligent module provides and requires commands. The correct execution of the provided commands is guaranteed under the assumption that the required commands are correctly executed by other intelligent modules. Standard lan- guages developed by the model-driven design and artificial intelligence communities can be effectively used to capture the specification of an intelligent system and enable a high assurance design process. |
Songyan Xu Ratnesh Kumar, Alessandro Pinto Correct-by-Construction and Optimal Network Synthesis for Distributed Control/Embedded Systems (Article) IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (Accepted), 2012. @article{XuCorrectByConstruction2012, name = {Correct-by-Construction and Optimal Network Synthesis for Distributed Control/Embedded Systems}, author = {Songyan Xu, Ratnesh Kumar, Alessandro Pinto}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TASE2012.pdf}, year = {2012}, date = {2012-01-01}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (Accepted)}, abstract = {In this paper we develop a formal approach for the synthesis of a cost-effective and correctby- construction communication network for distributed control/embedded applications subject to a set of end-toend communication constraints of latency, bandwidth and error-rate, together with the constraints of the network protocols and the desired geographical placement of the network.We also develop a software platform to implement the proposed approach for network synthesis, and apply it to a practical wireless network synthesis for centralized as well as distributed state estimation in building automation. Keywords: network synthesis, ZigBee, Integer Linear Programming, optimization, building automation}, } In this paper we develop a formal approach for the synthesis of a cost-effective and correctby- construction communication network for distributed control/embedded applications subject to a set of end-toend communication constraints of latency, bandwidth and error-rate, together with the constraints of the network protocols and the desired geographical placement of the network.We also develop a software platform to implement the proposed approach for network synthesis, and apply it to a practical wireless network synthesis for centralized as well as distributed state estimation in building automation. Keywords: network synthesis, ZigBee, Integer Linear Programming, optimization, building automation |
2011 |
Leonardi, Francesco; Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca Synthesis of Distributed Execution Platforms for Cyber-Physical Systems with Applications to High-Performance Buildings. (Inproceeding) ICCPS, Page(s): 215-224, IEEE, 2011, ISSN: 978-0-7695-4361-1. @inproceedings{conf/iccps/LeonardiPC11, name = {Synthesis of Distributed Execution Platforms for Cyber-Physical Systems with Applications to High-Performance Buildings.}, author = {Leonardi, Francesco and Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P.}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/iccps_2011_synthesis_distributed_platforms.pdf}, issn = {978-0-7695-4361-1}, year = {2011}, date = {2011-01-01}, booktitle = {ICCPS}, pages = {215-224}, publisher = {IEEE}, crossref = {conf/iccps/2011}, abstract = {We propose a methodology, and its embodiment into a design flow, to realize execution platforms for high-performance building applications. This is an example of a class of cyber-physical systems where a network of sensors, controllers, and actuators must be designed under physical spatial constraints to implement various types of signal processing and control tasks. In our approach, the applications are specified using the dataflow model of computation while the building dictates the physical constraints, including the position of sensors and actuators. We present a rigorous formulation of the design-space exploration problem and we propose to solve it by progressing through a sequence of refinement steps from specification to detailed implementation. Two key steps are the synthesis of the computation platform and the synthesis of the communication network. Combined, they allow us to automatically derive an optimal implementation through the selection and composition of processing and networking elements from given technology libraries. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach by comparing it to the manual design of a given case study: the real-time estimation of building occupancy using a network of video cameras.}, } We propose a methodology, and its embodiment into a design flow, to realize execution platforms for high-performance building applications. This is an example of a class of cyber-physical systems where a network of sensors, controllers, and actuators must be designed under physical spatial constraints to implement various types of signal processing and control tasks. In our approach, the applications are specified using the dataflow model of computation while the building dictates the physical constraints, including the position of sensors and actuators. We present a rigorous formulation of the design-space exploration problem and we propose to solve it by progressing through a sequence of refinement steps from specification to detailed implementation. Two key steps are the synthesis of the computation platform and the synthesis of the communication network. Combined, they allow us to automatically derive an optimal implementation through the selection and composition of processing and networking elements from given technology libraries. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach by comparing it to the manual design of a given case study: the real-time estimation of building occupancy using a network of video cameras. |
Mathew, George; Pinto, Alessandro Optimal design of a class of hybrid systems with uncertain parameters. (Inproceeding) CDC-ECE, Page(s): 539-544, IEEE, 2011, ISSN: 978-1-61284-800-6. @inproceedings{conf/cdc/MathewP11, name = {Optimal design of a class of hybrid systems with uncertain parameters.}, author = {Mathew, George and Pinto, Alessandro}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/papers/v2d2_cdc.pdf}, issn = {978-1-61284-800-6}, year = {2011}, date = {2011-01-01}, booktitle = {CDC-ECE}, pages = {539-544}, publisher = {IEEE}, crossref = {conf/cdc/2011}, abstract = {Many modern engineering systems can be mathematically modeled as hybrid systems. For many such systems, there may be uncertain parameters and also parameters that can be adjusted so that the system achieves some optimal performance. It is important to develop efficient numerical tools and software to optimize for these adjustable parameters. We focus on a specific class of hybrid systems where mode transitions are dependent only on the amount of time spent in a mode (or equivalently a clock value). The amount of time spent in each mode is assumed to be a random variable with a known distribution. We aim to design or choose values for the free parameters in each mode of the hybrid system so that the expected value of some meaningful cost-function is minimized. This can be framed as a stochastic optimization problem. We use the sample average approximation method to solve the resulting stochastic optimization problem. We illustrate the method for the optimal design of a thermal management system of a prototypical aircraft.}, } Many modern engineering systems can be mathematically modeled as hybrid systems. For many such systems, there may be uncertain parameters and also parameters that can be adjusted so that the system achieves some optimal performance. It is important to develop efficient numerical tools and software to optimize for these adjustable parameters. We focus on a specific class of hybrid systems where mode transitions are dependent only on the amount of time spent in a mode (or equivalently a clock value). The amount of time spent in each mode is assumed to be a random variable with a known distribution. We aim to design or choose values for the free parameters in each mode of the hybrid system so that the expected value of some meaningful cost-function is minimized. This can be framed as a stochastic optimization problem. We use the sample average approximation method to solve the resulting stochastic optimization problem. We illustrate the method for the optimal design of a thermal management system of a prototypical aircraft. |
Banaszuk, Andrzej; Fonoberov, Vladimir; Frewen, Thomas; Kobilarov, Marin; Mathew, George; Mezic, Igor; Pinto, Alessandro; Sahai, Tuhin; Sane, Harshad; Speranzon, Alberto; Surana, Amit Scalable approach to uncertainty quantification and robust design of interconnected dynamical systems. (Article) Annual Reviews in Control, 35, 1, Page(s): 77-98, 2011. @article{journals/arc/BanaszukFFKMMPSSSS11, name = {Scalable approach to uncertainty quantification and robust design of interconnected dynamical systems.}, author = {Banaszuk, Andrzej and Fonoberov, Vladimir A. and Frewen, Thomas A. and Kobilarov, Marin and Mathew, George and Mezic, Igor and Pinto, Alessandro and Sahai, Tuhin and Sane, Harshad and Speranzon, Alberto and Surana, Amit}, url = {http://arxiv.org/pdf/1103.0733v1}, year = {2011}, date = {2011-01-01}, journal = {Annual Reviews in Control}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {77-98}, abstract = {Development of robust dynamical systems and networks such as autonomous aircraft systems capable of accomplishing complex missions faces challenges due to the dynamically evolving uncertainties coming from model uncertainties, necessity to operate in a hostile cluttered urban environment, and the distributed and dynamic nature of the communication and computation resources. Model-based robust design is difficult because of the complexity of the hybrid dynamic models including continuous vehicle dynamics, the discrete models of computations and communications, and the size of the problem. We will overview recent advances in methodology and tools to model, analyze, and design robust autonomous aerospace systems operating in uncertain environment, with stress on efficient uncertainty quantification and robust design using the case studies of the mission including model-based target tracking and search, and trajectory planning in uncertain urban environment. To show that the methodology is generally applicable to uncertain dynamical systems, we will also show examples of application of the new methods to efficient uncertainty quantification of energy usage in buildings, and stability assessment of interconnected power networks.}, } Development of robust dynamical systems and networks such as autonomous aircraft systems capable of accomplishing complex missions faces challenges due to the dynamically evolving uncertainties coming from model uncertainties, necessity to operate in a hostile cluttered urban environment, and the distributed and dynamic nature of the communication and computation resources. Model-based robust design is difficult because of the complexity of the hybrid dynamic models including continuous vehicle dynamics, the discrete models of computations and communications, and the size of the problem. We will overview recent advances in methodology and tools to model, analyze, and design robust autonomous aerospace systems operating in uncertain environment, with stress on efficient uncertainty quantification and robust design using the case studies of the mission including model-based target tracking and search, and trajectory planning in uncertain urban environment. To show that the methodology is generally applicable to uncertain dynamical systems, we will also show examples of application of the new methods to efficient uncertainty quantification of energy usage in buildings, and stability assessment of interconnected power networks. |
Cizelj, Igor; Ding, Xu Chu; Lahijanian, Morteza; Pinto, Alessandro; Belta, Calin Probabilistically Safe Vehicle Control in a Hostile Environment (Inproceeding) Proc. 18th World Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC), 2011. @inproceedings{CDLPB11, name = {Probabilistically Safe Vehicle Control in a Hostile Environment}, author = {Igor Cizelj and Xu Chu Ding and Morteza Lahijanian and Alessandro Pinto and Calin Belta}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IFAC2011_final_submission.pdf}, year = {2011}, date = {2011-01-01}, booktitle = {Proc. 18th World Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC)}, abstract = {In this paper we present an approach to control a vehicle in a hostile environment with static obstacles and moving adversaries. The vehicle is required to satisfy a mission objective expressed as a temporal logic specification over a set of properties satisfied at regions of a partitioned environment. We model the movements of adversaries in between regions of the environment as Poisson processes. Furthermore, we assume that the time it takes for the vehicle to traverse in between two facets of each region is exponentially distributed, and we obtain the rate of this exponential distribution from a simulator of the environment. We capture the motion of the vehicle and the vehicle updates of adversaries distributions as a Markov Decision Process. Using tools in Probabilistic Computational Tree Logic, we find a control strategy for the vehicle that maximizes the probability of accomplishing the mission objective. We demonstrate our approach with illustrative case studies.}, } In this paper we present an approach to control a vehicle in a hostile environment with static obstacles and moving adversaries. The vehicle is required to satisfy a mission objective expressed as a temporal logic specification over a set of properties satisfied at regions of a partitioned environment. We model the movements of adversaries in between regions of the environment as Poisson processes. Furthermore, we assume that the time it takes for the vehicle to traverse in between two facets of each region is exponentially distributed, and we obtain the rate of this exponential distribution from a simulator of the environment. We capture the motion of the vehicle and the vehicle updates of adversaries distributions as a Markov Decision Process. Using tools in Probabilistic Computational Tree Logic, we find a control strategy for the vehicle that maximizes the probability of accomplishing the mission objective. We demonstrate our approach with illustrative case studies. |
Maasoumy, Mehdi; Pinto, Alessandro; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto Model-Based Hierarchical Optimal Control Design for HVAC Systems (Article) ASME Conference Proceedings, 2011, 54754, Page(s): 271-278, 2011. @article{maasoumy:271, name = {Model-Based Hierarchical Optimal Control Design for HVAC Systems}, author = {Mehdi Maasoumy and Alessandro Pinto and Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Maasoumy-DSC2011.pdf}, year = {2011}, date = {2011-01-01}, journal = {ASME Conference Proceedings}, volume = {2011}, number = {54754}, pages = {271-278}, publisher = {ASME}, abstract = {A hierarchical control architecture for balancing comfort and energy consumption in buildings is presented. The control design is based on a simplified, yet accurate model of the temperature within each room of the building. The model is validated against real measurements. The control architecture comprises a first level that regulates low level quantities such as air flow, and a second level that balances comfort (i.e. distance between the desired and actual temperature) and energy consumption (i.e. total energy consumed for the required level of comfort). We show the effectiveness of our approach by simulation using validated models.}, } A hierarchical control architecture for balancing comfort and energy consumption in buildings is presented. The control design is based on a simplified, yet accurate model of the temperature within each room of the building. The model is validated against real measurements. The control architecture comprises a first level that regulates low level quantities such as air flow, and a second level that balances comfort (i.e. distance between the desired and actual temperature) and energy consumption (i.e. total energy consumed for the required level of comfort). We show the effectiveness of our approach by simulation using validated models. |
Mathew, George; Pinto, Alessandro Stochastic Analysis and Design of Systems (Techreport) Final Report for the V2D2 DARPA Study FA9550-10-C-0116 2011. @techreport{mathew_pinto_stoads_2011, name = {Stochastic Analysis and Design of Systems}, author = {George Mathew and Alessandro Pinto}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FA9550-10-C-0116-Final-Report.pdf}, year = {2011}, date = {2011-01-01}, institution = {Final Report for the V2D2 DARPA Study FA9550-10-C-0116}, abstract = {Analysis and design methods for stochastic hybrid dynamical systems are presented. Analysis methods include reachability analysis as well as statistical approaches. System re nement and decomposition are explored as possible approaches to deal with complexity. Findings show that analysis of this class of systems is not scalable. A promising approach is demonstrated which relies on the automatic construction of decentralized control systems using desirable properties as constraints. The synthesized system does not require to be analyzed thereby cutting the analysis e ort. This approach is promising but for now limited in its use.}, } Analysis and design methods for stochastic hybrid dynamical systems are presented. Analysis methods include reachability analysis as well as statistical approaches. System re nement and decomposition are explored as possible approaches to deal with complexity. Findings show that analysis of this class of systems is not scalable. A promising approach is demonstrated which relies on the automatic construction of decentralized control systems using desirable properties as constraints. The synthesized system does not require to be analyzed thereby cutting the analysis e ort. This approach is promising but for now limited in its use. |
Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman Mozumdar Alberto Puggelli, Alessandro Pinto Luciano Lavagno Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli A hierarchical Wireless Network Architecture for Building Automation and Control Systems (Inproceeding) Proc. of The Seventh International Conference on Networking and Services, ICNS 2011, 2011. @inproceedings{mozumdar2011, name = {A hierarchical Wireless Network Architecture for Building Automation and Control Systems}, author = {Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman Mozumdar, Alberto Puggelli, Alessandro Pinto, Luciano Lavagno, Alberto L. Sangiovanni-Vincentelli}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ICNS-2011.pdf}, year = {2011}, date = {2011-01-01}, booktitle = {Proc. of The Seventh International Conference on Networking and Services, ICNS 2011}, journal = {Proc. of The Seventh International Conference on Networking and Services, ICNS 2011}, abstract = {The building automation industry is experiencing a sudden increase in the complexity of control systems, mainly due to the push towards energy efficient buildings. These systems are necessarily distributed and rely on a communication network to gather data from sensors, produce intermediate results, and send commands to actuators. These networks should be cost effective, and should be flexible enough to be easily reconfigured if the building usage changes over the years. Wireless sensor and actuator networks are, therefore, key enablers. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical wireless network architecture for building automation and control systems and a protocol to manage it. We implement gradient based routing (for collecting data) and label switching table (for disseminating configuration commands), thereby supporting upstream and downstream data flows across the network.}, } The building automation industry is experiencing a sudden increase in the complexity of control systems, mainly due to the push towards energy efficient buildings. These systems are necessarily distributed and rely on a communication network to gather data from sensors, produce intermediate results, and send commands to actuators. These networks should be cost effective, and should be flexible enough to be easily reconfigured if the building usage changes over the years. Wireless sensor and actuator networks are, therefore, key enablers. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical wireless network architecture for building automation and control systems and a protocol to manage it. We implement gradient based routing (for collecting data) and label switching table (for disseminating configuration commands), thereby supporting upstream and downstream data flows across the network. |
2010 |
Pinto, Alessandro; Krishnamurthy, Sudha; Kannan, Suresh A model-based end-to-end toolchain for the probabilistic analysis of complex systems. (Inproceeding) CASE, Page(s): 994-1000, IEEE, 2010, ISSN: 978-1-4244-5447-1. @inproceedings{conf/case/PintoKK10, name = {A model-based end-to-end toolchain for the probabilistic analysis of complex systems.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Krishnamurthy, Sudha and Kannan, Suresh}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/endtoend_case2010.pdf}, issn = {978-1-4244-5447-1}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, booktitle = {CASE}, pages = {994-1000}, publisher = {IEEE}, crossref = {conf/case/2010}, abstract = {We present a model-based environment for the probabilistic analysis of systems operating under uncertain conditions. This uncertainty may result from either the environments in which they operate or the platforms on which they execute. Available probabilistic analysis methods require to capture the system specification using languages that are semantically very close to Markov Chains. However, designers use model-based environments working at much higher abstraction levels. We present an integrated tool, called StoNES (Stochastic analysis of Networked Embedded Systems), that automates the model transformation and probabilistic analysis of systems. We apply our translation and analysis methodology to explore the trade-off between sensor accuracy and computational speed for the vision algorithm of an autonomous helicopter system.}, } We present a model-based environment for the probabilistic analysis of systems operating under uncertain conditions. This uncertainty may result from either the environments in which they operate or the platforms on which they execute. Available probabilistic analysis methods require to capture the system specification using languages that are semantically very close to Markov Chains. However, designers use model-based environments working at much higher abstraction levels. We present an integrated tool, called StoNES (Stochastic analysis of Networked Embedded Systems), that automates the model transformation and probabilistic analysis of systems. We apply our translation and analysis methodology to explore the trade-off between sensor accuracy and computational speed for the vision algorithm of an autonomous helicopter system. |
Yang, Yang; Pinto, Alessandro; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto; Zhu, Qi A Design Flow for Building Automation and Control Systems. (Inproceeding) RTSS, Page(s): 105-116, IEEE Computer Society, 2010, ISSN: 978-0-7695-4298-0. @inproceedings{conf/rtss/YangPSZ10, name = {A Design Flow for Building Automation and Control Systems.}, author = {Yang, Yang and Pinto, Alessandro and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L. and Zhu, Qi}, url = {http://www.alessandropinto.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/design_flow_buildings.pdf}, issn = {978-0-7695-4298-0}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, booktitle = {RTSS}, pages = {105-116}, publisher = {IEEE Computer Society}, crossref = {conf/rtss/2010}, abstract = {We propose a system-level design flow for building automation and control (BAC) systems. The input to the design flow is a high level description of the control algorithms given in a model-based environment such as Simulink. The input specification is translated into an intermediate format, and then automatically refined into a distributed implementation. Refinement includes optimal mapping of the functional specification on a set of computation and communication resources, and software synthesis, which generates code for each component in the mapped design while guaranteeing semantic equivalence with the original specification. Experiments with a temperature control system are presented to illustrate the flow.}, } We propose a system-level design flow for building automation and control (BAC) systems. The input to the design flow is a high level description of the control algorithms given in a model-based environment such as Simulink. The input specification is translated into an intermediate format, and then automatically refined into a distributed implementation. Refinement includes optimal mapping of the functional specification on a set of computation and communication resources, and software synthesis, which generates code for each component in the mapped design while guaranteeing semantic equivalence with the original specification. Experiments with a temperature control system are presented to illustrate the flow. |
Becz, Sandor; Pinto, Alessandro; Zeidner, Lawrence; Khire, Ritesh; Banaszuk, Andrzej; Reeve, Hayden Design System for Managing Complexity in Aerospace Systems (Article) 2010. @article{ComplexityAIAA2010, name = {Design System for Managing Complexity in Aerospace Systems}, author = {Sandor Becz and Alessandro Pinto and Lawrence E. Zeidner and Ritesh Khire and Andrzej Banaszuk and Hayden M. Reeve}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, booktitle = {2010 AIAA ATIO/ISSMO Conference}, abstract = {A new generation of aerospace systems has introduced more-electric technologies and highly coupled architectures, leading to a substantial increase in design complexity. The inability of current design systems to manage this complexity has lead to substantial cost and schedule overruns during the development of new military and commercial platforms. This paper presents the framework for a new design process to manage system complexity and highlights four key elements: 1) Abstraction-based design tools to allow complex interactions to be assessed at a high level of abstraction early in the design cycle; 2) Quantitative complexity metrics that can guide early design decisions and identify sources of complexity within candidate designs; 3) Advanced architecture synthesis methods that enable the formal and automated architecture synthesis, enumeration, and evaluation of feasible architecture options; and 4) Robust uncertainty management for identifying strong coupling between systems with high uncertainty, thereby allowing the identification and management of key risks.}, } A new generation of aerospace systems has introduced more-electric technologies and highly coupled architectures, leading to a substantial increase in design complexity. The inability of current design systems to manage this complexity has lead to substantial cost and schedule overruns during the development of new military and commercial platforms. This paper presents the framework for a new design process to manage system complexity and highlights four key elements: 1) Abstraction-based design tools to allow complex interactions to be assessed at a high level of abstraction early in the design cycle; 2) Quantitative complexity metrics that can guide early design decisions and identify sources of complexity within candidate designs; 3) Advanced architecture synthesis methods that enable the formal and automated architecture synthesis, enumeration, and evaluation of feasible architecture options; and 4) Robust uncertainty management for identifying strong coupling between systems with high uncertainty, thereby allowing the identification and management of key risks. |
Carloni, Luca; Kahng, Andrew; Muddu, Sudhakar; Pinto, Alessandro; Samadi, Kambiz; Sharma, Puneet Accurate Predictive Interconnect Modeling for System-Level Design. (Article) IEEE Trans. VLSI Syst., 18, 4, Page(s): 679-684, 2010. @article{journals/tvlsi/CarloniKMPSS10, name = {Accurate Predictive Interconnect Modeling for System-Level Design.}, author = {Carloni, Luca P. and Kahng, Andrew B. and Muddu, Sudhakar and Pinto, Alessandro and Samadi, Kambiz and Sharma, Puneet}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/journals/tvlsi/tvlsi18.html#CarloniKMPSS10}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, journal = {IEEE Trans. VLSI Syst.}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {679-684}, abstract = {We propose new accurate predictive models for the delay, power, and area of buffered interconnects to enable a more effective system-level design exploration with existing and future nanometer technology processes. We show that our models are significantly more accurate than previous models--essentially matching sign-off analyses. We integrate our models in the COSI-OCC communication synthesis infrastructure and show how they impact the feasibility and optimality of the network-on-chip architectures that are synthesized by this tool.}, } We propose new accurate predictive models for the delay, power, and area of buffered interconnects to enable a more effective system-level design exploration with existing and future nanometer technology processes. We show that our models are significantly more accurate than previous models--essentially matching sign-off analyses. We integrate our models in the COSI-OCC communication synthesis infrastructure and show how they impact the feasibility and optimality of the network-on-chip architectures that are synthesized by this tool. |
Mathew, George; Pinto, Alessandro Markov modeling of Stochastic Hybrid Systems (Article) 2010. @article{ShsMathewAllerton2010, name = {Markov modeling of Stochastic Hybrid Systems}, author = {George Mathew and Alessandro Pinto}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, booktitle = {Allerton}, abstract = {Hybrid systems are a useful abstraction for systems that have a combination of discrete and continuous dynamics. For typical examples of hybrid systems, there can be various sources of stochasticity. The source of stochasticity can be in the dynamics of the continuous states, the probabilistic switching between various modes of the system and the probabilistic resetting of the continuous state after switches. Such systems can be mathematically modeled by Discrete Time Stochastic Hybrid Systems (DTSHS). If the uncertainty in the initial condition of the stochastic hybrid system is specified by a probability distribution, it is useful to compute the probability distribution of the state of the system for some time in the future. This would allow one to quantify the probability of the system to be in an undesired or unsafe set. Such computations can be useful for probabilistic verification and validation of systems. In this paper, we discuss state space models for DTSHS and present computational methods to propagate probability distributions for DTSHS.}, } Hybrid systems are a useful abstraction for systems that have a combination of discrete and continuous dynamics. For typical examples of hybrid systems, there can be various sources of stochasticity. The source of stochasticity can be in the dynamics of the continuous states, the probabilistic switching between various modes of the system and the probabilistic resetting of the continuous state after switches. Such systems can be mathematically modeled by Discrete Time Stochastic Hybrid Systems (DTSHS). If the uncertainty in the initial condition of the stochastic hybrid system is specified by a probability distribution, it is useful to compute the probability distribution of the state of the system for some time in the future. This would allow one to quantify the probability of the system to be in an undesired or unsafe set. Such computations can be useful for probabilistic verification and validation of systems. In this paper, we discuss state space models for DTSHS and present computational methods to propagate probability distributions for DTSHS. |
Pinto, Alessandro; Becz, Sandor; Reeve, Hayden Correct-by-Construction Design of Aircraft Electric Power Systems (Article) 2010. @article{PowerSystemPintoAIAA2010, name = {Correct-by-Construction Design of Aircraft Electric Power Systems}, author = {Alessandro Pinto and Sandor Becz and Hayden M. Reeve}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, booktitle = {2010 AIAA ATIO/ISSMO Conference}, abstract = {We provide an optimization oriented formalization of correct-by-construction design fol- lowing the principles of Platform-Based Design. The design proceeds by re nement steps. At each step, a speci cation is given in terms of requirements to be satis ed by an imple- mentation. The implementation choices are implicitly captured by a set of components, their properties, and their composition rules. A class of candidate implementations of the speci cation is derived by formulating and solving an optimization problem. The imple- mentation becomes the speci cation for the next step in the design ow. We show how the optimization oriented formalization enables design space exploration, and we present the trade-o s involved in the selection of the re nement steps. We show how the methodology can be applied to the design of electric power systems by decomposing the design ow into the following steps: generator selection, generation of the connection con guration under faults, and topology design of the power distribution system.}, } We provide an optimization oriented formalization of correct-by-construction design fol- lowing the principles of Platform-Based Design. The design proceeds by re nement steps. At each step, a speci cation is given in terms of requirements to be satis ed by an imple- mentation. The implementation choices are implicitly captured by a set of components, their properties, and their composition rules. A class of candidate implementations of the speci cation is derived by formulating and solving an optimization problem. The imple- mentation becomes the speci cation for the next step in the design ow. We show how the optimization oriented formalization enables design space exploration, and we present the trade-o s involved in the selection of the re nement steps. We show how the methodology can be applied to the design of electric power systems by decomposing the design ow into the following steps: generator selection, generation of the connection con guration under faults, and topology design of the power distribution system. |
Pinto, Alessandro; Krishnamurthy, Sudha Developing design tools for uncertain systems in an industrial setting (Article) 2010. @article{MbdusPintoAllerton2010, name = {Developing design tools for uncertain systems in an industrial setting}, author = {Alessandro Pinto and Sudha Krishnamurthy}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, booktitle = {Allerton}, abstract = {We motivate the need for a cyber-physical system analysis and design tool that embraces uncertainty as key characteristic of these type of systems. We outline the features that such tool should provide and we present a prototype implementation. The challenges faced during its development go beyond the sheer complexity of analyzing large Markov Models. We close the paper with some examples of analysis of uncertain systems.}, } We motivate the need for a cyber-physical system analysis and design tool that embraces uncertainty as key characteristic of these type of systems. We outline the features that such tool should provide and we present a prototype implementation. The challenges faced during its development go beyond the sheer complexity of analyzing large Markov Models. We close the paper with some examples of analysis of uncertain systems. |
Surana, Amit; Pinto, Alessandro Analysis of Stochastic Automata Networks using Copula Functions (Article) 2010. @article{CopulasSuranaAllerton2010, name = {Analysis of Stochastic Automata Networks using Copula Functions}, author = {Amit Surana and Alessandro Pinto}, year = {2010}, date = {2010-01-01}, booktitle = {Allerton}, abstract = {In this paper we develop a copula based approximation framework for scalable analysis of Stochastic Automata Networks (SAN) arising in reliability analysis, and can be described by CTMCs. Copulas provide a general approach to model joint distributions in terms of their marginals. Using copulas functions, the dependencies between the interacting automata in the SAN can be captured in terms of local state probabilities associated with the automata involved, avoiding the need of reachability analysis, which is cursed with state space explosion.We prove results related to invariance of copula with system parameters, and consistency of the approximation. We also outline an empirical procedure for determining copulas that can best represent the underlying dependence in a given SAN. We illustrate this approach through various examples of increasing complexity}, } In this paper we develop a copula based approximation framework for scalable analysis of Stochastic Automata Networks (SAN) arising in reliability analysis, and can be described by CTMCs. Copulas provide a general approach to model joint distributions in terms of their marginals. Using copulas functions, the dependencies between the interacting automata in the SAN can be captured in terms of local state probabilities associated with the automata involved, avoiding the need of reachability analysis, which is cursed with state space explosion.We prove results related to invariance of copula with system parameters, and consistency of the approximation. We also outline an empirical procedure for determining copulas that can best represent the underlying dependence in a given SAN. We illustrate this approach through various examples of increasing complexity |
2009 |
Leonardi, Francesco; Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca A case study in distributed deployment of embedded software for camera networks. (Inproceeding) DATE, Page(s): 1006-1011, IEEE, 2009. @inproceedings{conf/date/LeonardiPC09, name = {A case study in distributed deployment of embedded software for camera networks.}, author = {Leonardi, Francesco and Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P.}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/date/date2009.html#LeonardiPC09}, year = {2009}, date = {2009-09-21}, booktitle = {DATE}, pages = {1006-1011}, publisher = {IEEE}, crossref = {conf/date/2009}, abstract = {We present an embedded software application for the real-time estimation of building occupancy using a network of video cameras. We analyze a series of alternative decompositions of the main tasks of our application and profile each of them by running the corresponding embedded software on three different processors. Based on the profiling measures, we build various alternative embedded platforms by combining different embedded processors, memory modules and network interfaces. In particular, we consider the choice of two possible network technologies: ARCnet and Ethernet. After deriving an analytical model of the network costs, we use it to complete an exploration of the design space as we scale the number of video cameras in an hypothetical building. Finally, we compare our results with those obtained for two specific real buildings of different characteristics. We conclude discussing the results of our case study in the broader context of other camera-network applications.}, } We present an embedded software application for the real-time estimation of building occupancy using a network of video cameras. We analyze a series of alternative decompositions of the main tasks of our application and profile each of them by running the corresponding embedded software on three different processors. Based on the profiling measures, we build various alternative embedded platforms by combining different embedded processors, memory modules and network interfaces. In particular, we consider the choice of two possible network technologies: ARCnet and Ethernet. After deriving an analytical model of the network costs, we use it to complete an exploration of the design space as we scale the number of video cameras in an hypothetical building. Finally, we compare our results with those obtained for two specific real buildings of different characteristics. We conclude discussing the results of our case study in the broader context of other camera-network applications. |
Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto COSI: A Framework for the Design of Interconnection Networks. (Article) IEEE Design & Test of Computers, 25, 5, Page(s): 402-415, 2009. @article{journals/dt/PintoCS08, name = {COSI: A Framework for the Design of Interconnection Networks.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P. and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/journals/dt/dt25.html#PintoCS08}, year = {2009}, date = {2009-05-19}, journal = {IEEE Design & Test of Computers}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {402-415}, abstract = {The COmmunication Synthesis Infrastructure (COSI) framework, a public-domain design framework for the design exploration and synthesis of interconnection networks, is presented. The framework embodies a methodology based on the platform-based design principles. It is used to define specific interconnect design flows for a variety of applications from chips to systems. On-chip communication design is used in this paper as an example of how to use COSI for a specific application.}, } The COmmunication Synthesis Infrastructure (COSI) framework, a public-domain design framework for the design exploration and synthesis of interconnection networks, is presented. The framework embodies a methodology based on the platform-based design principles. It is used to define specific interconnect design flows for a variety of applications from chips to systems. On-chip communication design is used in this paper as an example of how to use COSI for a specific application. |
D'Angelo,; Fischione, Carlo; Butussi, Matteo; Pinto, Alessandro; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto Outage-Based Rate Maximization in CDMA Wireless Networks. (Inproceeding) GLOBECOM, Page(s): 1310-1315, IEEE, 2009. @inproceedings{conf/globecom/DAngeloFBPS08, name = {Outage-Based Rate Maximization in CDMA Wireless Networks.}, author = {D'Angelo, M. and Fischione, Carlo and Butussi, Matteo and Pinto, Alessandro and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/globecom/globecom2008.html#DAngeloFBPS08}, year = {2009}, date = {2009-04-14}, booktitle = {GLOBECOM}, pages = {1310-1315}, publisher = {IEEE}, crossref = {conf/globecom/2008}, abstract = {The problem of maximizing the sum of the transmit rates while limiting the outage probability below an appropriate threshold is investigated for networks where the nodes have limited processing capabilities. We focus on CDMA wireless network whose rates are characterized under mixed Rayleigh- lognormal fading. The outage probability is given implicitly by a complex function so that solving the optimization problem requires substantial computing. In this paper, we propose a novel explicit approximation of this function that allows solving the problem in an affordable manner. We propose two solutions of the maximization problem with the simplified outage probability constraint: one solves the problem using mixed integer-real programming. The other relaxes the constraints that rates be integers yielding a standard convex programming optimization that can be solved much faster. Numerical results show that our approaches perform well for average values of the outage requirements.}, } The problem of maximizing the sum of the transmit rates while limiting the outage probability below an appropriate threshold is investigated for networks where the nodes have limited processing capabilities. We focus on CDMA wireless network whose rates are characterized under mixed Rayleigh- lognormal fading. The outage probability is given implicitly by a complex function so that solving the optimization problem requires substantial computing. In this paper, we propose a novel explicit approximation of this function that allows solving the problem in an affordable manner. We propose two solutions of the maximization problem with the simplified outage probability constraint: one solves the problem using mixed integer-real programming. The other relaxes the constraints that rates be integers yielding a standard convex programming optimization that can be solved much faster. Numerical results show that our approaches perform well for average values of the outage requirements. |
Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto A Methodology for Constraint-Driven Synthesis of On-Chip Communications. (Article) IEEE Trans. on CAD of Integrated Circuits and Systems, 28, 3, Page(s): 364-377, 2009. @article{journals/tcad/PintoCS09, name = {A Methodology for Constraint-Driven Synthesis of On-Chip Communications.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P. and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/journals/tcad/tcad28.html#PintoCS09}, year = {2009}, date = {2009-03-23}, journal = {IEEE Trans. on CAD of Integrated Circuits and Systems}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {364-377}, abstract = {We present a methodology and an optimization framework for the synthesis of on-chip communication through the assembly of components such as interfaces, routers, buses, and links, from a target library. Models for functionality, cost, and performance of each element are captured in the library together with their composition rules. We develop a mathematical framework to model communication at different levels of abstraction from the point-to-point input specification to the library elements and the final implementation.}, } We present a methodology and an optimization framework for the synthesis of on-chip communication through the assembly of components such as interfaces, routers, buses, and links, from a target library. Models for functionality, cost, and performance of each element are captured in the library together with their composition rules. We develop a mathematical framework to model communication at different levels of abstraction from the point-to-point input specification to the library elements and the final implementation. |
Pinto, Alessandro; Kumar, Ratnesh; Xu, Songyan Synthesis of wireless time-triggered embedded networks for networked control systems. (Inproceeding) CASE, Page(s): 397-402, IEEE, 2009, ISSN: 978-1-4244-4578-3. @inproceedings{conf/case/PintoKX09, name = {Synthesis of wireless time-triggered embedded networks for networked control systems.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Kumar, Ratnesh and Xu, Songyan}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/case/case2009.html#PintoKX09}, issn = {978-1-4244-4578-3}, year = {2009}, date = {2009-01-01}, booktitle = {CASE}, pages = {397-402}, publisher = {IEEE}, crossref = {conf/case/2009}, abstract = {In this paper, we extend our previous work [Pinto ACC 08] by including the decisions for connection-scheduling as part of the automated synthesis of embedded networks for networked control systems. We propose an automated approach for the synthesis of a cost-effective and correct-by-construction communication network for embedded applications subject to a set of end-to-end communication constraints of latency, bandwidth, and error-rate, the geometry constraints arising due to a desired geographical placement of the network, and a set of scheduling constraints. We also apply the proposed approach for network synthesis with scheduling to the synthesis of wireless networks for centralized and distributed state estimation in building automation and control. The proposed approach is general enough to be applicable to wired and wireless network synthesis.}, } In this paper, we extend our previous work [Pinto ACC 08] by including the decisions for connection-scheduling as part of the automated synthesis of embedded networks for networked control systems. We propose an automated approach for the synthesis of a cost-effective and correct-by-construction communication network for embedded applications subject to a set of end-to-end communication constraints of latency, bandwidth, and error-rate, the geometry constraints arising due to a desired geographical placement of the network, and a set of scheduling constraints. We also apply the proposed approach for network synthesis with scheduling to the synthesis of wireless networks for centralized and distributed state estimation in building automation and control. The proposed approach is general enough to be applicable to wired and wireless network synthesis. |
2008 |
Carloni, Luca; Passerone, Roberto; Pinto, Alessandro; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto Languages and Tools for Hybrid Systems Design. (Article) Foundations and Trends in Electronic Design Automation, 1, 1/2, 2008. @article{journals/fteda/CarloniPPS06, name = {Languages and Tools for Hybrid Systems Design.}, author = {Carloni, Luca P. and Passerone, Roberto and Pinto, Alessandro and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/journals/fteda/fteda1.html#CarloniPPS06}, year = {2008}, date = {2008-05-20}, journal = {Foundations and Trends in Electronic Design Automation}, volume = {1}, number = {1/2}, abstract = {The explosive growth of embedded electronics is bringing information and control systems of increasing complexity to every aspects of our lives. The most challenging designs are safety-critical systems, such as transportation systems (e.g., airplanes, cars, and trains), industrial plants and health care monitoring. The difficulties reside in accommodating constraints both on functionality and implementation. The correct behavior must be guaranteed under diverse states of the environment and potential failures; implementation has to meet cost, size, and power consumption requirements. The design is therefore subject to extensive mathematical analysis and simulation. However, traditional models of information systems do not interface well to the continuous evolving nature of the environment in which these devices operate. Thus, in practice, different mathematical representations have to be mixed to analyze the overall behavior of the system. Hybrid systems are a particular class of mixed models that focus on the combination of discrete and continuous subsystems. There is a wealth of tools and languages that have been proposed over the years to handle hybrid systems. However, each tool makes different assumptions on the environment, resulting in somewhat different notions of hybrid system. This makes it difficult to share information among tools. Thus, the community cannot maximally leverage the substantial amount of work that has been directed to this important topic. In this paper, we review and compare hybrid system tools by highlighting their differences in terms of their underlying semantics, expressive power and mathematical mechanisms. We conclude our review with a comparative summary, which suggests the need for a unifying approach to hybrid systems design. As a step in this direction, we make the case for a semantic-aware interchange format, which would enable the use of joint techniques, make a formal comparison between different approaches possible, and facilitate exporting and importing design representations.}, } The explosive growth of embedded electronics is bringing information and control systems of increasing complexity to every aspects of our lives. The most challenging designs are safety-critical systems, such as transportation systems (e.g., airplanes, cars, and trains), industrial plants and health care monitoring. The difficulties reside in accommodating constraints both on functionality and implementation. The correct behavior must be guaranteed under diverse states of the environment and potential failures; implementation has to meet cost, size, and power consumption requirements. The design is therefore subject to extensive mathematical analysis and simulation. However, traditional models of information systems do not interface well to the continuous evolving nature of the environment in which these devices operate. Thus, in practice, different mathematical representations have to be mixed to analyze the overall behavior of the system. Hybrid systems are a particular class of mixed models that focus on the combination of discrete and continuous subsystems. There is a wealth of tools and languages that have been proposed over the years to handle hybrid systems. However, each tool makes different assumptions on the environment, resulting in somewhat different notions of hybrid system. This makes it difficult to share information among tools. Thus, the community cannot maximally leverage the substantial amount of work that has been directed to this important topic. In this paper, we review and compare hybrid system tools by highlighting their differences in terms of their underlying semantics, expressive power and mathematical mechanisms. We conclude our review with a comparative summary, which suggests the need for a unifying approach to hybrid systems design. As a step in this direction, we make the case for a semantic-aware interchange format, which would enable the use of joint techniques, make a formal comparison between different approaches possible, and facilitate exporting and importing design representations. |
Carloni, Luca; Kahng, Andrew; Muddu, Swamy; Pinto, Alessandro; Samadi, Kambiz; Sharma, Puneet Interconnect modeling for improved system-level design optimization. (Inproceeding) ASP-DAC, Page(s): 258-264, IEEE, 2008. @inproceedings{conf/aspdac/CarloniKMPSS08, name = {Interconnect modeling for improved system-level design optimization.}, author = {Carloni, Luca P. and Kahng, Andrew B. and Muddu, Swamy and Pinto, Alessandro and Samadi, Kambiz and Sharma, Puneet}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/aspdac/aspdac2008.html#CarloniKMPSS08}, year = {2008}, date = {2008-05-06}, booktitle = {ASP-DAC}, pages = {258-264}, publisher = {IEEE}, crossref = {conf/aspdac/2008}, abstract = {Accurate modeling of delay, power, and area of interconnections early in the design phase is crucial for effective system-level optimization. Models presently used in system-level optimizations, such as network-on-chip (NoC) synthesis, are inaccurate in the presence of deep-submicron effects. In this paper, we propose new, highly accurate models for delay and power in buffered interconnects; these models are usable by system-level designers for existing and future technologies. We present a general and transferable methodology to construct our models from a wide variety of reliable sources (Liberty, LEF/ITF, ITRS, PTM, etc.). The modeling infrastructure, and a number of characterized technologies, are available as open source. Our models comprehend key interconnect circuit and layout design styles, and a power-efficient buffering technique that overcomes unrealities of previous delay-driven buffering techniques. We show that our models are significantly more accurate than previous models for global and intermediate buffered interconnects in 90nm and 65nm foundry processes - essentially matching signoff analyses. We also integrate our models in the COSI-OCC synthesis tool and show that the more accurate modeling significantly affects optimal/achievable architectures that are synthesized by the tool. The increased accuracy provided by our models enables system-level designers to obtain better assessments of the achievable performance/power/area tradeoffs for (communication-centric aspects of) system design, with negligible setup and overhead burdens.}, } Accurate modeling of delay, power, and area of interconnections early in the design phase is crucial for effective system-level optimization. Models presently used in system-level optimizations, such as network-on-chip (NoC) synthesis, are inaccurate in the presence of deep-submicron effects. In this paper, we propose new, highly accurate models for delay and power in buffered interconnects; these models are usable by system-level designers for existing and future technologies. We present a general and transferable methodology to construct our models from a wide variety of reliable sources (Liberty, LEF/ITF, ITRS, PTM, etc.). The modeling infrastructure, and a number of characterized technologies, are available as open source. Our models comprehend key interconnect circuit and layout design styles, and a power-efficient buffering technique that overcomes unrealities of previous delay-driven buffering techniques. We show that our models are significantly more accurate than previous models for global and intermediate buffered interconnects in 90nm and 65nm foundry processes - essentially matching signoff analyses. We also integrate our models in the COSI-OCC synthesis tool and show that the more accurate modeling significantly affects optimal/achievable architectures that are synthesized by the tool. The increased accuracy provided by our models enables system-level designers to obtain better assessments of the achievable performance/power/area tradeoffs for (communication-centric aspects of) system design, with negligible setup and overhead burdens. |
Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto A communication synthesis infrastructure for heterogeneous networked control systems and its application to building automation and control. (Inproceeding) Kirsch, Christoph; Wilhelm, Reinhard (Ed.): EMSOFT, Page(s): 21-29, ACM, 2008, ISSN: 978-1-59593-825-1. @inproceedings{conf/emsoft/PintoCS07, name = {A communication synthesis infrastructure for heterogeneous networked control systems and its application to building automation and control.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P. and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, editor = {Kirsch, Christoph M. and Wilhelm, Reinhard}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/emsoft/emsoft2007.html#PintoCS07}, issn = {978-1-59593-825-1}, year = {2008}, date = {2008-04-02}, booktitle = {EMSOFT}, pages = {21-29}, publisher = {ACM}, crossref = {conf/emsoft/2007}, abstract = {In networked control systems the controller of a physically distributed plant is implemented as a collection of tightly interacting, concurrent processes running on a distributed execution platform. The execution platform consists of a set of heterogeneous components (sensors, actuators, and controllers) that interact through a hierarchical communication network. We propose a methodology and a framework for design exploration and automatic synthesis of the communication network. We present how our approach can be applied to the design of control systems for intelligent buildings. The input specification of the control system includes (i) the constraints on the location of its components, which are imposed by the plant, (ii) the communication requirements among the components, and (iii) an estimation of the real-time constraints for the correct behavior of the algorithms implementing the control law. The output produces an implementation of the control networks that is obtained by combining elements from a pre-defined library of communication links, protocols, interfaces, and switches. The implementation is optimal in the sense that it satisfies the given specification while minimizing an objective function that captures the overall cost of the network implementation.}, } In networked control systems the controller of a physically distributed plant is implemented as a collection of tightly interacting, concurrent processes running on a distributed execution platform. The execution platform consists of a set of heterogeneous components (sensors, actuators, and controllers) that interact through a hierarchical communication network. We propose a methodology and a framework for design exploration and automatic synthesis of the communication network. We present how our approach can be applied to the design of control systems for intelligent buildings. The input specification of the control system includes (i) the constraints on the location of its components, which are imposed by the plant, (ii) the communication requirements among the components, and (iii) an estimation of the real-time constraints for the correct behavior of the algorithms implementing the control law. The output produces an implementation of the control networks that is obtained by combining elements from a pre-defined library of communication links, protocols, interfaces, and switches. The implementation is optimal in the sense that it satisfies the given specification while minimizing an objective function that captures the overall cost of the network implementation. |
Pinto, Alessandro; D’Angelo, Massimiliano; Fischione, Carlo; Scholte, Eelco; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto Synthesis of Embedded Networks for Building Automation and Control (Inproceeding) Proceedings of American Control Conference (ACC 08), Seattle, Washington,, 2008. @inproceedings{pinto_synthesis_embedded_networks_2008, name = {Synthesis of Embedded Networks for Building Automation and Control}, author = {Alessandro Pinto and Massimiliano D’Angelo and Carlo Fischione and Eelco Scholte and Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli}, year = {2008}, date = {2008-01-01}, booktitle = {Proceedings of American Control Conference (ACC 08), Seattle, Washington,}, abstract = {We present a methodology and a software framework for the automatic design exploration of the communication network among sensors, actuators and controllers in building automation systems. Given 1) a set of end-to-end latency, throughput and packet error rate constraints between nodes, 2) the building geometry, and 3) a library of communication components together with their performance and cost characterization, a synthesis algorithm produces a network implementation that satisfies all end-to-end constraints and that is optimal with respect to installation and maintenance cost. The methodology is applied to the synthesis of wireless networks for an essential step in any control algorithm in a distributed environment: the estimation of control variables such as temperature and air-flow in buildings.}, } We present a methodology and a software framework for the automatic design exploration of the communication network among sensors, actuators and controllers in building automation systems. Given 1) a set of end-to-end latency, throughput and packet error rate constraints between nodes, 2) the building geometry, and 3) a library of communication components together with their performance and cost characterization, a synthesis algorithm produces a network implementation that satisfies all end-to-end constraints and that is optimal with respect to installation and maintenance cost. The methodology is applied to the synthesis of wireless networks for an essential step in any control algorithm in a distributed environment: the estimation of control variables such as temperature and air-flow in buildings. |
2007 |
Pinto, Alessandro; Bonivento, Alvise; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto; Passerone, Roberto; Sgroi, Marco System level design paradigms: Platform-based design and communication synthesis. (Article) ACM Trans. Design Autom. Electr. Syst., 11, 3, Page(s): 537-563, 2007. @article{journals/todaes/PintoBSPS06, name = {System level design paradigms: Platform-based design and communication synthesis.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Bonivento, Alvise and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L. and Passerone, Roberto and Sgroi, Marco}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/journals/todaes/todaes11.html#PintoBSPS06}, year = {2007}, date = {2007-03-06}, journal = {ACM Trans. Design Autom. Electr. Syst.}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {537-563}, abstract = {Embedded system level design must be based on paradigms that make formal foundations and unification a cornerstone of their construction. Platform-Based designs and communication synthesis are important components of the paradigm shift we advocate. Communication synthesis is a fundamental productivity tool in a design methodology where reuse is enforced. Communication design in a reuse methodology starts with a set of functional requirements and constraints on the interaction among components and then proceeds to build protocols, topology, and physical implementations that satisfy requirements and constraints while optimizing appropriate measures of efficiency of the implementation. Maximum efficiency can be reached when the communication specifications are entered at high levels of abstraction and the design process optimizes the implementation from this specification. Unfortunately, this process is very difficult if it is not cast in a rigorous framework. Platform-Based design helps define a successive refinement process where each step can be carried out automatically and optimized appropriately. We present two cases, an on-chip and a wireless sensor network design, where the resulting methodology gave encouraging results.}, } Embedded system level design must be based on paradigms that make formal foundations and unification a cornerstone of their construction. Platform-Based designs and communication synthesis are important components of the paradigm shift we advocate. Communication synthesis is a fundamental productivity tool in a design methodology where reuse is enforced. Communication design in a reuse methodology starts with a set of functional requirements and constraints on the interaction among components and then proceeds to build protocols, topology, and physical implementations that satisfy requirements and constraints while optimizing appropriate measures of efficiency of the implementation. Maximum efficiency can be reached when the communication specifications are entered at high levels of abstraction and the design process optimizes the implementation from this specification. Unfortunately, this process is very difficult if it is not cast in a rigorous framework. Platform-Based design helps define a successive refinement process where each step can be carried out automatically and optimized appropriately. We present two cases, an on-chip and a wireless sensor network design, where the resulting methodology gave encouraging results. |
Davare, Abhijit; Densmore, Douglas; Meyerowitz, Trevor; Pinto, Alessandro; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto; Yang, Guang; Zeng, Haibo; Zhu, Qi A Next-Generation Design Framework for Platform-Based Design (Inproceeding) Conference on Using Hardware Design and Verification Languages (DVCon), 2007. @inproceedings{DavareDensmoreMeyerowitzPintoSangiovanniVincentell, name = {A Next-Generation Design Framework for Platform-Based Design}, author = {Abhijit Davare and Douglas Densmore and Trevor Meyerowitz and Alessandro Pinto and Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli and Guang Yang and Haibo Zeng and Qi Zhu}, year = {2007}, date = {2007-01-01}, booktitle = {Conference on Using Hardware Design and Verification Languages (DVCon)}, abstract = {The platform-based design methodology is based on the usage of formal modeling techniques, clearly defined abstraction levels and the separation of concerns to enable an effective design process. The METROPOLIS framework embodies the platform-based design methodology and has been applied to a number of case studies across multiple domains. Based on these experiences, we have identified three key features that need to be enhanced: heterogeneous IP import, orthogonalization of performance from behavior, and design space exploration. The next generation METRO II framework incorporates these advanced features. The main concepts underlying METRO II are described in this paper and illustrated with a small example.}, } The platform-based design methodology is based on the usage of formal modeling techniques, clearly defined abstraction levels and the separation of concerns to enable an effective design process. The METROPOLIS framework embodies the platform-based design methodology and has been applied to a number of case studies across multiple domains. Based on these experiences, we have identified three key features that need to be enhanced: heterogeneous IP import, orthogonalization of performance from behavior, and design space exploration. The next generation METRO II framework incorporates these advanced features. The main concepts underlying METRO II are described in this paper and illustrated with a small example. |
2006 |
Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto; Pinto, Alessandro An overview of embedded system design education at berkeley. (Article) ACM Trans. Embedded Comput. Syst., 4, 3, Page(s): 472-499, 2006. @article{journals/tecs/Sangiovanni-VincentelliP05, name = {An overview of embedded system design education at berkeley.}, author = {Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L. and Pinto, Alessandro}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/journals/tecs/tecs4.html#Sangiovanni-VincentelliP05}, year = {2006}, date = {2006-04-04}, journal = {ACM Trans. Embedded Comput. Syst.}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {472-499}, abstract = {Embedded systems have been a traditional area of strength in the research agenda of the University of California at Berkeley. In parallel to this effort, a pattern of graduate and undergraduate classes has emerged that is the result of a distillation process of the research results. In this paper, we present the considerations that are driving our curriculum development and we review our undergraduate and graduate program. In particular, we describe in detail a graduate class (EECS249: Design of Embedded Systems: Modeling, Validation and Synthesis) that has been taught for six years. A common feature of our education agenda is the search for fundamentals of embedded system science rather than embedded system design techniques, an approach that today is rather unique.}, } Embedded systems have been a traditional area of strength in the research agenda of the University of California at Berkeley. In parallel to this effort, a pattern of graduate and undergraduate classes has emerged that is the result of a distillation process of the research results. In this paper, we present the considerations that are driving our curriculum development and we review our undergraduate and graduate program. In particular, we describe in detail a graduate class (EECS249: Design of Embedded Systems: Modeling, Validation and Synthesis) that has been taught for six years. A common feature of our education agenda is the search for fundamentals of embedded system science rather than embedded system design techniques, an approach that today is rather unique. |
Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca; Passerone, Roberto; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto Interchange Format for Hybrid Systems: Abstract Semantics. (Inproceeding) Hespanha, João; Tiwari, Ashish (Ed.): HSCC, Page(s): 491-506, Springer, 2006, ISSN: 3-540-33170-0. @inproceedings{conf/hybrid/PintoCPS06, name = {Interchange Format for Hybrid Systems: Abstract Semantics.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P. and Passerone, Roberto and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, editor = {Hespanha, João P. and Tiwari, Ashish}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/hybrid/hscc2006.html#PintoCPS06}, issn = {3-540-33170-0}, year = {2006}, date = {2006-03-01}, booktitle = {HSCC}, volume = {3927}, pages = {491-506}, publisher = {Springer}, series = {Lecture Notes in Computer Science}, crossref = {conf/hybrid/2006}, abstract = {In hscc2005 we advocated the need for an interchange format for hybrid systems that enables the integration of design tools coming from many different research communities. In deriving such interchange format the main challenge is to define a language that, while presenting a particular formal semantics, remains general enough to accommodate the translation across the various modeling approaches used in the existing tools. In this paper we give a formal definition of the syntax and semantics for the proposed interchange format. In doing so, we clearly separate the structure of a hybrid system from the semantics attached to it. The semantics can be considered an “abstract semantics” in the sense that it can be refined to yield the model of computation, or “concrete semantics”, which, in turn, is associated to the existing languages that are used to specify hybrid systems. We show how the interchange format can be used to capture the essential information across different modeling approaches and how such information can be used in the translation process.}, } In hscc2005 we advocated the need for an interchange format for hybrid systems that enables the integration of design tools coming from many different research communities. In deriving such interchange format the main challenge is to define a language that, while presenting a particular formal semantics, remains general enough to accommodate the translation across the various modeling approaches used in the existing tools. In this paper we give a formal definition of the syntax and semantics for the proposed interchange format. In doing so, we clearly separate the structure of a hybrid system from the semantics attached to it. The semantics can be considered an “abstract semantics” in the sense that it can be refined to yield the model of computation, or “concrete semantics”, which, in turn, is associated to the existing languages that are used to specify hybrid systems. We show how the interchange format can be used to capture the essential information across different modeling approaches and how such information can be used in the translation process. |
Alessandro Pinto Luca Carloni, Roberto Passerone Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli Interchange Semantics for Hybrid System Models (Article) 2006. @article{pinto_mathmod_2006, name = {Interchange Semantics for Hybrid System Models}, author = {Alessandro Pinto, Luca Carloni, Roberto Passerone, Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli}, year = {2006}, date = {2006-01-01}, booktitle = {5th International Conference on Mathematical Modeling, Vienna, Austria , 2006}, abstract = {We propose an interchange format for hybrid systems to allow tool interoperability and seamless exchange of information among the hybrid system research community. The need of an interchange format is clear as the tools that have been developed so far use different modeling assumptions and semantics. In our approach, we focus on the semantics of the interchange format as we believe that only using a well-defined semantics will allow developing translation mechanisms from one tool to another that have guaranteed correctness properties. A unique, precise model of computation would make it impossible to support a variety of models that can be radically different. Hence, we use an “abstract semantics” in the sense that it can be refined to yield any model of computation, or “concrete semantics”, which, in turn, is associated to the existing languages that are used to specify hybrid systems. We show how leveraging its abstract semantics, the interchange format can be used to capture the essential information across different modeling approaches and how such information can be effectively used in the translation process.}, } We propose an interchange format for hybrid systems to allow tool interoperability and seamless exchange of information among the hybrid system research community. The need of an interchange format is clear as the tools that have been developed so far use different modeling assumptions and semantics. In our approach, we focus on the semantics of the interchange format as we believe that only using a well-defined semantics will allow developing translation mechanisms from one tool to another that have guaranteed correctness properties. A unique, precise model of computation would make it impossible to support a variety of models that can be radically different. Hence, we use an “abstract semantics” in the sense that it can be refined to yield any model of computation, or “concrete semantics”, which, in turn, is associated to the existing languages that are used to specify hybrid systems. We show how leveraging its abstract semantics, the interchange format can be used to capture the essential information across different modeling approaches and how such information can be effectively used in the translation process. |
2005 |
Pinto, Alessandro; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto; Carloni, Luca; Passerone, Roberto Interchange Formats for Hybrid Systems: Review and Proposal. (Inproceeding) Morari, Manfred; Thiele, Lothar (Ed.): HSCC, Page(s): 526-541, Springer, 2005, ISSN: 3-540-25108-1. @inproceedings{conf/hybrid/PintoSCP05, name = {Interchange Formats for Hybrid Systems: Review and Proposal.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L. and Carloni, Luca P. and Passerone, Roberto}, editor = {Morari, Manfred and Thiele, Lothar}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/hybrid/hscc2005.html#PintoSCP05}, issn = {3-540-25108-1}, year = {2005}, date = {2005-01-01}, booktitle = {HSCC}, volume = {3414}, pages = {526-541}, publisher = {Springer}, series = {Lecture Notes in Computer Science}, crossref = {conf/hybrid/2005}, abstract = {Interchange formats have been the backbone of the EDA industry for several years. They are used as a way of helping the development of design flows that integrate foreign tools using formats with different syntax and, more importantly, different semantics. The need for integrating tools coming from different communities is even more severe for hybrid systems because of the relative immaturity of the field and the intrinsic difficulty of the mathematical underpinnings. In this paper, we provide a discussion about interchange formats for hybrid systems, we survey the approaches used by different tools for analysis (simulation and formal verification) and synthesis of hybrid systems, and we give a recommendation for an interchange format for hybrid systems based on the Metropolis metamodel. The proposed interchange format has rigorous semantics and can accommodate the translation to and from the formats of the tools we have surveyed while providing a formal reasoning framework.}, } Interchange formats have been the backbone of the EDA industry for several years. They are used as a way of helping the development of design flows that integrate foreign tools using formats with different syntax and, more importantly, different semantics. The need for integrating tools coming from different communities is even more severe for hybrid systems because of the relative immaturity of the field and the intrinsic difficulty of the mathematical underpinnings. In this paper, we provide a discussion about interchange formats for hybrid systems, we survey the approaches used by different tools for analysis (simulation and formal verification) and synthesis of hybrid systems, and we give a recommendation for an interchange format for hybrid systems based on the Metropolis metamodel. The proposed interchange format has rigorous semantics and can accommodate the translation to and from the formats of the tools we have surveyed while providing a formal reasoning framework. |
Balarin, Felice; Passerone, Roberto; Pinto, Alessandro; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto A formal approach to system level design: metamodels and unified design environments (Inproceeding) Proceedings of the 2nd ACM/IEEE International Conference on Formal Methods and Models for Co-Design, Page(s): 155--163, Washington, DC, USA, IEEE Computer Society, 2005, ISSN: 0-7803-9227-2. @inproceedings{Balarin:2005:FAS:1322110.1322156, name = {A formal approach to system level design: metamodels and unified design environments}, author = {Balarin, Felice and Passerone, Roberto and Pinto, Alessandro and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MEMCOD.2005.1487909}, issn = {0-7803-9227-2}, year = {2005}, date = {2005-01-01}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2nd ACM/IEEE International Conference on Formal Methods and Models for Co-Design}, pages = {155--163}, publisher = {IEEE Computer Society}, address = {Washington, DC, USA}, series = {MEMOCODE '05}, abstract = {The debate about efficient methods for hardware-software co-design has taken interesting turns over the years. In this paper, we argue that the essential problems to solve are prior to the decision on how to partition the system in hardware-software. We present a formal platform-based design method we have proposed over the years and a design environment, Metropolis, supporting the methodology, which starts by capturing the design specifications at the highest level of abstraction and then proceed toward an efficient implementation by subsequent refinement steps. We present the modeling strategy used in Metropolis based on formal semantics that is general enough to support the models of computation proposed so far and that facilitates the creation of new ones. Nonfunctional and declarative constraints can also be captured using a logic language.}, } The debate about efficient methods for hardware-software co-design has taken interesting turns over the years. In this paper, we argue that the essential problems to solve are prior to the decision on how to partition the system in hardware-software. We present a formal platform-based design method we have proposed over the years and a design environment, Metropolis, supporting the methodology, which starts by capturing the design specifications at the highest level of abstraction and then proceed toward an efficient implementation by subsequent refinement steps. We present the modeling strategy used in Metropolis based on formal semantics that is general enough to support the models of computation proposed so far and that facilitates the creation of new ones. Nonfunctional and declarative constraints can also be captured using a logic language. |
Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto; Pinto, Alessandro Embedded system education: a new paradigm for engineering schools? (Article) SIGBED Review, 2, 4, Page(s): 5-14, 2005. @article{journals/sigbed/Sangiovanni-VincentelliP05, name = {Embedded system education: a new paradigm for engineering schools?}, author = {Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L. and Pinto, Alessandro}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/journals/sigbed/sigbed2.html#Sangiovanni-VincentelliP05}, year = {2005}, date = {2005-01-01}, journal = {SIGBED Review}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {5-14}, abstract = {Embedded systems are emerging as an essential component of modern electronic products. Embedded system design problems are posing challenges that involve entirely new skills for engineers. These skills are related to the combination of traditionally disjoint engineering disciplines. There is a shared concern that today's educational systems are not providing the appropriate foundations for embedded systems. We believe a new education paradigm is needed.We will argue this point using the example of an emerging curriculum on embedded systems at the University of California at Berkeley. This curriculum is the result of a distillation process of more than ten years of intense research work. We will present the considerations that are driving the curriculum development and we review our undergraduate and graduate program. In particular, we describe in detail a graduate class (EECS249: Design of Embedded Systems: Modeling, Validation and Synthesis) that has been taught for six years. A common feature of our education agenda is the search for fundamentals of embedded system science rather than embedded system design techniques, an approach that today is rather unique.}, } Embedded systems are emerging as an essential component of modern electronic products. Embedded system design problems are posing challenges that involve entirely new skills for engineers. These skills are related to the combination of traditionally disjoint engineering disciplines. There is a shared concern that today's educational systems are not providing the appropriate foundations for embedded systems. We believe a new education paradigm is needed.We will argue this point using the example of an emerging curriculum on embedded systems at the University of California at Berkeley. This curriculum is the result of a distillation process of more than ten years of intense research work. We will present the considerations that are driving the curriculum development and we review our undergraduate and graduate program. In particular, we describe in detail a graduate class (EECS249: Design of Embedded Systems: Modeling, Validation and Synthesis) that has been taught for six years. A common feature of our education agenda is the search for fundamentals of embedded system science rather than embedded system design techniques, an approach that today is rather unique. |
Sprinkle,; Ames,; Pinto,; Zheng, Haiyang; Sastry, On the Partitioning of Syntax and Semantics For Hybrid Systems Tools (Article) 2005. @article{partitioningSyntaxSemanticsHS2005, name = {On the Partitioning of Syntax and Semantics For Hybrid Systems Tools}, author = {Sprinkle, J. and Ames, A.D. and Pinto, A. and Zheng, Haiyang and Sastry, S.S.}, year = {2005}, date = {2005-01-01}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 44th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and European Control Conference CDC-ECC ’05.}, abstract = {Interchange formats are notoriously difficult to finish. That is, once one is developed, it is highly nontrivial to prove (or disprove) generality, and difficult at best to gain acceptance from all major players in the application domain. This paper addresses such a problem for hybrid systems, but not from the perspective of a tool interchange format, but rather that of tool availability in a toolbox. Through the paper we explain why we think this is a good approach for hybrid systems, and we also analyze the domain of hybrid systems to discern the semantic partitions that can be formed to yield a classification of tools based on their semantics. These discoveries give us the foundation upon which to build semantic capabilities, and to guarantee operational interaction between tools based on matched operational semantics.}, } Interchange formats are notoriously difficult to finish. That is, once one is developed, it is highly nontrivial to prove (or disprove) generality, and difficult at best to gain acceptance from all major players in the application domain. This paper addresses such a problem for hybrid systems, but not from the perspective of a tool interchange format, but rather that of tool availability in a toolbox. Through the paper we explain why we think this is a good approach for hybrid systems, and we also analyze the domain of hybrid systems to discern the semantic partitions that can be formed to yield a classification of tools based on their semantics. These discoveries give us the foundation upon which to build semantic capabilities, and to guarantee operational interaction between tools based on matched operational semantics. |
2003 |
Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto Efficient Synthesis of Networks On Chip. (Inproceeding) ICCD, Page(s): 146-150, IEEE Computer Society, 2003, ISSN: 0-7695-2025-1. @inproceedings{conf/iccd/PintoCS03, name = {Efficient Synthesis of Networks On Chip.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P. and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/iccd/iccd2003.html#PintoCS03}, issn = {0-7695-2025-1}, year = {2003}, date = {2003-11-14}, booktitle = {ICCD}, pages = {146-150}, publisher = {IEEE Computer Society}, crossref = {conf/iccd/2003}, abstract = {We propose an efficient heuristic for the constraint-driven communication synthesis (CDCS) of on-chip communication networks. The complexity of the synthesis problems comes from the number of constraints that have to be considered. In this paper we propose to cluster constraints to reduce the number that needs to be considered by the optimization algorithm. Then a quadratic programming approach is used to solve the communication synthesis problem with the clustered constraints. We provide an analytical model that justifies our choice of the clustering cost function and we discuss a set of experiments showing the effectiveness of the overall approach with respect to the exact algorithm.}, } We propose an efficient heuristic for the constraint-driven communication synthesis (CDCS) of on-chip communication networks. The complexity of the synthesis problems comes from the number of constraints that have to be considered. In this paper we propose to cluster constraints to reduce the number that needs to be considered by the optimization algorithm. Then a quadratic programming approach is used to solve the communication synthesis problem with the clustered constraints. We provide an analytical model that justifies our choice of the clustering cost function and we discuss a set of experiments showing the effectiveness of the overall approach with respect to the exact algorithm. |
2002 |
Pinto, Alessandro; Carloni, Luca; Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto Constraint-driven communication synthesis. (Inproceeding) DAC, Page(s): 783-788, ACM, 2002, ISSN: 1-58113-461-4. @inproceedings{conf/dac/PintoCS02, name = {Constraint-driven communication synthesis.}, author = {Pinto, Alessandro and Carloni, Luca P. and Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, Alberto L.}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/dac/dac2002.html#PintoCS02}, issn = {1-58113-461-4}, year = {2002}, date = {2002-01-01}, booktitle = {DAC}, pages = {783-788}, publisher = {ACM}, crossref = {conf/dac/2002}, abstract = {Constraint-driven Communication Synthesis enables the automatic design of the communication architecture of a complex system from a library of pre-defined Intellectual Property (IP) components. The key communication parameters that govern all the point-to-point interactions among system modules are captured as a set of arc constraints in the communication constraint graph. Similarly, the communication features offered by each of the components available in the IP communication library are captured as a set of feature resources together with its cost figures. Then, every communication architecture that can be built using the available components while satisfying all constraints is implicitly considered (as an implementation graph matching the constraint graph) to derive the optimum design solution with respect to the desired cost figure. The corresponding constrained optimization problem is efficiently solved by a novel algorithm that is presented here together with its rigorous theoretical foundations.}, } Constraint-driven Communication Synthesis enables the automatic design of the communication architecture of a complex system from a library of pre-defined Intellectual Property (IP) components. The key communication parameters that govern all the point-to-point interactions among system modules are captured as a set of arc constraints in the communication constraint graph. Similarly, the communication features offered by each of the components available in the IP communication library are captured as a set of feature resources together with its cost figures. Then, every communication architecture that can be built using the available components while satisfying all constraints is implicitly considered (as an implementation graph matching the constraint graph) to derive the optimum design solution with respect to the desired cost figure. The corresponding constrained optimization problem is efficiently solved by a novel algorithm that is presented here together with its rigorous theoretical foundations. |
