Hardware/Software Co-Design

Lebanese American University

School of Arts and Sciences

Division of Computer Science and Mathematics

Research Topics in Computer Science CSC 888

Hardware/Software Co-Design – Course Guide

1. Course Details:

Course Title	Research Topics in Computer Science
Level	Seniors and Graduates
Prerequisite	Computer Organization and Logic Design or instructor’s approval
Course Reference	CSC888
Lectures	TBA
Student Study Hours Per Week	9
Contact Hours Per Week	3
Private Study Hours Per Week	6
Year and Semester	2004 - 2005 Spring
Lecturer	Dr. I. Damaj
Contact Details	TBA
Summary of Assessment Method	Project, 1 Quiz, 2 Assignments (Short Research Papers Review), and a Final

Textbook	NA – Mainly From Research Material, References, and Technology Handbooks

References	- D. Gajski, “High-Level Sythesis, Introduction to Chip and System Design” Kluwer, 1992. - R. Seals, “Programmable Logic: PLDs and FPGAs,” Macmillan, 1997. - Logic and Computer Design Fundamentals, 2^nd edition updated, M. Morris Mano and Charles R. Kime, Prentice Hall, 2001.

Hardware Devices	TBA

Software Packages	MorphoSys reconfigurable computer emulator, VHDL, Handel-C high-level HDL compiler (DK design suite), Xilinx ISE. Haskell

2. Aims of the Course:

This course presents the foundations of hardware/software co-design stressing the role of a computer scientist in modeling, formalizing and implementing various hardware architectures. This course also presents reconfigurable computers as a soft-hardware that can be reprogrammed and synthesized through high-level tools. Also, it shows how to apply such programmable architectures to solving computationally-intensive problems (mainly cryptography). This includes hardware platforms and software support systems for reconfigurable computing using field programmable gate arrays. This course will examine state-of-the-art systems that dynamically change their configuration with changing data sets and algorithm needs. Topics covered in the course include the basic concept of hardware design, reconfigurable computing and its modes of operation (static vs. dynamic reconfiguration), examples of successful RC applications, existing design methodologies and formalisms, existing architectures, hardware/software co-design tools, and future trends. The course will lay a foundation for students who are interested in further studies in hardware/software codesign and reconfigurable computing – hardware synthesis and chip design are active areas of research!

3. Short Description:

This course is of 5 chapters divided into 15 weeks. The student should be aware of the importance of revising the material on first come first serve basis. Prerequisites of this course include Computer Organization, Logic Design and C programming language. The assessment is done by reviewing 2 short research papers (Ws 4 and 10), 1 design project (proposal due by W8, presentations in Ws 14 and 15), a quiz (W9), and a final exam.

4. Schedule:

Details:	Topic	Chapter No.	Assessment
Week 1	HSCD - Introduction and Motivation	1
Weeks 2 – 8	Hardware/Software Co-design, and Reconfigurable Computing Architectures 2.1 Hardware Design and Programmable Logic 2.2 Programmable Logic Devices, General Architectures, SPLDs and CPLDs 2.3 Programmable Logic Devices, FPGAs	2	Research Assignment I (W4) Useful Links: 1) The Task of the Referee 2) Writing Technical Articles 3) Research Award Judging Criteria Quiz (W6) View Grades
Weeks 9 – 10	High-Level Hardware Synthesis	3	Project Proposal (W9)
Weeks 11 – 13	Case Study I: Handel-C High-Level HDL	4
Weeks 14 – 15	Case Study II: Synthesis of Cryptographic Algorithms for FPGAs	5	Projects Presentations (W14 and W15)

5. Assessment of the Course:

Assignments and Quiz	30%
Project	60%
Final	10%

Students are required to review two papers over the term relevant to the scope of the course. Each review should answer the following questions:

• What is the goal of the paper?

• A summary of what the paper is about.

• The techniques used.

• What conclusions can be drawn from the study?

• Comments on the paper (what's good, what's bad, what does it show, and where does it lead).

Announcements

[May 25, 2005] The Final exam includes chapters 2, 3, and 4. The date of the exam is to be announce by the department office.

[April 20, 2005] The projects' proposals are due on Sunday, 30 April 2005. Early e-mail submissions of proposals are strongly recommended. You will receive a direct reply (acceptance/rejection).

[April 19, 2005] The grades for the quiz are out.