Fitting processor architectures for measurement-based probabilistic timing analysis

The pressing market demand for competitive performance/cost ratios compels Critical Real-Time Embedded Systems industry to employ feature-rich hardware. The ensuing rise in hardware complexity however makes worst-case execution time (WCET) analysis of software programs - which is often required, esp...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Kosmidis, Leonidas, Quiñones, Eduardo, Abella Ferrer, Jaume|||0000-0001-7951-4028, Vardanega, Tullio, Hernández, Carles, Gianarro, Andrea, Broster, Ian, Cazorla Almeida, Francisco Javier
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/100471
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/100471
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micpro.2016.07.014
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Embedded computer systems
Cache memory
Real-time data processing
Worst-case execution time
Processor architecture
Cache memories
Probabilistic analysis
Time randomization
Ordinadors immersos, Sistemes d'
Memòria cau
Temps real (Informàtica)
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Informàtica::Arquitectura de computadors
Descripción
Sumario:The pressing market demand for competitive performance/cost ratios compels Critical Real-Time Embedded Systems industry to employ feature-rich hardware. The ensuing rise in hardware complexity however makes worst-case execution time (WCET) analysis of software programs - which is often required, especially for programs at the highest levels of integrity - an even harder challenge. State-of-the-art WCET analysis techniques are hampered by the soaring cost and complexity of obtaining accurate knowledge of the internal operation of advanced processors and the difficulty of relating data obtained from measurement observations with reliable worst-case behaviour. This frustrating conundrum calls for novel solutions, with low intrusiveness on development practice. Measurement-Based Probabilistic Timing Analysis (MBPTA) techniques offer the opportunity to simultaneously reduce the cost of acquiring the knowledge needed for computing reliable WCET bounds and gain increased confidence in the representativeness of measurement observations. This paper describes the changes required in the design of several high-performance features - massively used in modern processors - to meet MBPTA requirements.