Vytautas Štuikys

Application of UML for hardware design based on design process model

We address a problem of reusing and customizing soft IP components by introducing a concept of design process - a series of common, well-defined and well-proven domain-specific actions and methods performed to achieve a certain design aim. We especially examine system-level design processes that are aimed at designing a hardware system by integrating soft IPs at a high level of abstraction. We combine this concept with object-oriented hardware design using UML and metaprogramming paradigm for describing generation of domain code.

Application of design patterns for hardware design

Design patterns, which encapsulate common solutions to the recurring design problems, have contributed to the increased reuse, quality and productivity in software design. We argue that hardware design patterns could be used for customizing and integrating the Intellectual Property (IP) components into System-on-Chip designs. We formulate the role of design patterns in HW design, and describe their implementation using metaprogramming. We propose a Wrapper design pattern for adapting the behavior of the soft IPs, and demonstrate its application to the communication interface synthesis.

Open PROMOL: An Experimental Language for Target Program Modification

We present a new experimental scripting language Open PROMOL developed for: 1) delivering flexible means for representing wide range modifications of a target program, and 2) supporting white-box reuse for well-understood domains, such as hardware design. We evaluate the role of scripting and program modification in the domain. We describe the syntax and semantics of the basic PROMOL functions. We discuss the capabilities of the language to perform program modifications by widening, narrowing and isolating functionality. Examples of program modification in VHDL and other languages are delivered.

Meta-Programming and Model-Driven Meta-Program Development

Meta-Programming and Model-Driven Meta-Program Development: Principles, Processes and Techniques presents an overall analysis of meta-programming, focusing on insights of meta-programming techniques, heterogeneous meta-program development processes in the context of model-driven, feature-based and transformative approaches. The fundamental concepts of meta-programming are still not thoroughly understood, in this well organized book divided into three parts the authors help to address this. Chapters include: Taxonomy of fundamental concepts of meta-programming; Concept of structural heterogeneous meta-programming based on the original meta-language; Model-driven concept and feature-based modeling to the development process of meta-programs; Equivalent meta-program transformations and metrics to evaluate complexity of feature-based models and meta-programs; Variety of academic research case studies within different application domains to experimentally verify the soundness of the investigated approaches. Both authors are professors at Kaunas University of Technology with 15 years research and teaching experience in the field. Meta-Programming and Model-Driven Meta-Program Development: Principles, Processes and Techniques is aimed at post-graduates in computer science and software engineering and researchers and program system developers wishing to extend their knowledge in this rapidly evolving sector of science and technology.

Metaprogramming techniques for designing embedded components for ambient intelligence

Design for Ambient Intelligence (AmI) requires development and adoption of novel domain analysis methods and design methodologies. Our approach is based on domain analysis methods adopted from software engineering, Genetic Embedded Component Model (GECM) and metaprogramming (MPG). A novelty of our approach is that we apply MPG systematically in order to deal with a vast quantity, diversity and heterogeneity of embedded components, manage variability and raise the level of abstraction in embedded system design, as well as achieve higher flexibility, reusability and customizability for AmI-oriented design. We discuss applicability of the MPG techniques for designing embedded components (ECs) for AmI and provide three case studies.

Specification and Generation of Learning Object Sequences for E-learning Using Sequence Feature Diagrams and Metaprogramming Techniques

The success of learning objects (LO) is limited by the ability to integrate them into coherent teaching courses in order to enable the educational goal-oriented creation of competency. LO sequences must be defined that are adapted to different types of learners, their personal needs and knowledge states to allow for effective personalized learning. In this paper, we propose a method for specification of LO sequences using Sequence Feature Diagrams and describe the generation of LO sequences from Generative LOs using metaprogramming techniques.

Estimation of Power Consumption at Behavioral Modeling Level Using SystemC

A successful embedded system design requires thorough domain analysis and design space exploration. The aim is to develop a target system, which implements the prescribed functionality and at the same time meets the design, time, and cost-related constraints. The early evaluation of design characteristics, such as power consumption, allows the user to take advantage of many architectural design options available and to modify the system architecture, if needed. Currently, SystemC is used to model the hardware and software parts of a system at the high level. However, the characteristics of the modeled system are obtained only at the late design stages during physical synthesis. Here, we present a framework for power estimation at the modeling level of a design using macromodels. The SystemC class library is modified and extended with new classes describing the computation of power characteristics of the behavioral-level hardware models.

Scripting Language Open PROMOL and its Processor

We present the capabilities of the scripting language Open PROMOL and its processor. The intention of the language is to pre-program specifications for modifying programs written in a target language. We use its processor either as a tool for developing the stand-alone reusable components or as a “component-from-the-shelf” in generative tools for generating domain specific programs. The processor itself uses the module (lexical analyser and parser) produced by Lex & Yacc as a reusable component. We describe the generation, computation, control, parameterization and gluing capabilities of the language. We compare our approach with the similar approaches known in the literature.

Educational robots as collaborative learning objects for teaching Computer Science

We present the constructionism-based approach towards using collaborating educational robots for teaching the abstract concepts of Computer Science (CS) such as task decomposition. We present the collaborative robot-based e-learning environment, which enables us to implement the principles of constructionism and collaborative learning for teaching students how to solve CS problems using LEGO multi-robots as tangible Collaborative Learning Objects (CLOs). We extended the existing approaches by a) providing a framework of robotic CLO based learning environment; and b) demonstrating the use of task decomposition and allocation principles for teaching CS algorithms and programming.

Separation of Concerns in Multi-language Specifications

We present an analysis of the separation of concerns in multi-language design and multilanguage specifications. The basis for our analysis is the paradigm of the multi-dimensional separation of concerns, which claims that multiple dimensions of concerns in a design should be implemented independently. Multi-language specifications are specifications where different concerns of a design are implemented using separate languages as follows. (1) Target language(s) implement domain functionality. (2) External (or scripting, meta-) language(s) implement generalisation of the repetitive design features, introduce variations, and integrate components into a design. We present case studies and experimental results for the application of the multi-language specifications in hardware design.