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EECS 290n
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Overview of EECS 290N (Edward A. Lee)This experimental research course will study models of computation used for the specification and modeling of concurrent real-time systems, particularly those with relevance to embedded software. Current research and industrial approaches will be considered, including real-time operating systems, synchronous languages (such as used in SCADE, Esterel, and Statecharts), timed models (such as used in Simulink, OPNET, NS-2, VHDL, and Verilog), dataflow models (such as a used in Labview and SPW), process networks (such as used in SDL), and software component models (such as nesC/TinyOS, Click, and CORBA). The course will combine an experimental approach with a study of formal semantics. The objective will be to develop a deep understanding of the wealth of alternative approaches to managing concurrency and time in software. The experimental portion of the course will use Ptolemy II as the software laboratory, and students will be guided to create simple extensions in Java and models of systems using Ptolemy II. A project will be required, and students will be strongly encouraged to adopt a common technology base for the projects (using Ptolemy II, Java, Eclipse, CVS, and Latex) in order to promote collaboration on projects and to enhance the dialog within the group. Tutorials will be organized as needed to establish proficiency with this technology base. The formal semantics portion of the course will build on the mathematics of partially ordered sets, particularly as applied to prefix orders and Scott orders. It will develop a framework for models of computation for concurrent systems that uses partially ordered tags associated with events. Discrete-event models, synchronous/reactive languages, dataflow models, and process networks will be studied in this context. Basic issues of computability, boundedness, determinacy, liveness, and the modeling of time will be studied. Classes of functions over partial orders, including continuous, monotonic, stable, and sequential functions will be considered, as will semantics based on fixed-point theorems. Reading of research papers will be organized in one or more study groups, which will meet once a week to discuss papers that are being read. The purpose of the study group to encourage critical and comparative reading of research papers. Projects will be presented at the end of the semester in a forum that will be as close as possible in organization to a professional workshop. Project papers will follow a standard four-page, two-column conference format, and presentations will be 20 minute oral presentations. Students in the course will form the "program committee" for the conference, and will review papers submitted to the conference. Although no paper will be rejected, authors will be expect to respond to issues raised by reviewers, and the quality of the reviews will be taken into account in the grade assigned to the reviewers. Grading will be based on participation in the study groups, homework exercises, reviews of project papers, and the project paper and presentation. This course is designed as a three unit class. Class web page: http://embedded.eecs.berkeley.edu/concurrency |