1st Internal Conference on Computer Architecture (ICCA'99)
Sala Mestrado Informática,
Dep. Inf., Univ. MinhoCampus Gualtar, BRAGA
Programme -
8 & 15 Jan'99(last updated: 14-Jan-99, 12:00)
Editor: Alberto José Proença (
Editor's Message)
Chairman: Luís Paulo Santos
9h15m -
SuperComputers: NewTrends (scnt.zip)Mário Henriques
9h30m -
Cluster: Philosophy and critical areas (cpca.zip) cancelledAntónio Cambotas
9h45m -
NUMA architecture: a step ahead of SMP (nasas.zip)Joaquim Gonçalves
Chairman: João Luís Sobral
10h00m -
I/O and BackPlane Buses: Today and Tomorrow (iobbtt.zip)Anália Lourenço
10h15m -
From a 3D point of view (f3pv.zip)Hugo Pires
10h30m -
Video Processors for Video Data Compression (vpvdc.zip)João Lemos
10h45m -
WebTV: the merge of a Web computer with an Interactive TV? (webtv.zip)Nuno Rodrigues
Chairman: António Esteves
9h15m -
A comparative analysis of superscalar processors: a qualitative approach (casp.zip)João Rocha
9h30m -
Behind Merced (IA-64) (bmia64.zip)Carlos Moura
9h45m -
Quantitative Evaluation of Multimedia Computers (qemc.zip) cancelledNelson Freire
10h00m -
Benchmarking Web Servers (bws.zip)Paulo Martins
Chairman: João Miguel Fernandes
10h15m -
A Survey on Handheld Computers Architecture (shca.zip)Ilídio Oliveira
10h30m -
Computer Terminology (ct.zip)Pedro Maia
10h45m -
Smartcard's Architecture for Healthcare (sah.zip)Marta Jacinto
ICCA'99 is a simulation of an International Conference which aimed to prepare the M.Sc. students on Informatics (Univ. Minho, 1998/ 99) for a real environment in such type of events. The scientific domain was the name of the subject I was lecturing to them and where this work was performed - Computer Architecture - and this was also a chance for the students to make a link between an academic work and their personal and professional interests.
To make this simulation more realistic, the students had deadlines to deliver their written communication (English was the official language ... and some of them had no experience at all writing a scientific essay) and they all received a set of instructions for authors (taken from a past conference). All communications were evaluated and commented by at least 2 referees (many thanks to my departmental colleagues who helped me in this task, António Joaquim Esteves, João Luís Sobral, João Miguel Fernandes e Luís Paulo Santos) and later published on the ICCA'99 Web page (http://gec.di.uminho.pt/discip/minf/ac9899/icca99.htm); the Proceedings were also printed and a copy distributed to all M.Sc. students during the event.
The oral presentations of each communication also followed a formal approach: the event was publicised among the academic staff and the presentations were structured in sessions, with a chairman for each sessions. The oral presentations were limited to 15min each, and the speakers had free access to overhead and video projectors (including a PC interface). The presentations were in Portuguese...
This message is being written between the 2 days of the presentation. I was very surprised with the high quality of the communications on the 1st day, and the overall quality of the written articles can be considered very good, specially when we know that the previous background on Computer Architecture of most students was very close to null! Congratulations to everyone!
Braga, 14th January 1999
Alberto José Proença
Mário Henriques
Abstract: The survival of supercomputers required innovative approaches to their architecture. A review of the advantages and the drawbacks of the major architecture supercomputing models is presented here. Newer trends in their evolution include the virtual shared memory model and an attempt to carry near vector and parallel architectures.
Cluster: Philosophy and critical areas (cpca.zip) cancelledAntónio Cambotas
Abstract: X
NUMA architecture: a step ahead of SMP (nasas.zip)Joaquim Gonçalves
Abstract: Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) architecture keeps delivering exponential performance gains. This architecture model provides a new system design for breaking through the bus-based memory bandwidth limitations - which impaired scalability in SMP systems - and frees the application designer from data distribution and coherency maintenance, which are the main MPP disadvantages. This communication gives an overall view of a NUMA system, including its main advantages, and implied risks.
I/O and BackPlane Buses: Today and Tomorrow (iobbtt.zip)Anália Lourenço
Abstract: This paper gives an overview of the more relevant concepts behind current computer architectures and peripheral buses. It highlights today’s most important standards in I/O and backplane buses: the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), the FireWire (IEEE 1394) and the Universal Serial Bus (USB). It also shows the advantages of each one of these buses as well as their weaknesses and provides a comparison between FireWire and USB.
From a 3D point of view (f3pv.zip)Hugo Pires
Abstract: This
article describes the 3D and multimedia requirements from a hardware point of view. It starts with an overview to graphic cards and then focus on two different approaches that allows satisfactory 3D and multimedia environments: extensions to the current architectures and new chip set solutions. Video Processors for Video Data Compression (vpvdc.zip)João Lemos
Abstract: Optimisation requirements in video surveillance systems opened a path to the design of specific video compression processors. An evaluation of several coding and compressing techniques - H.261, H263, MPEG1, MPEG2 and MPEG4 - is performed, suggesting H.261 as the best standard for a given case study (the UM campa in Braga and Guimaraes). A RISC processor with a specific coprocessor (AxPe640V) and its multiprocessor version (MAXPE9) are two alternative implementations. Their performance and architecture are analysed.
WebTV: the merge of a Web computer with an Interactive TV? (webtv.zip)Nuno Rodrigues
Abstract: This communication analyses Network Computers (NC), NetPC’s and PC/TV. It shows the main steps in the evolution from the traditional PC’s into the new specifications of NC’s, NetPC’s and WebTV: NC’s and NetPC's had the initial target to reduce the computing costs; however, the WebTV had the target to get the computers and the Internet closer to the common citizen, trying to transform this object into a consumer electronics product. Although it is still too early to evaluate the success of these technologies, some resistance in its implantation has noticed itself face to the initial expectations of its main promoters.
A comparative analysis of superscalar processors: a qualitative approach (casp.zip)João Rocha
Abstract: A superscalar processor fetches, executes and completes more than one instruction in parallel. This communication presents an evaluation study of two current superscalar microprocessors: the MIPS R10000 and the UltraSPARC-I. An attempt is made to point out the main design features of these processors.
Behind Merced (IA-64) (bmia64.zip)Carlos Moura
Abstract: The main goal of this communication is to present the relevant features of the new processor architecture IA-64, code named Merced, as an innovative follow-up of the current Intel and HP family of success processors, the Pentium and the PA-RISC. An overview of these processors is followed by a presentation of IA-64, a VLIW architecture renamed by Intel and HP to Explicit Parallel Instruction Computer (EPIC). It uses advanced techniques to extract more parallelism from code, instruction predication, branch elimination and speculative loading.
Quantitative Evaluation of Multimedia Computers (qemc.zip) cancelledNelson Freire
Abstract: X
Benchmarking Web Servers (bws.zip)Paulo Martins
Abstract: This communication presents the methodology used to benchmark Web servers: how to measure and report Web server performance results based two relevant Web servers benchmarks: WebStone and SPECweb96. It provides a view of the most pertinent Web servers - concerning HTTP software and the system architecture - and summarises the major factors that determine the performance of a Web server.
A Survey on Handheld Computers Architecture (shca.zip)Ilídio Oliveira
Abstract: This communication presents a survey on current handheld computers architecture, identifying the major inherent challenges. After discussing the specific requirements of a handheld targeted architecture, the paper describes five CPU implementations currently used in PDA models.
Computer Terminology (ct.zip)Pedro Maia
Abstract: This communication presents the organisations for standardisation and their importance in today's society, overviewing its history and how standards were created. A reference is made to the most used terms in computer terminology, stressing some of the most relevant de facto standard terms in the industry.
Smartcard's Architecture for Healthcare (sah.zip)Marta Jacinto
Abstract: Smartcards are plastic cards with an embedded microcomputer chip, making them safer to use than the simpler memory cards. The architecture of such dedicated microcomputers is presented in this communication, complemented with a short overview of the terminal architecture required to handle smartcards. The communication closes showing how the use of smartcards in a healthcare environment in Portugal seem promising in the near future.