14857474
Optimal design and use of retry in fault-tolerant computer systems
In this paper, a new method is presented for (i) determining an optimal retry policy and (ii) using retry for fault characterization, which is defined as classification of the fault type and determination of fault durations. First, an optimal retry policy is derived for a given fault characteristic, which determines the maximum allowable retry durations so as to minimize the total task completion time. Then, the combined fault characterization and retry decision, in which the characteristic of a fault is estimated simultaneously with the determination of the optimal retry policy, are carried out. Two solution approaches are developed: one is based on point estimation and the other on Bayes sequential decision analysis.
Numerical examples are presented in which all the durations associated with faults (i.e., active, benign, and interfailure durations) have monotone hazard rate functions (e.g., exponential Weibull and gamma distributions). These are standard distributions commonly used for modeling and analyses of faults.
30590203
Efficient State-Saving Architectures for Power-Mode Switching
Time and energy is expended in switching between power modes (e.g., active, hibernate, sleep, etc.). Powering off cache is one major reason for this. When there is a switch in the power-mode involving cache power-off, the system spends time and energy in filling the cache with new data (inherent cache misses). In our technique, before powering off the cache, we save its state in Embedded DRAM and bring it back when the previous power mode is restored. Our experiments have showed that in a majority of cases the cache contents are too valuable to be erased. By saving the contents we can reduce switching speed and energy. We present a heuristic to save the most relevant cache contents so that power and delay overheads are minimized. To measure the area overhead a synthesizable VHDL model was designed.
40618061
Transaction Recovery in Distributed DB/DC Systems: A Progressive Approach
920212
Resource scheduling in dependable integrated modular avionics
In the recent development of avionics systems, integrated modular avionics (IMA) is advocated for next generation architecture that needs integration of mixed criticality real-time applications. These integrated applications meet their own timing constraints while sharing avionics computer resources. To guarantee timing constraints and dependability of each application, an IMA-based system is equipped with the schemes for spatial and temporal partitioning. We refer the model as SP-RTS (strongly partitioned real-time system), which deals with processor partitions and communication channels as its basic scheduling entities. This paper presents a partition and channel-scheduling algorithm for the SP-RTS. The basic idea of the algorithm is to use a two-level hierarchical schedule that activates partitions (or channels) following a distance-constraints guaranteed cyclic schedule and then dispatches tasks (or messages) according to a fixed priority schedule. To enhance schedulability, we devised heuristic algorithms for deadline decomposition and channel combining. The simulation results show the schedulability analysis of the two-level scheduling algorithm and the beneficial characteristics of the proposed deadline decomposition and channel combining algorithms.
10753893
Evaluation of Error Recovery Blocks Used for Cooperating Processes
Three alternatives for implementing recovery blocks (RB's) are conceivable for backward error recovery in concurrent processing. These are the asynchronous, synchronous, and the pseudorecovery point implementations. Asynchronous RB's are based on the concept of maximum autonomy in each of concurrent processes. Consequently, establishment of RB's in a process is made independently of others and unbounded rollback propagations become a serious problem. In order to completely avoid unbounded rollback propagations, it is necessary to synchronize the establishment of recovery blocks in all cooperating processes. Process autonomy is sacrificed and processes are forced to wait for commitments from others to establish a recovery line, leading to inefficiency in time utilization. As a compromise between asynchronous and synchronous RB's we propose to insert pseudorecovery points (PRP's) so that unbounded rollback propagations may be avoided while maintaining process autonomy. We developed probabilistic models for analyzing these three methods under standard assumptions in computer performance analysis, i.e., exponential distributions for related random variables. With these models we have estimated 1) the interval between two successive recovery lines for asynchronous RB's, 2) mean loss in computation power for the synchronized method, and 3) additional overhead and rollback distance in case PRP's are used.
31591898
Scanning the issue - special issue on real-time systems
1468385
Narrative abstraction model for story-oriented video
TV program review services, especially drama review services, are one of the most popular video on demand services on the Web. In this paper, we propose a novel video abstraction model for a review service of story-oriented video such as dramas. In a drama review service, viewers want to understand the story in a short time and service providers want to provide video abstracts at minimum cost. The proposed model enables the automatic creation of a video abstract that still allows viewers to understand the overall story of the source video. Also, the model has a flexible structure so that the duration of an abstract can be adjusted depending on the requirements given by viewers. We get clues for human understanding of a story from scenario writing rules and editorial techniques which are popularly used in the process of video producing. We have implemented the proposed model and successfully applied it to several TV dramas.
41948538
Enhanced Model Representations for an Intra-Ring Synchronous Optical Network Design Problem Allowing Demand Splitting
In this paper, we consider a network design problem arising in the context of deploying synchronous optical networks (SONET) using a unidirectional path switched ring architecture, a standard of transmission using optical fiber technology. Given several rings of this type, the problem is to find an assignment of nodes to possibly multiple rings, and to determine what portion of demand traffic between node pairs spanned by each ring should be allocated to that ring. The constraints require that the demand traffic between each node pair should be satisfiable given the ring capacities, and that no more than a specified maximum number of nodes should be assigned to each ring. The objective function is to minimize the total number of node-to-ring assignments, and hence, the capital investment in add-drop multiplexer equipments. We formulate the problem as a mixed-integer programming model, and propose several alternative modeling techniques designed to improve the mathematical representation of this problem. We then develop various classes of valid inequalities for the problem along with suitable separation procedures for tightening the representation of the model, and accordingly, prescribe an algorithmic approach that coordinates tailored routines with a commercial solver (CPLEX). We also propose a heuristic procedure which enhances the solvability of the problem and provides bounds within 5--13% of the optimal solution. Promising computational results are presented that exhibit the viability of the overall approach and that lend insights into various modeling and algorithmic constructs.
7326399
A Scalable Update Management Mechanism for Query Result Caching Systems at Database-Driven Web Sites
A key problem in using caching technology for dynamic contents lies in update management. An update management scheme should be very efficient without imposing much extra burden to the system, especially to the original database server. We propose an scalable update management mechanism for query result caching in database-backed Web sites. Our mechanism employs a two-phase consistency checking method, which prunes out unaffected queries at the earliest possible moment. The method scales well with a high number of cached instances.
14604625
Single run optimization using the reverse-simulation method
An efticient “Simulation Optimization” technique is developed to solve system design problems which can not be expressed in explicit analytical or mathematical models. In particular, we explore a new paradigm called the “Reverse-Simulation optimization method” which is quite Merent from current simulation optimization methods in the literature. This paper focuses on the method of on-line determination of steady-state, which is a very important issue in ReverseSimulation optimization, and the construction of a Reverse-Simulation algorithm with expert systems. The proposed algorithm finds the steady-state of a system and an optimal state. The algorithm employs the Lyapunov exponent of Chaos theory to determine both the steady-state and optimal state of a system.
38239153
Qualitative Behavior Modeling of Information Processing Components
This paper presents qualitative behavior modeling of Information Processing Components(IPCs), which are domain-specific software components for modeling reusable functions in database management systems(DBMSs). After introducing a detailed formal syntax of IPCs, we propose their modular, qualitative behavior generation mechanism. The proposed mechanism is based on qualitative modeling and simulation, thus produces a sequence of temporal state transitions of modeled IPCs. The proposed modeling mechanism aims to facilitate the scientific measurement of