Vlado Sruk

The Physics-of-Failure approach in reliability engineering

In todays world, apart from the fact that systems and products are becoming increasingly complex, electronic technology is rapidly progressing in both miniaturization and higher complexity. Consequently, these facts are accompanied with new failures modes. Standard reliability tools cope to tackle all of the new emerging challenges. New technology and designs require adapted approaches to ensure that the products cost-effectively and timely meet desired reliability goals. The Physics-of-Failure (P-o-F) represents one approach to reliability assessment based on modeling and simulation that relies on understanding the physical processes contributing to the appearance of the critical failures. This paper outlines the classical approaches to reliability engineering and discusses advantages of the Physics-of-Failure approach. It also stresses that the P-o-F approach should be probabilistic in order to include inevitable variations of variables involved in processes contributing to the occurrence of failures in the analysis.

E2LP: A Unified Embedded Engineering Learning Platform

The main idea behind this project is to provide a unified platform which will cover a complete process for embedded systems learning. A modular approach is considered for skills practice through supporting individualization in learning. This platform shall facilitate a novel development of universal approach in creative learning environment and knowledge management that encourage use of ICT. New learning model is challenging the education of engineers in embedded systems design through real-time experiments that stimulate curiosity with ultimate goal to support students to understand and construct their personal conceptual knowledge based on experiments. In addition to the technological approach, the use of cognitive theories on how people learn will help students to achieve a stronger and smarter adaptation of the subject. Applied methodology will be evaluated from the scientific point of view in parallel with the implementation in order to feedback results to the R&D.

Denial of service attacks: An overview

Denial of service (DoS) attacks present one of the most significant threats to assurance of dependable and secure information systems. Rapid development of new and increasingly sophisticated attacks requires resourcefulness in designing and implementing reliable defences. This paper presents an overview of current DoS attack and defence concepts, from a theoretical and practical point of view. Considering the elaborated DoS mechanisms, main directions are proposed for future research required in defending against the evolving threat..

Remote firmware update for constrained embedded systems

In this work, we present the architecture of firmware software update infrastructure, which uses a centralized server to distribute adequate firmware updates to a large number of embedded devices. These updates enable transparent proactive management of everyday bugs and other vulnerabilities inherent in software-based systems, as well as embedded system evolution. Presented firmware update mechanism utilizes a network connectivity nowadays already presented in a wide range of embedded systems.

Unified flow of custom processor design and FPGA implementation

The automation of custom hardware design often focuses on hardware optimizations for smaller portions of code that dominate the design execution. The same presumption can be stated for custom processor design. The data path of the processor can be well optimized for particular blocks of code that are formed during control flow extraction. However, larger source codes can have tens of blocks that result from Control Flow Graph (CFG). We implemented a global semi-automated flow that hierarchically forms the set of blocks which contributions are modeled into processor architecture. Resulting processor model is translated to RTL description and implemented inside FPGA logic.

Realtime transfer of live video images in parallel with three-dimensional modelling of the surgical field in computer-assisted telesurgery

We have carried out three-dimensional, computer-assisted, functional endoscopic sinus telesurgery. Surgeons at different locations up to 300 km apart could not only see and transfer video images but also transfer three-dimensional computer models and manipulate them in realtime during surgery. Two different approaches were used. In the first telesurgery procedure we used M-JPEG compression and transmitted the data using fibre optic connections (ATM OC-3) at a bandwidth of 155 Mbit/s. In the second telesurgery procedure video images were transmitted over four E1 digital lines, amounting to about 8 Mbit/s of bandwidth, with better compression standards, such as MPEG1 and 2. We found that MPEG2 video compression produced the best picture quality for the operating field and endoscopic cameras. For conferencing and consultation between two or more connected sites during the surgery, we used JPEG and MPEG1 video compression with audio. The main feature of our three-dimensional telesurgery was the use of three-dimensional modelling of the operative field. This is important for emergency surgical interventions. We do not advocate that inexperienced surgeons operate on patients, not even with the guidance of a remote surgeon. However, three-dimensional telesurgery may become very valuable for experienced surgeons in the future.

Denial of service attacks, defences and research challenges

This paper presents a review of current denial of service (DoS) attack and defence concepts, from a theoretical ad practical point of view. Seriousness of DoS attacks is tangible and they present one of the most significant threats to assurance of dependable and secure information systems, which is growing in importance. Rapid development of new and increasingly sophisticated attacks requires resourcefulness in designing and implementing reliable defences. We focus on providing a both fresh and relevant state of art reference with included different perspectives, such as economic DoS (EDoS) or offensive countermeasures in the cyber space. Considering the elaborated DoS mechanisms and state of art review, our considerations of main challenges are discussed. Directions are proposed for future research, considered required in defending against the DoS threat, which is evolving into a potentially major disruptive factor for global security models on all levels.

Embedded Engineering Education

This book focuses on the outcome of the European research project FP7-ICT-2011-8 / 317882: Embedded Engineering Learning Platform E2LP. Additionally, some experiences and researches outside this project have been included. This book provides information about the achieved results of the E2LP project as well as some broader views about the embedded engineering education. It captures project results and applications, methodologies, and evaluations. It leads to the history of computer architectures, brings a touch of the future in education tools and provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in embedded engineering education concepts, experiences and material. The book contents 12 original contributions and will open a broader discussion about the necessary knowledge and appropriate learning methods for the new profile of embedded engineers. As a result, the proposed Embedded Computer Engineering Learning Platform will help to educate a sufficient number of future engineers in Europe, capable of designing complex systems and maintaining a leadership in the area of embedded systems, thereby ensuring that our strongholds in automotive, avionics, industrial automation, mobile communications, telecoms and medical systems are able to develop.

Unified, multiple target, computer engineering learning platform

To overcome a complex and multidisciplinary approach which includes understanding of various systems based on different technologies and system solution optimizations in engineering education for embedded systems at university level and provide a complex and multidisciplinary approach, the first cycle of the design of a unified, multiple-target platform that will enable integrated approach to computer engineering and embedded systems learning has been finished so far. This work shows results of current research, preliminary conclusions and future focuses.

Performance of UDP and TCP communication on personal computers

The number of personal computers (PCs) in Internet based information systems has been rapidly increasing during recent years. Designers are trying to improve the performance by choosing the appropriate hardware and software components of PCs that are running Internet based information systems. However, little research has been done to find how different hardware and software components of PCs affect the performance of the two most commonly used protocols for transferring data on the Internet, TCP and UDP. This paper compares data transmission speed for three different operating systems: Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation and Linux 2.1.132. Three different hardware configurations based on Intel 486 DX2, Intel Pentium, and Intel Celeron A processors are also compared. Finally, we show how data packet size affects the communication speed.