A.W. van Halderen

Towards efficient design space exploration of heterogeneous embedded media systems

Modern signal processing and multimedia embedded systems increasingly have heterogeneous system architectures. In these systems, programmable processors provide flexibility to support multiple applications, while dedicated hardware blocks provide high performance for time-critical application tasks. The heterogeneity of these embedded systems and the varying demands of their growing number of target applications greatly complicate the system design.As part of the Artemis project, we are developing a modeling and simulation environment which aims at efficient design space exploration of heterogeneous embedded systems architectures. In this paper, we present an overview of the modeling and simulation methodology used in Artemis. Moreover, using a case study in which we have applied an initial version of our prototype modeling and simulation environment to an M-JPEG encoding application, we illustrate the ease with which alternative candidate architectures can be modeled and evaluated.

Hierarchical resource management in the polder metacomputing initiative

A metacomputer is a set of computing resources, heterogeneous in many respects, turned into a single, uniformly accessible, computing environment. In such a system, the workload of highly demanding parallel applications that run alongside less demanding ones, has to be balanced. In the Polder Initiative we design and experiment with methods that are essential in this field. The modular structure of our metacomputer facilitates the exploration of fundamental research issues associated with load sharing and balancing, task migration, remote access, etc. In this paper we present our work in progress on a hierarchical approach in resource management (RM) for wide-area metacomputing.

The VLAM-G Abstract Machine: A Data and Process Handling System on the Grid

This paper presents the architecture of the Virtual Laboratory Abstract-Machine (VL-AM), a data and process handling system on the Grid. This system has been developed within the context of the Virtual Laboratory (VL) project, which aims at building an environment for experimental science. The VL-AM solves problems commonly faces when addressing process and data handling in a heterogeneous environment. Although existing Grid technologies already provide suitable solutions most of the time, considerable knowledge and experience outside of the application domain is often required. The VL-AM makes these grid technologies readily available to a broad community of scientists. Moreover, it extends the current data Grid architecture by introducing an object-oriented database model handling complex queries on scientific information.

Evaluation of an RCube-Based Switch Using a Real World Application

In order to adress the problems in fulfilling the requirements of the high performance systems, the IEEE-1355 standard has been developed. A number of ESPRIT projects were initiated to support the technology within the scope of this standard. However, it is also important to promote the technology, i.e., to prove and demonstrate its applicability and efficiency. Targeting this, the ARCHES project has developed Gigabit Ethernet switch and demonstrator applications. This paper briefly addresses the efficiency issues related to the communication, and descibes the tests performed for evaluating the technology developed during the ARCHES project and the results obtained.